If guests of our boutique hotel The MAve in Midtown want to get a more complete picture of NYC’s art scene, they have to dig a little deeper than the museums and instead delve into the city’s galleries, studios and street art.

As no one could be expected to arrive to NYC and immediately have a handle on all the city’s art-world happenings, it’s a good thing that companies like Artigo Tours exist.

Artigo Tours is an art-loving tourist’s one-stop shop, as the company provides a host of tailor-made tours that take travelers on an exploration of the city’s famed and fantastic art scene.

Because Artigo Tours offers individualized tours, no group will leave disappointed. Interested in the creative process? Artigo can take your group into the active studios of working artists and even into their workspace homes. The company also arranges guided visits to some of the city’s top art schools like Cooper Union and the Pratt Institute where the next generation of great artists is currently being trained.

Tours vary in length anywhere from a short walking tour of a neighborhood to a multi-day expedition across the city’s art world. Other specializations of Artigo include architecture, street art and private collections, where tourists visit the residences of prominent art collectors to see their private collections of masterpieces.

For a free alternative to Artigo, check out the Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour (TOAST). Organized by an artist-run non-profit, this annual art walk takes visitors into the studio space of hundreds of artists in over thirty buildings in NYC’s trendy TriBeCa neighborhood. This year TOAST runs from May 3rd to May 6th, so try not to miss it!

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Guests staying at our boutique hotel The MAve have a limitless amount of options when it comes to exploring NYC, but those looking for a somewhat unique way to see the city should think about calling Manhattan Helicopters or the Spirit of New York.

Departing from a helicopter pad downtown, Manhattan Helicopters takes visitors on 15-30 minute aerial tours of Manhattan. Zooming past the Lower Manhattan skyline and along the East River, the helicopters travel past iconic NYC landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Central Park and Times Square.

At approximately $200 per person, the tours aren’t cheap, but they are definitely fun and the present an altogether unique way to see the city.

For something a little more down to earth, the Spirit of New York operates daily lunch and dinner cruises on its luxurious three-deck ships. Sailing on the Hudson River, East River and the Upper New York Bay, the cruises give patrons ample time to appreciate the NYC skyline and famed landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty as they dine.

Guests on the dinner cruise can take advantage of the ship’s new open-air rooftop lounge and enjoy drinks and dancing against the backdrop of the New York skyline.

Dinner cruises last for three hours and prices start at $85. Lunch, meanwhile, is served on two-hour long cruises starting at only $45. Not bad at all for a buffet lunch and a scenic cruise around the city.

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First on the agenda is the illustrious Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York and indeed the country’s premier art museum, the Met is the one museum in the city that can absolutely not be missed. Though they suggest $25 per person, admission is always discretionary at the Met, which means frugal tourists can save a bit of coin. Also, on Fridays and Saturdays the museum keeps its doors open until 9 p.m.

Not far from the Met, the Guggenheim Museum has a two-hour window on Saturdays that allows visitors to take in the museum’s impressive art collection for less than the $18 standard admission fee, as from 5:45 p.m. until closing at 7:45 p.m. admission to the Guggenheim is discretionary.

On Fridays another Upper East Side Museum, The Whitney Museum of American Art, waives its $18 admission fee in favor of voluntary donations from 6 p.m. until close at 9 p.m. This is a great time to visit, as for all but the most ardent art fans $18 may be a little too steep to visit the museum’s niche collection.

In Midtown, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is one of the world’s principal museums of contemporary art. Its collection, encompassing six floors, is fantastic and includes famed pieces by artists as celebrated as Monet, Miro and Van Gogh. Thanks to a special promotion by department store Target, admission to the MOMA is free every Friday night from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., which amounts to a savings of $25.

With all of this saved money on museums and the great deals by our boutique hotel The Mave—20% discounts on stays of 3-4 nights—it seems that having a great time in NYC isn’t as expensive as you thought.

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Situated on Central Park at 82nd Street and only a few blocks from other legendary art museums like the Guggenheim and Whitney Museum of American Art, The Met is the world’s third largest museum and houses an absolutely gigantic collection that spans more than 5,000 years and includes two million pieces of art!

