Things to do in NYC when it is cold
 

If it is too cold to do outdoor things, what could be done indoors? The Metropolitan Museum of Art comes to mind. What else? I can think of some small museums but that may not take too much time then you would have to go outside into the cold.

MOMA too
 

Why just single out the Met Mus.? MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) is more central to midtown; besides modern art, their photography section is interesting. Also (included with admission) they have as many as 3 films/day.

There are several large museums you can burn a half or whole day easily and also several smaller museums/galleries in clusters where a quick walk between, in the cold, can lead to a good day.
I highly suggest the Neue Gallery in the UES as a good spot for not only a really beautiful building & collection but also a nice cafe that actually serves good food & drinks. Morning at the Guggenheim and then the Neue is easy.

I'm currently visiting NYC

yesterday the queues outside the Met were awful when I arrived so a quick change of plan involved the Cooper Hewitt, the Jewish Museum and then the Museum of the city of New York all a short walk from each other up 5th Avenue. I could have squeezed in the Frick but had plans to meet a friend.

there are literally hundreds of museums and galleries in NYC A little research in advance pays off when you need to change plans - which is why I was ready with Plan B yesterday.

The Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side is interesting although some of the tours are in non-climate controlled spaces so can be chilly. A few blocks away is Katz's Deli which is my favorite for corned beef and pastrami.

American Museum of Natural History. Also, visit the Oculus maybe? If you're talking about today, warm enough for outdoor stuff, like High Line. If you like planes, go take the AirTrain and go plane spotting near JFK. If you have kids.....lots of stuff for kids. Botanical Garden train show might be another thing to catch as well.

9/11 museum is pretty interesting too. Free tickets avail for tuesday afternoons. MOMA free on Fridays after 4.

Bundle up and go for a walk!

Do what tourists do when they're here any other time of year: museums, restaurants, theatre, night clubs, the UN, ESB, the 2 waterfall pools at the WTC, The Intrepid, visit churches, shopping, etc.

The Frick is my favorite NYC art museum - be sure to check it out.

The Met has another entrance to the far left that is generally much less crowded.

The Frick is amazing. It's also my favorite art museum here in the city.

Another personal favorite, if it interests you, is the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn: http://www.nytransitmuseum.org

Just be aware however lovely the Frick is (and I was there last week) it does not allow children <10 in (even with an adult)

Ah, I just remembered one of my favorite indoor activities: Subway musicians!

The Union Square Station is a good place to catch some. The quality is hit or miss. Look across from the subway police station, as well as my the mez at the southern end of the 4,5 & 6 trains.

Here are some ideas:

• Ice Skating at many of the outdoor rinks
• Riding the RI Tram in a snow storm
• Check out a new restaurant during restaurant week
• Catch a broadway or off broadway show
• NY Botanical Garden
• Visit a Spa
• Top of the Rock
• Ride the Staten Island Ferry
• Museum at FIT
• Studio Museum of Harlem
• Schomburg Center
• Skyscraper museum
• Museum of Sex
• Museum of Ice Cream
• Transit museum

No such thing as "too cold" in NYC.

I take it you weren't in NYC last year on Valentine's Weekend!

I was but I agree with mapleg. This is a walking city and you put on your big boy/girl pants and tough it out!