The City Speaks: Experience the Languages of New York City
Overview
A walking tour meets street theater in this immersive performance of New York language and slang. Set in the historically linguistic melting pot of the Lower East Side, this two hour interactive experience brings the slang, accents, and languages of NYC to life through a performing guide in character as "The Tour" — but all guests participate.
•Break the ice with a small talk activity where chalk becomes the marker of your personal space.
•Participate in a scavenger hunt for stickers printed with common words New Yorkers pronounce in a funny way
•Find newspapers hidden in odd places as a delivery boy recounts in verse the impact media has on our everyday speech.
•Dance like it's 1990 in a demonstration of hip hop moves that originated in NYC
•Hail a ride from a multilingual Chinatown dispatcher...just be sure you know what street you're on.
•Listen to "Nico Ramone" rant about the problems in his bohemian life as you try to guess the words he borrows from Yiddish.
What's Included
- Guide
- Meals
- Gratuities for quality service are strongly encouraged.
Meeting Location
117 East Houston Street
New York, NY 10002, USA
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Book Online
Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free
Sara D Roosevelt Park
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Arlene Grocery
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Orchard Street
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Tenement Museum (pass by)
Seward Park
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Chinatown
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Beastie Boys Square
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should feel comfortable walking across a distance of 1.8 miles/2.9 km over 2 hours
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- PLEASE ARRIVE 10 MINUTES EARLY for check in. We cannot accommodate late arrivals, and once we begin we cannot answer the phone out of respect to other guests. If you are unsure you will be able to arrive on time, please contact us by email, and we will reply as soon as the tour is over. To plan accordingly, Subway commutes from Midtown and the Financial District are approximately 20 minutes; taxis and Ubers are also abundantly available but may take longer due to Manhattan traffic.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions
(7)Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The City Speaks: Experience the Languages of New York City?
Cancellation Policy
Still have questions?
We're here to help.
Activity code: C-5616659P1
Traveler Photos





Reviews
Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 19 traveler reviews collected by Cool New York City and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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