An underbelly of strangeness occurs in New York, New York, the largest city in the United States. New York offers visitors a multi-cultural experience, a distinct history and heritage, world-class museums, top entertainment and, as noted by Frommer's, NYC, is "iconic, hip, trendsetting and ever-changing." Traditional attractions remain such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Times Square, but there is no lack of strange things to do in New York.
Unusual Dining
Wear a blindfold during a dark dining event at the Camaje Bistro & Lounge. For an intergalactic experience, check out the futuristic and family-friendly Mars 2112 Restaurant. Exercise and eat pizza at the same time on a Pizza Walk, a tour that explores the roots of pizza history from Little Italy to Greenwich Village. Unusual Asian cuisine found in New York includes healthy dishes such as Thousand-year-old egg, live octopus sashimi and frog porridge.
Museums and Landmarks
Visit Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium, a museum dedicated to the strange and bizarre and located in Times Square. Explore weird exhibitions including displays of shrunken heads, a six-legged cow and a lock of Elvis' hair. Discover eerie realistic wax replicas of celebrities at Madam Tussauds' Wax Museum featuring famous icons such as Beyonce, Muhammad Ali and Johnny Depp.
New York's many strange landmarks include statues of Ralph Kramden, Balto, the Wonder Dog and the Wall Street Bull; stockbrokers rub the testicles for good luck.
Coney Island
Coney Island, site of America's first amusement park since 1904, offers guest more than roller coasters and hot dogs along the boardwalk. Coney Island entertains visitors with an authentic circus sideshow, featuring strange feats and human curiosities such as the chainsaw-juggling Donny Vomit, fire-eating Heather Holiday and Scott Baker, the Twisted Shockmeister. After the show, visit the Freak Bar for cool refreshments. The annual Mermaid Parade, an art-themed spectacle takes place during the summer.
Aerial Fitness
Get fit with ease on a flying trapeze at the Trapeze School New York, founded in 1998. The Trapeze School specializes in all areas of aerial arts including flying trapeze, bungee trapeze, static trapeze and trampoline. Trapeze classes are available for all fitness levels and ages 6 and up may participate.
Float in an antigravity yoga class, an eclectic mix of aerial gymnastics, calisthenics, dance and Pilates or take a Jukari Fit to Fly class, a workout inspired by the acrobatics of Cirque de Soleil.
Haunted New York
Listen to stories, tales and legends of New York's haunted past on a walking ghost tour. Historical facts, paranormal phenomenon and a dash of fiction combine to create an uncanny experience for tourists and locals. Celebrity ghosts thought to inhabit New York include Harry Houdini, Edgar Allen Poe and John Lennon. Haunted locations include the City College of New York, Hotel des Artistes and the Dakota, an apartment building.
Attempt contact with the beyond, join a seance, many are open to the public and held year round in New York.
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