Geoffrey from New York

About me I travel to discover how people elsewhere live, how they manage living with low incomes in expensive cities, how they grapple with hard times and failing economies, how they deal with ageing or crumbling families and how they themselves age and adapt. Knowing and loving New York comes from having lived through many of its manifestations while witnessing its changes....
Aug 28, 2025

Rubenstein Atrium New York

Lincoln Center free concerts

""Rubenstein Atrium" in New York's Lincoln Center has a free performance every Thursday night. I recommend you try to arrive around 18:30 to catch a seat."

The renovations of Lincoln Center’s outdoor plaza are complete. They included a new box office area called The Atrium at 61 West 62nd, with an entrance on either Broadway or Amsterdam.

In it you’ll find a TKTS outlet (named TKTS Lincoln Center), the one most New Yorkers use to avoid the tourist lineups at the Times Square location.

Every Thursday night there is a free performance. I’ve seen string quartets, salsa big bands, classical trios and Klezmer bands. There is limited seating on a first come, first served basis, so try to arrive around 18:30

I recently heard The Queen of the Blues, Thornetta Davis, make some serious claims to her title with her high caliber voice and solid gold band, including a horn section.

I go to Rubenstein frequently as it's in my neighbourhood. It's a good place to be entertained prior to peak after-show hours of the bars and restaurants uptown on Columbus Avenue.

The Atrium offers free WiFi, has a decent take away food counter and two spectacular (over) hanging gardens that are so big and healthy looking that I feel vulnerable to their collapse; I don’t get too close. They have a high 'how do they do that?' factor.

Visit the website for a list of what’s upcoming or browse real time TKTS listings here.

TKTS Office hours:
Monday - Saturday 12:00 - 19:00
Sunday 12:00 - 17:00

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
029-guitar-instrument-1
Music
017-plant-1
Relaxing

About this spot

61 West 62nd Street

US$

free

Our New York Guide

Find your way with 308 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our New York guide.

Join as a Spotter?

Loved this Spot? And love your city? Join your local team. Share your favs and become part of our international community!

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in New York

Silvana

Live music, café, boutique

"Silvana" is a large cafe, boutique, shawarma and falafel bar in NYC that also offers live music performances on their downstairs stage. Great acts!

002-building
Art & culture
028-beach-bar-1
Bars
029-guitar-instrument-1
Music
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Oct 8, 2025

Mo's Famous Burgers

Hamburger Food Truck

The menu is simple: hamburgers, French fries & toppings. No over-the-top ingredients, no superfluous adjectives, and high-value food at rock-bottom prices.

024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Oct 7, 2025

Elizabeth Street Garden

Sculpture garden NoLita

"Elizabeth Street Garden" New York: formerly the site of a large, important school house, it was reclaimed in the '90s and turned into a sculpture garden.

002-building
Art & culture
017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Oct 7, 2025

UWS Phone Booth

Last payphone booth

One block away from a 21st century LinkNYC WiFi tower on Broadway sits one of three West End Avenue working telephone 'booths', the last in NYC...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Oct 6, 2025

Anthony & Son

Old-school sandwich shop

After, "Anthony & Son" Panini Shoppe's Italian-style super-sandwiches, no regular New York sandwich will ever taste as good again...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Nick

Papa

Oct 6, 2025

Dutch Kills

Upholding cocktail culture in Queens

"Dutch Kills" in New York isn't hiding it's one of the best bars in the city, but it isn't publicizing the fact, either. No password to enter, however!

028-beach-bar-1
Bars

by

Nick

Papa

Oct 6, 2025

Montero's

Quirky Brooklyn dive bar

"Montero's" (est. 1939) in New York is one of the weirdest bars I've ever visited, in the best way possible; it takes you back to working-class Brooklyn...

028-beach-bar-1
Bars

by

Nick

Papa

Oct 6, 2025

Conference House

Pre-Revolutionary history

The "Conference House" in New York is a perfect place to escape modern life if you're interested in what life was like in the 1600s...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Paula

Ryszkiewicz

Oct 4, 2025

Hunter's Point Library

Waterfront reading room

"Hunter's Point Library" in New York, on Long Island City's waterfront, is definitely for you if you're a fan of books, architecture and skyline views!

002-building
Art & culture

by

Paula

Ryszkiewicz

Oct 4, 2025

Bund on Broadway

Soup dumplings

"Bund on Broadway" is one of the most popular restaurants on Astoria's restaurant row in New York. I always go straight fo the famous pork soup dumplings.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Paula

Ryszkiewicz

Oct 4, 2025

Star Polish Bakery

Best mak

"Star Polish Bakery" in New York makes the best Polish desserts and cakes, especially the makowiec. Here they make it exactly the way I like it...

024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Paula

Ryszkiewicz

Oct 4, 2025

Vite Vinosteria

My special occasion spot

"Vite Vinosteria" in New York is the Italian restaurant where, ever since I moved to Astoria, I've celebreated nearly every birthday & anniversary...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Paula

Ryszkiewicz

Oct 4, 2025

Heading to New York?

308 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

New York app Home
New York app Home
New York app Map
New York app Home

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

308 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

City guides by those who know the city in and out!

Our Locals' Favorite Coffee & tea

Our team loves New York

Get to know our other Spotters from New York

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
[paywall_activator]
false
0
false
63
Made with the 💚 of 499 Spotters.
Filters