Work In Progress is a collective based in NYC that creates intimate and accessible spaces for people to share, collaborate, and inspire one another. Welcoming all skill levels and creative mediums — from theatre and dance to music, spoken word, visual and digital art — they host regular events that provide the broader community with enriching opportunities to engage in and create art. Scroll down to discover their favourite spots in NYC.

United States

Welcome to New York City. People are constantly on the move, this is a city of hustlers, a place where people come to level up, settling isn’t an option. You’ll quickly realize that there’s always going to be a lot more to do than you have time in the day for. 

And that’s cool, NYC was meant to be explored more than once.

What's The Deal On

A sense of freedom you won’t find anywhere else

Intro

Once the capital of the country, the city has come to define America for many

Cultural History

Everyone thinks their hood is the best – and they’re right

Hoods

Wherever you stay, there’s plenty to explore

Accomodation

New York can be a city for the marginalized to feel welcomed and empowered

Being Queer in NYC

Diverse but there’s a history of oppression that can’t be forgotten

Race

Factor in a half-hour each way for scenic detours and infamous train delays

Local Transport

Rest assured, New York City has some of the best food on the planet

Food & Drink

Fairly liberal but many prefer to skip the political talk

Political Situation

Etiquette & Cultural Values 

Come prepared with common sense mixed with a couple precautions

Safety

Most situations shouldn’t escalate, but know your rights

The Police

Solo Travel

Weed is legal in the city, when it comes to other drugs, know your source or skip it

Drugs

Shopping

Shopping in New York City

Nightlife 

Nightlife in New York City

Food

The Best Restaurants and Places to Eat

Guides

Where to Find Community Spaces 

Key Events

Local Guides From Our Community 

Explore NYC

Features

Watch

New York City 

Hinge

A beautiful community centre run by a very intentional team with collaboration and supportiveness at its heart. Expect delicious homemade food, intimate programs, and maybe a greeting from the cutest Dalmatian. Don’t forget to leave your shoes at the door.

Art Gallery

Cultural Space 

ThirdSpace

This blend of coworking and event space is new to the scene. We’ve used their rooftop for music collabs, and the founder’s passion is transforming this space into a versatile venue for any creative project.

Co-Working Space

telo.haus

A cosy coffee shop by day, wine bar by night, and event venue for art, music, and games. Come for the seasonal lattes and stay for the egg custard tarts.

Cafe

⁠Land to Sea

A hidden gem with top-notch AV and sound systems. They host monthly events focused on meditation, movement, and self-discovery. The community vibe here is nothing short of transformative.

Events

Center for the Enlightenment Arts

A DIY artist space with a living room for events, plus an amazing sound and visual setup. From live coding to safe intimacy workshops, HexHouse is where art, tech, and movement collide. We’ve hosted many memorable events here!

NB: The location of this spot on the map is not accurate. Please visit their website or IG for details.

Cultural Institution

HexHouse

A membership-based creative hub that draws content creators across media. Their collaborations bring fresh energy to events in a versatile space.

Verci

This Italian café is perfect for getting into a creative flow. With cosy, Italy-inspired vibes, piadini, yoghurt bowls, and great coffee, it’s a favourite spot where we often plan our events and keep the inspiration going.

Leila Alimentari

No Routine has been delivering a generous serving of play to the good people of NYC ever since they decided that adult life needs more of it.  Life’s too short to stick to the same old routine, so they’re shaking things up — providing a place to break free from the monotony of the adulting.  Find them turning parks into playgrounds across the city, playing dodgeball, kickball, and all sorts of nostalgic games, always surrounded by loads of people letting loose and having fun.

From slushy-serving bodegas, to parks ripe for play, these are the NYC spots that fuel their fun.

“Incredibly fresh dim sum, quick service, and open until 3am. What more can you ask for?”


“A downtown classic. The perfect place to pull up after a game, grab some greek style bar food, and a spicy watermelon margarita.”


“A park right by the water with a nice view, no matter what time it is. During the day you get a nice view of sailboats.”


“The place Dimes Square was initially named for, Dimes Deli is one of the best places to grab a quick, cheap, and healthy meal downtown. Try the Macro Bowl if you want to be a bit healthy and the Sumner Roll if you don’t.”


“Tom has been slinging fresh fruit juices out of his small East Village spot for a couple years now. The kiwi juice is a hit.”


“This is a park where we hosted BBQs and frisbee games. If you are ever in the Lower East Side and trying to get on a swing, this park has them.”

“This is a go-to downtown spot. It just looks like an ordinary bodega from the outside but inside they’re serving up fresh fruit slushies for amazing prices.”

“This park is the best for people watching when hanging out with friends.”

Explore More Anti-Clique Clubs

NYC With No Routine: The Spots That Fuel Their Fun

Treetop Journeys connect their community with nature through adventure, exploration, and relaxation. Their immersive experiences guide you out of the city, to breath in that fresh mountain air, soak up that sunshine, and take a load off your back. Whether it’s a day trip with guided hikes, or an overnight camping trip punctuated by farm-to-fork dinners — they’re masters in the art of reconnecting with nature.

