Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3. Covid has required some changes.
So many things to see and do, places to eat and drink in NYC.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3. Covid has required some changes.
“Every weekend in NYC is generally awesome, but we have some major events on tap for this one. Headed to Gov Ball? Make sure to peep our guide on the best things to eat and drink while there. And for everyone else, we’ve got plenty of suggestions to make your Friday, Saturday, and Sunday memorable. There are new restaurants to check out (including one serving Wagyu sushi), a film festival with works from around the world, and a dance party at one of the city’s most thrilling venues.
Read on for 10 actually fun things to eat, see, and do in NYC this weekend.”
Weekend-long Greenpoint Can a restaurant feel like a hug? We didn’t think so until Sereneco opened. Their seasonal American menu, helmed by executive chef Dennis Hong (Lincoln, Le Bernardin), is comforting, familiar, and altogether delicious with a touch of Italian influence. Think dishes like polenta fresca made with local corn, smoked mozzarella, and thyme, or ratatouille with squash, tomato, eggplant, basil, and marinara sauce. Even the space is gorgeous, featuring 20-foot ceilings with skylights and a 25-foot white-oak bar that also has outlets to charge your gadgets. Cost: Entrees from $19
Weekend-long Hudson Yards Summer may have officially ended this week, but it’s over when we say it’s over (which is never). So, celebrate this never-ending season with a trip to Jibs, a new seafood-focused spot near the Hudson River with plenty of outdoor seating. The menu has the requisite lobster, of course, in forms like rolls, grilled cheese, and bakes, but also fried seafood baskets, raw bar offerings, and seasonal fruit cobblers. The only thing not at the restaurant? Red Sox fans. Cost: Entrees from $21
Weekend-long Upper West Side Jason Scott and Robert Marchetti (formerly of Gran Tivoli) often wondered why there was no spaghetti in a Spaghetti Western film. So, they created a restaurant that takes inspiration from classic Sergio Leone flicks, but with tons more pasta. Hell, why not? Spaghetti Tavern, however, isn’t your typical red sauce joint: their signature dish is pasta in a paper bag (otherwise known as al cartoccio) and you can expect live country music every Saturday. Leave room for the warm chocolate chip cookies. Cost: Entrees from $15
Weekend-long Williamsburg Jen Stark is one of the foremost multimedia artists in the world, having worked with the likes of Miley Cyrus, and companies like Facebook. And now everyone gets a peek inside her creative process with her new, immersive exhibition, Cascade, located at The William Vale hotel. The 6,000 square-foot installation features 3-D mapped environments, murals, sculptures, and more. Wear something cute; this will be ‘grammable. Cost: Tickets from $25
Weekend-long East Village While most of us think of sushi when we hear omakase, the phrase actually means “I leave it up to you.” Keep this in mind when you try Esora Omakase, a new Wagyu- and tempura-focused spot from the team behind J-Spec. The menu includes many dishes heretofore unseen in NYC, including Wagyu tempura and sushi, all created by seasoned chef Koichi Endo. And, with only seven seats at the counter, you’ll have an intimate look at how everything is meticulously prepared. Cost: $185 per personhttps://811ac005fec2816670fa3a03d84ba72f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Courtesy of Love, Tito’s
Make fresh food accessible; inspire healthy eating: That’s the idea behind Love, Tito’s Block to Block program, which aims to build community gardens and farms in neighborhoods across the US, one block at a time. In NYC, that means working with nonprofit GrowNYC to improve the Madison Hill Community Garden, creating a space to better serve their community. Visit Grownyc.org/Gardens to learn more.
Saturday, Sept. 25, 8 pm-4:30 am East Williamsburg If you’ve never been to the open-air wonderland that is Brooklyn Mirage, this weekend would be a very good one to check it off the bucket list. This Saturday, the expansive venue will be home to the Paradise event curated by the legendary Jamie Jones. The night will feature an epic roster of dance music producers from around the world, along with a live orchestral performance from Jones’ Opus 1 project. Cost: From $50.95 per ticket
Weekend-long Midtown West and SoHo Normally we’re not really fans of these made-up food holidays, but every once in a while, they’re a great excuse to eat, say, a milkshake with an entire slice of key lime pie on top. Such is the offering at Black Tap this weekend: their Key Lime Pie CrazyShake, done in collaboration with Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie, is here for this weekend only to celebrate National Key Lime Pie Day on Sunday. Bring your appetite to conquer this monster: it features a vanilla frosting and crushed graham cracker rim, a whole slice of Steve’s pie, and plenty of whipped cream. Cost: $19 per shake
Sunday, September 26 SoHo In honor of World Contraception Day this Sunday, swing by the corner of Houston and Lafayette Streets, where a vending machine adorned with a giant uterus is ready to provide emergency contraception, condoms, period care products, and more. The machine is sponsored by The Pill Club, a company who aims to make receiving birth control pills faster and easier. Make sure to check out the brand’s new condoms and single-serving lube packets; perfect for those, uh, spontaneous encounters. Cost: Prices vary
Weekend-long Times Square We’ve waited a very long time to say this: Broadway—and the TKTS booth—are back. This weekend, show some support for one of the industries that is the lifeblood of NYC. Hamilton, Hadestown, and Wicked are just some of the blockbuster shows that have reopened recently, and you can find discounted tickets for many others at the famed TKTS booth in Times Square at Broadway and 47th St. Make a night of it and hit up famed Joe Allen afterward; you might even see a few famed faces from the stage. Cost: Prices vary
Weekend-long Lincoln Center The New York Film Festival—now in its 59th year—has introduced countless audiences to new filmmakers as well as highlighted the achievements of seasoned ones as well. This year brings some of the most anticipated films of the year, including Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand, Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog with Kirsten Dunst and Benedict Cumberbatch, and Pedro Almodovar’s Parallel Mothers. And if you’re into older works, check out the Revival program for digitally remastered classics. Cost: Individual ticket prices vary, but all-access passes for programs start at $60
Thrillist, a site with tons of food, drink, travel & entertainment info, introduces folks to the coolest things to do in NYC (and other places when you are traveling). I like to check them out regularly. You should, too.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3. Covid has required some changes.
