The 92nd Street Y offers a wonderful variety of walking and bus tours, many featuring funky themes or behind-the-scenes visits. Subjects can range from “Carnegie Hall Tour and Tea” to “The Great Cupcake Challenge: Taste and Rate Tour,” or from “Central Park West” to “Jewish Harlem.”  Guides are well-chosen experts on their subjects, ranging from historians to an East Village poet, mystic, and art critic (for “Allen Ginsberg’s New York” and “East Village Night Spots”), and many routes travel into the outer boroughs; some day trips even reach beyond the city. Advance registration is required for all tours. Schedules are planned a few months in advance, so check the website for tours that might interest you.