New York City is the birthplace of major college basketball—the site of its first “big game” in Notre Dame vs. NYU, which was the second half of a 1934 doubleheader; its first major tournament, the NIT, which debuted in 1938; and the first NCAA Tournament in 1939.
This year, March Madness in New York City includes the Big East Tournament at MSG and the Atlantic 10 Tournament at Barclays Center. And, yes, the stately NIT once again holds its final two rounds in Manhattan. For more on the college basketball postseason in NYC, read on.
Arts & Culture
Stan Douglas, Elmgreen & Dragset and Kehinde Wiley: Moynihan Train Hall
Moynihan Train Hall opened with site-specific installations by Stan Douglas (Penn Station’s Half Century, 2020), Elmgreen & Dragset (The Hive, 2020) and Kehinde Wiley (Go, 2020)—the artists' first permanent commissions in the City.
Tours
Sex and the City Tavern Tour
Missing Carrie & Co? Now that the long-awaited film has debuted, put on those Manolo Blahniks and come with a thirst for Cosmopolitans and nostalgia for the show. Trace their footsteps on a tour of sites associated with the program, with stops at several of their frequented bars. $15 For times, dates and reservations: 212-465-3331
Music
BAMcafé Live
BAMcafé Live features a diverse mix of free live music and performance in BAM's Lepercq Space, a lounge and bar space in the Peter Jay Sharp Building. Recent series include the on-going residency with Black Rock Coalition (BRC). This year you can find some of the best artists from Brooklyn and beyond performing on the BAMcafé Live stage every Friday and Saturday night from October through June. The bar is open for drinks and light menu items beginning at 8pm. There is no cover charge and no drink minimum.
Arts & Culture
Story Museum
Join this special story and activity time at Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island's living history museum. Toddlers and kids up to age 5 are invited to the hour-long Story Museum, which takes place every Thursday morning. Please call 718-351-1611 ext. 280 to reserve a spot. For more information, visit http://historicrichmondtown.org/visit/events/event-info
Museums & Galleries
New American Wing Galleries
Twenty-five new and expanded galleries provide visitors with a rich history of American art from the eighteenth through the early twentieth century. The museum's collection of American paintings are displayed together for the first time including works by John Singleton Copley, Thomas Eakins and Winslow Homer. The centerpiece of the new installation is Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze's 1851 painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware".
Tours
Grand Central Terminal Audio Tour
MTA Metro-North Railroad and Orpheo USA offer this self-guided tour of Grand Central Terminal. Visitors and locals alike can take advantage of the tour—which comes with an audio device, headphones and a map of the terminal—and learn about the structure's architectural highlights and history. Audio is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Japanese; the MTA will soon introduce an audio-description tour for the visually impaired.