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.
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 best things to do in NYC this weekend
“The best things to do in NYC this weekend include BRIC’s Celebrate Brooklyn!, NY Restaurant Week and more Edited by Shaye Weaver – Time Out New York
Looking for the best things to do in NYC this weekend? Whether you’re the group planner searching for more things to do in NYC today, or you have no plans yet, here are some ideas to add to your list for this long summer weekend. Don’t miss the return of Uptown Bounce, Shakespeare in the Park, BRIC’s Celebrate Brooklyn! festival, go out for New York Restaurant Week, do an outdoor movie screening, or take a hot tub boat tour. There’s much more to do this weekend—all you have to do is scroll down to plan yours!”
Watch the Tokyo Olympics with us at Time Out Market New York, which will be screening the games every day through August 8. On top of that, all of the market’s bars will be serving up a special drink: the “Tokyo Sunrise” cocktail. The tasty, timely drink is made with Haku vodka, sake sour, lime, simple syrup, grenadine and star anise to celebrate.
The popular block party thrown by The Museum of the City of New York, El Museo del Barrio, and The Africa Center is back on Saturday, August 7 from 2 to 6pm, with live performances by Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Topaz Jones, Imani Uzuri, DAP The Contract, San Simon, and DJ sets throughout the day by JFuse, Tahleim, and Ultraviolet—all to celebrate Black music and culture from the 1970s to the present day. Not only will there be music and dancing, but attendees can visit exhibits now on at both MCNY and El Museo, take part in art-making workshops on 104th street, get a temporary, painted-on tattoo by a local artist, get a custom spray-painted T-shirt or baseball hat from Graff Lab Studio, and browse a marketplace with local vendors.
Your favorite Pixar characters are coming to Battery Park’s Pier A this August as part of a Pixar-themed mini-golf course pop-up! Pixar Putt will be set up at the park with 18 fun and interactive holes inspired by the stories, characters, and icons from some of Disney and Pixar’s most beloved films including Toy Story, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Coco, A Bug’s Life, Wall-E, and Inside Out. The course will be open seven days a week, Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 8pm (last entry is 6:30pm) and on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 10pm (last entry is 8:30pm), and will take about 2 hours to get through. There will also be adult-only sessions available—Pixar Putt After Dark will take place on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10pm for those Pixar/Disney fans 18 and older.
Showstoppers! Spectacular Costumes From Stage and Screen is set to open August 5 and run through September 26. The unique attraction, displaying over 100 designs, will feature a 20,000-square-foot immersive set within the heart of Times Square at 234 West 42nd Street. The show aims to not only provide visitors with a behind-the-scenes stage and screen experience but also play a major role in New York’s ongoing revitalization. The large-scale offering will feature the original costumes from a number of Broadway hits, past and present, including Moulin Rouge!, The Lion King, Wicked, and Chicago. A few costumes from smash television shows and films will be in the mix, too, including pieces from Saturday Night Live and the upcoming James Bond film No Time to Die. Showstoppers! will “pull back the curtain on the hundreds of costuming experts who create, supply and care for them, and infuse much-needed vitality back into the Theatre District,” organizers behind the exhibition wrote in a press release. All proceeds will raise money for the Costume Industry Coalition Recovery Fund, which first launched last year with a goal of raising over $20,000 for out-of-work members.
NYC’s The Garret Cocteleria at 349 Broome Street has transformed into a lush and tropical oasis, channeling the rainforests of Central and South America, with floor-to-ceiling plants, frozen tropical cocktails and Latin-leaning tunes. Jungle Summer at The Garret Cocteleria, with help from Nick Amoruso of GREENCITYdesign, sourced local greenery from NYC’s flower district and garden centers in New Jersey to create the most jungle-y atmosphere. Its open-air structure is also filled with woven bamboo furniture, rattan lighting, dried palm leaves and foliage that’ll make you swear you’re not in Nolita.
