Like most places, New York is sadly off-limits to visitors during the coronavirus crisis. But that hasn’t stopped the city’s tourism agency from whetting the appetite for future visits, or simply providing a bit of a distraction during these troubled times.
As such, NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization for the five boroughs of New York City – in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Mayor’s Office – is highlighting ways to experience the city’s iconic cultural scene virtually via the website https://www.nycgo.com/virtual-nyc.
There are also countless opportunities available from the city’s cultural community, from educational programs to critically acclaimed independent films; soaring orchestral arrangements to inspired choreography; innovative theatre to engaging visual arts; and digitized museum exhibitions to virtual neighborhood tours.
“New York City is home to the world’s most talented, committed, and diverse arts and entertainment community who continue to find ways to inspire us even in the most difficult times,” says Anne del Castillo, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.
Attractions
Empire State Building: While its observatories are temporarily closed, the iconic skyscraper’s social media is current and its Earth Cam broadcasts views and signature lightings.
The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation: The historic destination – emblematic of New York City’s rich history of welcoming immigrants from around the world—is inviting locals and visitors to embark on a genealogy journey. The online database of 65 million passenger records makes virtual passenger search a reality.
New York Hall of Science: Families can continue to discover the world of STEM through a selection of free, NYSCI digital resources including online tutorials, interactive apps, web-based graphic novels, hands-on activities and instructional booklets.
New York Public Library: In addition to expanding the number of free e-books available on the e-reader app SimplyE, the library is expanding virtual offers with off-site access to popular research databases such as the New York Times, 1851-2016; Wall Street Journal, 1889-present; and more. Staff are also available Monday-Saturday (during normal business hours) to perform virtual consultations.
New York Botanical Garden: On the new NYBG at Home section of the website, visitors can view recent installations, browse horticulture lecture videos, join virtual events and more.
SPYSCAPE: 007XSPYSCAPE, the attraction’s new James Bond exhibition, can now be explored online, allowing franchise fans to experience original sketches, gadgets used in the film, new perspectives of classic scenes and more.
Turnstile Tours: Each day at 11 a.m., Turnstile Tours’ guides host virtual versions of their expansive lineup of citywide tours. Virtual tours to-date have included “How It Works: The Brooklyn Army Terminal Atrium,” and “Hidden Treasures of Prospect Park.”
Museums & Galleries
American Museum of Natural History: By visiting the museum’s Explore page, children and children-at-heart can view educational videos and enjoy interactive activities that intend to foster investment in and passion for the natural world.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The largest art museum in the US has launched a digital digest bringing together catalogues from past exhibits, video series, digital archives of lectures, talks, performances and more. Highlights include: The Artist Project – a series of discussions reflecting on the Met’s collection of more than 470,000 works –MetCollects, a digital highlight of recent acquisitions, and Met 360, offering virtual tours. On social, interact using #MetAnywhere.
Museum of Modern Art: MoMA is inspiring art enthusiasts to #MuseumFromHome via a diverse array of inspiring and culturally relevant content across its social channels. Further, its digital publication Magazine will continue to be published and its 30-plus episode BBC podcast titled “The Way I See It” remains accessible. Additionally, the museum offers the free online course “What Is Contemporary Art?” that teaches participants about 70 pieces from their collection.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum: Visitors to the museum’s Collection Online can browse more than 1,700 works by over 625 artists, while this recently-curated YouTube playlist dives into the multi-faceted process of creating an exhibition. Although the physical store is closed, the online shop boasts art-inspired puzzles, books and toys.
Whitney Museum of American Art: The contemporary art destination is encouraging patrons to #WhitneyFromHome. Its online collection offers an overview of more than 25,000 works from the 20th and 21st centuries while Artport is an online portal to internet art. The exhibition archive offers digital access to past Whitney Biennials and even the recently opened Vida Americana: Mexican Muralists Remake American Art, 1925-1945 exhibit.
The Frick Collection: With virtual tours, an art history library, video lectures and more available online and via the museum’s app, art buffs from around the world can continue to engage with the museum’s storied collection of more than 1,400 works of European sculpture and decorative arts.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan: The museum is sharing “CMOM at Home,” interactive STEM activities for kids and families to enjoy through videos, sing-a-longs, games and more. Activities will be tweeted from @cmomNYC or parents can sign up here.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: On the new “Experience Intrepid Anywhere” section of the website, families can take a virtual tour of this World War II aircraft carrier, browse images of the artifacts on-board, watch interviews with former crewmembers and take advantage of educational resources.
Museum of the City of New York: With more than 200,000 items in the museum’s online collection, videos of dozens of recent programs available on its YouTube channel and more, the museum is continuing to spotlight the history of New York City.
The Museum of Illustration: The Society of Illustrators will continue to promote its mission with exhibits, panels, podcasts and children’s activities all hosted at the SI At Your Service section of its official website.
Theatre
Broadway HD: This streaming platform helps locals and travellers access The Great White Way from afar. It is offering seven-day free trials to entertain and inspire theatre lovers while stages are dark. A few of the productions in its library of hundreds include: Cats, Kinky Boots, and Lincoln Center Theater’s recent production of The King and I and Sweeney Todd starring Angela Lansbury.
Living Room Concerts: Broadway World’s e-newsletters and website are hosting daily, surprise performances by Broadway’s top talent. Cast members of Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Jagged Little Pill and more have already belted showtunes from the living room. Upcoming performers include Telly Leung, Lesli Margherita, Renee Rapp, Erika Hennigsen, Stephanie J. Block and more.
The New Victory Theater: The theatre is offering “New Victory Arts Break,” a weekly series of performing arts activities for children and parents to do together at home.
Music & Dance
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS): For eight weeks, at 12:30 p.m. daily, CMS will release chamber music concerts from its 50-year archive on the ‘Watch & Listen’ section of the website, with a new theme each week. Web visitors can also enjoy concerts, lectures, master classes, ‘Meet the Music’ and the CMS National Radio Series.
The Metropolitan Opera: For the duration of its closure, the Met Opera will stream a different encore presentation of a top operatic performance nightly, with each video posted to the website at 7:30 p.m. and left up for 20 hours.
New York Philharmonic: #NYPhilPlaysOn will show past performances of the world-renowned symphony orchestra posted to Facebook every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. EST.
New York City Ballet: City Ballet The Podcast features in-depth conversations with dancers, choreographers, orchestra members and more. Also worth tuning-in for, @tilerpeck (a Principal NYCB Dancer for over 10 years), is helping aspiring dancers pass the time with free ballet classes on Instagram at 1 p.m. daily.
Film
Colombian Film Festival New York: In response to its postponement, the director has arranged for three film screenings per week with English subtitles. Updates are posted on the Facebook page and links are available via streaming service Boonet.
Movie lovers can stay entertained by watching short-films from Tribeca Film Festival alumni posted to the website daily. Viewers can expect fan favourites from previous festivals, curated works and even some world premieres.