NYC’s highly anticipated exhibition on the iconic (and always anonymous) British street artist Banksy has finally opened! Guiding visitors through numerous sculptures, videos, photos, original works and limited edition screen prints, you’ll get to witness over 100 genuine and certified artworks by street art legend and learn more about his inspirations and statements. Get tickets here.
Battle the dead, save the living…and get out! Now open right outside NYC in Paramus, NJ, this mind-blowing VR experience will drop you in zombie-infested Las Vegas to see how many evil shamblers you can destroy on your rescue mission. Don’t forget to treat yourself to tacos and margaritas afterwards. Get tickets here.
NYC’s feasts of all feasts is back! The feast of San Gennaro takes over Little Italy each year for 11 days, this year will mark the 94th anniversary of this special festival. After a two-year hiatus due to COVD-19, the street fair will be back in all its Italian glory beginning September 16. Read more here.
There’s a 007 x Spyscape exhibit opening in NYC—two blocks from MOMA in midtown Manhattan—starting September 1. If you’re a James Bond die-hard and looking to experience the thrill of being in the iconic movies, this experience is for you! So get ready for a one-of-a-kind exhibition and buy your tickets here.
Treat yourself to a relaxing evening surrounded by shimmering candlelight and beautiful music at Fever’s incredible Candlelight concerts in NYC. From classical to jazz, to movie soundtracks on strings, and in spaces spanning from stunning historic cathedrals to pristine rooftops, there’s something for everyone. Get your tickets here.
Give us all the immersive experiences! The newest one coming to NYC in November is the Little Mermaid Cocktail Experience, pairing three craft, seafaring-themed cocktails with a theatrical reimagining of the Hans Christian Andersen classic. Get your fins on tickets here…
Artist rendering by Anthony George, Times Square Alliance
Times Square’s first-ever outdoor ferris just opened for a limited time, allowing New Yorkers and visitors alike to take in the famous billboards from 110 feet in the air! It’s only open through September 12, so catch it while you can. Read more here.
If you’d prefer to eat your seafood, the oldest restaurant in Grand Central is finally reopening. The Grand Central Oyster Bar will welcome back guests starting September 7. Read more here.
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Our own Brooklyn Museum is one of the stops on the Smithsonian’s national tour of the iconic Obama portraits. Kehinde Wiley painted the oil-on-canvas portrait of President Obama, while Amy Sherald painted the oil-on-linen portrait of the former First Lady. They were unveiled in February of 2018 at the National Portrait Gallery and have been met with immense acclaim ever since. The museum has even seen a record number of visitors the last two years the portraits have been on display. So now, they’re spreading the love! Visit them August 27, 2021-October 24, 2021.
Of course NYC is the city that has everything, and there are unlimited restaurants, activities, arts, museums, theater, parks, etc. to enjoy. But if you need to liven up your weekend plans, or are visiting the city and want a not-too-touristy itinerary while still seeing the sights, OR have friends coming into town, these 15 itineraries provide the perfect ideas!
We asked our followers what they would tell someone who asked them the best way to spend 24 hours in NYC, and they delivered. Check them out below, and you can read the original post here for even more ideas.”
Here are just three Itineraries. For ALL the others go HERE
Itinerary 1
Walk along Broadway starting from Battery Park going uptown, but before you do that, take a round trip ride on the Staten Island Ferry to see the harbor and the skyline
Then along the way, you can divert from Broadway to see some major spots like the One World Trade Center and the Brooklyn Bridge
But after diverting, go back to Broadway and keep walking uptown. Don’t sit to take a break for too long, just to grab a bite.
Then finish at Central Park. Best in spring or fall!
Itinerary 2
Head to Queens and take the Long Island City Ferry station, enjoying the city views and the bridges
Get off in Brooklyn and walk the Brooklyn Bridge, heading towards the 9/11 memorial and the new development in the area
Catch lunch at Brookfield Place by the water and walk your way down to the Staten Island Ferry
Get on board and enjoy the view of the Statue of Liberty for free
Then get on a return ferry and back to downtown Manhattan and then back home to relax
If you don’t fall asleep (like we did), a night at a rooftop would be perfect
If you are looking for some of the best info on food and drink, restaurants and eating in New York City, then you want to head to New York magazine’s Grub Street.
“Make up for lost meals. No takeout, no pasta kits, just 66 of the best new (or newly relevant) places to eat.” Edited by Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld, Photographs by Dina Litovsky
The trapezoidal windows at Teranga have long afforded patrons panoramic vistas of Central Park North, but the city’s embrace of outdoor dining has made Pierre Thiam’s West African–leaning venue even more appealing than before. Now you can snack on kelewele (spicy roast plantains) right at the edge of the park, overlooking the verdant trees while enjoying a warm summer breeze. On a recent Friday, I sat near a pair of diners, one of them relaxing in a jujitsu T-shirt, as I made quick work of a yassa bowl: tender chicken thighs slathered in saucy golden onions. If indoor dining is still quiet here, you’ll never feel alone in the alfresco area. Folks zoom by on hoverboards and messenger bikes, shaved-ice vendors pour polychromatic syrups into snowy cups, and people flood in and out of the park.—R.P.S.
