So you’ve made it to New York City a whole week before this year’s Global Citizen Festival. Welcome!
First order of business, please put that tour bus ticket away, toss the fanny pack to the side, and let us help you spend this next week like any true Global Citizen would — taking action and giving back.
Read More: How to Get Tickets to the 2016 Global Citizen Festival
Things to Do:
Check Out Other Global Citizen Week Events
All week long, Global Citizen will be hosting a plethora of events as part of the first-ever Global Citizen week. From an interfaith cultural event at Riverside Church in Manhattan to live performances by Andra Day and Demi Lovato at Cadillac House, Global Citizen week will be sure to keep you busy all day and night.
Otherwise, you can use websites like Pulsd and Ecocult to see what sustainable, trendy events are taking place this week.
Forget the Bus Tour, Rent a Bike
Embed from Getty Images
Biking is one of the best ways for you to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time! Not to mention, it's eco-friendly. Leisurely make your way down the East River Promenade, under the Brooklyn Bridge, drop your bike off at Battery Park and stop to look out at the Statue of Liberty.
Take a ride across the Brooklyn Bridge and into Brooklyn Bridge Park and see what the up-and-coming DUMBO has to offer. Make sure to read the traffic rules before you take your bike for a spin, and keep an eye out for Global Citizen-branded CitiBikes.
Learn about New York’s immigrant population at Tenement Museum
Set in the heart of Manhattan’s lower east side, deemed America’s immigration neighborhood, The Tenement museum preserves and interprets the history of immigration through the stories of immigrants who came and lived in “America’s iconic immigration neighborhood.” From the free readings to performances, there’s no better way to listen to and join in on the discussion of New York’s immigrant population.
On Thursday, September 21 at 6:30 pm, Global Citizen, the Australian Government, and global health partner Johnson & Johnson will co-host a dynamic discussion on urban sanitation and child health.
Plant a Tree in NYC!
Help us keep New York green! The tree you plant this week could help ensure that our city’s natural resources are kept safe for future generations -- so that we can keep hosting fun and important music festivals! Check out One Million Trees to see which park they're hosting volunteer events this week.
Otherwise, visit one of the city's parks! Stop and smell the roses at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, have a picnic at Prospect Park, or see the romantic bridges and castles in the heart of Central Park. New York City has over 1,000 parks, all for you to explore!
Read More: Chelsea Handler, Hugh Jackman, Neil Patrick Harris to Host 2016 Festival
Support the Arts in Harlem
Tomorrow and Sunday from 2–5 pm, join us uptown for Open House New York Weekend! For two days each October, the annual...
Posted by The Studio Museum in Harlem on Friday, October 14, 2016
Studio Museum in Harlem supports local artists and acts as a site for a “dynamic exchange of ideas.” Founded in 1968, the museum became the first black or Latino institution to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in 1987.
Internationally known for its role in promoting the works of artists of African descent, Studio Museum has supported over one hundred emerging artists of African or Latino descent. The museum’s permanent collection includes nearly two thousand pieces of art from the nineteenth century to the present. If this sounds like one way you’d to spend your afternoon, go just north of 125th street and you’ll find over 2,000 pieces of art from the last 100 years!
Places to Eat, Help, and Be Happy
Think Coffee
Opening its door in 2006 at 248 Mercer St. in Manhattan’s lower west side, Think coffee now has several locations throughout the borough. Since the get-go, it has been committed to doing business ethically and transparently by sourcing its coffee through the Social Project Coffee to ensure their business helps the farming families and their communities. Additionally, 10% of their stores profits are donated to Grand Street Settlement and Hudson Guild.
Mimi Cheng’s
“Who can cook like Mom?” This is the question that sparked the Cheng Sisters to open up Mimi Chengs’—a restaurant with locations in East Village and Nolita where customers are served home-cooked Taiwanese meals. Their fresh dumplings made with locally sourced, organic ingredients have “critics raving”, according to Cosmopolitan Magazine, and that was before February 2017. In February, Mimi Cheng’s partnered with Chef Dan Barber to make dumplings out of food scraps. Instead of composting the ends of zucchini or carrot skins, they were made into a tasty dumpling. Co-founder Hannah Cheng hopes this project changed people’s perception of what is edible and not edible. Why eat apple skins but not carrot skins?
