The warm and sunny New York City days are coming to an end as we begin to shift into a chilly winter. However, there are still plenty of opportunities to explore the city that never sleeps! Below are some of The Pace Press’ top NYC recommendations to get you out of the cold. 

Go see a Late Night talk show

Manhattan is home to several talk show studios that record hit TV series, including “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “The Amber Ruffin Show” to name a few. And the best part: tickets are completely free! Just add your name to the waitlist and you will receive an answer within a few days. This is such a fabulous way to experience the behind-the-scenes of some of America’s most popular television shows and watch live interviews with your favorite celebrities. 

Visit a unique museum 

We all know and love museums such as the MET and the Museum of Natural History, but the Spyscape Museum is a hands-on, two-hour interactive experience that gives each visitor the opportunity to participate in several experimental spy tasks. Hack into computer systems, dodge laser beams and interview potential suspects during this one-of-a-kind adventure. At the end of your journey, your strengths and weaknesses will be calculated and your results will reveal which type of spy you are – Hacker, Cryptologist, Intelligence Operative or the Ultimate Spymaster. Get tickets, starting at $39, for a thrilling visit.

For all those movie lovers out there, the Museum of the Moving Image, located in Astoria, Queens, “is the country’s only museum dedicated to the art, history, technique and technology of the moving image in all its forms.” Learn about what goes on behind the screen on Thursdays from 2-6 p.m. for free admission! For an additional $5, get a chance to attend a movie screening at the museum where the director’s cut of fan-favorite movies such as The Godfather, The Cotton Club and Heaven’s Gate are played throughout the day. 

If you want more of a classic museum option, head over to the Whitney Museum of American Art, which contains a wide variety of pieces ranging from 12th-century work to a contemporary living artists’ exhibit. Get to see creations by Berenice Abbott, Matthew Abbott, Zarouhie Abdalian, Michele Abeles and more. Pro-tip: get advance tickets to go on a Friday from 7-10 p.m. when admission is “pay what you wish!” 

Laugh it up at a comedy club 

If you’re in the mood to laugh off the chill of winter, register for a free ticket to Monday Night Mob. There is a one-drink minimum for each guest, but don’t worry; drinks tend to run on the cheaper side! Enjoy some stand-up featuring a surprise lineup every night – who knows, your favorite celebrity comic might even drop in. 

If you want to splurge a bit more, another great spot is New York Comedy Club, which has featured comedians like Ashley Austin Morris, Emily Walsh, Pat Burtscher, Mike Finoia and many more. You’re destined for a great time. Like most comedy clubs in the City, there is a cover charge of $18. There are two locations–Midtown and the East Village–and tickets start at $31.