The conga drums are back. Their steady beats spill out onto Eighth Avenue, where outdoor patrons sip minty mojitos on white tablecloths. Although this Hell’s Kitchen Cuban canteen served porky lechon asado and garlicky cassava throughout the pandemic, what was missing for months was the music — the prickly guitars and folksy Caribbean tunes that have made the restaurant an accessible spot for everyday salsa dancing. Ceiling fans spin overhead near the open-air frontage as waiters ferry crisp Cubano sandwiches and some of the city’s finest vaca frita: shredded skirt steak that’s seared until it achieves the texture of soft jerky. —R.P.S.
Airy and sun-drenched, the dining room pulsates with Israeli pop and a steady conversational hum. If you didn’t know better, you would think you’d wandered into some beachside hot spot in Tel Aviv, not a post-pandemic restaurant in the sleepy West 90s. Chef Ari Bokovza’s Levantine-leaning menu looks similar to others across the city. But the familiar mezze and salads take a fun turn with delectable things like shishbarak (Lebanese mushroom-filled dumplings) and kubaneh, the fluffy Yemenite Jewish bread that you pull apart like Parker House rolls. —B.O.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3. Covid has required some changes.
“Soak up the sun as well as our list of recommendations for the best things to do during summer in New York.” By Shaye Weaver and Krista Diamond
“This summer in NYC promises to be an unforgettable one now that our city is back up. The city has a boundless energy once the heat cranks up, and doubly so this year, so it’s time to start checking off our sensational list of things to do in summer in NYC. Some of the most popular New York attractions provide an endless list of things to do outside from rooftop movies and free dance parties to can’t-miss music festivals and more. Here’s how to make the absolute most of these steamy summer nights.
Tip: You may want to request off for a few staycation days too so you can spend some time relaxing at a few rooftop pools during the week when they’re less crowded.”
“Hot Vax Summer is wrapping up, but there’s still plenty of time to get in your last Summer 2021 memories before the leaves change. While Labor Day Weekend in NYC is around the corner, the first day of fall isn’t technically until September 22, so you have a few more weeks to fit in all the seasonal ice cream, beach days and fun-in-the-sun your heart desires. Here are 15 things to check off your summer bucket list before one of the most memorable summers in forever finally wraps.”
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3. Covid has required some changes.
‘Interesting. Unusual. Uniquely NYC. Highlights of this week’s top events include Bowery Gallery’s “Jeremy Long: Recent Work,” The Jewish Museum’s groundbreaking “Afterlives: Recovering the Lost Stories of Looted Art,” intimate performances with “Death of Classical,” and more. Get the NYC-ARTS Top Five in your inbox every Friday and follow @NYC_ARTS on Instagram or @NYCARTS on Twitter to stay abreast of events as they happen.”
“Death of Classical” recently added two individual performances to their fall season, both taking place this September, both featuring music by today’s leading composers and cellists. On September 7, as part of the third season of “The Angel’s Share,” Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw and Grammy Award-winning cellist Andrew Yee will give a one-night-only performance of “Music for Two People” in the Catacombs of Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery. The program will feature new compositions and adaptations of previous …
Berry Campbell is pleased to present its first exhibition of Frederick J. Brown since announcing the representation of his estate in 2020. This groundbreaking exhibition curated by Dr. Lowery Stokes Sims will focus solely on Frederick Brown’s earliest abstract works from 1969 – 1977. This will be the first time many of these works have been on view in over 25 years, including the large-scale centerpiece to the exhibition entitled, “In the Beginning” (1971). In …
The Jewish Museum will present “Afterlives: Recovering the Lost Stories of Looted Art,” an exhibition that will situate the subject of art looting during World War II within a unique thematic premise, focusing on the seizure and movement of works as they traveled through distribution centers, sites of recovery, and networks of collectors, before, during, and after the war. The exhibition includes paintings, drawings, and Judaica that survived this traumatic period of violence and upheaval …
Meg Webster’s work is grounded in an unwavering interest in natural cycles and how a nuanced combination of form, material and site can come together to create diversely charged ecological systems. Since the 1980s, Webster’s visual language of rational geometric forms, from spirals to cones and circles—conveyed through natural matter such as water, soil, moss, salt and twigs—has situated her in close conversation with both Minimalism and Land Art. While her visual language is rooted …
The gallery is pleased to present Jeremy Long’s second solo Bowery exhibition, featuring paintings of domestic life that range in scale from the epic to the intimate. The artist’s depictions of his own family fill the largest canvases with an intensity and eloquence reminiscent of 17th-century Dutch painting. In a second body of smaller, more abstracted works, his forms subtly overlay the narrative in rhythmically constructed spaces. The artist describes his work as “an attempt to …
If you are looking for some of the best info on food and drink, restaurants and eating in New York City, then you want to head to New York magazine’s Grub Street.
