Art and culture activities in Brooklyn

Design your own cookies at Funny Face Bakery

Play the New York Way

Wine and dine in an intimate jazz club

Explore East Side jazz history & enjoy a live show

Discover the underground jazz history of New York’s East Village and experience the next generation of musicians in our new Lower East Side jazz club. From iconic sites that shaped the genre to an unforgettable live performance, this evening celebrates the spirit of jazz and its deep connection to New York City’s incredible music scene. • Begin with a exploration of the East Village, visiting significant sites like the Charlie Parker House and Slugs Saloon. Learn about their role in shaping jazz history in an area that became a haven for experimental and avant-garde jazz. • Head to our club, Close Up, for a live show inspired by the venues and musicians you’ve just explored. • Enjoy a complimentary drink, meet the band after the performance, and stay for an optional jam session, a uniquely NYC tradition. Wrap up this immersive experience with a deeper connection to the East Village’s jazz legacy—and how it lives on in the Lower East Side.

Financial District public art walk with a curator

Explore the Financial District’s iconic public art scene through a walking tour with a curator, visiting sculptures by renowned 20th-century artists and gaining insights into the evolving role of public art in urban spaces. • Visit Zuccotti Park and Louise Nevelson Plaza, where we’ll engage in lively conversation about the role of architecture and design in public art and the importance of location. • See pieces like Group of Four Trees by Jean Dubuffet and the Red Cube by Isamu Noguchi, and learn about the artists’ intentional decisions to interact with the surrounding environments in unique ways. • Learn about the history of public art in the Financial District, and the artists who lived and worked in the Coenties Slip area. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how public art transforms urban landscapes, enriches civic spaces, and shapes cultural identity.

The History and Craft of Natural Incense

Take a deep breath and relax as you discover the therapeutic craft of incense making. • You’ll discover the origins of incense and its use in ancient timekeeping and ceremonial practices while savoring traditional Korean tea and snacks. • Learn how incense once served as a precursor to perfume and its diverse applications in rituals and medicine. • Immerse yourself in the art of natural incense making by mixing your own batch with organic woods, herbs, resins + oils. You’ll leave feeling refreshed and inspired, with your very own personalized scent packaged in a beautifully crafted pine wood box.

Catacombs by Candlelight "vip experience"

Meet me in Little Italy/NOLITA for a real New York City tour experience unlike any other to explore the off-limits graveyards and catacombs of Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, the city’s first and oldest. Cornerstone laid in 1809, it’s home to the remains of many prominent Catholic New Yorkers. • I’ll greet you with a coffee or beverage of your choice from a local cafe before we visit the McCloskey Room in the Basilica Parish House to view rare artifacts uncovered during the restoration of 2013. • Explore the Chapel Altagracia, a hidden gem rarely open to the public, before heading to the basilica’s graveyards, which were established in 1800 and predate the church. • Descend into the catacombs to view the passages of crypts, vaults and sarcophagi of notable New Yorkers, including the Delmonico restaurant family, Honest John Kelly from Tammany Hall and Brigadier General Thomas T. Ecker to name a few. You'll leave after an urban exploration that even the most diehard New Yorkers haven’t had, as well as a 10 percent discount voucher to spend in the gift shop.

Graffiti Workshop Brooklyn

This unique hands-on workshop allows participants to create their own graffiti art project with the help of an authentic NYC graffiti artist. Learn the tips and techniques of aerosol art from fill-ins to masterpieces as you immerse yourself in the graffiti art culture. The workshop takes place in our beautiful Brooklyn art studio in the heart of Bushwick Brooklyn. Cultivating creative thought and a welcoming environment, this experience is designed for all ages and talent levels. Leave this workshop with a greater understanding of this still misunderstood craft and of course your newly created work (canvas sold seperately). This experience is also great for team building and groups as well.

Manhattan Architecture & Urban Design Walk

Curious about how and why Manhattan is built up the way it is? Looking for a fun, alternative daytime activity to do during your visit? A departure from your average sightseeing tour, you'll be receiving the "locals-only treatment" that won't disappoint. Using curated sites on the streets as our canvas, this Experience explores the Big Apple’s built landscape through world-class architecture, fascinating urban planning, and fun facts about the city's early days along the way. You'll also learn about the history and details of structures that are overlooked in everyday life, and how buildings and public spaces have informed each other from the late 19th century until today. David currently alternates tour routes through Chelsea, Lower East Side/SoHo, or the Financial District. Each stop along the tour's route will discuss a different theme of planning and architecture that will build upon each other until the conclusion of the tour. The walking tour will last 2.5 hours and each route covers the same topics. Guests will have the opportunity to walk indoors to stop for a snack/beverage along the way, and there will be plenty of opportunities to use the restroom. Please be sure to dress appropriately for the weather and please be sure to bring plenty of water during the summers. For inclement weather, please stay tuned the day before in case of cancellation or rescheduling.

