Pi Day falls on Wednesday this year — and if you’re as big of a nerd as we are, March 14th doesn’t just fly by unappreciated. No, here in New York City, there are plenty of ways to show your thanks to useful mathematical ratios that give our world some semblance of order and rationality.
From dining on actual pies to a visit to a mathematics museum, here are eight quirky ways to celebrate National Pi Day in New York City:
8. Learn About the Greatest Unknowns of the Universe
Photo courtesy Caveat
In partnership with Atlas Obscura, Caveat, a speakeasy stage for “playful, intelligent nightlife, is hosting We Have No Idea: Pi Day Special Edition. The event — which brings together Jorge Cham, the creator of PHD Comics, and Daniel Whiteson, a professor of experimental particle physics at the University of California, Irvine — will celebrate the greatest unknowns of the universe with a plethora of pies and an interactive presentation.
From the origin of our cosmos to time travel to dark matter, learn about the strange mysteries of the world we live and operate in. As added bonuses, there will also be a π buffet with a variety of desserts and a Pi Recitation Contest, where prizes will be offered.
7. Witness a Pizza Wedding
One of the stranger traditions in New York City falls on Pi Day. When March 14 rolls around, head to &pizza to watch six couples get hitched! Since 2015, the D.C.-based pizza chain has been converting its major metropolitan locations (D.C., Manhattan, Baltimore and Philly) into free wedding chapels. “The ampersand stands for connectedness, and what stronger connection is there than that of marriage?,” &pizza explained in a statement.
Aside from free pizza pies, the restaurant will also provide an open bar with beer, wine and champagne, flowers from UrbanStems, cake truffles from Milk Bar, framed wedding photos via Framebridge, and even Lyft rides for the happy couples! Head to the pizza shop to watch it all unfold, and participate in the fun.
6. Visit the Museum of Math (MoMath)
In the Flatiron District, you’ll find MoMath, the only museum in the country dedicated to mathematics where plenty of activities for both kids and adults are always taking place. (English actor Jeremy Iron even brought his dog and rode the square-wheeled tricycle here).
In addition to the visually stimulating exhibits that spark curiosity and highlight the role of mathematics, MoMath will also be offering free admission to the museum, as well as slices of pie (from 3pm to 5pm) on March 14!
5. Visit The Lodge at Gallow Green for Gourmet Pizza
Although Gallow Green, dubbed one of the “city’s best sky-high bars,” won’t open for the season until April 20, it’s winter iteration, The Lodge at Gallow Green, is still an option until April 1. If you’re look for a cozy place to catch up with friends, The Lodge on top of the McKittrick Hotel goes all out in creating the perfect ambiance: it’s a veritable cabin in the woods, complete with scents of pine, maps of Scotland, a fireplace and cozy rooms covered with books and plants. Take a peek inside here.
Although a visit to The Lodge is probably a good idea any day of the week, it’s especially favorable on Pi Day. In honor of everyone’s favorite ratio, the bar will be offering three different gourmet pizzas for $14 each (usually $19 to $21).
4. Eat an Actual Pie
You don’t ever need an excuse to eat pie, but it only seems fitting to celebrate National Pi Day with a slice (or two, or three) of America’s favorite baked treat. Whether you opt for sweet or savory, there are plenty of excellent bakeries across the city that offer their own unique iterations of pie.
If you’re having trouble deciding which place to visit, make sure to check out our roundup of the 5 Best Places for Pie in NYC. Although these bakeries offer pies all year around, check back for sweet deals when National Pi(e) Day actually rolls around! For instance, DŌ, the dessert shop devoted entirely to cookie dough, is offering slices of cookie dough ice cream pie all day and night. (That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to foodie deals.)
3. Check Out the Einstein Collection in Princeton, NJ
This is a further trek from New York City but a worthy one. The Historical Society of Princeton in New Jersey has one of the “larger 3D collections of Einstein materials in the United States,” says Izzy Kazdin, its executive director. The collection includes 65 pieces of furniture that were in the scientist’s house at 112 Mercer Street, where he lived when employed by the Institute for Advanced Study, a notable post graduate institution in Princeton.
When you’re done there, follow the footsteps of Albert Einstein with our guide to Princeton to see where he lived and worked. Around town, you’ll also find various activities, contests and “Pi-themed fun” taking place through March 14. This includes a tour of Landau’s Albert Einstein Museum, walking tours of Einstein’s neighborhood, a slime making workshop and more. See the full schedule here.
The number pi (3.14…) is very interesting, but one must not forget that it all has to do with circles. “Get around” to reading our Cities 101 column, highlighting the distinction between a “traffic circle” and a “roundabout.”
There’s also famous mathematical myth that has been perpetuated as urban lore by even notable tour guides and historians. It’s about the Redstone rocket in Grand Central Terminal, erected by the US military as a piece of showmanship to counter the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik. The Redstone was displayed in the terminal in 1957 for three weeks. This widely spread false fact is that the Redstone was so tall, it bore a hole through the top of Grand Central Terminal’s ceiling. The myth even goes as far to suggest that a hapless engineer didn’t do the math correctly. But this, as you can see in vintage photographs, was not the case.
Read more about the myth here and go see the hole for yourself on an upcoming tour of the Secrets of Grand Central Terminal:
If you’re a fan of musicals, make sure to make the most of Pi Day. On March 14, customers who purchase tickets for Waitress at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre Box Office (256 West 47 Street) will also receive a free pie jar from 10am to 1pm.
Tickets can be used to see a performance on that same day or for a future event. Additionally, audience members attending the Waitress matinee will also have the chance to win a special prize if they purchase pie jars in the theater. For more information, visit broadway.com.
