dates – Downtown Magazine

It’s about to get romantic

Have you been searching for some new summer date ideas in New York City? Well, we’ve got you covered! Here are our picks for romantic summer dates in New York City.

Coney Island

For a fun-filled day with your significant other, visit Coney Island. Complete with rides, a beach, and shops, there are fun activities that all couples will enjoy. Also, while you’re here be sure to visit Nathan’s Hotdogs. Founded in 1916, the original Nathan’s Hotdogs is on Surf Avenue in Coney Island. These all-beef hotdogs have built a reputation, making them a famous staple of the Coney Island experience. A trip to Coney Island is the perfect date for a sunny summer day.

Classic Harbor Line Cruises

How about a late-night cruise on the Hudson River? With Classic Harbor Line, you can go on relaxing cruises while enjoying the beautiful sights of the city including the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, and Ellis Island. One of our favorite tours is the Jazz Cruise, a 1.5-hour cruise complete with live, talented jazz musicians. This cruise is aboard the Manhattan, a stunning 1920s style yacht. A night on the water with Classic Harbor Line is most definitely a night to remember.

Museum of Modern Art

Otherwise known as the MoMA, this popular museum is the perfect summer date to escape the heat. Featuring modern and contemporary art, the MoMA is open from 10:30 am-5:30 pm Sunday-Friday and Saturday 10:30 am-7:00 pm. Admission is $25 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $14 for full-time students with ID.

Rooftop Reds

Calling all wine-loving couples: Rooftop Reds is the perfect date for you! Located on 299 Sands Street, Building 275, Brooklyn, Rooftop Reds is the world’s first rooftop vineyard. This vineyard makes around 20-25 cases of wine every year. This is a romantic rooftop date you won’t want to miss this summer.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

For a romantic escape into nature in the heart of Brooklyn, plan a date at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden! This 52-acre garden was founded in 1910. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden has over 14,000 taxa of plants. Admission is $18 each for adults and $12 for seniors 65 and up and for students with IDs.

Tokyo Record Bar

If you and your significant other are looking for a unique date in the city, you definitely should check out Tokyo Record Bar. Tokyo Record Bar describes itself as “an underground listening room dedicated to quality and obsession through music, food, and booze.” In order to enter this lounge, you need to walk through Air’s Champagne Parlor.

Tokyo Record Bar does two seatings a night, Monday through Saturday. Once seated, guests are given a song list and a drink menu. Tokyo Record Bar has a large variety of genres of music so everyone can find something they like. The song requests are handed to the DJ who then will then make the playlist for the night and sometimes add some more songs of their choice. Guests will also receive a seven-course tasting menu, complete with various traditional Japanese snacks and food. To experience a taste of Japan from New York City, Tokyo Record Bar is the perfect date.

Dreamland Roller Rink

For a summer date that will send you back to the age of disco, visit Dreamland Roller Rink with your significant other! This themed roller skating rink encourages visitors to journey to the past by coming in retro costumes. MCs and DJs will narrate this spectacular night of disco. Dreamland Roller Rink also hosts themed parties, so that each visit is unique. Dreamland Roller Rink is a must-visit this summer for a unique and unforgettable date night.

Jetty Jumpers Jet Ski Tours

If you and your significant other are looking for some adventurous summer date ideas, you should definitely check out Jetty Jumpers’ jet ski tours. These exciting tours are about three hours long. While jet skiing, you will see some of New York City’s most prominent landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, the Freedom Tower, and more. This is the perfect date for adventurous couples who want a day out on the water.

Color Factory

The Color Factory is the perfect date for couples looking for a unique experience and a lot of photo opportunities. The Color Factory is an art exhibit that revolves around the beauty and varying palettes of color. Each room is a different experience of color and encourages guests to embrace their imagination and creativity. The Color Factory is an experience unlike any other, the perfect date to escape into air conditioning. In addition, all summer you can visit Eataly Downtown and Color Factory’s collaboration.

Bryant Park Movie Nights

Image from the Bryant Park Corporation Website

Bryant Park movie nights are back this summer, the perfect romantic date under the stars. Admission to these movies, are free. The concession stands open at 5:00 pm and the movie starts at sundown. The movie schedule can be found on the Bryant Park website. If you and your significant other are movie buffs looking for a romantic movie night, be sure to check out Bryant Park movie nights this summer.

