Friday night in New York City might bring to mind visions of waiting in long lines for a table at a chichi restaurant, or trying to get past the velvet rope at a dance club. But for those of you who want a healthy alternative to the hipster scene, there are a variety of nourishing activities for your body in the Big Apple to keep you busy every Friday night of the year.
Indoor Rock Climbing
Indoor rock climbing gyms offer climbers a place to belay the night away in the big city. The Brooklyn Boulders gym has more than 8,000 square feet of climbing walls. Friday night is College Night from 8 p.m. until midnight. Bring your college ID and get in for $15. The gym will also provide you with gear and a coupon for two free slices of pizza.
For those of you past your college days, the Sports Center at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan is open until 9:00 p.m. on Friday. The gym offers a free belay class every Friday night at 7:00.
Bowling
In an article called "Not Your Father's Bowling Night," "New York" magazine reports, "The city's bowling digs are getting a very modern makeover." At the end of a long day, salute the commencing of your commute by knocking down a few pins at Leisure Time Bowl, an alley that is actually inside Port Authority. Leisure Time is open from 10 a.m. until 3 a.m. on Fridays. If you live closer to Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bowl is open until 4 a.m. on Fridays and features live musical performances.
Yoga
When the sun goes down you can get your stretch on at a variety of nighttime yoga classes in the city. The Laughing Lotus Yoga Center's Midnight Yoga on Fridays starts at 10 p.m. and lasts until midnight. Metromix reviewers say, "Live music accompanies this open-level Vinyasa Flow class, which has been going strong since 2004. Plus, when was the last time you spent just $16 on a Friday night?" The studio Punk Rock Yoga also has a Friday night class the last Friday of each month.
Ballroom Dance
Maybe you love to shake your groove thing, but the sweaty club scene is not your style. So, how about an evening out with like-minded dancers? The Manhattan Ballroom Society hosts a weekly "Friday Night Dance Party." Both beginning ballroom dancers and more advanced hoofers can take lessons before the party begins at 8:30 p.m. Dancing continues until 11:00 p.m. For $20 you get the pre-party dance lesson and admission to the dance, along with refreshments.
Healthy Cooking
A healthful, delicious dinner doesn't have to mean finagling a reservation at a top restaurant. The Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health in Manhattan hosts a Friday Night Dinner each week. The Institute offers cooking classes to the public, and students prepare Friday night's vegetarian dinners. Guests dine at candlelit tables in the Institute's kitchen and classrooms. Ingredients include seasonal produce, organic beans and grains, natural sweeteners and unprocessed foods.
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