Originally slated for May 2020, Seltzerland’s pivot to a post-vax Brooklyn will be better than we ever could have anticipated come August 7 at Brooklyn Expo Center. Envisioned by Cannonball Productions, this festival curates tastings of the best hard seltzers out there: from iconic national brands to beloved local companies including White Claw, Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer, Vizzy, Playamar (Jose Cuervo Seltzer), Basic and Coors Seltzer. Brunch will also be provided by Hormel, in addition to other munchies. Plenty of hard seltzer swag is promised. To help with crowd control, Seltzerland will host three sessions of smaller groups. The sessions will run from 11am–1:30pm, 2pm–5pm (VIP Session) and 5:30pm-8pm. General Admission tickets start at $42 and VIP tickets start at $62. VIP ticket holders will get an extra 30 minutes of tasting, a full-sized can of hard seltzer, a specialty cocktail and a complimentary food dish. For tickets and more information, visit seltzerland.com
8. A historic tugboat ride
So often we experience New York by train, car, and on foot, but what about by boat? Well, the South Street Seaport Museum recently revived public rides on its red-and-yellow W.O. Decker, the last tugboat ever built in New York. The historic ship, first constructed in 1930, will allow patrons to gaze at key city marvels in a new way, cruising by the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Skyline over the course of a 75-minute ride. This marks the first time South Street Seaport is offering rides on the historic Decker since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 52-foot wooden tugboat was first built in 1930, back when industrial ships heavily dotted the East River. The ship was donated to South Street Seaport in 1986 and then added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The W.O. Decker will run on Saturdays through August 21, 2021. There will be three scheduled rides throughout the day, the ship leaving shore at 1:15pm, 2:45pm, and 4:15pm. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors/students, and $15 for kids, and can be purchased in advance on the museum’s website.
New York City comics collectors have something to celebrate today—St. Mark’s Comics is back! The legendary shop, which closed back in February of 2019 after 36 years of operation, has turned a new page. On Friday, it officially opened its new shop at Industry City. The new digs are a very big departure from its original spot on St. Marks among the dim sum joints, weed paraphernalia emporiums and karaoke dungeons, but it’s a new start and a rare resurrection of a small local store with a big following. St. Mark’s Comics is open daily, 11am-8pm Monday-Tuesday, 10am-9pm Wednesday-Saturday, and 11am-7pm on Sundays at 51 35th St. in Industry City.
2001: A Space Odyssey at the Museum of the Moving Image: Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 sci-fi classic is coming to the Museum of the Moving Image this Saturday as part of their retrospective of the acclaimed director’s work. Come check out this extravagant visual and audio masterpiece, done with such scientific accuracy that some, to this day, believe Kubrick directed the Moon Landing. 36-01 35th Avenue, Astoria. 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20.
Afrobeat Nights NYC (Summer Series): Afrobeat Nights NYC, a cultural and musical celebration, is featuring DJ Tunez as part of their 2021 Summer Series this Friday. A world-renowned DJ and producer, Tunez will be performing at Cafe Erzulie starting at 10 pm. Tickets required. 894 Broadway, 10 p.m. Tickets start at $25.
Saturday, Aug. 7
Bronx Night Market: The largest event of its kind Uptown, the Bronx Night Market, a celebration of the borough’s unique culture and cuisine, attracts thousands to Fordham Plaza every Saturday. Come eat, drink and support local businesses. 1 Fordham Plaza. 12 p.m. Free to enter.
Drag Queen Brunch Show: The best in Drag Queen entertainment in New York City, Illusions: The Drag Queen Show is hosting a brunch show this Saturday. Start your day with mimosas, laughs, and classic tributes to Madonna, Cher, Tina Turner and Joan Rivers. 237 West 47th Street. 1:30 p.m. Tickets start at $10.
NYC Is Dead (A Live Comedy AND Brass Music in Central Park): A stand-up comedy and brass music show in Central Park, NYC Is Dead is performing this Saturday at 7:30 pm. Spread a blanket, laugh, enjoy the music, and find out just how much the name is ironic. 100th Street and Central Park West. 7:30 p.m. Free, donations welcome.
