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Stuff to do with a teenager... — Brooklynian

Stuff to do with a teenager...

carmen
carmen
edited November -1 in Brooklyn and Beyond
My 16 year old cousin is coming to visit me for a week starting sunday and I have no idea what to do to entertain him. He's pretty science/math nerdy and wants to go to a bunch of museums (which I'll send him on during the day when I'm working) but I want to show him some "cool" stuff too since he's from NC and has never been to ANY major city before (plus hes totally pumped about the trip, which he booked in NOVEMBER)

Anyone have suggestions? Art galleries, music shows, poetry readings, anything that doesn't require being 18! Everything I do revolves around alcohol or at least music venues that require yo to be 18 so I'm at a bit of a loss...

Comments

  • jetshark
    jetshark
    A few of my favorite things to do with people who are visiting for the first time:

    Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge

    Tour of Chinatown....we tend to take it for granted but it's like another planet down there...very Blade Runner.

    Museum of Moving Image in Queens...really cool place.

    If he's into art the Galleries in Chelsea are free and some are very cool.

    Here's hoping the weather is nice....enjoy.
  • daver
    daver
    Disappointment colors me.

    I read "Stuff to do with a teenager..." and figured this would be another entertaining Spitzer thread.

    Damn.
  • filmlover44
    filmlover44

    Subject: Re: Stuff to do with a teenager...

    Carmen wrote: My 16 year old cousin is coming to visit me for a week starting sunday and I have no idea what to do to entertain him. He's pretty science/math nerdy and wants to go to a bunch of museums (which I'll send him on during the day when I'm working) but I want to show him some "cool" stuff too since he's from NC and has never been to ANY major city before (plus hes totally pumped about the trip, which he booked in NOVEMBER)

    Anyone have suggestions? Art galleries, music shows, poetry readings, anything that doesn't require being 18! Everything I do revolves around alcohol or at least music venues that require yo to be 18 so I'm at a bit of a loss...
    If it warms up, Central Park is always fun. Chinatown as mentioned above is an absolute must. Greenwich Village East and West.
  • fruitbat
    fruitbat
    I second the Museum of the Moving Image recommendation--that place is awesome. Hope they still have the "make your own Monty-Python-style stop motion animation" exhibit!

    You might also try a comedy show--"Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" or whatever's on at the Upright Citizens Brigage Theater are usually safe, cheap bets for the not-too-conservative teenager.

    While you're in chinatown, you could grab a banh mi and wander through some grocery stores (Dynasty and Hong Kong are fun and full of interesting snacks). You could also go to Rai Rai Ken in the east village for ramen (boyfriend and my little brothers have both really liked it there).

    If he's into music, BAMcafe usually has good stuff and is a pretty laid back environment.

    And of course, there's always the apple store...

    Have a fun visit!
  • homeowner
    homeowner
    If he's 16 take him to Sony Wonder. Its a history of electronics and computers in the Sony building. Its got some cool exhibits - very interactive- where you can do things like edit sound tracks into a music video or do a weather report in front of a green scree. At the end of it you walk into a room full of Sony Playstations and can play the latest games. Its a fun way to kill an hour or two. I think its $10 or so to get in.

    Other suggestions...

    Walk through Times Square complete with window shopping, etc.

    Chelsea Piers for some bowling (or ice skating, or golf, or rock climbing)

    The Cloisters in Washington Heights for a different kind of museum experience.

    Museum of Television and Film.

    Tickets to Blue Man Group or Stomp. Both shows are pretty reasonable and even jaded teens can get into them.

    Take him to the villiage and let him hang out around NYU and Washington Square Park.

    MOD NOTE: I'm moving this to Brooklyn and Beyond. Let's get some suggestions outside of PS...
  • reader
    reader
    Why not start out with some of the real tourist type things like the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, etc. While in Rockefeller Center, he can visit Nintendo World. He may also like the Museam of Natural History, Bronx Zoo and Coney Island Aquarium.
  • stacey
    stacey
    Astroland is now open and as an adult I am stilled awed by the Hayden Planetarium. He may also be interested in the 5 Points building in Queens where some of the greatest NY graffiti art is.
  • tryp
    tryp
    How about the Nuyorican? If he's at all into poetry and you can get over there, the slam is AMAZING.

    http://www.nuyorican.org/
  • daruma
    daruma
    I like helicoper tours. I'm going to do this summer:

