East River Park at Houston Street is a 57-acre public park in the Lower East Side of Manhattan that features a variety of sports facilities fit for the Big Apple. These facilities include football and baseball fields; tennis, basketball, and handball courts; running tracks; and a soccer field built in the wake of the September 11 attacks in 2001. Materials for the field were donated from companies all across the country and the project was finished in record time. The park’s dilapidated amphitheater was rebuilt at that time as well, also using donated materials. This construction project was dedicated to children who lost their parents in the attacks and stands as a testament to the city’s resilience. Additional amenities in East River Park include a one and a half-mile bike path, a children’s water play area and playground, barbecue grills, and more.

Its numerous sports facilities and amenities are not the only reason why East River Park is a great place to visit with your team however. The park’s location in Manhattan, the most densely-populated of New York City’s five boroughs, will put you and your team in close proximity to one of a kind attractions and an eclectic array of restaurants you won’t find anywhere else but the city that never sleeps.

 

Things to Do

TheRoom NY

Equal parts mystery and adventure; a visit to TheRoom NY is a fun and inexpensive way to spend an hour of downtime with your team during your visit to East River Park. TheRoom NY is an escape room attraction developed by a team of European psychologists that’s guaranteed to put your group’s problem-solving and teamwork skills to the ultimate test. You’ll have just 66 minutes to navigate over 1,700 square feet filled with challenging puzzles, high-tech effects, and atmospheric lighting and music. Better hurry up! The clock’s ticking… 334 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003

 

Museum of Chinese in America

Immerse yourselves in Chinese American history and culture at the Museum of Chinese in America. This world-class museum, located in Chinatown just a short one and a half-mile walk from East River Park, features a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits that tell the story of the Chinese American experience.

The museum’s core exhibition, With a Single Step: Stories in the Making of America, traces more than 160 years of Chinese American history, from the diverse roles Chinese workers played in the industrialization of America to the modern-day efforts made to normalize cultural and economic relations between the U.S. and China. Topics covered by past temporary exhibits range from the history of Chinese American cuisine to women’s fashion in Shanghai during the first half of the 20th century. 215 Centre St, New York, NY 10013

 

Holographic Studios

Unassumingly tucked away in what was once a blacksmith’s forge just over one and a half miles from East River Park is Holographic Studios, home of the world’s oldest gallery of holography. This unique attraction makes science fun for everyone! Founded in 1979 by Jason Sapan, one of the pioneers of holography, Holographic Studios boasts the largest collection of motion image holograms in the world. There are over 200 in all, including celebrity portraits of icons such as Andy Warhol, Bill Clinton, and Issac Asimov.

Jason, also known as Dr. Laser, will guide you and your team on an informative and entertaining tour of a facility that bridges the gap between science fiction and science fact. After seeing the brilliant works of unique visual art that line the walls of the Gallery of Holography, Dr. Laser will escort you down into the subterranean laser laboratory where you’ll see how holograms are actually made. Illuminated only by a dim, green photographic safelight, walking through this state-of-the-art laboratory is a surreal experience that no one in your group will ever forget. 240 E 26th St, New York, NY 10010

 

Modern Pinball NYC

Take a step back in time to the arcades of yore at Modern Pinball NYC. This popular attraction, owned by resident pinball wizard and passionate hobbyist Steve Zahler, is the place to rack up points on an eclectic assortment of pinball machines and arcade games from yesterday and today. Leave your quarters at home, by the way. Modern Pinball NYC offers a unique all-you-can-play wristband system that lets guests play unlimited free games for one, two, or three hours. You can even go all out and buy an all-day pass if you’d like! 362 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016

 

New York City Fire Museum

Located in a renovated 1904 fire house, the New York City Fire Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and presenting the story of New York City’s Bravest. The museum’s collection consists of over 10,000 pieces of memorabilia, with some dating back as far as the 17th century.  While there you’ll see everything from hand-pumped fire engines and antique rescue gear to artifacts recovered from the World Trade Center site. Even if you’re not a native New Yorker, you won’t be able to help but feel an immense sense of pride and admiration for the sacrifices made each and every day by the courageous men and women of the New York City Fire Department during your visit to this world-class museum. 278 Spring St, New York, NY 10013

 

