Open House New York

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Open House New York

Promoting access to the city—to the people, places, projects, systems, and ideas that define New York

03/27/2026

What are the invisible lines around and above us that determine the shape of the city? On Saturday, May 16, take part in Between the Lines, a citywide scavenger hunt exploring New York City’s zoning regulations.

Compete on your own or in a team of up to 6. Decipher clues and race to visit sites throughout the five boroughs to earn points, win prizes, and understand the city’s form in a new way.
Registration is now open at the link: https://zoninghunt.eventbrite.com/?aff=FB

Between the Lines is made possible with support from NYC Ferry.
Photo: Ben Tso

03/23/2026

Get your fest on! On April 13, join BRIC, Open House New York, and the
West Side Cultural Network—producers of Celebrate Brooklyn, OHNY Weekend, and West Side Fest—for a talk about the process and challenges of creating large-scale, free public events, the times of major crisis that inspired the creation of these festivals, and what it means to create spaces for New Yorkers to celebrate together.

Celebrate Together: Creating Festivals for New York City
Monday, April 13, 2026 | 6:30-8 PM
BRIC House | Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Tickets: FREE; RSVP at the link: https://loom.ly/Fd_fv-Y

This program is produced in partnership with Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Learn more about Bloomberg Connects at https://loom.ly/nbCL_yw.

Photo: Edwina Hay

03/13/2026

Meet our 2025 Rookie of the Year Volunteer!
Cleopatra Matos jumped in with enthusiasm, dedication, and a love for sharing NYC’s stories and spaces. We are so grateful for her impact in her very first year with OHNY. Congratulations and thank you for being part of our community!
Read more: https://ohny.org/meet-cleopatra-matos/

03/12/2026

It’s our birthday!! On March 12, 2002, our founder, Scott Lauer, filed the paperwork that took Open House New York from concept to commitment. Inspired by Open City London and the belief that openness and access are key to a vibrant and engaged city, Scott, alongside a dedicated Board of Directors and hundreds of volunteers, opened doors across the city for the first OHNY Weekend in October 2003.

24 years later, our team of six is beyond proud to continue Scott’s mission of helping New Yorkers understand and connect with their city and with each other.

📸: Open House New York Weekend at TWA Terminal. Photo: Nicolas Lemery Nantel

03/11/2026

We’re excited to announce that we‘ve been awarded a grant from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs FY2026 Cultural Development Fund! We’re proud to be among the nearly 1,200 groups receiving city support this year thanks to the partnership between the NYC Mayor’s Office and the City Council.

Our CDF grant will support the 24th annual OHNY Weekend, taking place on October 16-18, 2026.

Learn more: https://ohny.org/open-house-new-york-receives-2026-cdf-grant/

02/25/2026

On March 31 at 6 PM, OHNY presents a free screening of Emergent City, a new documentary film about the 2017 proposed Sunset Park rezoning and the fierce battle over the neighborhood’s future. The event will take place at Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library, followed by a talkback with directors Kelly Anderson and Jay Arthur Sterrenberg and City Council Member for the 38th District Alexa Avilés.

See full event details and RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/emergent-city-screening-talkback-tickets-1983783128740?aff=fb

📸: Eric Phillips-Horst

02/19/2026

Milestone moment: Open House New York turns 25 this year! Join us to celebrate this anniversary at the Open City Benefit on April 28, at the top of 3 World Trade Center.

Learn more at https://ohny.org/benefit/

Founded in the wake of 9/11, Open House New York promotes broad, public access to our city. Through our signature OHNY Weekend festival and year-round programming, OHNY invites curious New Yorkers to peek behind the scenes and meet the people who design the city and keep its systems running. The Open City Benefit ensures we can continue to open New York and share the experience of the city.

Save the Date:
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
3 World Trade Center
Tours | Cocktails | Dinner | Awards

02/18/2026

It’s (almost) showtime! Slated for completion this fall, the Apollo Theater is currently undergoing the first full-scale renovation in the venue’s 112-year history. The project honors The Apollo's cultural legacy of showcasing Black artists and work from across the African Diaspora, while serving the next generation of audiences and artists.

Metropolitan members are invited to go behind the scenes of the renovation—from the historic stage to the gilded ceiling—with Beyer Blinder Belle, CharcoalBlue, and Consigli on March 26. Tickets are limited to OHNY Metropolitan members and go on sale tomorrow, February 19 at noon. Learn more: https://ohny.org/activity/apollo-theater-hard-hat-tour/

Photo: Elliot Kaufmann, courtesy Beyer Blinder Belle

02/14/2026

Congratulations to our Volunteer Milestone class of 2025! On February 4, we held our annual celebration in honor of volunteers who achieved 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of service with OHNY Weekend. Two volunteers were honored for exemplary service in 2025: Michael Roque, our MVP, and Cleopatra Matos, Rookie of the Year.

Special thanks to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation team at the Arsenal for hosting us!

Volunteers are the heart of OHNY, and our work would not be possible without them. Interested in joining our volunteer community? Learn more about ways you can help out at https://ohny.org/volunteer/

Photos: Albert Tan

02/13/2026

What lies beneath New York City's streets? A bewildering "spaghetti-like" jumble of pipes, conduits, and more, as well as the remnants of forgotten systems. To facilitate construction and upgrades, the city is creating the first complete and accurate map of everything underground.

On March 12, hear from New York City Department of Design and Construction about how this map is being created and how this technological feat will transform how the city builds, maintains, and protects its infrastructure.

The City Below: The Secret Mapping of NYC's Subsurface
Thursday, March 12 | 6:30pm
SVA Theatre, Chelsea, Manhattan
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-city-below-the-secret-mapping-of-nycs-subsurface-tickets-1982884277251?aff=fb

Photo: NYC DDC / Matthew Lapiska

02/12/2026

Share your love of New York! If you're seeking a last-minute Valentine's gift for a special someone, consider one that opens doors all year long: an OHNY membership.

Starting at $60/individual and $110/dual, Members enjoy:
🎟️ Free and discounted admission to tours and talks
⛵ Early ticket access to our sellout sunset boat tours
🥰 Special invitations to Members-only events
📍 Advance preview of the 2026 OHNY Weekend lineup (save the date: October 16-18, 2026!)

Learn more at https://ohny.org/support/membership/

Photos: Manhattan Borough President's Office, Chelsea Pathiakis; Kerbs Boathouse, Daniel Hui; Scholastic Building, Ben Helmer; Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue, Robert A. Ripps; 610 Loft and Garden, Tom Minieri

02/06/2026

Earlier this week, announced bold plans to open the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building Cupola for free public tours. As an organization dedicated to unlocking the city, this is a massive win.

Here’s why: Access is more than a perk; access is a pillar of local democracy.

We believe inviting New Yorkers into civic spaces—whether iconic landmarks or essential infrastructure—deepens our connection to the city and restores faith in the institutions that run it.

1 Centre Street is a brilliant start. But this administration can do more. More open doors means more transparency, more trust, and, yes, more stellar views.

We’re sending our five-borough wish list of sites to unlock to and stand ready to help grow this movement any way we can. 🔑🏙️

Photo: Municipal Building Cupola opened for OHNY Weekend in 2017, thanks to then Manhattan Borough President . Credit: Kathryn Yu, Odette Veneziano.

Address

1 Centre St
New York, NY
10007

Website

http://ohny.org/

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