Sunday, Aug. 8
Play NYC Gaming Convention: The biggest gaming exposition in New York City, Play NYC is returning to Manhattan’s Metropolitan Pavilion this Saturday and Sunday for its fifth year. Featuring both video and board games, by creators large and small, Play NYC is perfect for both fans, industrial, professional, and casual fans. 125 W 18th Street. Aug. 7-8, 10 a.m. Tickets start at $25.
World’s Fair History Walk: Discover Flushing Meadows Corona Park’s sparkling history on this guided walk and tour led by the Alliance for the FMCP. See and explore the park’s remaining World’s Fair sites and structures, including the famous Unisphere and Astro towers from 1964, and relics from the 1939 fair. Flushing Meadows Corona Park at the Unisphere. 1 p.m. Free.
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,
We’re happy to report that whatever strange alchemy it was (the warming onion soup, the cheeseburger “à la Americaine,” the spacious sidewalk operation sturdy enough for any blizzard) that elevated this fashionable Stephen Starr–Keith McNally Meatpacking District brasserie into one of the go-to destinations during the dark pandemic months is still very much intact. Like everywhere else around town, the dining room is beginning to fill up again, but the best seat in the house is still outdoors, where the sidewalk between the tables along Gansevoort Street has turned into a kind of promenade for the vibrantly reopened city. There was a jazz trio spinning out New Orleans sounds when we dropped by the other day, and couples walking arm in arm on their way to the High Line or an evening picnic in the park. Any picnic here should include some oysters and the bubbly, shell-less escargot, but be sure to save a little room for the baba au rhum, the nougat glacé, and the rest of the underrated brasserie desserts.—A.P.
Cymande’s “bra” piped through the outdoor jukebox on a recent Friday at the Vietnamese restaurant Di An Di while patrons slurped up brothy vermicelli noodles underneath strings of white lights. Those who arrived after 8:45 p.m. were out of luck, as every table was filled with fashionable young folks in T-shirts and hosts had stopped taking names. Bowls of mi xao bo do bien, firm egg noodles studded with fat slices of squid and shrimp, scented the air with its garlicky perfume. The Before Times menu still hasn’t returned, which means no more rice-paper pizzas for now, but there are newish bánh mì lunch sandwiches stuffed with fried chicken, tofu, or pork belly. And the aromatic shaking beef (bo luc lac), with its wok-seared cubes of medium-rare sirloin and crisp tomato-watercress salad, remains.—R.P.S.
The pandemic was a disaster for everyone, but few felt the old “defeat snatched from the jaws of victory” moment more keenly than chef-owner Ryan Bartlow, who had to close this elegant little Basque-themed bar operation just as the buzz for its special brand of convivial tapas-style cooking was building. The bare-bones staff managed to survive on PPP checks and a pickup menu until early summer, before throwing open the floor-to-ceiling windows and filling the sidewalk with rows of tables, which, on a warm night, as the evening light filters through the leafy trees across the street, can feel a little like an outdoor café in San Sebastián. These days, the long, dinner-friendly bar is humming again, and with the first-rate drinks program (try the vermut and tonic), a roster of expertly rendered Spanish classics (the croquettes, the morcilla, the tortilla española), and a peaceful, unhurried vibe, there are, for our money, few more-enjoyable indoor-outdoor-dining options in town.—A.P.
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.
“Summer in New York City is filled with plenty of things to do, and it’s finally the perfect outdoor weather!
With 4th of July on the horizon and summer in full swing, July will offer plenty of opportunities to soak in the sun and hang by the water before the brutal heat of August kicks in (because like it or not, it’s coming!).
Check out glorious rooftops, cool off at beaches and pools, traipse through fields of sunflowers and lavender (ok, those are a bit outside of NYC!), and much more with our recommendations of things to do this month.”
