The City Speaks: Experience the Languages of New York City

Highlights

Itinerary

1. 1

   Make small talk with fellow guests in an ice-breaker activity about personal space and making acquaintances.

   15 minutes•Admission free

2. 2

   Is it a "bodega" or a "deli"? Do you pronounce a place where one can buy everyday food items as a "gro-ce-ry" or a "gro-SHER-y" store?

   5 minutes•Admission free

3. 3

   Know your Yiddish slang? Guess which words

   Know your Yiddish slang? Guess which words have been borrowed from this language while interacting with "Nico Ramone" as he endlessly monologues about the problems in his bohemian life.

   5 minutes•Admission free

4. 4

   Tenement Museum

   Solve riddles and join a scavenger hunt that partners you with a fellow guest in search of stickers printed with common words that New Yorkers pronounce in funny ways.

   Pass by (no stop)•Admission free•See on map

5. 5

   Find newspapers hidden on the street while a newspaper delivery boy performs in verse about the slang we've borrowed from media.

   15 minutes•Admission free

6. 6

   New York City Chinatown

   Decode not only the logic behind Chinese characters ("Hanzi") but also hail a ride from one of Chinatown's multilingual ride service dispatchers...just be sure you know what street you're on.

   20 minutes•Admission free•See on map

7. 7

   The storefront featured in the iconic album cover of "Paul's Boutique" serves as a backdrop for a dive into the world of hip hop as an old-school b-boy demonstrates the words and dance moves that originated in NYC.

   5 minutes•Admission free

Meeting point

*NOTE* This is NOT a physical address, but an approximate location. Tour begins at the top of the steps to the entrance of Sara D Roosevelt Park next to the M15/21 bus stop and basketball courts. The closest Subway station is Second Avenue (F train), with an entrance across the street.

The map shows New York. The exact meeting point is the address above.Open larger map

Pickup

• Everyone meets at the start point

Know before you go

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• PLEASE ARRIVE 10 MINUTES EARLY for check in. We cannot accommodate late arrivals, and once we begin we cannot answer the phone out of respect to other guests. If you are unsure you will be able to arrive on time, please contact us by email, and we will reply as soon as the tour is over. To plan accordingly, Subway commutes from Midtown and the Financial District are approximately 20 minutes; taxis and Ubers are also abundantly available but may take longer due to Manhattan traffic.
• Travelers should feel comfortable walking across a distance of 1.8 miles/2.9 km over 2 hours
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted
• One per booking

Cancellation and refunds

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

• Cancelled and fully refunded if the weather makes it unsafe
• Cancelled and fully refunded if too few travellers book