This July, Untapped New York has tons of ways you can explore New York City! Join us to uncover the secrets of the Metropolitan Musuem of Art with the guidance of a fomer museum guard, stroll along the Victorian mansions of Flatbush, venture through the abandoned halls of hospital on Ellis Island and more!
Secrets of The Met Museum
As an Untapped New York Insider, you have access to even more eye-opening experiences! This July, Insiders will enjoy food samples from the Bronx Night Market, join a hard hat tour of the Domino Sugar Refinery, and more! These experiences are members-only events. Insiders also save $5 off Untapped New York’s public walking tours. Become an Insider today and get your first month free with code JOINUS!
Tuesday, July 4th – Secrets of Grand Central
Peek into hidden tennis courts, stop by a speakeasy, and uncover remnants of a lost movie theater inside the magnificent Grand Central Terminal! On this expert-led tour, visitors and commuters alike will discover something new about one of NYC’s most beloved landmarks. This tour is offered everyday of the week!
Wednesday, July 5th – Barrow’s Intense Distillery
Go behind the scenes at Barrow’s Intense Distillery to see how their award-winning ginger-flavored liqueur is made! At this Industry City site, you’ll see how hundreds of pounds of fresh ginger are turned into a refreshing spirit. Then, you’ll get to relax and taste the final product. This event is open to Untapped New York Insiders! Not an Insider yet? Become a member today and get your first month free with code JOINUS
Thursday, July 6th – Underground Subway Tour
Venture deep below the streets of New York City to explore the subterranean transit system. Starting at the very beginning, you’ll trace the evolution of the subway from opening day to the present. Along the way, you’ll discover hidden symbols in subway art, ride through abandoned stations, and see a side of the subway you never knew about. This tour runs every Monday through Saturday!
Friday, July 7th – Secrets of Rockefeller Center
Peer into a secret portal to see part of Rockefeller Center’s construction, walk through a lobby covered in gold, and find out where there is a sterling silver model airplane made by the Cartier at one of NYC’s most famous sites, Rockefeller Center! These NYC walking tours are offered every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Saturday, July 8th – Funk You Too! Curator-Led Tour
Explore the evolution of the Funk Art movement from the 1960s to today on a guided tour of the Museum of Arts and Design’s new sculpture exhibit. On this tour, you’ll see playful and humorous works of art from artists of multiple generations. This tour is free for Untapped New York Insiders!
July 8th – Abandoned Ellis Island Hospital Hard Hat Tour
Step inside off-limits spaces on a hard hat tour of Ellis Island’s abandoned hospital, led by a Save Ellis Island docent. Once the standard for United States medical care, the facility was later transformed into a US Coast Guard base and an FBI detention center. As you explore, you will see larger-than-life images of immigrants pasted on the walls, part of artist JR’s exhibition, “Unframed- Ellis Island.” This tour is offered every Saturday and select Sundays.
Sunday, July 9th – Greenwich Village Coffee Tour
Sip an espresso, nibble on a chocolate-covered coffee bean, and enjoy a hot cup of joe from the oldest and most interesting cafes in NYC! On this caffeine-fueled tour, you’ll visit the birthplace of NYC’s coffee history.
Tuesday, July 11th – Beyond the Light at ARTECHOUSE
Journey into space with a new immersive experience inside the underground art space below Chelsea Market! Beyond the Light is a collaboration between ARTECHOUSE and NASA. The mesmerizing show features mind-blowing images and data from deep space captured by the James Web Telescope. Untapped New York Insiders can go for free on July 6th and 11th!
Wednesday, July 12th – A Vanishing New York: Finger Lakes
Join photographer John Lazzaro for a virtual exploration of the abandoned sites in New York’s Finger Lakes region, from the ruins of Rochester’s subway system to the remnants of an obsolete psychiatric center. This virtual event is free for Untapped New York Insiders!
July 12th – Backstage Tour of Forest Hills Stadium
Get the VIP treatment on a backstage tour of this 100-year-old venue in Queens! Originally home to the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, since the 1960s Forest Hills has hosted sold-out shows with some of music’s biggest acts, from The Beatles and Bob Dylan to Ed Sheeran and Duran Duran. On this tour, you’ll learn about the Forest Hills’ tennis and rock history while stepping into hidden speakeasies, memorabilia-filled dressing rooms, and other secret spaces! This tour is open to Untapped New York Insiders.
Thursday, July 13th – Hard Hat Tour of Domino Sugar Refinery
Be one of the first to step inside the newly constructed tower built within the historic brick wall of the former Domino Sugar refinery building in Brooklyn! After strolling through Domino Park and learning about the innovative new features of the building (such as its vertical garden), you’ll finish at the glass penthouse where you’ll take in 360-degree views of NYC’s skyline!