The museum is divided into seventeen different curatorial departments and it goes without saying that it can be quite difficult to see all the museum has to offer on one visit. One really has to choose what aspects of the museum interest them the most or dedicate several full days to exploring the museum.

History lovers will definitely enjoy the Egyptian antiquities section with its restored temples and giant sculptures taken straight from the Sahara. Likewise the Greek and Roman section has a host of artwork and statues that give even the Louvre a run for its money.

The classic works of the European Masters can be seen in the European paintings section, while contemporary art can be found in the modern art section.

Admission to the museum is donation based, with the recommended donation $25 per person. The good news is that it’s possible to save money by donating less on subsequent visits, therefore making it possible to take in even more the museum has to offer. Closed on Mondays, the museum stays open late—until 9 p.m.—on Fridays and Saturdays.

Guests staying at the boutique hotel The MAve on Madison Avenue will want to take the 6 train from 28th Street to 86th Street. The entire journey from the hotel to world-class art should only take about 15 minutes.

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Founded in 2008, the goal of City Winery is to introduce the urbanite denizens of NYC to the intricate process of winemaking and allow them to experience the full wine experience, from production to consumption.

As NYC has no vineyards, the winery imports grapes to its SoHo location from some of the world’s premier grape-growing regions like France, Australia and South Africa. These grapes then embark upon the winemaking process, as they are mashed, fermented and aged to perfection in the winery’s barrel room.

Visitors are welcome to explore the winery and to enjoy some of its house wines at its 30-seat Barrel Room Restaurant. Eleven of the homemade wines are available on tap and there are more than 400 wines from around the world available, if, for some reason, someone wants to try something else.

A more in-depth look at the urban winemaking process can be seen on a guided tour of City Winery, each of which comes with a wine-tasting, cheese-platter finale. The tours are $35 per person and are available seven days a week from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The City Winery is just one example of an innovative and unique NYC establishment. The city truly does have a little bit of everything, and tourists would be wise to spend as much time as possible getting acquainted with the city. To help make this dream a reality, every guest staying at least four nights at our boutique Manhattan hotel The MAve will now receive his/her fifth night free!

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The Chelsea Brewing Company is the brewery closest to our boutique hotel The MAve, which, like Chelsea, is also in Midtown. The Chelsea Brewing Company is Manhattan’s largest microbrewery, and it has a state-of-the-art brewing process with a fully automatic grain-handling system that’s capable of bottling 2,000 bottles per hour.

Tours are offered, free of charge, every Saturday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Afterward stick around to try some of the delicious brews at the restaurant and pub, like the Checker Cab Blonde Ale and the Sunset Red Ale. As the brewery is situated on Pier 59 in the Chelsea Piers, there are panoramic views of the Hudson River from the brewpub. The riverside terrace is particularly popular in the summer.

Competing for travelers’ attention on Saturdays is the crosstown Brooklyn Brewery. Having started as a local craft beer in 1988, the Brooklyn Brewery, and its flagship beer the Brooklyn Lager, has seen its popularity explode in the 25 years since. Now its beers can be found across the United States, and indeed across the world, with the beers having found success in markets as far afield as Hong Kong.

Brooklyn Brewery is located in the hip neighborhood of Williamsburg and free tours are offered every Saturday between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. After a look at the brewing process, guests can take a seat at one of the breweries picnic tables to enjoy its craft beer selection. Otherwise, reservation-only tours are available during the week between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

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The Big Apple Greeter is an innovative service, as this non-profit pairs up travelers with local, volunteer tour guides who provide in-depth looks at neighborhoods from a local’s perspective. The service accepts groups from 1-6 persons and requests should be made in advance, but it’s a great way to see the city with a friendly native.

No article on NYC is complete without at least a cursory mention of Central Park. An oasis of greenery in the center of the city, Central Park is more than just a luxury to the denizens of the city, but it is instead an absolute necessity for escaping the concrete jungle. The Central Park Conservancy offers a wide number of free walking tours to explore the park’s 850 acres of woodland, lawns and water. Examples of tours include the Belvedere Castle tour, a Revolutionary War history tour and an “art of the park” tour.

Another fun and free walking tour is offered by the Grand Central Partnership. Every Friday at 12:30 p.m. the partnership offers guided 90-minute tours of the famed Grand Central Terminal in Midtown. The busiest train station in the country, the Grand Central Terminal is also quite historic and the tours are led by volunteer urban historians.