Catch this year’s bigger-and-better-than-ever 4th of July fireworks
2-6. Head to the beach NYC is know for its notoriously hot and humid summers, which may be true for all over the tri-state but definitely seem worse when you’re surrounded by tons of sky-high buildings! Taking a trip to one of our lovely beaches is definitely one of the best ways to beat the heat, so check out our list of the 10 best beaches in NYC. Here’s a sneak peek: The People’s Beach at Jacob Riis Park, Queens Coney Island, Brooklyn Orchard Beach, The Bronx Rockaway Beach, Queens Brighton Beach, Brooklyn
7-11. Or take a dip in an NYC pool NYC’s free public pools are now officially open for the season, but if you’re looking for something more high-end, there are tons of gorgeous private pools to check out too! Here are some of our favorites: Roosevelt Island’s stunning multicolored pool Jimmy at the James in SoHo The Beach at Dream Downtown in Chelsea McCarren Hotel & Pool in Brooklyn Profundo Pool Club at the Ravel Hotel in LIC
Camp under the stars on Governors Island
Watch paintings swirl all around you at Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Grab tickets to the new multisensory exhibit on infamous British street artist Banksy
Take in sultry tunes under the stars at NYC rooftops
Or if you’re more into classical music, try one of these glowing concerts by candlelight
Catch a hilarious rooftop comedy show
Be transported to Paris with this Moulin Rouge-era outdoor show in the Village
Immerse yourself in a dazzling, multi-sensory experience Happy-Go-Lucky
Plan your visit to NYC’s thrilling Money Heist experience coming this winter
Explore NYC’s first-ever floating park ‘Little Island’
See a concert at Bryant Park
Hop Aboard NYC’s first-ever floating Mexican restaurant La Barca Cantina
24-29. Take in skyline views at these stunning NYC rooftops Nothing beats a drink in hand and a skyline in sight. Here are some of our favorite rooftops around the city: Check out Cantina Rooftop and try the 12-lb taco! Experience a backyard vibe at The Ready Escape to the Hamptons right in the city at this beachy-themed bar Dine on Eataly’s rooftop and see their seasonal decor Admire all the floral installations at Ampia Rooftop Sip on cocktails at Top of the Box in Brooklyn
Catch Lady Liberty napping in Morningside Park
Kayak for free at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Explore this stunning lavender farm on Long Island
Or pick summer sunflowers in New Jersey
Ride Coney Island’s brand-new roller coaster
Or try out the world’s longest, tallest & fastest single-rail coaster in nearby NJ
Embrace your inner child at this giant inflatable theme park coming to Brooklyn
Give into temptation at this extravagant cirque-burlesque mixology experience
Experience true darkness at the dystopian immersive show Blindness
Grab a bite at the Queens International Night Market Queens Night Market
40-45. Cool off with NYC’s best ice cream shops One of the best ways to beat the heat in NYC is by indulging in some delicious ice cream! Of course Mister Softee is a classic, but here are some of our other favorite spots to grab a cone: Minus Celsius Ice Cream, Lower East Side Mikey Likes It, Lower East Side & Harlem Whipped Urban Dessert Lab, Lower East Side Van Leeuwen’s, Multiple Locations Tipsy Scoop, Kips Bay & Williamsburg Milk & Cream Cereal Bar, Little Italy
Take an outdoor yoga class in Bryant Park for free
47-51. Take in the views at NYC’s most stunning waterfront dining locales The best (and coolest) place to be in the summer is on the water (Manhattan is an island, after all). From eating on historic boats with insane views of the sunset to checking out secluded seafood hotspots on NYC’s smaller surrounding islands, these are some of our favorite spots for a breezy cocktail and bites: Grand Banks, Pier 25 in Tribeca Watermark Bar, Pier 15 in South Street Seaport Baylander Steel Beach, Harlem City Vineyard, Pier 26 in Tribeca Anable Basin, Long Island City
52-58. Catch an outdoor movie
Enter the wizarding world of Harry Potter at the new flagship store
Sip on Butterbeer just like Harry and his friends
Secret New York City is one of the finest online guides to things to do and see in NYC. From the best restaurants, to fascinating museums, this site will help you discover amazing new places and create some beautiful memories along the way.
“Plan your month with the best NYC events in August 2021 including rooftop openings, outdoor tours and public art exhibitsWritten by Shaye Weaver / Time Out NY
Get ready to use our NYC events in August calendar as your guide for ending the summer with a bang! Now that we’re stuck at home a lot while NYC slowly reopens, now’s the time to take advantage of New York beaches and pools before they close for swimming next month. There are many more things to do outside this month, like enjoying incredible rooftops, going to the botanical garden and trying out fun social distanced mini-lawns, too. And use August as your last change to take advantage of all the outdoor movies at Parklife and more. This is the last full-month of summer—make it count!”
