{"id":2267839,"date":"2026-02-05T12:01:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2267839"},"modified":"2026-02-05T12:01:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:01:28","slug":"things-to-do-in-new-york-city-that-are-quirky-and-off-beat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/things-to-do-in-new-york-city-that-are-quirky-and-off-beat\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to do in New York City that are quirky and off-beat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<div id=\"videoWrap\" class=\"spacer-large videoWrap\" style=\"position:relative\"><media-video video-id=\"88362133007\" title=\"How soon do you have to shovel the snow off your sidewalk?\" poster=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2026\/01\/26\/PNJM\/88362260007-87927304007122725-snowelmwoodpark-06.jpg?crop=4587,2580,x0,y0\" util-module-path=\"elements\/media\" placement=\"snow-video-story-priority\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"uwVideoPlaceholder\" slot=\"placeholder\" style=\"z-index:19;width:100%;padding-bottom:56.25%;position:relative\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"vidplaybtn\" style=\"display:-moz-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:-webkit-flex;display:flex;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,.4);border:2px solid #fff;border-radius:80px;cursor:pointer;height:80px;width:80px;position:absolute;top:50%;left:50%;transform:translate(-50%,-50%);z-index:10\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"vidplayicon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/appservices\/universal-web\/universal\/icons\/icon-play-alt-white.svg\" alt=\"play\" style=\"height:40px;margin:auto 18px auto 27px;width:40px\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div slot=\"videoDetails\" id=\"videoDetails\" class=\"videoDetails\" style=\"padding-top:8px;padding-bottom:8px\">\n<div id=\"videoDetailsContainer\" class=\"videoDetailsContainer\" hidden=\"\">\n<p>How soon do you have to shovel the snow off your sidewalk?<\/p>\n<p>Some NJ towns have ordinances which require snow be cleaned off of sidewalks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/media-video><\/div>\n<p>With <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.northjersey.com\/story\/news\/2025\/02\/03\/presidents-day-is-coming-up-what-to-know-about-the-federal-holiday\/78184135007\/\">Presidents Day<\/a> comes a well-deserved three-day weekend for many \u2014 and for others, an entire week of mid-winter recess. It&#8217;s easy to take advantage of time for rest and relaxation, but it&#8217;s also nice to plan new experiences.<\/p>\n<partner-banner util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" class=\"spacer-large\" min-height=\"600\" fluid=\"\" outstream=\"\" momentum=\"\"\/>\n<p>People journey from all around the globe to see the sights in New York City, but for us, it&#8217;s just a quick drive, bus or train trip.<\/p>\n<p>You can always eat at a high-end or historic restaurant, or go see a Broadway show or other iconic performance. But in our humble opinion: New York City has so much to offer that there&#8217;s no reason not to take visit some of the other overlooked gems it has to offer.<\/p>\n<p>Between thought-provoking museums, curated bookstores and one-of-a-kind specialty shops, here are some quirky, fun stops we recommend that make during your Presidents Day weekend trip to Manhattan.<\/p>\n<partner-banner util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" fluid=\"\" bottom=\"\" lazy=\"\" class=\"spacer-large\" min-height=\"390\" outstream=\"\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"presto-h2 wp-block-heading\">Museums<\/h2>\n<p><media-image image-set=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/09\/12\/USAT\/385152bf-ea11-4927-8841-80a53100c9d4-100colors_-_CREDIT_Heather_Moore.jpg bestCrop, https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/09\/12\/USAT\/385152bf-ea11-4927-8841-80a53100c9d4-100colors_-_CREDIT_Heather_Moore.jpg?crop=3872,2904,x0,y0 4:3, https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/09\/12\/USAT\/385152bf-ea11-4927-8841-80a53100c9d4-100colors_-_CREDIT_Heather_Moore.jpg?crop=2184,2912,x873,y0 3:4, https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/09\/12\/USAT\/385152bf-ea11-4927-8841-80a53100c9d4-100colors_-_CREDIT_Heather_Moore.jpg?crop=4367,2457,x0,y145 16:9\" image-alt=\"Color Factory is a 12,000-square-foot space containing 15 interactive color experiences. NY 100 Colors, currently on display in Color Factory NYC's lobby, is an exhibit by Tokyo-based artist Emmanuelle Moureaux.\" credit=\"Heather Moore\" caption=\"Pictured is an exhibit at Color Factory NYC by Emmanuelle Moureaux, a Tokyo-based French architect and designer.