    The Beast – Boat Tour May through October
    Don't miss the BEAST… New York's very own thrill ride.
    "Mad Dog," your daring captain, will take you for a wet 'n' wild ride through the New York harbor. Hold onto your hats because for 30 fun-filled minutes, you'll be soaring past the skyscrapers at a heart-pounding 45mph. We'll stop for a close-up of the Statue of Liberty where you'll have a quick photo-op. It's a pure thrill!
    Beverages, wine, beer, cocktails, sandwiches, hotdogs, and snack foods are available for purchase on board.
    Departs from: Pier 83, West 42nd Street & 12th Avenue.
    You must be at least 40"/100cm tall to ride the Beast
    The Beast--30 minute cruise (1/2 hr)

    The Beast Boat Tour
    Adult: only $17.00
    (3–11 yrs. - 40"/100cm tall) Child: only $11.00
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    take him to restaurants around nyc. thats one thing nyc has more than any where else in the us is restaurants.

    don't do the following:

    get him a fake id(shouldn't do this its 100% illegal), but when i was about that age my friends got em :p. had tons of fun with it.
  • ringrunner
    ringrunner
    How about The Chinatown Garbage Tour

    http://stoproadkill.org/chinatowngarbagetour.html

    "You're invited on a FREE tour of the New York City Chinatown Garbage. Did you know you could make art out of dead animals? YES! I am going to show you how to collect dead animals from the garbage in Chinatown to make your own personal taxidermy! This is the first NYC CHINATOWN GARBAGE TAXIDERMY TOUR! You will learn how to dig in the garbage for dead animals. You can make art out of these animals. It's really cool!. I've found everything from sharks to frogs to plain old unidentifiable crap. Sometimes I find nothing interesting, but that is what makes it fun. You never know! RSVP is appreciated but not required. RAIN OR SHINE.

    SPECIAL FOR THIS TOUR ONLY: CO-HOST CARLEN ALTMAN, APPETIZERS, AND HAPHAZARD DISPLAY OF HOW TO PUT ANIMALS TOGETHER ON THE GROUND.

    DATE: THURSDAY, MARCH 27TH, 2008

    TIME: 9PM

    MEET: THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF CANAL STREET AND LAFAYETTE STREET, NYC"
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    ringrunner wrote: How about The Chinatown Garbage Tour

    http://stoproadkill.org/chinatowngarbagetour.html

    "You're invited on a FREE tour of the New York City Chinatown Garbage. Did you know you could make art out of dead animals? YES! I am going to show you how to collect dead animals from the garbage in Chinatown to make your own personal taxidermy! This is the first NYC CHINATOWN GARBAGE TAXIDERMY TOUR! You will learn how to dig in the garbage for dead animals. You can make art out of these animals. It's really cool!. I've found everything from sharks to frogs to plain old unidentifiable crap. Sometimes I find nothing interesting, but that is what makes it fun. You never know! RSVP is appreciated but not required. RAIN OR SHINE.

    SPECIAL FOR THIS TOUR ONLY: CO-HOST CARLEN ALTMAN, APPETIZERS, AND HAPHAZARD DISPLAY OF HOW TO PUT ANIMALS TOGETHER ON THE GROUND.

    DATE: THURSDAY, MARCH 27TH, 2008

    TIME: 9PM

    MEET: THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF CANAL STREET AND LAFAYETTE STREET, NYC"
    Part of me is fascinated by new "art" and admires people who introduce unique recreational ideas, and part of me is still barfing from the picture of severed frog heads.
  • stacey
    stacey
    I just found out the car show will be in town while your family is here

    http://www.autoshowny.com/
  • daver
    daver
    stacey wrote: I just found out the car show will be in town while your family is here

    http://www.autoshowny.com/
    That is supposed to be a good show. But seriously, who comes to NYC and goes to a car show? That just seems wrong on so many levels.
  • stacey
    stacey
    I dont know all the young men and teens in my family love going to the car show to check out all the new cars and futuristic cars in one place they say its the "big boy toys". As my nephew says - this is about as close as he can get to touching a Lamborgini.
  • homeowner
    homeowner
    What about a mini-college tour? Give him a chance to see what schools look like in the big city. Perhaps a walk though Columbia, down to NYU, into downtown for LIU, then out to Brooklyn College (one of the US News and World Reports prettiest campuses). If he's getting ready to go away to school in a year or two it might be fun (or at least informative) for him.
  • carmen
    carmen
    homeowner wrote: What about a mini-college tour? Give him a chance to see what schools look like in the big city. Perhaps a walk though Columbia, down to NYU, into downtown for LIU, then out to Brooklyn College (one of the US News and World Reports prettiest campuses). If he's getting ready to go away to school in a year or two it might be fun (or at least informative) for him.
    ooo good idea. He's a smart little cookie too (in a math/science magnet school now) and is counting down the hours till college, walking around columbia or the NYU/ west 4th area would be fun for him
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