view of the museum of jewish heritage from south cove park

Take a walk by the water, visit a museum for free, have a pint on a pier and relax in a cocktail parlor for drinks, dinner and live piano: a helluva hump day.

STOP 1: MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE

As a self-described "Living Memorial to the Holocaust," many of the exhibits inside the Museum of Jewish Heritage are, admittedly, pretty heavy. A walk through its corridors and galleries can be an emotional roller coaster, a ride you may not want to take after work on a Wednesday.

the "keeping history center" at the museum of jewish heritage

However, occasionally the museum curates exhibitions with less somber subject matter, perfect for the extended hours on Wednesday evenings, when the museum is open until 8:00pm and free to the public beginning at 4:00pm. The best part: it's practically empty during this time.

A current exhibition, entitled "Designing Home: Jews and Midcentury Modernism," on view through January 17, 2016, features graphic, interior and architectural design artifacts from the late 1930's through the 1960's. Everything from furniture to album art is on display, a fantastic show for anyone into design. Because photography is not allowed in the galleries, check out the webpage for some images of the exhibit.

One additional note... If you want the added pleasure of a walk along the Hudson River en route to the museum, cut across to the esplanade via Rector street (see map below) and walk south through the stunning South Cove Park. You'll see the museum poking out of the canopy like a Mayan temple and get a great view of the Freedom Tower.

STOP 2: PIER A HARBOR HOUSE

When it opened in 1886, Pier A was home to the New York Harbor Police headquarters. Today, it is a New York City landmark and a sprawling dining space with multiple bars and restaurants.

picnic table seating overlooking new york harbor at pier a harbor house

Upon entering, you may find yourself having a George Oscar Bluth, Jr. moment, initially regretting your decision to venture inside. Make a beeline for the back door and push past the unruly hoard of post-work revelers, a mix of off-duty cops, tourists and Wall Street white collars all having difficulty controlling the VOLUME OF THEIR VOICES. Not surprisingly, it seems most people don't quite make it through the gauntlet, as you'll usually be able to score some prime picnic table seats out back on a Wednesday evening.

Though the place is a bit pricey and the service is often stuck at the dock, if you keep your cool and keep it simple, sticking with beer or wine, you'll have a fine time enjoying a sunset view of Lady Liberty, while listening to the bells of passing ferries.

STOP 3: THE DEAD RABBIT GROCERY AND GROG

It's hard to overstate how good the cocktails are at the upstairs parlor of The Dead Rabbit. The place is consistently at the top of lists like "World's Best Bar" or "Best Cocktail Menu," and those assessments will not be contested in this post. The cocktails are pricey, but Good Lord, are they delicious. The menu of 64 cocktails is organized by season, with 16 selections offered for each quarter of the year: eight shaken and eight stirred.

The food, while not quite as spectacular as the drink, is also quite tasty. The menu features small plates of upscale bar snacks (the scotch eggs are worth a try), as well as larger servings of more hearty fare, featuring a solid lamb shepherds pie.

The best time to go? Wednesday evenings, when ragtime, jazz and blues pianist, Terry Waldo, puts on a solo show from 8:30pm-1:30am, while patrons dine and deliberate over what cocktail to order next. On occasion, Terry will tap a friend to sit in his stead, so on a recent visit, the fantastic Joel Forrester was the one tickling the ivories (see below for a clip).

The tables are comfortable, if a bit close together. But, the bar is where the action is, where rows upon rows of unmarked elixirs are poured with precision without a moment's hesitation.

RECAP:

The Museum of Jewish Heritage: "A Living Memorial to the Holocaust." Intensely moving permanent collections, with occasional exhibits showcasing less somber subject matter. Open until 8:00pm and free on Wednesday.
Pier A Harbor House: A landmarked structure on the National Register of Historic Places, this sprawling 28,000 square-foot space houses multiple restaurants and bars. Head out back to the picnic tables overlooking New York Harbor.
The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog: A beautifully designed establishment for drinking and dining, with a ground floor tap room and 2nd floor parlor for some of the best cocktails in the world. Live piano music on Wednesday evenings.

ESSENTIAL INFO:

-The Museum of Jewish Heritage is located at 36 Battery Place. Pier A Harbor House is located at 22 Battery Place. The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog is located at 30 Water Street.

-Total Cost: About $85 per person for museum admission (free), drinks at Pier A Harbor House, cocktails and dinner at The Dead Rabbit. Tax and tip included.

-The Museum of Jewish Heritage stops accepting visitors a half hour before closing, so on Wednesday evenings, that's at 7:30pm. If you don't check it out during an evening visit, definitely return to see the permanent collection. Incredibly moving.

-Avoid the food at Pier A Harbor House. Trust.

-The Dead Rabbit has three floors: a ground floor saloon, a 2nd floor parlor and a 3rd floor usually reserved for private events. When you arrive, tell the bouncer that you would like a table or seats at the bar for the parlor and he will check availability. A couple will usually have no problem getting a spot right away on a Wednesday evening. Cap your group at 4 people.

-The music is free at The Dead Rabbit, but remember to tip your piano player!