\" orientation=\"horizontal\" class=\"spacer-large\" util-module-path=\"elements\/media\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Big Apple is home to a vast collection of museums, showcasing everything from world-class art to notable artifacts from our country&#8217;s history. And if you&#8217;re looking to keep President&#8217;s Day weekend education, then visiting one \u2014 or a few \u2014 is the way to go.<\/p>\n<partner-inline util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" class=\"spacer-large\" placement=\"native-article_link\" sizes=\"[[300, 250], [3, 3]]\" min-height=\"250\" fluid=\"\" outstream=\"\"\/>\n<p>For art, you can visit traditional spots like <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/aclk?sa=L&amp;ai=DChsSEwiqz_O12amSAxX_wp8JHUHNJIIYACICCAEQABoCbWQ&amp;ae=2&amp;co=1&amp;ase=2&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAvtzLBhCPARIsALwhxdolmwbYSbB8NsWcU240D1z_Q4lk1mIgfcAxdO2p8nVQbGdvFrnGmMUaAqdREALw_wcB&amp;cid=CAASWuRolXOKHFlF4rcRpm_FwxZjFG1Ne4nI70TB389e67NmoUXxre0IJg-BEwKS1xzdVmkz4PRO66JbrdUBVWJwD94co0928QZoiJQ5kXuD1bsMJCh4KL0VFgsDiQ&amp;cce=2&amp;category=acrcp_v1_71&amp;sig=AOD64_1wnN53gTLqUM6apjX16fxrrjXOgg&amp;q&amp;nis=4&amp;adurl&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiShei12amSAxUCkIkEHZJfBDkQ0Qx6BAgPEAE\">The Museum of Modern Art<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.guggenheim.org\/\">The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum<\/a>. Or for a more interactive experience, check out <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colorfactory.co\/locations\/new-york-city\">Color Factory NYC<\/a>, which features 14 immersive art exhibits that celebrate the many shades of New York City. There&#8217;s also <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/newyork.artemuseum.com\/\">Arte Museum New York<\/a>, another immersive art museum with whimsical exhibits like Waterfall Infinite, Flower Hibiscus Seed and Beach Night Being.<\/p>\n<partner-inline util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" placement=\"native-article_link\" sizes=\"[[300, 250], [3, 3]]\" min-height=\"250\" fluid=\"\" outstream=\"\"\/><cta-atoms-container-inline util-module-path=\"elements\/cta\" class=\"spacer-large\"\/><\/p>\n<p>For history buffs, stop by the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tenement.org\/\">Tenement Museum<\/a> to explore the stories of immigrants, migrants and refugees that lived in the city between the 1860s and the 1980s through recreations of their homes. Or visit <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themorgan.org\/\">The Morgan Library and Museum<\/a>, built in 1906 as the private library of banker J.P. Morgan, which features eye-catching architecture and a collection of rare manuscripts, early printed books and more.<\/p>\n<p>And for theater lovers, explore <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themuseumofbroadway.com\/\">The Museum of Broadway<\/a>; <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nypl.org\/locations\/lpa\">The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts<\/a> at Lincoln Center; or <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.paleycenter.org\/\">The Paley Center for Media<\/a>. There&#8217;s also <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riseny.com\/\">RiseNY<\/a>, a multi-part attraction with seven interactive museum-like galleries focusing on Broadway, fashion, music and film; and a 4D flight simulation over the city.<\/p>\n<partner-banner util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" fluid=\"\" bottom=\"\" lazy=\"\" class=\"spacer-large\" min-height=\"600\" outstream=\"\" momentum=\"\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"presto-h2 wp-block-heading\">Bookstores<\/h2>\n<p><media-image image-set=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/09\/21\/USAT\/2fd21df6-8fcc-4d83-a05e-a8238bb48552-albertine-new-york-city-new-york.jpg bestCrop, https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/09\/21\/USAT\/2fd21df6-8fcc-4d83-a05e-a8238bb48552-albertine-new-york-city-new-york.jpg?crop=1064,798,x0,y0 4:3, https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/09\/21\/USAT\/2fd21df6-8fcc-4d83-a05e-a8238bb48552-albertine-new-york-city-new-york.jpg?crop=600,800,x180,y0 3:4, https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/09\/21\/USAT\/2fd21df6-8fcc-4d83-a05e-a8238bb48552-albertine-new-york-city-new-york.jpg?crop=1199,675,x0,y40 16:9\" image-alt=\"Albertine\" credit=\"Albertine\" caption=\"Albertine\" orientation=\"horizontal\" class=\"spacer-large\" util-module-path=\"elements\/media\"\/><\/p>\n<p>As the home of most major publishing houses and loads of one-of-a-kind bookstores, New York City is a book lover&#8217;s paradise. So if you&#8217;re visiting the city as a reader, be sure to pencil in some time at a few unique spots.