“Make up for lost meals. No takeout, no pasta kits, just 66 of the best new (or newly relevant) places to eat.” Edited by Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld, Photographs by Dina Litovsky
Last fall, the abandoned Arcade Bakery space came back to life as Frenchette Bakery, ready to fulfill the carb-craving needs of Tribeca moms, the doctors in the medical practices upstairs, and passersby lured in by the sweet, yeasty promise of croissants and baguettes. Happily, the new owners have retained a big part of what made Arcade so special. Its unique design, using drop-down table ledges and inset benches, transforms a generic hallway into a gathering place for impromptu meetings, shared pizza lunches, and the kind of coffee breaks office workers never knew they’d miss. The bakers line the display case with their own enticements, too: exceptional loaves of sourdough and rye; savory breakfast pastries like the mortadella, egg, and Comté; and rich and flaky pain au chocolat. —Adam Moussa
Follow Your Nose to Great Bronx BBQ
Hudson Smokehouse / 37 Bruckner Blvd., Mott Haven
This recently opened barbecue joint is located at the southern tip of the Bronx on a street once populated by antiques shops, and you can smell the ’cue as you walk by. The corral seating in front catches the sun during the daytime, and inside there’s a high-ceilinged room where social distancing isn’t a problem. The meats include great fatty brisket, pork ribs worth gnawing, and pork-belly burnt ends that make deliriously good bacon. Even the beer list, with many mugs originating in the Bronx, draws you in.—R.C.S.
The Oropeza brothers have pulled off a rare pandemic feat: They closed their tiny takeout outpost in midtown, which focused on soupy salteñas (Bolivia’s take on the empanada), and rebooted in Sunnyside with a sit-down location serving creative South American fare. On any given Saturday, a young crowd may show up to eat (and ’gram) craggy fried-chicken chicharrón sandwiches with spicy Llajua-spiked mayo, stark white bowls of sopa de maní (peanut soup), vegan “chola” sandwiches crammed full of charred jackfruit instead of the usual pork, and cherimoya birthday-cake ice cream. The best time to swing by is just before dusk, when you can grab a seat on the streetside terrace and take in the Empire State Building framed against a pink sky while Andean music plays from the storefront.—R.P.S.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3. Covid has required some changes.
The last unofficial weekend of summer is certainly going out with a bang. Not only is the US Open in town, but we’re also celebrating Labor Day and Rosh Hashanah this Monday. So, if you find yourself lucky enough to have scored a three-day (or more!) weekend, we’ve got you covered. There are reopenings galore, from beloved fairs to wacky off-Broadway productions, plus new openings including a gastropub and a super-fast pizza shop. Read on for nine actually fun things to eat, see, and do this weekend in NYC.”
Weekend-long East Village As summer gives way to fall, our stomachs can’t help but think about all the rib-sticking fare cooler weather brings. And just in time for the changing seasons, Little Rebel opened this week in the East Village. Helmed by industry vets Dermont Lynch (Sel Rrose) and Jarek Krukow (Broadstone), the gastropub has entrees like mac and cheese with lobster, and fried chicken sandwiches made with candied bacon. Wash it all down with cocktails made by the legendary Brooke Smith of Dead Rabbit; our favorite is the Johnny Utah (whiskey, salted caramel syrup, and cream soda). Cost: Entrees from $15; cocktails from $10
Weekend-long Greenwich Village Simò Pizza, a concept from Rossopomodoro’s founder Simone Falco, is worth a visit for a few reasons. One, their pies are ready in a mere 90 seconds. Two, they are very affordable; most hover around the $10 mark. And, three, they are damn delicious. Check out their newly opened spot on University Place this weekend, which has flavors ranging from a traditional margherita to a decadent four cheese, as well as salads, meat and cheese plates, and nutella-flavored panna cotta. Cost: Pizzas from $9.20
Weekend-long Multiple locations If you’re a Texas transplant, then you’re probably familiar with the kolache, a yeasted dough pastry stuffed with either sweet or savory filling. But we guarantee you’ve never had one like the new collaboration between Brooklyn Kolache and popular pizza spot, Emily. The Colony Kolache is inspired by Emily’s most famed pie of the same name and features pepperoni, pickled chili, honey, tomato sauce, and mozzarella, all wrapped up inside a pillowy dough. Make sure to try one this month; they’re only on the menu at Brooklyn Kolache until the end of September. Cost: $5.50 per kolache
Weekend-long Bushwick How does one describe House of Yes? Is it a performance space? A club? A bar? Part of its charm is that it’s pretty undefinable, but everyone who has been would agree that it’s a good time. Celebrate the venue’s recent reopening this weekend with their Thank You for Everything event; expect circus acts, dancers, and a new, secret speakeasy sideshow. Please note that proof of vaccination is required for entry and patrons are encouraged to wear their boldest and brightest looks. Cost: Tickets from $10https://9de636cfdd289f5e3e3970d457ee27d6.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5; 11 am-6 pm South Street Seaport After losing their longtime location near the Seward Park Co-ops, fans of the Hester Street Fair mourned the loss of one of the city’s most dynamic and lively flea markets. Luckily, they’re returning this Labor Day Weekend in a new location at Pier 17 in the South Street Seaport. Vendors will be selling everything from vintage clothing to the famed red velvet cake from Sheralyn’s Bakery to sustainable jewelry. Cost: Prices vary
Sunday, September 5, 12 pm-10 pm Upper East Side Since there are plenty of festivals happening this time of the year, there’s always room to squeeze in one more (especially during a long holiday weekend). On Sunday, head to the Upper East Side for an all day family-friendly matsuri (Japanese festival) at NR, the sister bar to ROKC. The event is an homage to summer carnivals found throughout Japan, and attendees can expect water balloon fishing, a shooting gallery, performances, and plenty of over-the-top fun. Food offerings include takoyaki, cotton candy, karaage, spicy chicken buns, and more; along with a drink menu of shochu, sake, and highballs with Japanese whisky. Cost: Entrance is free, food starts at $4, drinks are $10
