St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal in NYC, which means it’s time to paint the town green. We all know that bars pour green beer, bakeries serve green bagels and revelers don sparkly green hats. But that’s only the start when it comes to NYC things that are the color green. Or contain the word “green.” Or whose names are homophones of “green.” Or are kind-of, sort-of greenish. With springtime in sight, join us on our verdant journey—no food coloring (though, in one instance, some serious face painting) required. Then come to New York City and see all of the green attractions for yourself (we’d also recommend embracing the entire spectrum of NYC things, but you’ve got to start somewhere).
And if you’re looking for eco-conscious travel tips and sustainable things to do or see in New York City, worry not: our site has
Statue of Liberty. Photo: Julienne Schaer
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This NYC icon didn’t start out green. The statue’s skin is made of copper and was brown when it was dedicated in 1886. Over 30 years it turned a pale shade of green because of exposure to the elements.
Top of the Woolworth Building. Photo: Julienne Schaer
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Gimbels Skybridge. Photo: Molly Flores
Photo: Tagger Yancey IV
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This Warhol silkscreen takes an everyday item and transforms it into art. The canvas depicts 112 empty glass Coca-Cola bottles. While the seafoam color intensifies and wanes throughout each row, it’s the red logo at the bottom that stands out most.
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Union Square Market. Photo: Walter Wlodarczyk
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Transmitter Park, Greenpoint. Photo: Julienne Schaer
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Bowling Green Park. Photo: Phil Kline
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Wicked. Photo: Joan Marcus
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The Gershwin Theatre positively glows with green. That includes the Wicked marquee, the set of the Emerald City and, of course, the skin of the show’s star character. It takes about
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Courtesy, Javits Center
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We’ve got all kinds of birdlife in NYC. Pigeons may first come to mind, but ornithologists know there are more than
Green-Wood Cemetery. Photo: Tagger Yancey IV
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Courtesy, New York Jets LLC
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Dyker Beach Golf Course. Photo: Marley White
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The Mets’ team colors are blue and orange. Their previous ballpark, Shea Stadium, had seats in those colors, plus red and green. But when New York’s National League team moved to their current home, Citi Field, in 2009, they switched to an all dark-green color scheme for their seats. It’s a tribute to the green seats at the Polo Grounds, where the New York Giants played for many years and the Mets spent their first two seasons.
Nathan's Coney Island. Photo: Brittany Petronella
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Russ & Daughters. Photo: Matthew Penrod
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Photo: Joe Buglewicz
Subway globe. Photo: Molly Flores
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No, those glowing orbs aren’t just sitting on top of subway entrances to look pretty; they have a purpose. Not only do the orbs make it easier to spot a station, the green ones (and half green too) are there to let you know an entrance is open; red ones indicate that a stairway is closed or exit only.
West 8th Station. Photo: Julienne Schaer
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Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Photo: Jen Davis
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Pickle Guys. Photo: Will Steacy
33. Many of the delicious products at the
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With the exception of the odd green basil leaves, NYC pizzas are typically red and white. But Syrian restaurant Dar 525 serves an all-green pie. Made with parmesan and mozzarella cheese, onion and rosemary, it’s topped with pistachios and cooked to a golden green color. The result is a healthy-ish and striking pizza.
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Tavern on the Green. Photo: Maura Daley
Central Park. Photo: Brittany Petronella
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In a city with 30,000 acres of parkland—roughly enough to cover all of San Francisco—Central Park stands out for its mix of formal landscaping and wild patches, its natural attractions (20,000 trees!) and man-made monuments (a 3,500-year-old Egyptian obelisk!), and its setting smack in the middle of Manhattan. Right at the park’s heart is the Great Lawn—as lovely a patch of green as you’ll find.
New York Botanical Garden. Photo: Christopher Postlewaite
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McSorley’s Old Alehouse. Photo: Kate Glicksberg
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The sign above McSorley’s
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Photo: Molly Flores
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Palm Court. Photo: Tagger Yancey IV
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While Kermit claims it’s not be easy
The Flower Market. Photo: Molly Flores
Washington Square Park. Photo: Christopher Postlewaite
The Allee, Snug Harbor. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Grand Central Ceiling. Photo: Brittany Petronella
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Officially, the color used for the background of Grand Central Terminal’s celestial ceiling mural is cerulean blue, meaning a blue intended to resemble the night sky. Seems simple enough. But plenty of people will tell you that it looks green, greenish or, at the least, blue green. And the product used to clean the ceiling during its restoration was called Simple Green. Plus, let’s say the color is blue. Combine that with the yellow stars, and you’ve got green. Basically, we like Grand Central Terminal so much we’ll take any excuse to include it here.
St Patrick's Day Parade. Photo: Joe Buglewicz
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