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re looking for as many options as possible while book shopping, visit <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.strandbooks.com\/\">The Strand<\/a>. A staple since 1927, the shop is known as New York City&#8217;s largest independent bookstore with 18 miles of new, used and rare books.<\/p>\n<p>At <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.albertine.com\/\">Albertine<\/a>, you can shop with a view. This bookshop exclusively carries French works written in French and English, with more than 14,000 titles in genres like fiction, non-fiction, art, comics and graphic novels, among others. Most notably, its ceiling features a dazzling hand-painted mural of constellations, stars and planets that&#8217;s modeled after the music room at the Villa Stuck in Munich, Germany.<\/p>\n<partner-inline util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" class=\"spacer-large\" placement=\"native-article_link\" sizes=\"[[300, 250], [3, 3]]\" min-height=\"250\" fluid=\"\" outstream=\"\"\/>\n<p>For animal lovers, take a trip to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pillowcatbooks.com\/\">Pillow Cat Books<\/a>: A bookstore solely dedicated to all things animals. It features titles like Paddington, Snoopy and George Orwell&#8217;s Animal Farm; photography books about animals; and even works about pet fashion.<\/p>\n<partner-banner util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" fluid=\"\" bottom=\"\" lazy=\"\" class=\"spacer-large\" min-height=\"390\" outstream=\"\"\/>\n<p>And to find your next spooky story, browse <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mysteriousbookshop.com\/\">The Mysterious Bookshop<\/a>. As the oldest mystery specialist bookstore in the nation, originally opened in 1979, the store specializes in mystery fiction and subgenres like crime, thrillers and suspense.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"presto-h2 wp-block-heading\">Specialty shops<\/h2>\n<p><media-image image-set=\"bestCrop, https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/5da9f0fb85d1b0b0efde59fb32a59015c6246c11\/c=7-0-3648-2736\/local\/-\/media\/USATODAY\/USATODAY\/2014\/09\/09\/1410274052004-Exterior.Courtesy.of.Kalustyans.jpg 4:3, https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/cc73b14a8acb75004adce6b7a0160d0217382545\/c=489-0-2539-2736\/local\/-\/media\/USATODAY\/USATODAY\/2014\/09\/09\/1410274052004-Exterior.Courtesy.of.Kalustyans.jpg 3:4, https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/156f73c61db5faeb16a7f8c7aaea094c9cafd268\/c=0-642-3648-2700\/local\/-\/media\/USATODAY\/USATODAY\/2014\/09\/09\/1410274052004-Exterior.Courtesy.of.Kalustyans.jpg 16:9\" image-alt=\"Frequented by chefs, South Asian ex-pats and pantry-stocking home cooks, this venerable Kips Bay store is so much more than a spice shop.\" credit=\"Kalustyan's\" caption=\"Frequented by chefs, South Asian ex-pats and pantry-stocking home cooks, this venerable Kips Bay store is so much more than a spice shop.\" orientation=\"horizontal\" class=\"spacer-large\" util-module-path=\"elements\/media\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Whether you have a dedicated pastime that you enjoy, or you&#8217;re a serial hobbyist looking for you&#8217;re next fix, look for a specialty shop in New York City that falls in line with your interests.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/foodsofnations.com\/?srsltid=AfmBOopeaypTZUmJlmxqysRGYxr3OaQ6I074xHK6IFo212bFmC2_sU55\">Kalustyan&#8217;s<\/a> \u2014 generally considered the city&#8217;s largest international spice shop \u2014 is a spice emporium dating back to 1944, carrying specialties from more than 60 countries across 6 continents. It also has other items like sauces, grains, nuts, fruits and more.<\/p>\n<p>At its New York City flagship store, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.moodfabrics.com\/\">Mood Fabrics<\/a> offers a variety of fabrics, from luxurious silks to durable wool blends; buttons and zippers; and ribbons and trims for designers, DIYers and hobbyists.<\/p>\n<partner-banner util-module-path=\"elements\/partner\" fluid=\"\" bottom=\"\" lazy=\"\" class=\"spacer-large\" min-height=\"390\" outstream=\"\"\/>\n<p>For needlework, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ritasneedlepoint.com\/?srsltid=AfmBOoq4balErx2KjTy7aDEHG68rfNTqiUboW9iroPfbdfL-vyftwQkA\">Rita&#8217;s Needlepoint<\/a> is home to a curated selection of hand-painted canvases, high-quality threads and expert finishing services. It was founded in 1973 by Paris-educated artist and designer Rita Klein, and has been a beloved hub for creativity and connection ever since.