Weekend-long Greenpoint We are big believers that you never need a reason to celebrate: cat’s birthday? Your middle school’s 50th anniversary? Awesome! And now, curating the vibe for your party just got a whole lot easier. Big Night is a new boutique that stocks everything you need for dinner parties, birthday parties, or anything else your heart can imagine. Think specialty grocery items like artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, but also one-of-a-kind ceramics and French flatware. There’s even a chic backyard space that’s available for private events. Cost: Prices vary
Weekend-long NoHo The Blue Man Group has been wowing and puzzling audiences since 1991 with a show that is equal parts music, comedy, and art—but without a single word uttered. With its 30th anniversary this year and having toured throughout the world since its original debut, this Friday marks the return of the group to their first home, the Astor Place Theater. And yes, the performers are bald and blue, but it’s better if the rest of the show is left a joyful surprise. Cost: Tickets from $66
Ring in the New Year with lots of baked goods
Monday, September 6 Citywide Aren’t double-holiday long weekends the best? In addition to Labor Day, the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, is also celebrated this Monday. Traditionally, apples and honey are served during the meal to welcome in a sweet new year. While you can certainly scoop up some wonderful local varieties at our city’s farmers’ markets, many restaurants are also rolling out delicious specials. Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria will be selling a gift package with a loaf of challah, six Honey Crisp apples, and Westwind Orchard’s raw honey. For gluten-free friends, try By The Way Bakery’s Shana Tova cake, an apple-flavored cake that’s decorated like a giant fruit. For a full feast, order Tanabel’s Syrian Rosh Hashanah seder, which comes with everything from marinated eggplant with pomegranate seeds to braised beef short ribs. And, as any New Yorker worth their babka knows, there is nowhere better to snag Jewish holiday goodies than at Breads Bakery. Cost: Prices vary
Thrillist, a site with tons of food, drink, travel & entertainment info, introduces folks to the coolest things to do in NYC (and other places when you are traveling). I like to check them out regularly. You should, too.
If you are looking for some of the best info on food and drink, restaurants and eating in New York City, then you want to head to New York magazine’s Grub Street.
“Make up for lost meals. No takeout, no pasta kits, just 66 of the best new (or newly relevant) places to eat.” – Edited by Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld,
When this terrific Hunan restaurant opened last year just down the street from Trump Tower, the owners had trouble attracting customers because security arrangements limited access to the block. But true fans of Hunan cuisine — which can be just as spicy as Sichuan, with a broader array of sharp flavors — have a way of sniffing out talent and overcoming obstacles in their path, and Blue Willow gradually became a word-of-mouth hit, especially among Chinese Americans. Now, with the barriers gone, the restaurant draws diners looking for dishes like house-smoked Hunan bacon (thick swatches of pork belly stir-fried with cloves of garlic) and “snow red greens” (minced mustard greens riddled with pickled red chiles). —R.C.S.
It’s clear while sitting at Thai Diner’s packed outdoor setup on Mott and Kenmare that Nolita, a reliably bustling corner of the city that felt eerily quiet throughout the past year, is very much alive these days. At this, Ann Redding and Matt Danzer’s latest spot, they’re serving Uncle Boons (RIP) favorites, such as khao soi and crab fried rice, alongside cheeseburgers, fried-chicken sandwiches, and Thai disco fries smothered in curry sauce, which we recommend pairing with a notably strong martini while ogling the ecstatic-to-finally-be-out-and-about passersby. —R.P.S.
The Russian bathhouse isn’t just about cleansing; it’s about restoring and nourishing, which is why the indoor-dining ban hit the banya so hard. You were permitted to sweat it out on Fulton Street, but you couldn’t seek rejuvenation through hot borscht and cold beer. Now, after a few rounds in a sauna set to a screaming 220 degrees, you can once again bring your body back to life in a cafeteria with other dripping-wet patrons wearing very few clothes. Consider filling up on slippery Siberian pelmeni drenched in butter, fried potatoes slicked with enough garlic to qualify as a medicinal supplement, and Georgian lamb soup that will scorch your tongue for days, which means it’s precisely the right temperature.—R.P.S.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3. Covid has required some changes.
5 Things to Do This Weekend
“Our critics and writers have selected noteworthy cultural events to experience virtually and in person in New York City.”
Art & Museums
MoMA PS1’s Engaging Courtyard
Film Series
Scenes From Every Season
Jazz
Celebrating a Visionary Record Label
Comedy
No Labor for These Laughs
KIDS
This Is How They Roll
Read a fuller discussion of these things to do HERE
The New York Times has an Arts section second to none. If you want know What’s Happening in the Arts around town this is the place to be.
3 Art Gallery Shows to See Right Now
Radical feminist futures at the Bronx Museum; February James’s excellent New York debut; and sculptures from Argentine Concrete artists.
‘Born in Flames: Feminist Futures’
Through Sept. 12. Bronx Museum, 1040 Grand Concourse, at 165th Street, Morrisania, 718-681-6000, bronxmuseum.org (718) 681-6000, bronxmuseum.org.
February James
Through Sept. 11. Tilton Gallery, 8 East 76th Street, Manhattan, (212) 737-2221, jacktiltongallery.com.
‘From Surface to Space’
Through Oct. 30. Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA), 50 East 78th Street, Manhattan, islaa.org.
Read a fuller discussion of these gallery shows HERE
If you are looking for some of the best info on food and drink, restaurants and eating in New York City, then you want to head to New York magazine’s Grub Street.
