Looking for activity dates in NYC

April 8, 2014 9:34 AM

Looking for good, reasonably priced, activity dates in the NYC area. What do you do when you're not doing dinner and a show? Hands-on is preferred - active rather than passive activities.

Long-running classes are okay, but not not preferred - I'm mostly looking for things that can be decided roughly spur-of-the-moment and don't entail any lasting commitment, or require a lot of prerequisites. I've been racking my brains to figure out what to do with my more active partner, and coming up empty - a lot of my previous dates in New York revolves around seeing shows, eating at nice restaurants, or visiting interesting places. Help!

posted by corb to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (14 answers total)

I'm a big fan of Citibike. It will allow you to explore the city and be active. It's also a lot of fun to take a bike across the East River into Brooklyn and explore there.

Bonus tip: If you're there on the weekend, the High Line can get absolutely packed, so I would avoid it at all costs, even though it's a great park.
posted by yellowcandy at 9:48 AM on April 8, 2014

Observatory hosts Anthropomorphic Taxidermy Classes. (umnn, trigger warning for guitar playing stuffed mice)
posted by Sophont at 10:12 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

How about dancing? Connolly's on W 45th hosts Louisiana Zydeco bands about once a month, and there's a beginner's lesson before every dance. It's a pretty forgiving dance form, and the crowd is pretty welcoming. (I'll bet there's about a million venues for salsa in NYC but I'll let someone with firsthand experience make a recommendation).
posted by mr vino at 10:27 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

Wander around a neighborhood you've never been to.

Go to a museum. There are a lot of places that stay open later on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays and have a more festive, date-like vibe if you guys are not really serious art people.

Hayden Planetarium? Not really active (I mean, the seats recline...), but fun as hell.

Long walks in Central or Prospect Park.

A bike ride? My favorite destinations are Coney Island and the Hudson River boat house.

Something sporty at Chelsea Piers?

A one-shot class at the Brooklyn Brainery or the like?

Join the Nonsense List. It's great for this sort of thing.
posted by Sara C. at 10:33 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

Graffiti tour
Murray's cheesemaking
Hip Hip Karaoke
Birdwatching
Columbia astronomy nights
Sleep No More
Sailing classes

Ice skating, chelsea piers, bowl-mor, laser tag, paintball, etc.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:04 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

Walk the High Line!
posted by kat518 at 11:25 AM on April 8, 2014

A really ambitious urban hike. Walk from Williamsburg to Coney Island, or something similar. Great meal at destination.
posted by Quisp Lover at 11:27 AM on April 8, 2014

I like Chelsea Piers- hitting golf balls is fun, though not too cheap.
posted by bquarters at 11:51 AM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

Brooklyn Boulders!
posted by Shebear at 6:09 PM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

Manhattanhenge is coming at the end of May! Worth checking out, if you haven't experienced it.
posted by Shmuel510 at 6:57 PM on April 8, 2014

Do a glass-blowing lesson! Pier glass in Red Hook is great, ask for Kevin Scanlan.
posted by alhadro at 9:46 PM on April 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

Circus class at Chelsea Piers (excuse the ugly website) or Long Island City.
posted by TravellingCari at 9:14 AM on April 9, 2014

I don't live in New York, but I'm sure cooking and all manner of short art classes (pottery, drawing, painting, glass blowing, etc.) are available.
posted by cnc at 9:16 AM on April 9, 2014

Free kayaking on the Hudson
posted by GalaxieFiveHundred at 2:29 PM on April 9, 2014 [1 favorite]