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theredcaboose.com\/\">Red Caboose<\/a>, situated on a site that has been home to a hobby shop in some capacity since 1946, specializes in model trains in a variety of scales. It also offers model planes and cars, electric slots cars, plastic kits and supplies like paint, tools and glue. It&#8217;s a one-stop shop for those looking to add to their model display.<\/p>\n<p><em>Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/northjersey.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NorthJersey.com<\/a>\u00a0and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cl.exct.net\/?qs=5ba186a712120584cb66932da10caf65906289d81f9c3243466e20af324bf96cca515e26adbc183030a70d7860915a6e7ff0195b525fccc8cdba0bfc0ca298f0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram @maddiemcgay<\/a>,\u00a0on\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cl.exct.net\/?qs=5ba186a7121205848fddcf115c54266f07c81bf5d8f521beec144ab58b62d257dc90d8fd5615e8d0cd959b70edb47190425f0c646740e7cccdfeb4ed0c21872a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X @maddiemcgayy<\/a>, and sign up for her\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/profile.northjersey.com\/newsletters\/manage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">North Jersey Living<\/a>\u00a0newsletter.\u00a0Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"mailto:MMcGay@gannett.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MMcGay@gannett.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<lit-timestamp class=\"column ten-column no-gutter spacer-small\" slot=\"timestamp\" publishdate=\"2026-02-05 09:04:49.877508291 +0000 UTC\" updatedate=\"2026-02-05 09:04:49.877508291 +0000 UTC\"\/><\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.northjersey.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How soon do you have to shovel the snow off your sidewalk? Some NJ towns have ordinances which require snow be cleaned off of sidewalks. With Presidents Day comes a well-deserved three-day weekend for many \u2014 and for others, an entire week of mid-winter recess. It&#8217;s easy to take advantage of time for rest and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2267840,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[404392,360148,43013,28546,28151,54641,48378,6297,21741,439152,439155,22034,239372,239374,61678,345132,345135,25632,239349,339770,363957,439157,305430,345133,428732,411276,366383,349302,26575,23360,23089,366384,35411,366387,366389,325567,305209,376895,439153,23939,439160,239343,239347,439151,439154,23759,439158,420465,147314,69477,67134,388091,439156,32626,27158,153291,240351,23139,240579,240574,239344,311859,378523,439159,28776],"class_list":["post-2267839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-bergen","tag-bergen-county","tag-content","tag-county","tag-day","tag-destinations","tag-do","tag-eamotion","tag-entertainment","tag-essex","tag-essex-county","tag-events","tag-geographic","tag-geographic-reference","tag-guides","tag-holiday","tag-holiday-marketplace-hub","tag-holidays","tag-holidays-u0026-seasonal-events","tag-hub","tag-hudson","tag-hudson-county","tag-jersey","tag-marketplace","tag-morris","tag-morris-county","tag-morristown","tag-museums","tag-new","tag-new-jersey","tag-new-york","tag-newton","tag-nj","tag-nj-content-sharing","tag-nj-content-sharing-morristown","tag-nj-content-sharing-north-jersey","tag-north","tag-north-jersey","tag-north-jersey-things-to-do","tag-ny","tag-ny-content-sharing-hudson-valley","tag-overall","tag-overall-positive","tag-passaic","tag-passaic-county","tag-positive","tag-presidents-day","tag-presidents","tag-reference","tag-seasonal","tag-sharing","tag-sussex","tag-sussex-county","tag-things","tag-to","tag-tourist","tag-tourist-destinations","tag-travel","tag-travel-guides-u0026-travelogues","tag-travelogues","tag-u0026","tag-valley","tag-weekend","tag-weekend-entertainment","tag-york"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Things-to-do-in-New-York-City-that-are-quirky-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2267839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2267839"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2267839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2267841,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2267839\/revisions\/2267841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2267840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2267839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2267839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2267839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}