Brick's picks: 10 can't-miss sites to see during Open House New York

By Virginia K. Smith  | October 7, 2015 - 10:12AM
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Along with apple picking, cider drinking, and rolling our eyes at overly-topical Halloween costumes (this year, it's pizza rat), one of New York's most beloved fall traditions has to be Open House New York. For one weekend each year, some of the city's most historic (and exclusive) buildings open their doors to the public, giving both looky-lous and history buffs a peek into the city's past—as well as how the other half lives.

The full schedule for this year's events, taking place on October 17th and 18th, just went live yesterday, and for the events that require it, registration opens at 11 am today. To help you put together your itinerary, BrickUnderground's editorial staff has hand-picked the buildings, tours, and events we're most excited to see this year:

Hancock Street Residence, Bed-StuyBed-Stuy's historic mansion (currently on the market for a cool $6 million) is opening its doors to the public on Saturday, 10/17, from 2pm to 3pm. Reservations required.

Central Park West Art Deco Tour. As we've written before, the entirety of Central Park West is something of an architectural marvel, and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, 10/18, you can take a guided tour of art deco gems like the San Remo and the El Dorado. Reservations required.

The Arsenal, Upper East Side. Few buildings are as historic and majestic as the city's old arsenals, and on Sunday, 10/18, you can take a guided tour of the Martin Thompson-designed, 1851 specimen on the UES. Tours leave every 30 minutes beginning at 10am and ending at 4pm, and a photography show will also be on exhibition in the building.

Tudor City Penthouse, Midtown. Consider this one not just a chance to glimpse house penthouse-dwelling New Yorkers live, but take in a part of movie history: this pre-war duplex was used as "the Green Goblin's Lair" in the Spiderman movies. Tours are taking place on October 17th and 18th, from 10am to 11am and 12pm to 1pm both days. Reservations required.

All About Wallabout, Fort Greene. Besides the charming, rhyming name of the event, All About Wallabout is an opportunity to get to know this ultra-historic section of Fort Greene, which is home to a huge number of the borough's classic wood-frame houses, among other gems. The tour takes place Saturday, October 17, at 11am. Reservations are required.

Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, Bronx. It wouldn't be Halloween Season without a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, and it's well worth taking the train ride uptown to visit this 1812 farmhouse where the poet spent the last years of his life. Tours, led by the Bronx County Historical society, will run continuously from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, the 17th, and from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday, the 18th, and are open to the public.

Ukranian Institute of America, Upper East Side. As we wrote earlier this year, one of the Ukranian Institute's many claims to fame is that it was used as the ultra-posh mansion in Cruel Intentions. Get a look inside for yourself between 10am and 5pm on Sunday, October 18th, when one-hour tours will be offered to the public at 10:30, 11:30am, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, and 4:30pm 

Woolworth Building, Civic CenterThough it's one of the most famous (and beloved) structures in the city, security at the lobby for the Woolworth Building are rather notorious for shooing along visitors who are just there to gawk. But you can poke around to your heart's content on Saturday, 10/17 at 1:30pm or Sunday, 10/18 at 10:30am, noon, or 2pm on a guided tour. Reservations required.

Morgan Library & Museum, Murray Hill. If you haven't already visited this beloved, bibliophilic landmark, what are you waiting for? It'll be open to the public between 10am and 6pm on Saturday, the 17th, and between 11am and 6pm on Sunday, the 18th, with docent-led tours at 12pm, 2pm, and 3pm both days.

World's Fair Grounds, Flushing Meadows Corona Park. You've almost certainly seen them from afar, but during OHNY, you'll have the opportunity to get the full backstory to the structures that remain from the 1964 World's Fair. Tours will leave regularly from "the docent tent near the Unisphere," per the OHNY listing, from 1pm to 5pm on both days. 

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