By Chloe
Just opened in July 2015, CHLOE defines itself as a “fast-casual brand” that offers delicious, plant-based foods. Committed to maintaining a sustainable, vegan lifestyle while lowering their carbon footprint, CHLOE is the place for self-proclaimed health-nuts and tree-huggers alike. All of the foot is prepared from scratch and made fresh daily. This must try restaurant isn’t going unnoticed. CHLOE was awarded the Menu Trendsetter Award by National Restaurant News and was given the #HOSPITALITYGURUAWARD by the New York Hospitality Alliance. Not in New York? No problem! CHLOE has locations in Boston, MA, Silver Lake, California, and Providence, Rhode Island.
Places to Hit the Town for a Little Shopping — Ethically & Sustainably, Of Course
Housing Works
This is one of the best bookstore cafes in Manhattan, and not just because it has two New York essentials: books and coffee. From antique leather hardbacks to modern art books and cold-brewed coffees to happy hour specials, the Bookstore Cafe has the perfect quench for any thirst be it for the mind or the body. Staffed almost entirely by volunteers, this quaint cafe is the perfect spot to relax, meet with friends or sit and read a book meanwhile supporting the local community. All profits go to Housing Work, a business and advocacy group seeking to end the dual crisis of homelessness and AIDS in the community.
Sisters Uptown Bookstore
1942 Amsterdam Avenue @ W156th, Washington Heights
Sisters is the only female-owned only black owned bookstore in Manhattan. Their slogan is “knowledge is key” and part of why the bookstore doubles as a cultural learning center. They hold events throughout the week and carry a range of books on black culture as well as hold art, poetry, discussions, and film screenings on black empowerment. Check out events on their Facebook page here.
Angel Street Thrift Store
Proceeds from the vintage treasures and donated gently used designer samples at this thrift store benefit the Lower East Side Service Center, individuals suffering from chemical dependencies, HIV/AIDS, and mental illness.
Buffalo Exchange
First opening in 1974 near the University of Arizona, Buffalo Exchange has since brought its mission to 19 states across America. Kerstin and Spencer Block, originally from Sweden, began Buffalo Exchange with an admirable goal of protecting the environment by reusing and recycling clothing. Customers can sell or trade their used clothing in addition to buying clothes someone else has donation—giving them a second life! Buffalo Exchange also runs “Coats for Cubs”, an annual drive where donated furs are used to provide bedding to injured wildlife. Online travel guide Time Out New York called Buffalo Exchange “one of the best thrift stores in New York City”, and CBS New York declared it a “popular store in the consignment shop world”. If you happen to be in New York, check out the Buffalo Exchange locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Don’t forget to stop in on Earth Day where everything in store is $1 and proceeds go to numerous charities supported by Buffalo Exchange.
Lend the City a Helping Hand While You're Here — How to Volunteer:
Bowery Mission
Working to provide help and hope for over 137 years, the Bowery Mission aims to provide effective, compassionate care for the impoverished and homeless in New York. In 2016, Bowery provided over 505,000 meals, 97,300 nights of shelter, 56,200 articles of clothing, and 708 professional doctor’s appointments at in-house clinics for those it serves.
Read More: Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar Top Lineup for 2016 Global Citizen Festival
Cat Cafes!
Unless you’re allergic to cats, there’s no real reason not to go. And even then, it might be worth making the sacrifice and bringing a Benadryl with you. Around New York, you’ll find these small cafes, where you can cuddle and play with rescued kittens and old cats, black cats and fat cats alike. Join their newsletters, volunteer, and if you have the means to, adopt! (Cats will not be permitted at the Global Citizen Festival, however).
Whatever you choose to do during your stay in the Big Apple, sure you save some energy for Saturday, August 23 where you’ll need it to rock out to fan favorites from stellar artists like Stevie Wonder, The Killers and The Chainsmokers in Central Park!
Until then, happy exploring.
Meghan Werft contributed to this article.