Some Perks of Aging in Lincoln Square

Standing as the gateway to the Upper West Side and home to several cultural institutions, Lincoln Square is brimming with activities and shops to captivate people of any age. Yet, for older adults in particular, the district offers a treasure trove of exclusive deals, discounts, and activities. Whether you're drawn to the strokes of a paintbrush, the rhythm of music, or the pursuit of knowledge, the opportunities for older adults are endless. To help you connect with your community, learn a new skill, or delve deeper into your passions, we've collected a list of local discounts and free programming that you can take advantage of in and around Lincoln Square.

Community:

Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center
232 W 60th Street between Amsterdam and West End Avenue
212-397-3159 I nycgovparks.org/facilities/recreationcenters/M063
Seniors aged 62 and over receive a discounted annual membership ($25). The membership provides access to all of the City's recreation centers, though instructor-led courses may require additional session fees. This location includes a gymnasium, basketball court, indoor pool, and more.

NYPL for the Performing Arts
40 Lincoln Center Plaza entrance at 111 Amsterdam between 64th and 65th Street
917-275-6975 I nypl.org/locations/lpa
Free programming and events for those 50 years of age or older.

NYPL Riverside
127 Amsterdam Avenue at W 65th Street
212-870-1810 I nypl.org/locations/riverside
Attend free classes and events like adult coloring, board and card games, knitting and crocheting circle, theater classes, and more! Find events here.

New York Society for Ethical Culture
2 W 64th Street at Central Park West
212- 874-5210 I ethical.nyc
Free events for members, and low-cost events/free events for the public.

Older Adult Center at Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center
250 W 65th Street between Amsterdam and West End Avenue
212-874-0860 I goddard.org/programs/older-adults/seniorcenter
Offers free membership to anyone 60 and older, along with reduced-price meals, community activities, and outings. Activities include painting, exercise, and technology classes, and social events such as birthday and holiday parties.

West Side YMCA
5 W 63rd Street at Central Park West
212-912-2600 I ymcanyc.org/locations/west-side-ymca
Ages 65+ can receive a discounted membership for $96/month + $0 one-time joiner's fee. Once a member, take advantage of  state-of-the-art fitness centers, swimming pools and programs, indoor group exercise classes, and more. Members also receive discounted rates on adult classes like watercolor, beaded jewelry, wheel ceramics, and writing for stage and screen.

Education:

Fordham University
113 W 60th Street at Columbus Avenue
212-636-6396 I fordham.edu
College at 60 Program: A variety of courses offered for adults wanting to continue their education.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice
524 W 59th Street at West End Avenue
212-237-8000 I jjay.cuny.edu
New York State residents 60 years or older who have completed high school may attend John Jay College as an auditor for the college's undergraduate courses on a space-available basis without paying tuition.

The Juilliard School
60 Lincoln Center Plaza ​​- 155 W 65th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue
212-799-5000 I juilliard.edu
Juilliard Extension offers a variety of world-class performing arts courses for adults, both in-person and online. Juilliard also presents more than 700 performances in music, dance, and drama annually—tickets are all $45 or less; many are free! Check out the performance calendar here.

Entertainment:

AMC Lincoln Square 13/IMAX
1998 Broadway at W 68th Street
212-336-5020 I amctheatres.com
Special pricing for select movie tickets for adults 60+.

Chamber Music Society
70 Lincoln Center Plaza
212-875-5788 I chambermusicsociety.org
Offers concerts, masterclasses, lectures, and family programs, as well as 10% off in person at the Alice Tully Hall Box Office (Broadway at 66th Street) for qualifying performances. 

Color Me Mine
177 Amsterdam Avenue at W 68th Street
212-877-0007 I upperwestside.colormemine.com
Pay just $5 in fees on Fridays after 5pm.

Film at Lincoln Center
70 Lincoln Center Plaza
212-875-5610 I filmlinc.org
Discounted tickets ($14 ) for seniors. Tickets for festivals and special events may vary.

Kaufman Music Center
129 W 67th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue
212-501-3300 I kaufmanmusiccenter.org
Discounts on select concerts, classes, and student performances for those 62+.

Lincoln Center Presents
Multiple Locations
212-875-5000 I lincolncenter.org
Discounted, free, and choose-what-you-pay tickets for a variety of events. Check the events calendar for further details.

New Plaza Cinema
35 W 67th Street at Columbus Avenue
646-530-1187 I newplazacinema.org
Discounted tickets ($12) for seniors.

New York Philharmonic
David Geffen Hall at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza
212-875-5656 I nyphil.org
Discounted rush tickets ($22 including fees) for select concerts.

The Metropolitan Opera
30 Lincoln Center Plaza
212-362-6000 I metopera.org
$25 rush tickets are offered on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of performances through the Met website.

TKTS by TDF
61 W 62nd Street
212-912-9770 I tdf.org
TKTS offers tickets for everyone at a discounted price. Or, sign up for a TDF Retirees Membership (must be 62 and over and no longer working) to gain access to deeply discounted tickets.

Health Services:

Chateau Drug & Homecare 
181 Amsterdam Avenue at W 68th Street
212-877-6390 I chateaudrugandhomecare.net
Wellness classes about diabetes, weight loss, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, and quitting smoking are available online.

Museums:

American Folk-Art Museum
2 Lincoln Square at Columbus Avenue
212-595-9533 I folkartmuseum.org
Admission to the museum is free for all visitors, and seniors over 65 years of age receive a discount on membership, which provides benefits like a Museum shop discount, magazine subscription, and invitations to Members Preview Days.

Museum of Arts and Design
2 Columbus Circle
212-299-7777 I madmuseum.org
Discounted tickets ($16) for seniors.

Services:

Citi Bike
855-245-3311 I citibikenyc.com
Monthly memberships cost just $5 for NYCHA residents and SNAP recipients.

Lincoln Terrace Cleaners
165 Amsterdam Avenue between W 67th and W 68th Street
212-874-3066 I ltcleaners.com
Older adults receive 10% off their first order.

MTA
new.mta.info
Riders who are 65 or older or have qualifying disabilities can get 50% off the price of a MetroCard for subway and bus with a reduced-fare MetroCard. Learn how to apply here.

Spectrum
1865 Broadway at W 61st Street
833-267-6094 I spectrum.net
Older adults aged 65 plus who receive Supplemental Security Income are eligible for the Spectrum Internet Assist program.

TD Bank
1873 Broadway at W 62nd Street
212-245-0033 I td.com
The bank offers a Seniors’ rebate off of the monthly fee for select checking accounts, which applies to those 60 years of age and older, as well as banking advice for seniors. 

T-Mobile 
2016 Broadway at W 69th Street
646-779-8108 I t-mobile.com
Special discounted phone plans are available for those 55+. Learn more about the current offers available here.

UPS Store
163 Amsterdam Avenue at W 67th Street
212-362-3740 I ups.com
AARP members get 5% off shipping plus 15% off eligible products.

Whole Foods Market
10 Columbus Circle
212-823-9600 I wholefoodsmarket.com
Whole Foods Market Prime members receive an extra 10% off storewide sales and additional special discounts.

While this list includes many perks and programs available for older adults in Lincoln Square, it is not exhaustive. You can find even more restaurants, shops, and institutions to enjoy in Lincoln Square by checking out our Neighborhood Guide.

Photo Credit: Kaufman Music Center