This weekend, October 16th & 17th, Open House New York returns with a lineup of 200 things to do across all five boroughs. First launched in 2001, the annual OHNY weekend gives New Yorkers a chance to access off-limits sights and delve deeper into iconic landmarks with a series of tours, talks, and open hours. This year, for its 20th anniversary, OHNY is back with a mix of in-person and virtual events, plus new COVID-19 protocols (bring your vaccination card, ID, and mask). Also new this year is OHNY’s weekend hub at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where there will be food trucks, pop-up eateries, tours, demos, and more. Here are our picks for the best open access sites during OHNY weekend 2021.
1. 1014 Fifth Avenue
In a constantly changing city like New York, architects and urban planners must make choices about what to do with historic buildings. 1014 Fifth Avenue is one such building — one of the few remaining Beaux-Arts townhouses on Museum Mile — and its future is being debated.
During OHNY 2021, the former Goethe House New York German cultural center and ambassador’s home will offer guided walking tours, lectures, and talks by architects and historians through the Upper East Side. Our very own Justin Rivers, Untapped New York’s Chief Experience Officer will host the tour “Inside 1014 Fifth Avenue & The Hidden Histories of Fifth Avenue’s Gilded Age Mansion” three times over the weekend. 1014 Fifth Avenue will be open between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.