While you probably heard that signing up for New York City's new municipal identification card IDNYC can get you free memberships to cultural institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, there are many lesser-known benefits you may not be aware of. Here are 20 of them:
1. New York Botanical Garden
Individual or family memberships (two adults and up to two children under 12) provide year-round admission to the 250-acre garden, which includes the Bronx River and a 50-acre remnant of the forest that once covered New York City.
2. Wildlife Conservation Society
Free general admission for one adult to the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium,
Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo, and discounts on education programs and courses, and at zoo gift shops.
3. Brooklyn Botanic Garden
A membership card good for free admission for one adult for one year (children under 12 are always free), two guest passes, admission with one guest to all members-only summer events, discounts at the garden's shops and cafe, and discounts on adult classes, trips and tours.
4. Brooklyn Museum
A personalized membership card includes unlimited free admission, invitations to exhibition openings and members-only viewing hours, discounts at the museum's shop, cafe, restaurant and on tours, plus free tickets to performances, films and other events.
5. Brooklyn Children's Museum
Free general admission for one adult and one child, express entry on weekends and school holidays, access to members-only events, and discounts on event tickets.
6. Carnegie Hall
Four complimentary rehearsal passes, half-price ticket offers on select presentations, invitations to cocktail parties, discussions and member-appreciation events, and discounts at nearby restaurants, parking, shops, hotels and more.
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7. Museo del Barrio
Free admission for one adult and a guest, invitations to all exhibition openings, priority seating at select special performances, and discounts at the museum's shop and cafe.
8. Museum of Jewish Heritage
Free general admission to the museum and special exhibitions, two guest passes, invitations to members-only events, free admission for two to select public programs, and discounts at the museum's shop and cafe.
9. Museum of the City of New York
A membership card offering free unlimited admission for one, plus discounts on events and tours, and at the museum's shop and cafe.
10. New York City Ballet
Access to company rehearsals, complimentary tickets to seminars, an invitation to a private members-only reception, invitations to special dress rehearsals, and discounts at the ballet's gift shop.
11. Public Theater
For one year members get one ticket at a special member price for each production, a 15 percent discount for an additional ticket to each production, no service charges on ticket orders, and discounts on food and drinks.
12. Flushing Town Hall
Discounted member prices for two on all events, free admission to exhibitions, monthly jazz jams and interactive arts workshops, and invitations to members-only events.
13. Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning
A 30 percent discount on tickets for any event, invitations to members-only special events and gallery opening receptions, and a discount on parking.
14. Museum of the Moving Image
Unlimited complimentary admission to the museum's galleries, invitations to members-only exhibition openings, and discounts on parking and at the museum's store and cafe.
15. New York Hall of Science
Free admission for two adults and four children for one year, and discounts on parking and special attractions at the museum.
16. MOMA P.S. 1
Unlimited free admission, exhibition opening invitations, discounts on special events and at the museum's book store.
17. Queens Museum
Free admission for two adults and up to four children, invitations to special events and openings, and discounts at the museum's summer camp, shop and cafe.
18. Staten Island Children's Museum
Free admission for one person per visit, invitations to members-only events, and discounts on parties, summer camp and at the gift shop.
19. Staten Island Museum
Free admission year-round, and discounts on events and at the museum's store.
20. Staten Island Zoo
Free admission for one year, invitations to members-only events, and discounts at the zoo's shop and cafe.
For a full list of participating institutions and all the benefits click here.
