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Bronx Zoo
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2300 Southern Blvd.
The Bronx Zoo of the Wildlife Conservation Society is the premier place to study and appreciate the world's many creatures. Home to more than 6,000 animals, the zoo spans 265 acres that re-create the diverse natural habitats of its numerous residents. Open year-round, it’s a great experience in any season. During the winter, be sure to stop by Tiger Mountain or Himalayan Highlands to see big cats enjoying the chilly outdoors—then head to World of Reptiles or JungleWorld for a warm up with tropical wildlife. (Some exhibits and attractions are seasonal. Go to BronxZoo.com to plan your visit in advance.)
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New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
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Fifth Ave. & 42nd St.
The New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a landmark Beaux-Arts building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan. This iconic building houses outstanding research collections in the humanities and social sciences. Guarded by world-famous marble lions Patience and Fortitude, the Library houses architectural wonders include the stunning Map Division and the breathtaking Rose Main Reading Room, nearly the length of a football field. Don’t miss free exhibitions and daily tours.
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Katz's Delicatessen
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205 E. Houston St.
Send a salami to your boy in the Army, reads the worn sign hanging in Katz's, the cacophonous, confusing but delectable deli on the Lower East Side. Not much has changed here since the turn of the century: Grab a ticket at the door, wait in the scrum of lines to place your order with the gruff countermen—and please don’t try to eat the whole pastrami sandwich in one sitting.
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Wicked
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222 W. 51st St.
This megahit musical tells the backstory of the Witches of Oz and the unusual friendship that develops between Glinda the Good and the green-skinned Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. This long-running, Tony award–winning show has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman (based on Gregory Maguire’s best-selling novel) and is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. The show is packed with now-classic Broadway songs, like “Popular” and “For Good,” and show-stopping numbers, like “Defying Gravity,” that have been thrilling NYC audiences for more than 15 years.
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Edge
5
30 Hudson Yards (Tenth Ave. & 33rd St.)
On the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards is the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere and the fifth highest in the world. Walk onto the deck and you’re 65 feet from the building at the furthest point, and 1,000 feet from the ground below. Enjoy unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River, including sunsets to the west. For the truly adventurous, step onto part of the deck made of glass to get a thrilling glimpse of the City below.