The staff at our boutique Manhattan hotel The MAve will be happy to provide more information on the various ways visitors can explore the city. After all, we want our guests to have the best stay in NYC possible and to return again and again, and maybe even tell their friends!

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While much of the show is set in Brooklyn, there are still a ton of places featured on the series that are located in Manhattan and within easy commute from our NYC boutique hotel The MAve in the Flatiron District.

The Lower Manhattan neighborhood the Bowery is right in the thick of filming, as it is the location of several filming sites. The Lehmann Maupin Gallery at 201 Chrystie Street is the gallery where Marnie works in season one. The gallery hosts rotating exhibitions throughout the year that showcase renowned contemporary artists, and art-loving fans of the show will definitely enjoy stopping by.

Just down the street is the hip dive bar Tom and Jerry’s. Frequented by Jessa in the show—of course, who else?—this bar has an extensive selection of microbrews and a rowdy vibe. It’s cash only, but there is a giant moose head on the wall…so there’s that.

Nearby in the Lower East Side, the Babycakes Bakery serves up vegan cakes and cupcakes that can be seen being eaten by Shoshanna in the show. Non-vegans may be surprised to see just how delicious vegan treats can be when done right, and, after all, it’s hip to eat vegan food for no reason whatsoever.

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Of course, guests staying at our boutique hotel The MAve in Midtown’s Flatiron District will be perfectly situated to explore the best the city has to offer, and the hotel’s luxury amenities are sure to impress any, ahem, shall we say house guests…

Just a few blocks from the hotel is the very unique SPiN New York, a venue that mixes chic nightlife with ping pong. The lights are dim and the patrons are well dressed, but the action, instead of being centered around a dance floor or bar, happens at one of the 17 ping pong tables. The ping pong tables are rented by the hour and each one has a couch and table for drinks and appetizers.

Brooklyn Bowl is another great venue for the boys. As its name suggests, this bowling alley is located in Brooklyn—Williamsburg to be exact—and while it’s a little far from the hotel, it’s more than worth the trek. After paying a small cover, patrons are greeted by a full bar, chic cocktail lounge vibe and hipster indie bands playing to full crowds, oh, and let’s not forget the 16 bowling lanes. Is it hard to focus on your bowling game with so many distractions? Sure. But bowling has never felt cooler!

After a wholesome early evening with the guys, let’s get a little more sinister for our late night NYC escapades. The trendy Meatpacking District is the place to go for pounding beats and giant nightclubs. Though face control can be a little strict, models pack the dance floors and there is a ton of fun to be had in the area.

Check out Darby Downstairs for a healthy dose of electro hip hop and funk. Or if you have money that’s begging to be spent, visit Le Bain on the roof of the newly opened Standard Hotel, which is a hot spot for celebrities and models.

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The 25-minute ferry ride is popular with tourists as it travels past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and offers panoramic views of Lower Manhattan, making it a fun and easy way to see the city from the water.

The ferry docks at St George on Staten Island, which is an up-and-coming neighborhood known for its historic buildings, diverse restaurants and inviting pubs. Tourists should definitely take the time to explore some of the neighborhood sights and have a meal before returning to Manhattan.

The St George Historic District is located near the ferry pier and is a charming enclave of almost 100 historic buildings and Colonial-era homes. Another historical attraction in the neighborhood is the St George Theatre. Built in 1929, this theater was one of the most extravagant theaters in all of NYC when it opened. It was recently renovated and is now once again hosting big names in music and entertainment.

Before departing on the ferry, stop in at Enoteca Maria for some of the city’s best Italian food. The restaurant is still relatively quiet despite having received critical acclaim from several of the city’s top food critics. The restaurant has a somewhat unique kitchen staff, as the kitchen is manned by a rotating crew of Italian grandmothers. The menu changes nightly, depending on who’s cooking, and the food could not be more authentic or delicious.

It’s incredibly easy to reach the Staten Island ferry terminal from our boutique hotel The MAve in Midtown, just take the train from 28th Street and Broadway to Whitehall Street Downtown. The total journey time on the train is only 20 minutes and the ferry runs 24 hours a day.

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