Ferry Culture
GETTING ACTIVE ON THE EAST RIVER IS EASY!
Join Vanderbilt Fitness and Tennis Club. Or the East End Roller Hockey league. Or go running with East River Park Track Club. So many options — all you need is our guide
By COURTNEY MIFSUD
You might think of it as working out. You might think of it as having fun. It might just be something on your checklist that you know you should do because it’s good for you. Doesn’t matter. The Murray Hill and Kipp’s Bay neighborhoods have all kinds of group fitness activities; find the one(s) you like best.
YOGA
Looking for some quality ommm time this weekend? Reflections, on East 24th Street, offers classes in stretching, flow and meditation, as well as spiritual development programs. Mang’Oh Yoga on East 39th Street is a smaller studio, and Asser Levy Center, at 23rd Street and the FDR, on the water’s edge offers free group sessions. Check the Center’s schedule for times.
Mang’Oh Yoga
322 East 39th Street
(212) 661-6655
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 7 minutes
Asser Levy Center
392 Asser Levy Place
(212) 447-2020
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 15 minutes
Reflections, Center for Conscious Living & Yoga
227 East 24th Street
(212) 974-2288
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 18 minutes
Roller Hockey
Hardball hockey players, lace up your skates. The East End Roller Hockey Association hosts a league and offers lessons for beginners (and youth programs, too) at the Robert Moses playground near the United Nations.
Robert Moses Playground
First Avenue, between East 41st Street and East 42nd Street
(212) 753-0198
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 10 Minutes
nycgovparks.org/parks/robert-moses-playground
eastendhockey.com
TENNIS
You can book time seasonally or just when the mood hits at the Vanderbilt Tennis Club at Grand Central Terminal. If you have a group of friends who want to learn, the Club will create a class. Another option: TennisPoint NYC, in the U.N. Plaza, which also holds small classes.
TennisPoint NYC
1 United Nations Plaza
(718) 440-9513
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 12 minutes
Vanderbilt Fitness and Tennis Club
15 Vanderbilt Ave
212-599-6500
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 20 minutes
KICKBOXING
Jose “Kid” Avila, a former Golden Gloves champion, teaches kickboxing on Thursdays at the Third Avenue and 41st Street location of the New York Sports Club chain. Single classes are $40, and there are monthly passes starting at $120.
NYSC
633 Third Avenue
(212) 661-8500
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 13 minutes
Dance
Classes in hip-hop, ballet, burlesque and pole dancing are all offered at this studio. You can also book private classes or parties.
SHOCKra Studio NYC
114 East 28th Street, Suite #2A
(212) 696-9642
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 20 minutes
Kickball
Remember 6th grade? It’s back, but for grown ups, thanks to NYC Social. The group has an adult kickball league that plays at Baruch College and Peter’s Field (but if you’re more of a dodgeballer, there’s a league for that, too.) Check the site for schedule, game times and locations.
Baruch College: 55 Lexington Avenue
(212) 929-5353
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 20 minutes
Hort Walk in Madison Square Park
Madison Square Park hosts several Hort (horticulture) walks a month to showcase the newest additions to the garden. Next up: camellias, for November 15th.
11 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010
212-520-7600
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 25 minutes
RunNING
The East River is one of New York runners’ best kept secrets, and the East River Park Track Club organizes 5-mile to 10-mile group runs for members and non-members (plus track workouts), all lead by certified running coaches. Check the Upcoming Events schedule on the group’s site. If you like running solo instead, start at SolarOne at 23rd Street and head towards Battery Park.
East River Park Track Club
East 6th Street and the FDR Drive
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 35 minutes
SolarOne
24-20 FDR Drive
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 20 minutes
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Find out more about the East River’s fast-moving neighborhoods: UrbanCoast.nyc
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