“Make up for lost meals. No takeout, no pasta kits, just 66 of the best new (or newly relevant) places to eat.” Edited by Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld, Photographs by Dina Litovsky
Zero Otto Nove has been a mainstay of the Bronx’s Little Italy since it opened in 2008. But Open Streets’ weekend transformation of Arthur Avenue into the car-free Piazza di Belmont has brought a fresh and breezy feel to this first-rate southern Italian trattoria. Previously, restaurants along the strip rarely set up for outdoor dining, confining the festivities to the often-curtained dining rooms. Now and hopefully forever, the celebratory and communal open-air atmosphere brings the action (and all the neighborhood characters) outdoors, where diners partake in lively people-watching while enjoying dishes like citrusy seafood salad, butternut-squash pizza, and mafalde cooked in tinfoil.—Terri Ciccone
There are many good reasons to revisit Manhattan’s Chinatown these days. But if you’re in the mood for a quick Peking-duck banquet or a taste of Shorty Tang’s famous dry-sautéed crispy beef in a crowded, near-celebratory post-pandemic atmosphere, this East Broadway destination is the place to be. When we dropped in on a Friday evening not long ago, the streets outside were still eerily empty, and so were the dining booths set up on the sidewalk. But inside the brightly lit two-floor restaurant, parties of revelers from uptown, across the river, and around the neighborhood filled the round tables. For those acclimated to dining in the great indoors, we guarantee a bite of Peking duck (or crispy beef) never tasted so good.—A.P.41
At Mark’s, which opened in November, the Queens-born chef Mark Strausman (Freds at Barneys, Coco Pazzo, Campagna) delves into the Jewish and Italian dishes that have come to define his 30-year career: lush eggplant parm, rich pappardelle with brisket ragù, and a killer chicken soup named after his grandmother Estelle. In nice weather, the outdoor terrace, with its view of Madison Square Park, gets fairly packed with a tony mix of locals and Strausman groupies from his Freds days. On weekends, starting at 9 a.m., the place doubles as a Jewish bakery whose bagels and bialys and black-and-white cookies put most of the competition to shame. —R.C.S.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3. Covid has required some changes.
Of course NYC is the city that has everything, and there are unlimited restaurants, activities, arts, museums, theater, parks, etc. to enjoy. But if you need to liven up your weekend plans, or are visiting the city and want a not-too-touristy itinerary while still seeing the sights, OR have friends coming into town, these 15 itineraries provide the perfect ideas!
We asked our followers what they would tell someone who asked them the best way to spend 24 hours in NYC, and they delivered. Check them out below, and you can read the original post here for even more ideas.”
Here are just three Itineraries. For ALL the others go HERE
Itinerary 1
Walk along Broadway starting from Battery Park going uptown, but before you do that, take a round trip ride on the Staten Island Ferry to see the harbor and the skyline
Then along the way, you can divert from Broadway to see some major spots like the One World Trade Center and the Brooklyn Bridge
But after diverting, go back to Broadway and keep walking uptown. Don’t sit to take a break for too long, just to grab a bite.
Then finish at Central Park. Best in spring or fall!
Itinerary 2
Head to Queens and take the Long Island City Ferry station, enjoying the city views and the bridges
Get off in Brooklyn and walk the Brooklyn Bridge, heading towards the 9/11 memorial and the new development in the area
Catch lunch at Brookfield Place by the water and walk your way down to the Staten Island Ferry
Get on board and enjoy the view of the Statue of Liberty for free
Then get on a return ferry and back to downtown Manhattan and then back home to relax
If you don’t fall asleep (like we did), a night at a rooftop would be perfect
If you are looking for some of the best info on food and drink, restaurants and eating in New York City, then you want to head to New York magazine’s Grub Street
“Make up for lost meals. No takeout, no pasta kits, just 66 of the best new (or newly relevant) places to eat.” Edited by Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld, Photographs by Dina Litovsky
You see traces of far-west Spring Street’s past at the still-swinging Ear Inn and symbols of its future in the luxury apartment towers that have sprouted along Renwick and Greenwich Streets. Coco Pazzeria, with its raw bar and sparkling-wine list (liquor license pending), is the perfect pizzeria for this newly ritzy part of town, if the steady flow of neighbors stopping in for takeout orders is any indication. But thanks to the reputation of owner Pino Luongo and the presence of homegrown pizzaiolo Ciro Verdi, who can be seen slinging thin-crust pies and his trademark focaccia robiola at his oven in back, the restaurant also attracts couples on dates, travelers from other Zip Codes arriving on fancy folding bikes, and young families taking full advantage of the BYO policy (a must when your dining companions are an infant, a toddler, and a juvenile-delinquent tween). The menu extends to pastas and salads, but dough is the thing, fried into mini-calzones or formed into loaves for sandwiches, including a recent lobster-roll special. —R.P. & R.R.
This airy greek restaurant opened in 2018 on a rather unfavorable Upper West Side side street, facing a soon-to-be construction site, at a remove from the buzzier stretches of Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. But when COVID hit, Eléa was one of the first places in the neighborhood to build a beautiful, greenery-draped outdoor seating area, complete with inviting flowers, twinkly lights, and copious heat lamps. The kitchen didn’t miss a beat, turning out zesty shareable small plates like fried-zucchini “chips” and sesame-crusted feta. Now, Eléa has blossomed into a local go-to for date nights and other special occasions — the kinds of dining excursions that feel more celebratory than ever. —Ellie Krupnick
This Vietnamese restaurant smack in the middle of prime Bedford Avenue opened just before the pandemic and managed to soldier on throughout thanks to its backyard — small and slightly suburban-feeling with its wooden fence and strings of tiny lights. Pots of herbs grown on the restaurant’s farm in Pennsylvania line that yard; sometimes a cook will wander out and clip a fragrant betel leaf or a sprig of rice-paddy herb. It’s the ideal setting to enjoy chef Matt Le-Khac’s neo-traditional Vietnamese dishes, such as an unusual pho topped with coarsely ground beef and a vegetarian bun bo Hue chay made with mushrooms as opposed to the customary pig’s blood. —R.C.S.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3. Covid has required some changes.
