However
today I have decided to concentrate solely on part two and have whittled it
down to six more topics that are available to everyone, everywhere via desktop,
laptop, phone or tablet. Once again I invite you – our valued travel advisors -
to use the information to keep up on your own New York City knowledge, to share
with your clients who may have had to postpone their visit (or have one planned
post-pandemic) or simply for your own enjoyment.
Now sit
back, fasten your virtual seat belt and enjoy this journey intended to
highlight just a few more areas of interest still happening – albeit virtually
– in New York City
Vacation Packages (NYCVP) favorite city!
Animals and Aquariums
The Bronx Zoo now has an entire page
on its website devoted to their virtual viewing offerings. Among the virtual
exhibits you will find three live cams – one at the Sea Lion Pool, one
at the Aquatic Bird House and the other in the Madagascar! Exhibit (where
you can watch the delightful lemurs climbing trees and swinging from ropes). Bonus
- you can also tune in to see two daily feedings at the Sea Lion Pool
(11:00am and 3:00pm EST) as well as at the Aquatic Bird House (12:30pm
and 3:30pm EST). That’s not all – this page also features a virtual visit
video series that updates frequently allowing you to get an up close and
personal look at what goes into the care of the animals behind the scenes of
the zoo.
Creatures
of the aquatic nature more your speed? The New York Aquarium’s website is also
offering live cams – two to be exact – operating daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm EST
and guaranteed to keep you captivated. The first - Ocean Wonders - features sharks, sturgeons and rays. The second - Spineless
- showcases its giant Pacific octopus among other invertebrates. You’ll also
want to check out their social media accounts (think Facebook, Instagram
and Twitter) for frequent pop-up live feeds and videos.
And for
plenty of interesting stories and updates on life at the Wildlife
Conservation Society’s zoos (which include those above as well as Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo - and the aquarium)
– check out their blog Wild View – An Eye
on Wildlife. But it’s not just the zoos and the aquarium that are featured –
there are plenty of tales of wildlife in their natural habitats as well. Here
you will also find an interactive section called Assignments that gives you an excuse to get outside,
take some pictures and show off your photography skills all while social
distancing.
Parks and Plants
And
speaking of parks – don’t forget the amusement type! Back in 2004 Coney
Island put together the Coney Island History Project (whose website
I came across while researching content for this blog). One fabulous inclusion
is an online collection of stories told by those who lived them – all housed in
the section titled Oral History Archive. The recorded interviews (last tally was 360!)
recount memories from as far back as 1870 to as recent as last year and include
such participants as shopkeepers, sideshow proprietors, ride operators and
“polar bears” - all guaranteed to give you hours of listening pleasure.
Even though
it often feels as though the world has come to a standstill these days - the
seasons have still come and gone as usual. Thankfully, we do not have to miss
out on the beauty of nature shedding its winter coat in New York City this year
simply because we are homebound. First,
there is the New York Botanical Garden. Although they are closed during
the pandemic – they are inviting everyone to see spring come to life right
before their eyes with a series of both video and picture
highlights of the
seasons most beautiful blossoms. In addition, they also have online classes to
participate in, children’s activities that are fun and educational and Facebook
Watch Parties too.
If you are
missing cherry blossom season the Brooklyn Botanical Garden has you
covered with their virtual tour of the Japanese
Hill-and-Pond Garden and the Cherry Esplanade
and Cherry Walk. Wave Hill in the Bronx (a public garden and cultural center) is also keeping
you close to nature with their Neighborhood
Naturalist series
narrated by Gabriel Willow. And
finally, Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden also has a
section devoted to our “new normal” called Snug Harbor at Home. Here you can find
videos, live events, virtual tours and explorations as well as hands-on
educational activities – in fact, there is pretty much something here for every
age group!
Books and Booze
For all of
you bookworms out there (myself included!) you will be happy to hear that the New York Public Library has a page on
their website devoted to all of the remote content they have available –
including a free e-reader app on which to enjoy any of the more than 300,000
e-books and e-audiobooks they have on hand for you to borrow. Over at the Brooklyn
Public Library you can find virtual programming taking the place
of face-to-face events. These presentations range in topics from financial
guidance to social issues and from yoga to knitting groups - and are offered
via a variety of mediums including Facebook Live and Zoom. The
indie bookstore Books Are Magic out of Cobble Hill
in Brooklyn is keeping previously scheduled in-store events going via Zoom
as well. And I haven’t forgotten the little ones! Bravo’s Book Nook (at
the Players Theater out of Greenwich Village) is hosting weekly story times
with Bravo (an adorable pup!) on Facebook Live for the kids – or
those of us who are simply kids at heart.
Just
because New York’s wineries and breweries are closed to the public does not
mean you still cannot imbibe! Over at the Brooklyn Winery they are holding
virtual wine tastings. How does that work? Well I’m glad you asked! You can
participate with or without wine (which is sold in 4-packs and vary in cost)
although why would you forgo tasting delicious new wines? Each wine tasting
will be held on Facebook Live, will feature two of the four wines
purchased and is a totally interactive experience where you are free to ask
questions and get responses live. Afterwards, a recording of each session will
be housed on their Facebook page and available for you to reference any
time you would like. If your taste buds are more fans of hops rather than of
grapes, then you too have a virtual option. City Brew Tours is holding beer
events at home including topics such as home brewing and cheese and beer
pairings. Bonus – you can book these events for private or group participation
and 5% of all event proceeds will go to Feeding America to help fight
hunger during the pandemic. Both events are held via Zoom with an option to get
the supplies shipped right to each participant’s home.
And so, my
friends that concludes today’s trek to virtual New York City. Stay tuned for
Part 3 to see what else the City That Never Sleeps has come up with to
help pass the time until we can once again take a real bite out of the Big
Apple! Until then – stay safe and #tourismstrong.