Wall St and Financial District Tour

Wall Street is a renown symbol of economic might and ironically also the embodiment of corporate greed. This tour provides a deep insight into how consulting firm, investment banks, and financial markets work. Going forward it covers the 2008 Financial Collapse and the headline news of GameStop. Strolling through cobblestone streets, learn how Bernard Madoff executed the largest Ponzi Scheme in history. Then proceed to a detailed understanding of how cryptocurrencies work. No Wall Street tour will be complete without a full explanation of why in 2020, oil prices plummeted from $18 a barrel -$37. Yes, oil producers were paying people $37 a barrel to take it off their hands. This tour exposes financial charlatans and is the perfect primer for those interested in how finance and financial markets operate. We’ll visit the Wall Street District and the World Financial Center. All hosts are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are required to wear a face mask when conducting tours

Street art scene with insider

From the grand cast-iron maidens in SoHo to the tenements of the Lower East Side, from the bustling streets of Chinatown to the delicious tasty treats found in Little Italy, we’ll dive into the histories and personalities that make these some of the most important neighborhoods in the world. Along the way we will see murals created for LISA Project NYC by internationally-famous street artists and learn about the process and stories behind each piece. Who knows, we might get lucky and catch an artist at work! NYC has always been the world’s creative epicenter. We love exploring with travelers, and we invite LOCALS to be a tourist in your own city and see the artistic spirit of Lower Manhattan. By booking your tour, you’re also giving back by supporting LISA Project NYC – a city-based, public art charity creating beautiful murals and raising awareness for local issues via this artistic medium. Afterwards, stop in to one of the lovely small businesses or grab a delicious lunch when the tour ends in Little Italy. You won’t be disappointed, and you can take pride investing back in the community. Everyone loves this tour! Kids, dates, dogs, students, your Pandemic Pod… we’ll make sure you have a great time. Mask up, bring your friends, have some high-quality, socially-distanced fun! Rain and cold weather won't stop us! So check the forecast and dress comfortably

Zen Weaving: Create a Wabi-Sabi Tapestry in Brooklyn

When you step into Loop of the Loom, light music and cheerful colors invite you to a pre-set loom waiting for you. In this experience, you will create your own tapestry piece to take home and hang on your wall. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY - Within the first minute you can start weaving by yourself! don’t worry, it’s very easy and fun! ZEN WEAVING IS YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY - Relax…this is "Zen weaving". Find tranquility and meditation in the steady rhythm of the loom. NO 'MISTAKES' - Weave as freely as you like, we cherish the imperfections that only the human touch can make! Unlike traditional weaving, we won't teach you how to make 'perfect' machine-like fabric. Instead, we encourage you to let your creative mind run free. Throughout your session we will be on hand to answer any questions and help if you need assistance. WABI-SABI - Wabi-Sabi is the Japanese philosophy of finding beauty in nature and soul. We encourage you to express your true self through your SAORI weaving, using the unlimited yarns and materials available. TAKE HOME MEMORIES & ART - Enjoy the class with your family, friends and loved ones. Not only will you take home a beautiful handmade tapestry for your home, you will also keep the wonderful memories you made together. This experience is also available for large groups / parties / corporate events - Please message to inquire.

New York Mafia Experience- Detective Guided Insider’s Story

Guided by retired NYPD officers. Get the insider's perspective on the infamous Mafia crime families of New York City on this walking experience guided by active & retired NYPD Detectives and Police Officers. Come hungry as food provided equals a 3 Course full dinner! The stories of the violent and elusive underworld of the Mafia have captivated each of us – with a whole genre of movies and novels dedicated to New York’s gangsters. On this experience you immerse yourself in that world and become familiar with the characters, their history, the places, and the unbelievable real-life events thanks to the insider information. Guided by retired NYPD officers that grew up in the shadow of the Mafia. You’ll hear about all the drama of this most sinister yet riveting world of gangsters, while also indulging in delicious Italian food. If you’re into criminal history, the Mafia, or gangsters, then this larger-than-life tour will more than deliver! Please note: * Vegetarian options are available, upon advanced request. * Please arrive no later than 5:15 PM * Make sure to dress appropriately (due to different weather conditions), and wear comfortable shoes to be able to walk 1.5 miles at a brisk pace. Food: Spaghetti & meatball, Eggplant Rollatini , Large Sicilian cannoli. drinks are not included but can be purchased on the day

Brooklyn Waterfront Bike Tour

Note: Severely limited availability on AirBnB, but will honor most requests for times not listed, so please ask. Take a bike tour of Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Bridge Park and the DUMBO warehouse district. After a quick tour of City Hall area, we roll over the Brooklyn Bridge with stops at the Manhattan and Brooklyn towers, for the perfect photo ops of the gorgeous Wall Street skyline. While there, I'll share historical insights into the twin icons of New York City's East River: the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. We'll continue on to the charming brownstone streets of Brooklyn Heights, where you'll see some of the most historic and luxurious homes dating back to the 19th century. After a stop at the beautiful Promenade, we'll zip through New York City's newest, most innovative and beautiful 85-acre waterfront playground, the Brooklyn Bridge Park (just opened in 2010). There will be stops and photo ops galore in the shabby-chic shipping and warehouse districts of DUMBO, Vinegar Hill and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. You’ll get a peek into the history of Brooklyn’s maritime shipping industry that once thrived on these docks and cobblestone streets. Other things to note Novice bikers are welcome. Mostly bike paths and low-traffic, residential streets in Brooklyn. I take seriously my guests safety. See Guidebook here: https://abnb.me/YdMwxeQWwib