By: Stefanie DiMartino

Hello May! It’s a new month and NYC restrictions are being eased while the weather is getting warmer. Of course, there are plenty of things to do and see, all while still following safety protocols and guidelines. Below are my top picks for the best things to do in NYC May 3-9.

The Top 7 Best Things to do in NYC May 3-9

THINGS TO DO

ANTIQUE GARDEN FURNITURE FAIR 

May 1 – May 7 

New York Botanical Garden, VIRTUAL! 

“This year The New York Botanical Garden’s much-anticipated Antique Garden Furniture Fair will be presented virtually. The weeklong public event, May 1–7, will feature unique offerings from leading antique dealers, including classic furniture and fine garden antiques—some with a modern twist, both elegant and inspiring—for the home and garden.” – NYBG

SUNSET CRUISE ON YACHT MANHATTAN

Now – August | $78+

Chelsea Piers (Pier 62) – West 22nd and Hudson River, New York, NY

A Classic Harbor Line sunset cruise is one of the best NYC activities. Of course, it’s perfect for date nights or for fun with friends and family. “Experience a beautiful New York City sunset and the illuminated cityscape during a comfortable and unique NYC Harbor sunset cruise aboard one of two 1920s inspired yachts through the Hudson and East Rivers. Capacity limitations will follow the New York State guidelines. There are assigned private tables for each booking featuring cushioned seating, plexiglass dividers and openable windows. You get to see all major lower Manhattan sites at sunset such as One World Trade Center, the Financial District, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Brooklyn Bridge. One complimentary beer, wine, Champagne or soft drink is offered. Additional beverages are available for purchase. Seating available in climate controlled cabin or on the outer deck.” – Classic Harbor Line

SARAHFUNKY NYC TOURS

Saturdays, Sundays, Custom day/time | $57+ 

Tourism is finally picking up again in NYC! And, of course there’s no time like the present to book a SarahFunky NYC tour. There are quite a few tour options available! You can book a custom designed private tour to fit your own personal interests with Sarah, Luis, Gary, or Marcus! Or, you can get the best of both worlds with food and sightseeing and join a newly redesigned food tour to include four epic spots and behind the scenes experiences and book a Best of New York Food Tour with Luis. Or, join A Secrets of New York Tour and visit hidden locations in lower Manhattan and learn secrets most New Yorkers don’t even know! They are all NYC experts and enjoy showing others around the city they love. Certainly, you do not want to miss any of these one-of-a-kind experiences!

MUSEUM/ART EXHIBITIONS

TATIANA AROCHA: ANHELO UN BOSQUE, ANHELO DE ALBA, ANHELO

Now – June 25, 2021 | 8am-10pm | Free!

Brookfield Place, Winter Garden Gallery, 230 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10281

Brookfield Place has a new exhibition on view until June 25th, by Colombian visual artist Tatiana Arocha. “Arocha’s work is rooted in her layered relationship to her country’s vulnerable lands, particularly its rainforests. Arocha alters the array of flora and fauna she has collected to recreate and reimagine endangered ecosystems. Working mostly in a monochromatic palette of black, white, and grey, the artist employs occasional shimmers of gold within her work which act as a metaphor for the endangered natural world and a reminder of human greed and the violent costs of extractive economies.” – Brookfield Place

ENVISIONING 2001: STANLEY KUBRICK’S SPACE ODYSSEY

Now – September 26 | 

The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave, Queens, NY 11106 

If you’ve been waiting for the Museum of the Moving Image, then it’s your lucky week! The Museum of Moving Image is finally reopening on May 1st! “Envisioning 2001: Stanley Kubrick’s Space Odyssey will be accompanied by a Stanley Kubric screening series. Exhibition highlights include Special Photographic Effects Supervisor Douglas Trumbull’s concept sketches for Clavius Base, from MoMI collection; costumes, including a space suit worn in the Clavius Base scene and Moonwatcher ape suit worn by Dan Richter in the Dawn of Man scene; and storyboards, contact sheets, test films, and photographs related to the Stargate special effects sequence.” – MOMI

ALEX DA CORTE: AS LONG AS THE SUN LASTS

Now – October 31, 2021 | $25

Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028

While looking for the best things to do in NYC May 3-9, be sure to check out the Met’s newly opened Roof Garden Commission.

“Philadelphia based artist Alex Da Corte has made a 26-foot-tall kinetic sculpture featuring the beloved Sesame Street character Big Bird and the modern aesthetic of Alexander Calder’s standing mobiles. Max Hollein, Marina Kellen French Director of The Met, commented, “Alex Da Corte’s bold work for the Cantor Roof Garden oscillates between joy and melancholy, and brings a playful message of optimism and reflection. The installation, which the artist initiated just as the pandemic was taking hold, invites us to look through a familiar, popular, modern lens at our own condition in a transformed emotional landscape. As the sculpture gently rotates in the wind, it calls us in an assuring way to pause and reflect: We are reminded that stability is an illusion, but ultimately what we see is a statement of belief in the potential of transformation.” – The Met

DRINKS/DINING

VIA CAROTA

51 Grove Street, New York, NY 10014

If you are looking for delicious and traditional Italian cuisine, then enjoy a meal at Via Carota. Via Carota is now offering outdoor dining and limited reservations. “Via Carota is the West Village gastroteca of cherished downtown chefs Jody Williams and Rita Sodi. Inspired by the 17th-century villa in the hills near Florence which Sodi once called home, Via Carota honors old-world Italian roots, life style, food and décor.” – Via Carota

In conclusion, these are the top 7 best things to do in NYC May 3-9. Have fun and most importantly, stay safe!