“Soak up the sun as well as our list of recommendations for the best things to do during summer in New York.” By Shaye Weaver and Krista Diamond
“This summer in NYC promises to be an unforgettable one now that our city is back up. The city has a boundless energy once the heat cranks up, and doubly so this year, so it’s time to start checking off our sensational list of things to do in summer in NYC. Some of the most popular New York attractions provide an endless list of things to do outside from rooftop movies and free dance parties to can’t-miss music festivals and more. Here’s how to make the absolute most of these steamy summer nights.
Tip: You may want to request off for a few staycation days too so you can spend some time relaxing at a few rooftop pools during the week when they’re less crowded.”
“Hot Vax Summer is wrapping up, but there’s still plenty of time to get in your last Summer 2021 memories before the leaves change. While Labor Day Weekend in NYC is around the corner, the first day of fall isn’t technically until September 22, so you have a few more weeks to fit in all the seasonal ice cream, beach days and fun-in-the-sun your heart desires. Here are 15 things to check off your summer bucket list before one of the most memorable summers in forever finally wraps.”
If you are looking for some of the best info on food and drink, restaurants and eating in New York City, then you want to head to New York magazine’s Grub Street.
“Make up for lost meals. No takeout, no pasta kits, just 66 of the best new (or newly relevant) places to eat.” Edited by Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld, Photographs by Dina Litovsky
It’s one thing to offer a $335 meat-free menu for the one percent (see Eleven Madison Park 2.0). It’s another to charge $10 and under for veggie-centric Chinese food for everyone: the curious carnivores, the certified vegans, and the dedicated superfans like Deborah from the Upper West Side, who loves the food and the vibe so much she literally hiked down the West Side Highway from 88th Street to Broome and Orchard one recent Saturday afternoon just to tuck in to paper-boatloads of chewy rice rolls topped with gai lan and juicy bok choy showered with crispy fried garlic. We know she did this because Fat Choy is the kind of place where diners who have navigated the scrum of Lower East Side streeteries — bars, vegan-cupcake shops, more bars — start conversations with strangers to recommend dishes, offer bites, and generally share communal moments of vibrantly flavored, inventively conceived culinary bliss. —Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld
This elegant Greenwich Village establishment has flown so far under the radar that many regulars (ourselves included) were afraid it would close forever when disaster struck. Miraculously, unlike with the still-shuttered Gotham Bar & Grill across the street, the opposite has happened. Owner Catherine Manning fitted the space out back with tables and little enclosed “garden rooms” that have become a hit during the outdoor-dining craze. The Sazeracs we enjoyed on a recent summery evening were exceptional, and you can also addle yourself with $9 cocktails during the new happy hour. The talented young chef Tyler Heckman (Ferris, Le Turtle) took over the kitchen last fall, and he’s slowly added the kind of variety and style to the aggressively seasonal menu (braised spring lamb on our visit, white-asparagus velouté, gnocchi with escargot) that threatens to turn this sleepy local favorite into a proper big-city dining destination. —Adam Platt
Sample the Latest Fusion Cuisine on New York’s Original Open Street
Long before 2020 brought alfresco eating to every corner of our city, Stone Street was a pedestrian paradise, and it still is, a cobblestoned car-free wonderland for outdoor pints, pizza, and mozzarella sticks. The Migrant Kitchen, which opened last fall, brings Middle Eastern–Latin fusion to this Fidi pub-grub zone. Owner Nasser Jaber, who operates out of the Dubliner bar’s kitchen, sends out sumac-butter-slicked fried-chicken-and-falafel waffles, mariquitas (fried plantain chips) nachos, and pastelon mahshi, a Dominican-style maduros-and-beef riff on the traditional Palestinian stuffed gourd. And since many office workers are still Zooming in from home, Stone Street feels distinctly chiller and less suits-y these days. —Ryan P. Sutton
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3. Covid has required some changes.
“The quality and quantity of free events, free things to do that take place in New York City every day of the year is truly amazing. So don’t miss the opportunities that only New York provides: stop wondering what to do; start taking advantage of free things to do, free events to go to in NYC today!”
Join Club Free Time – I did, and it’s one of the best things I ever did. Here is a sample of FREE events this week. Get more information by going to the Club Free Time website.
