Walking Tours   

Playland is one of two amusement parks in America to earn the prestigious title of “National Historic Landmark.” It’s a well-deserved honor, as this extraordinary place is a marvel of architectural and landscape design that has entertained and delighted crowds for nearly 100 years.

This 90-minute walking tour through the amusement area will detail the audacious plans and stunning design concepts for the park and reveal fascinating stories that bring the park’s history to life. We’ll stroll the boardwalk, take in the panoramic Sound view, hear about the unbelievable aquatic stunts at the pool, take a ride on the historic carousel, learn secrets of the Dragon Coaster, and so much more!

Modernism developed amid great political, social, economic, and technological change, and the genre of portraiture expanded alongside it to grapple with these challenges. The selections of works in The Face of Life: Modern Portraits at The Met communicate the lived experiences of their subjects in myriad ways, whether or not a figure is even depicted. Less focused on commemoration or conveying power, these portraits satisfy the human need to communicate with a viewer, represent experience, and document a moment of life. Join Page Knox for a discussion of the nearly 80 works in the exhibition by artists such as Matisse, Alice Neel, Picasso and more. The show also offers an opportunity to see Modern and Contemporary works from the Met's collection while the permanent galleries are being reimagined in the new Oscar L. Tang and H.M Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, as well as a chance to see recent acquisitions by artists such as Wifredo Lam, Francis Picabia, and Laura Wheeler Waring.

Get backstage access to the world-renowned organizations that call this 16.3-acre campus home, and learn more about the history of Lincoln Center. This 75-minute tour provides a behind-the-scenes perspective of the past and present of Lincoln Center. Participants will learn about Lincoln Center’s history; explore the iconic arts organizations that call Lincoln Center home; and experience our vibrant campus the way only artists and staff do. The tour itinerary will be based on availability and the day’s activities at the Center, and typical stops include:

• New York Philharmonic (David Geffen Hall)
• The Metropolitan Opera (Met Opera House)
• New York City Ballet (David H. Koch Theater)
• Lincoln Center Theater (Vivian Beaumont Theater)
• Chamber Music Society (Alice Tully Hall)
• Film at Lincoln Center (Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center)
• Lincoln Center Campus Public Areas (Josie Robertson Plaza, Damrosch Park, and Hearst Plaza)

The old Lower East Side comes alive in this walking tour. Central to the tour is the Jewish neighborhood, whose teeming tenements formed the heart of the most crowded place in the late nineteenth century world, including stops before a gloriously restored historic synagogue and the Jewish-owned bank tower where struggling immigrants built their nest eggs. Briefly visit the surrounding wards, marked at the time by gangs, flophouses, homeless newsboys, and the noisy, smoke-belching elevated railway, as well as the seventeenth-century Jewish cemetery that is the oldest human burial site in Manhattan. Along the way, track unforgettable photographs by Jacob Riis and others to the exact spots they were taken, portraying the struggles and desperation of immigrant life.

Experience the breathtaking beauty of our lavish plantings on this 90-minute tour which will take you to the most stunning flowers and gorgeous plants in the gardens. In the summer, lush foliage will transport you to a world of tranquility.

Throughout this horticulture and historical tour of Untermyer Gardens, you will learn about its rich history and the seasonal beauty of the grounds. We will discuss monumental architecture -- with an emphasis on Samuel Untermyer and his wife Minnie, and their place in early 20th century history -- as well as elements of garden design in general, plants in bloom, and stunning plant combinations.

The tour will also take you through the estate's three owners, emphasizing its world-famous heyday during the Untermyer years, its decline after 1940, and the remarkable restoration efforts that have been ongoing from 2011 to the present day.

So, come join us for an educational and engaging tour that is sure to leave you with a newfound appreciation for this magnificent estate.

Join Ginny, art museum docent, as she curates a two-hour tour of the best art exhibitions featured at the international Chelsea galleries. While touring, Ginny will provide insight on historical context, the art techniques used, and the importance to the current art market. Past tours looked at works by Picasso, Frank Stella, Mark Bradford, and Richard Avedon.

Come explore the old and the new at South Street Seaport, featuring the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city, and the Pier 17 entertainment center. Ginny will guide you through the evolution of the neighborhood with stops at the 18th- and 19th-century buildings, sharing stories and vintage photographs of a bustling commercial district, ending with spectacular views of the Brooklyn Bridge.

See what birds over-winter here on the Bronx River. In addition to the locals that stay all year, there are several species that are here only during the winter. You may also see some of the “wintering ducks,” including the hooded merganser, the American black duck, and the green-winged teal duck.

This 110-year-old train terminal welcomes hundreds of thousands people daily. But how many stop to take in this world-class landmark? This 2-hour walking tour will give you reason to stop and admire this magnificent Beaux Arts building like never before.

This exploration of the Grand Central Terminal will include these, and more:

• A brief history of the Vanderbilt family behind the NY Central Railroad and the two Grand Centrals that came before the 1913 Terminal.
• A quick primer on what “Beaux Arts” architecture is and how to identify it.
• Vintage photos of the terminal’s construction, sculptures, and inaccessible areas.
• The incredible story of how the Terminal escaped the wrecking ball.
• The colossal mistake of the Terminal’s Grand Concourse ceiling.
• A trip to the Terminal’s hidden, landmarked cocktail bar that was once a private office.
• A peek into the window catwalks.
• An opportunity to tell secrets across the elliptical Guastavino “Whispering Gallery.”

After the tour, get some holiday shopping done at the annual Grand Central Holiday Market!

This 110-year-old train terminal welcomes hundreds of thousands people daily. But how many stop to take in this world-class landmark? This 2-hour walking tour will give you reason to stop and admire this magnificent Beaux Arts building like never before.

This exploration of the Grand Central Terminal will include these, and more:

• A brief history of the Vanderbilt family behind the NY Central Railroad and the two Grand Centrals that came before the 1913 Terminal.
• A quick primer on what “Beaux Arts” architecture is and how to identify it.
• Vintage photos of the terminal’s construction, sculptures, and inaccessible areas.
• The incredible story of how the Terminal escaped the wrecking ball.
• The colossal mistake of the Terminal’s Grand Concourse ceiling.
• A trip to the Terminal’s hidden, landmarked cocktail bar that was once a private office.
• A peek into the window catwalks.
• An opportunity to tell secrets across the elliptical Guastavino “Whispering Gallery.”

After the tour, get some holiday shopping done at the annual Grand Central Holiday Market!

Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock met as emerging artists in New York City, marrying in 1945 and remaining entwined personally, artistically, and professionally until Pollock’s untimely death in 1956. While Pollock’s reputation historically eclipsed Krasner’s, both artists are considered central to innovations in modern and contemporary art. Join Page Knox for an exploration of this major show at the MET (opening on October 4, 2026), which reevaluates the relationship and considers the full arc of their careers together.