For more New York City date ideas, click here

Images: Classic Harbor Line

As our warm-weather days are winding down, let us not forget that there is still time to plan a summer adventure with your friends and family. The Classic Harbor Line of New York offers guests a variety of experiences–none of which involve the stress of dealing with airlines and hotels. The cruises are great for any family, couple, or friend group looking for luxury the way it’s supposed to be–hassle free! Take a peek at some of the exciting packages and spend the day or night on the waters of New York City.

1. The Architecture Cruise. This option provides guests with the opportunity to experience New York through the eyes of AIANY (American Institute of Architects New York) members, who guide the tour and introduce Lower Manhattan’s greatest skyscrapers, as well as the key features alongside the East River. Learn about New York City and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and champagne with your party as you cruise on a Gatsby-style yacht. For two hours and forty-five minutes, you will pass under eighteen of Manhattan’s bridges and circumnavigate the island. This cruise is ideal for any party, any size, and is regarded by many as one of the best experiences that Classic Harbor Line has to offer. Also note that due to popular demand for this type of cruise, Classic Harbor Line is also offering various time slots made available to all!

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2. Schooner Sailing. The Schooner America 2.0 is the pioneer in relaxing daytime cruises. Built in 2011, it caters to the customer looking to truly kick back on the seas and embrace the breeze of New York’s Harbor. On the Schooner, you can experience true boating and get to know the harbor in an entirely new way. This option accommodates any size group from 6 to 60, and includes a narrated presentation of the island of Manhattan.

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3. Sunset Jazz. Enjoy some evening jazz and a complimentary drink on this cruise when you depart from the Chelsea piers on a Sunday afternoon. This cruise is the perfect option for a romantic date, featuring the talents of the cruise’s very own trio “The Sound Waves” playing works of Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Duke Ellington. Admire the views with your party all the way from Battery Park to Brooklyn in this one and a half hour cruise.

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4. Chef Morimoto Sunset Sushi & Sake. The famous Morimoto from the Food Network’s Iron Chef can be found on Classic Harbor Line’s Sunset Sushi & Sake cruise. This option is adaptable to guests, as you can choose the ways in which you would like your food served. Request an open saki bar if you wish, or fine cuisine served buffet-style. These cruises can be scheduled privately, however there is a selection of pre-scheduled Morimoto cruises if you would like to purchase tickets at a predetermined date.

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5. Brunch. This option includes a delectable ensemble of meal choices for each guest to enjoy. What could be better than brunch on a leisurely weekend? Brunch with a breathtaking view of Downtown Manhattan, of course. The menu offers a variety of brunch favorites, from Belgium Waffles to Salmon Platters. And be sure to save room for some Italian cookies and fresh fruits for dessert! This type of cruise is the perfect way to spend a day catching up with loved ones and rekindling your inner foodie.

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6. Wine Tasting. There are multiple Wine-Tasting options at Classic Harbor Line, NY. Each wine featured on the cruise is carefully selected and served to each guest, alongside the finest artisan and farmside cheeses. And if you have no time left during the summer to schedule one of these wine-tasting cruises, they are also offered during the holidays, an ideal way to celebrate the season in style.

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7. Full Moon. The Full Moon Cruise Option provides an opportunity to sail beneath the stars. You’ll sail by Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, among other city icons. There’s nothing like New York past sunset; guests will watch the city come alive. Complimentary wine, beer, and champagne will be provided to those who choose to attend the Full Moon Cruise, created with elegance and sophistication in mind.

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8. Full Day Bear Mountain. This nine-hour long event begins with an open breakfast buffet and travels north throughout the Palisades and the lower Hudson River Valley. After the boat docks at Bear Mountain, guests enjoy three hours of outdoor activities. This cruise is perfect for families and friends who enjoy hiking and exploring. If you wish, you can also visit the museum or zoo alongside the beautiful Hessian Lake!

If you’ve got a free day to spare and you’re looking for something to do with friends and family, then browse through the selection of cruises offered by Classic Harbor Line! There is bound to be one that fits your taste, time constraints, and craving for luxury. Don’t let the last month of summer fly by; these cruises are the perfect opportunity to get away from the hustle of the city…but not too far away!

–Kelly Fleming