50 things to do now in New York City

Test out the whispering gallery in Grand Central station
There’s no sign to indicate you’ve found it, so head to the Oyster Bar & Restaurant with a friend and stop at the ceramic vaulted ceiling where two underground walkways meet. Stand diagonally opposite each other, facing the corner, and your whisper will carry across the ceiling by the phenomenon of telegraphing. It’s a famous spot to propose marriage, but the setup is also perfect for breaking up, if you can’t bear to do it face-to-face. If a long-term partner suggests you try it out, don’t say we didn’t warn you. Grand Central Terminal, 87 E 42nd St between Vanderbilt and Lexington Aves (212-532-4900, grandcentralterminal.com) $50 date

Browse indie wares at the Market
Every weekend, independent clothing and accessories designers set up shop in the gymnasium of a church's youth center (complete with basketball hoop), giving you the chance to buy a variety of unique wares directly from the makers. 268 Mulberry St between Houston and Prince Sts (212-580-8995, themarketnyc.com)

See art at the Whitney
When Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, a sculptor and art patron, opened the museum in 1931, she dedicated it to living American artists. Today, the Whitney holds about 15,000 pieces by nearly 2,000 artists, including Alexander Calder, Willem de Kooning, Edward Hopper (the museum holds his entire estate), Jasper Johns, Louise Nevelson, Georgia O'Keeffe and Claes Oldenburg. There are free guided tours daily and live performances on select Friday nights. Sarabeth's, the museum's café, is open daily till 4:30pm, offering sandwiches and the like. Come 2012, you can add the Whitney’s new downtown location to your agenda. The new venue will connect to the High Line with a purpose-built space for multimedia work. 945 Madison Ave at 75th St (212-570-3600, whitney.org)

Work it out at Dance Dance Party Party
The only rules for this all-girl, come-as-you-are, exercise-oriented jam are "No booze. No men. Leg warmers optional." Every Sunday afternoon, a group of groove enthusiasts sweat to the beats of a prepared iPod mix. After the dance fever subsides, they split the rental price of the studio (typically $6 each) and go home. Aspiring Flashdancers: Take your passion, make it happen. 440 Studios, 440 Lafayette St at Astor Place (dancedancepartyparty.wordpress.com)

Visit the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
Founded in 1897 by the Hewitt sisters, granddaughters of industrialist Peter Cooper, the only museum in the U.S. solely dedicated to design (both historic and modern) has been part of the Smithsonian since the 1960s. In 1976 it took up residence in the former home of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie: It's worth a look as much for the impressive mansion as for the roster of temporary exhibitions, which include an always-interesting series in which works are selected from the permanent collection by a prominent artist or designer. The gift shop is stocked with international design objects (some very affordable) as well as the appropriate books. An extensive renovation is planned over the next few years to expand the gallery space and create a new library, but the museum will remain open throughout 2009. 2 E 91st St at Fifth Ave (212-849-8400, cooperhewitt.org)

Kayak in the Hudson
Dip your toes in the water (metaphorically speaking) with free weekend 20-minute kayaking sessions from Downtown Boathouse (72nd St at the Hudson River). The next level: Manhattan Kayak Company (212-924-1788, manhattankayak.com) offers a 90-minute Sunset Tour for $65, or you can take a six-mile trip with Hudson Valley Outfitters (845-265-0221, hudsonvalleyoutfitters.com; $120, includes equipment and lunch). There's also a new kayak launch at West Harlem Piers (125th and Marginal Sts at the Hudson River).

Go to Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market (75 Ninth Ave between 15th and 16th Sts, chelseamarket.com) is the former home of the National Biscuit Company, as evidenced by the vintage Uneeda Biscuit items on display just past the security desk. You can consult a sommelier at Chelsea Wine Vault or have a steaming bowl of soup from the newly renovated lunch window at The Lobster Place, where soups and chowders are ladled into hollowed-out sourdough rolls from nearby Amy's Bread. Great Walks: Rainy day walk

Get a drink at the Carlyle
Choice acts keep New York's most dapper nightspot on the map, while the steep cover charge and white-jacketed service makes sure riffraff doesn't scuff up the bar's most valued draw: original Ludwig Bemelmans murals. Mixologist Brian Van Flandern's spiffy (and pricey) potions preserve the bar's classic character. Try the popular Paradise cocktail (pear vodka, Aneri and prosecco with lime and bitters), or a rum, lime, tonic and Martell cognac concoction named for the spot's longtime barkeep, Tommy Rowles. Bemelmans Bar, The Carlyle, 35 E 76th St at Madison Ave (212-744-1600, thecarlyle.com)

INDEX New Places
Get up to speed on the scenes, spots and events you need to be hitting up this summer.