Ahead of their workshop at Assemble NYC, we took some time to find out their favourite places to escape the city, enjoy the great outdoors and then get cosy, in NYC and upstate.

Our favourite swimming hole and lounge spot upstate. It’s not too far from the city and it’s relatively easy to find. Pack a lunch and a cooler, find a little rock and spend all day here. Plus, once you’re ready to head out you can stop at Hodge Podge shop and have Ray talk your ear off. He may or may not sell you something depending on how attached to it he’s feeling that day.

This small but immersive community garden might seem like your typical garden from the outside, but once you step through its doors, you’ll discover so much more. With hundreds of different plant species to explore, the real gem here is the secret "treetop" house. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a coffee and read your favourite book. Since it only fits two people, you'll want to arrive early to claim your spot!

Mossy Stone was our flagship farm for our season last year and we’ve spent a lot of time with Tyler, the farmer. This place is special and his produce proves that. Mossy Stone is a fully regenerative, organic market garden, which means he grows a high volume and density of crops on a small plot. Tyler’s sungolds are the sweetest we’ve ever had. You can catch them at farmers’ markets in Windham and Catskill. 

I live next to this park and let me tell you, it has changed my life. When I have the day off, I start my morning by finding a bench with a cup of coffee from Variety and a book. Inevitably I’ll run into friends, dogs, toddlers on bikes, older Polish men deep in conversation. I love this park so much. They have a bird watching club on Saturdays, a Farmer’s Market on Sundays, grass, trees, and a slappy curb. I’ve been to more birthday parties, going away parties here than I can count on my hand. It’s perfect, come say hi. - Rayan 

Stissing House is a historic restaurant housed in a centuries-old inn, offering a cosy farm atmosphere with an elegant touch. They are extremely intentional about sourcing from local farms, being situated right in the heart of the Hudson Valley, where there are plenty of great farms to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a date night or just stopping by for a glass of wine and a bite at the bar while reading a book, this spot is truly perfect for that

It’s hard to put into words just how insanely good this place is. Wilson, the man behind the bread, started in Delhi, NY running a small operation where his bread was nearly impossible to get. He later moved closer to Saratoga Springs to open Bakery Suzanne, named after his mother. He crafts pastries, bread, and much more, and everything is to die for. After trying one of his sourdough loaves, you might even consider moving upstate.

Achilles Heel is a little gem surrounded by the unsightly new towers in North Greenpoint. Equal parts bar and restaurant, they have a great rotating list of natural wines and cocktails and some of the best food in Brooklyn. Our friend Edmond took over as chef there earlier this year and his menus are exciting and delicious. They also get the fire going in the winter — you’ll never want to leave.

This is the perfect place after checking out Kaaterskill Falls or any of the little swimming holes over there. Best sandwiches ever, good cup of coffee, enough said. The BLT is f**ked.

We met the team at Forecast in early spring of 2024 and eventually solidified our friendship by bringing them along on one of our camping trips. Recently, we used their space as the pickup location for one of our biggest camping trips to date. Their concept is cool; a hybrid gallery, retail and event space that connects the city with nature.

A favourite bar in the East Village. It’s cheap and delicious. No frills. Good for a date or just to meet some friends. The bartenders are cool and so is everyone sitting at the bar. They also have a cute little backyard. We recommend a dirty gin martini and a burger. Say less!

Explore the Outdoors from NYC with Treetop Journeys

New People’s Cinema Club is a collective dedicated to independent film and art, rooted in the belief that the most compelling art comes from idiosyncratic, fearless, underrepresented voices. They provide a platform for this work, and build a community around it. These are the weird and wonderful spots that make up their NYC.

Hinge 

Who doesn’t want to go on an adventure? And the symbols on their flag look like they were made by Martians.

Restaurant serving ‘wild-to-table avant-garde cuisine’. This was the place that got Casey into urban hunting, the ritual of catching and eating local city fare like raccoons, possums, and even coyotes — if you see ovular prints in the Prospect Park snow this winter don’t assume they’re from some finance bro’s Goldendoodle.

A taxidermy museum displaying every animal mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud. They let you pet the animals too. True story: Kate’s best friend had her first kiss there.

A cat village in North Greenpoint. Can’t have a cat because your roommates are allergic, or you live next door to a serial killer? Instead, come here and let the feral and one-eared tabbies curl around your knees. This is what Keenan does whenever he goes through a breakup.

A museum that preserves, interprets, and celebrates the role of dogs in society. We always thought there should be a museum that’s ‘by dogs, for dogs’, and this is as close as we’ve found.

The taxidermy here isn’t as good as Torah Animal World, but it comes with a side of Chiles Rellenos and Pozole.

Creative Community Spaces in NYC with Work In Progress