NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

Bartow-Pell Mansion

Bronx

On land purchased from the Siwanoy tribe in 1654, Robert Bartow built the last of many mansions in the then-bucolic neighborhood of Pelham Bay. Grand staircases, Empire furniture and a conservatory shaded with fruit trees are the highlights of this New York City landmark.

Batoto Yetu

Manhattan

Every year, Batoto Yetu provides more than 300 hours of free dance instruction to underprivileged youth from the five boroughs of New York. Classes are held in Harlem every Saturday.

Bayside Historical Society

Queens

With temporary exhibits running the gamut from prehistorical finds to photographs documenting local African-American experiences, this historical society presents artifacts of interest to the Queens community. The society also hosts art shows, crafts fairs and seasonal activities on its grounds.

Big Onion Walking Tours

Brooklyn

Believing that the history of the Big Apple can be peeled like an onion, Big Onion Walking Tours, in partnership with New-York Historical Society, has organized tours of New York's ethnic neighborhoods and historic districts since 1991.

Bowne House Historical Society

Queens

Built in 1661 by John Bowne, this house is one of the oldest surviving buildings in New York City. Considered a fine example of vernacular Dutch-English architecture, it is meticulously preserved both inside and out.