Friday, July 14th – Gilded Age Mansions of 5th Avenue Tour
Stroll along Millionaire’s Row and see the opulent homes of New York City’s Gilded Age. On this tour, you’ll admire the magnificent homes that still exist, and see historical images of those that have been lost to time while listening to stories of the scandals that took place inside. At the end of tour, you’ll step inside one of these dazzling buildings and visit a hidden bookstore!
Saturday, July 15th – Secrets of the Met Museum
Patrick Bringley, your guide for this tour, worked as a museum guard in the Met for a decade. As you follow him through the galleries of priceless artifacts, you’ll hear stories of the museum’s hidden nooks and vast backstage spaces. Locate hidden traces of the Met’s 150-year history as you peer into the eyes of a once-stolen Greek statue, find the tooth of Mary Magdalen in a Renaissance reliquary, and see the Met’s familiar masterpieces in a fascinating new light.
July 15th – Hidden Gems of Governors Island
On this tour led by a trained naturalist and former National Park Service Ranger, you’ll unpack over 400 years of history while enjoying the scenic views and natural settings of Governors Island. Used by both Native Americans and Dutch settlers, Governors Island has undergone multiple transformations over the centuries. It hosted three different military fortifications and now serves as a hub of recreation, cultural arts, and climate research. Explore the ever-changing island and discover what lies ahead!
July 15th – Victorian Mansions of Flatbush
Stroll alongside the stunning Victorian mansions of Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood! As you walk the charming tree-lined streets, you’ll see a private tennis club from 1889, visit small historic districts, and learn why these magnificent homes constructed by 19th-century developers broke away from the Brooklyn brownstone mold.
Saturday, July 22nd – Filmed in Brooklyn Tour of Park Slope and Windsor Terrace
Join Filmed in Brooklyn author Margo Donohue for a walk through the neighborjoods of Park Slope and Windsor Terrace where she’ll reveal some of the locations used in iconic films of the past 100 years! From the mansions of The Age of Innocence to the streets of Dog Day Afternoon, find out where your favortie stars have fimed and where some of them live. This walking tour is open to Untapped New York Insiders! Get your first month free with code JOINUS
July 22nd – Brooklyn Underground Subway Tour
Peek into abandoned stations as you travel through the Brooklyn subway system on this underground tour! On this tour, you’ll see where Michael Jackson shot his iconic music video for Bad (and practice your moonwalk if you want!), see the design of Brooklyn’s oldest subway station, visit the highest rapid transit station in the world, and more!
Sunday, July 23rd – Secrets of the Brooklyn Bridge
Walk across the span of New York City’s most famous bridge while you uncover its secrets! Learn about the hidden champagne vaults and Col War bunker that were found inside its anchorages, hear stories of the ill-fated family of engineers who designed the bridge, visit an abandoned park, see the location of America’s first White House, and more!
July 23rd – Secrets of the Lower East Side Tour and Tasting
Nibble on pickles, knishes, and candy as you walk the historic streets of Manhattan’s Lower East Side! With a longtime resident as your guide, you’ll learn about a time when the LES was the most densely populated district in the world, uncover art galleries, event spaces, restaurants, and other establishments that were once synagogues, stop by important Jewish landmarks, and more.
Wednesday, July 26th – The Art of Grand Central Walking Tour
Uncover hidden art inside the historic Grand Central Terminal and learn more about new monumental pieces underground inside the recently opened Grand Central Madison! On this tour led by Untapped New York’s Chief Experience Officer Junst Ricers you’ll see stuning mosiacs by artists like Kiki Smith, Yayoi Kusama and more. You’ll also get to ride NYC’s longest escalator!
Saturday, July 29th – A taste of NYC: Food Tour of Chinatown, Little Italy, and the Lower East Side
Take a bite out of the Big Apple on this food tour of Lower Manhattan! Led by a longtime Lower East Side resident, you’ll sample dumpkings, pizza, knishes and more as you learn about the culrutal history of this diverse city that immigrants call hom.
Saturday, July 29th – Bronx Night Market Tasting
Taste delicious foods from a variety of local NYC vendors and enjoy entertaining live performances a guided tour of the Bronx Night Market! This tour is open to Untapped New York Insiders!
Do you have photos from an Untapped New York tour? Send them to us at [email protected] and you may be featured on our website or social media channels! You can also tag us @untappedny on Instagram. See the list below for all our upcoming experiences in June!
Check out all of our NYC walking tours here!