Pier 25 Mini Golf

Put your putting skills to the test at Pier 25 Mini Golf. This 18-hole miniature golf course includes ornamental features like a waterfall, stream, pond, footbridges, sand traps, and even a cave. What makes Pier 25 Mini Golf particularly unique however is that golfers can enjoy stunning views of the Hudson River and the Jersey City skyline right from the course! Those visiting Pier 25 Mini Golf with a group of 20 or more people are advised make a reservation in advance, as the course can get busy during peak time. 225 West St, New York, NY 10013

 

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Places to Eat

Katz’s Delicatessen

There’s perhaps no restaurant more synonymous with New York City than the legendary Katz’s Delicatessen. For more than 100 years this authentic Jewish deli has been serving up classics like hot corned beef sandwiches, potato knishes, and matzo ball soup.

While everything on their menu is delicious, nothing comes close to the sandwich that made Katz’s a New York institution, pastrami on rye. This towering sandwich creation is piled so high with juicy, tender pastrami that you better show up hungry or be prepared to leave with leftovers. The heaping portion of smoky, unctuous pastrami is perfectly offset by the zest of spicy brown mustard and the rich, unmistakable flavor of the two pieces of rye bread barely holding the whole thing together. It doesn’t get much more New York than that! 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

 

Shake Shack

Although its original location opened in Madison Square Park less than 15 years ago, Shake Shack has quickly become one of the most popular fast food joints in New York City and beyond. While at East River Park, you and your team will be in the vicinity of multiple Shake Shack locations, the closest of which is located just under a mile and a half from the park in Astor Place. What makes Shake Shack’s Astor Place location particularly unique is that it is the chain’s first restaurant to implement state-of-the-art features like kiosk-only ordering and text notifications to alert customers when their order is ready. If you’re willing to walk a little bit farther from East River Park, you and your team can also visit the original Shake Shack location nestled amidst the natural beauty of Madison Square Park.

No matter which Shake Shack you and your team decide to visit, you’ll be able to enjoy everything from savory burgers made with 100-percent all-natural Angus beef patties to crispy fried chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, fries, and more. Of course, no visit to Shake Shack would be complete without trying one of their namesake frozen concoctions. There are a variety of different shake flavors to choose from, including classics like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, as well as caramel, black and white, peanut butter, coffee, and more. 51 Astor Pl, New York, NY 10003; 6 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010

 

Posto Thin Crust Pizza

When it comes to thin crust pies, no place does it better than the countless pizza joints that line streets of New York City. With so many different pizza joints to choose from however, finding the best ones can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Good thing you won’t have to! Just skip the rest and head straight to Posto Thin Crust Pizza.

This quaint pizzeria offers a variety of splendid specialty pies, all made with crust baked to cracker-crisp perfection in their stone oven. These include creative culinary creations like the Chickpotle pie, topped with marinara sauce, cheese, shredded chicken, house-made chipotle sauce, sautéed onions, and fresh pineapple; as well as more traditional options like the Classica, topped with marinara sauce and fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. You can also choose from their eclectic selection of artisanal toppings to create your own custom pie or enjoy one of the other items on the menu at Posto, such as salads, sandwiches, and pasta dishes. 310 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

 

Molly’s Irish Pub and Restaurant Shebeen

As you walk through the dark wooden doors of Molly’s Irish Pub and Restaurant Shebeen, it’ll feel as if you’ve been whisked from the streets of New York and ended up in the heart of Dublin. Although it was established in 1964, this traditional Irish watering hole is housed in a well-worn building constructed in 1895 that was first a bar, then a grocery store, a halfway house, and a bar once again in the mid-1930s following the repeal of prohibition.

The building’s weathered charm and character gives Molly’s an atmosphere of authenticity that makes it the perfect place to savor hearty Irish fare like lamb stew, shepherd’s pie, and corned beef on rye. Also on the menu at Molly’s are crave-worthy appetizers like chicken wings and crispy fried calamari, salads, sandwiches, and burgers that many consider to be the best in the entire city. 287 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010

 

With so many exciting things to see and do, don’t expect there to be a dull moment during your team’s visit to East River Park. Once the competition has wrapped up for the day, you’ll be just a short walk or cab ride away from many of the city’s most popular attractions and eateries. Make sure to take advantage of East River Park’s convenient location and try to see as much of this iconic city as you possibly can. After all, where else can you see how holograms are made, play a round of miniature golf along the banks of the Hudson, and sink your teeth into what could possibly be the world’s best pastrami on rye all in the same day?