Jenny Tai
How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
It hits at the worst times, usually right when an important assignment is due — writer's block, painter's block, a complete lack of creativity when you need it the most. The city has multiple resources where your full-to-bursting brain can find reprieve and, better yet, material for new ideas. So leave your cubicle of a room, check out one of these serene, reinvigorating experiences and return refreshed, ready to soldier on through any mental block.
Images
Butterfly Conservatory in the American Museum of Natural History
10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Central Park West at 79th Street
$24 (adults), $18 (students/seniors), $14 (children)
Morpho butterflies, striking scarlet swallowtails and large owl butterflies — this is your chance to see them up close. "Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter" exhibits over 500 live butterflies of more than a dozen species collected from farms in Florida, Texas and Costa Rica. Peek at the pupae case to witness the supernatural moment when butterflies emerge from their cocoons. Feeling the flutter of their wings next to your upturned face will dissolve whatever conundrum pesters you. Be inspired by the shimmering wings and metamorphoses, for there's no better place to find enchantment.
Sledding in Central Park and East River Park
Central Park — 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue; East River Park — Montgomery Street to East 12th Street and the FDR Drive
A natural space as large and inviting as Central Park is the ideal location to escape to when your brain is stifled from strain. Grab your sled and head to Pilgrim Hill, just north of the 72nd Street entrance at Fifth Avenue. Its steep slope promises exhilaration and plenty of speed. For a less crowded option, head over to Cedar Hill between 76th and 79th streets. Beginners and those seeking to enjoy a scenic, tranquil view of the river might want to trek to East River Park.
EtsyLab's Monday Craft Nights
4 to 8 p.m. at 325 Gold St., Sixth Floor, Brooklyn, NY (between Flatbush Ave. and Myrtle St.)
Join the free mini-tutorials to get your creativity buzzing alongside fellow crafters — and enjoy plenty of snacks. Sewing can be incredibly therapeutic and you can let your mind wander as you string bead after bead. Even if you are not in the mood to brainstorm ideas for your next paper, at least your hands will be busy. This is a wonderful opportunity to commune with crafters and immerse yourself in a fun and productive experience that is sure to spill over into your own work.
Dance Lessons at Swing 46
349 W. 46th St. between Eighth and Ninth avenues (212.262.9554)
Music charge Sun. - Thurs. $12, Fri. – Sat. $15
Sometimes you have to work out your body to work the kinks out of your mind. Dress up in your workout finery and skip over to Swing 46, where free dance lessons are offered on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The intimate supper club offers live jazz and swing music from a variety of bands that are guaranteed to get your feet moving. Note that there is a music cover charge, so I suggest skipping the overpriced and mediocre dinner and getting right down to the dancing.
KGB Bar
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., 85 E. Fourth St.
A former Ukrainian social club, KGB Bar offers free readings from New York's literary underground, from aspiring poets to Simon Van Booy and A.M. Homes. The dim parlor-style bar boasts a romantic and low-key atmosphere, from the walls plastered with Soviet propaganda décor to the heavy floor-to-ceiling curtains. KGB's prewar charm and free readings could very well move you to scrawl away on a napkin right then and there. As it is generally crowded, you'll overhear plenty of invigorating conversation tidbits between literary hipsters and intellectuals which are sure to spark inspiration.