Mon, Aug 30 – 7:00 pm / free Opera | Screening of Philip Glass’s Satyagraha: Modern Opera in a Park Satyagraha (“insistence on truth”) is a 1979 opera by the revolutionary American composer P … more
Mon, Aug 30 – 8:00 pm / free; tickets required; available only through a digital lottery Play | Merry Wives: Shakespeare Adaptation in the Park Set in South Harlem, amidst a vibrant and eclectic community of West African immigrants, This adapta … more
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Tue, Aug 31 – 7:30 pm / free Opera | Screening of Wagner’s Der Fliegende Hollander: Opera Masterpiece in a Park Richard Wagner’s operas had a revolutionary influence on the course of Western music. By introducing … more
Tue, Aug 31 – 7:30 pm / free; RSVP required Author Reading | Tolstoy Together: 85 Days of War and Peace (virtual) When author Yiyun Li invited people to read War and Peace together at the start of the pand …
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Wed, Sep 1 – 12:00 am / free Classical Music | Beethoven’s ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata (virtual, streaming until Sep 3) Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47, is an 1803 sonata for piano and violin notable for its tech … more
Wed, Sep 1 – 5:00 pm / free Movie in a Park | Short Films and Music Performance by Indie Rock Group: Original Fan-Favorites and Cover Songs DATE. INTERRUPTEDNoa Osheroff | US, Israel | 5During the peak of the pandemic, a young w … more
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Thu, Sep 2 – 5:30 pm / free Concert | Accordion Music: Klezmer, Brazilian, Scandinavian and More Enjoy different music styles for this little-known instrument. … more
Thu, Sep 2 – 6:00 pm / free; standby line Dance Performance | Award-Winning Choreographer’s Provocative Blend of Western and Indian Dance Her experimental works address identity and cultural heritage. This is a socially conscious, site-sp … more
Friday, September 3, 2021
Fri, Sep 3 – 6:00 pm / free, registration required Movie in a Park | Once Upon a Time in Queens (2021): Documentary on the 1986 Mets, One of Baseball’s Most Dominant Teams They were one of the most dominating, infamous, magical teams of all time. A team that as much as an … more
Fri, Sep 3 – 7:00 pm / free; no reservation required Opera | Verdi’s Rigoletto Under the Stars (in-person and livestream) Enjoy a 90-minute version of Verdi’s masterpiece Rigoletto, conducted by Constantine Orbeli … more
Saturday, September 4, 2021
Sat, Sep 4 – 7:00 pm / free; RSVP required Movie in a Park | The Lego Batman Movie (2017): Animated Superhero Adventure A cooler-than-ever Bruce Wayne must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to rule Gotham City, w … more
Sat, Sep 4 – 7:30 pm / free; RSVP required Musical | The Drowsy Chaperone: A Loving Jazz Age Send-Up (livestream) When a die-hard theatre fan plays his favorite cast album, the characters come to life in this hilar … more
Sat, Sep 4 – 8:00 pm / free Classical Music | Met Orchestra and Chorus: Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, ‘Resurrection’ Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, known as the Resurrection Symphony, is considered … more
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Sun, Sep 5 – 12:00 pm / free; no reservation required Fair | Outdoor Art Exhibit This popular event, canceled last year by the pandemic, is back. More than 50 artists will be show t … more
Sun, Sep 5 – 4:00 pm / free; no reservation required Concert | Live Music Sunday Lay out on the grass and enjoy live music. … more
Sun, Sep 5 – 8:00 pm / free Classical Music | Met Orchestra and Chorus: Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, ‘Resurrection’ Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, known as the Resurrection Symphony, is considered … more
If you are looking for some of the best info on food and drink, restaurants and eating in New York City, then you want to head to New York magazine’s Grub Street.
“Make up for lost meals. No takeout, no pasta kits, just 66 of the best new (or newly relevant) places to eat.” Edited by Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld, Photographs by Dina Litovsky
It’s one thing to offer a $335 meat-free menu for the one percent (see Eleven Madison Park 2.0). It’s another to charge $10 and under for veggie-centric Chinese food for everyone: the curious carnivores, the certified vegans, and the dedicated superfans like Deborah from the Upper West Side, who loves the food and the vibe so much she literally hiked down the West Side Highway from 88th Street to Broome and Orchard one recent Saturday afternoon just to tuck in to paper-boatloads of chewy rice rolls topped with gai lan and juicy bok choy showered with crispy fried garlic. We know she did this because Fat Choy is the kind of place where diners who have navigated the scrum of Lower East Side streeteries — bars, vegan-cupcake shops, more bars — start conversations with strangers to recommend dishes, offer bites, and generally share communal moments of vibrantly flavored, inventively conceived culinary bliss. —Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld
This elegant Greenwich Village establishment has flown so far under the radar that many regulars (ourselves included) were afraid it would close forever when disaster struck. Miraculously, unlike with the still-shuttered Gotham Bar & Grill across the street, the opposite has happened. Owner Catherine Manning fitted the space out back with tables and little enclosed “garden rooms” that have become a hit during the outdoor-dining craze. The Sazeracs we enjoyed on a recent summery evening were exceptional, and you can also addle yourself with $9 cocktails during the new happy hour. The talented young chef Tyler Heckman (Ferris, Le Turtle) took over the kitchen last fall, and he’s slowly added the kind of variety and style to the aggressively seasonal menu (braised spring lamb on our visit, white-asparagus velouté, gnocchi with escargot) that threatens to turn this sleepy local favorite into a proper big-city dining destination. —Adam Platt
Sample the Latest Fusion Cuisine on New York’s Original Open Street
Long before 2020 brought alfresco eating to every corner of our city, Stone Street was a pedestrian paradise, and it still is, a cobblestoned car-free wonderland for outdoor pints, pizza, and mozzarella sticks. The Migrant Kitchen, which opened last fall, brings Middle Eastern–Latin fusion to this Fidi pub-grub zone. Owner Nasser Jaber, who operates out of the Dubliner bar’s kitchen, sends out sumac-butter-slicked fried-chicken-and-falafel waffles, mariquitas (fried plantain chips) nachos, and pastelon mahshi, a Dominican-style maduros-and-beef riff on the traditional Palestinian stuffed gourd. And since many office workers are still Zooming in from home, Stone Street feels distinctly chiller and less suits-y these days. —Ryan P. Sutton
NYCity 1-2-3 : What's Happening / Manhattan's WestSide 