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.
“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.”
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.
“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 2 – 3:00 pm / free; no reservation required Book Discussion | Pulitzer Prize Winner Glenn Frankel on His Acclaimed Shooting Midnight Cowboy The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Glenn Frankel t … more
Mon, Aug 2 – 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 3, 2021
Tue, Aug 3 – 7:00 pm / free; registration required Book Discussion | Apollo 13 Author Jeffrey Kluger Discusses His New Book with Former NASA Astronaut (virtual) Science journalist Jeffrey Kluger is a co-author of bestselling book Apollo 13, which becam … more
Tue, Aug 3 – 7:30 pm / free tickets required Dancing | Flamenco, Tap Dance, Samba and More: Dance Performances, Lessons and Party 7:30 pm – 8 pm: dance performances and mini dance lessonFeaturing Flamenco La … more
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Wed, Aug 4 – 4:00 pm / free; registration required Tour | Battery Park City: ‘Green Guidelines’, Teardrop Park and More The tour covers the north residential neighborhood of Battery Park City, built mostly after 2001 to … more
Wed, Aug 4 – 6:00 pm / free; no reservation required Classical Music | Classical Music: Baroque to Cutting Edge These brilliant musicians bring thrilling virtuosity and energy to everything they perform. Their co … more
Wed, Aug 4 – 7:00 pm / free; no reservation required Jazz | Winard Harper & Jeli Posse in a Park With trumpeter-brother Philip, Winard Harper co-led the Harper Brothers, one of the most successfula … more
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Thu, Aug 5 – 6:30 pm / Pay what you can Play | The Count of Monte Cristo: Adaptation of Dumas’ Classic Novel The Count Of Monte Cristo is one of the greatest tales of betrayal, adventure, and revenge the world … more
Thu, Aug 5 – 7:00 pm / free; no reservation required Jazz | Waterfront Concert: The Cab Calloway Orchestra The Cab Calloway Orchestra plays jazz and swing music.Don’t forget to bring a blanket or … more 1
Friday, August 6, 2021
Fri, Aug 6 – 12:00 pm / free Classical Music | World-Renowned Conductor Pierre Boulez at the 2008 Salzburg Festival with The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (virtual) Pierre Boulez (1925-2016) became one of the most prominent conductors of his generation. In a career … more
Fri, Aug 6 – 7:00 pm / free; no reservation required Concert | Top-Tier Jazz with Grammy-Winning Trumpeter Terence Blanchard Since Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard embarked on his solo recording career … more
Fri, Aug 6 – 7:00 pm / free, registration required Classical Music | 100 Years of American Art Songs Baritone Richard Hodges, accompanied by pianist Tabitha Johnson, presents over 100 years of black-co … more
Saturday, August 7, 2021
Sat, Aug 7 – 9:00 am / free; no reservation required Festival | 2021 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival To celebrate the Year of the Ox and NYC’s Summer of Recovery, the 2021 Hong Kong Dragon Boat F … more
Sat, Aug 7 – 4:00 pm / free; no reservation required Jazz | Jazz Concert in the Park with Dizzy Gillespie Big Band & The Music of Jimmy Heath With:– Alyson Williams, Emcee– Camille Thurman and the Darrell Green Quartet– A … more
Sat, Aug 7 – 6:30 pm / Pay what you can Play | The Count of Monte Cristo: Adaptation of Dumas’ Classic Novel The Count Of Monte Cristo is one of the greatest tales of betrayal, adventure, and revenge the world … more
Sunday, August 8, 2021
Sun, Aug 8 – 10:30 am / Free; RSVP required Tour | Waterfront Walk: Guided Park Tour Conservancy docents lead a walking tour traversing the Park’s beautiful landscape. Learn about the h … more
Sun, Aug 8 – 6:00 pm / free Jazz | Trumpet Player and His Band Known for his mellow and enticing tones on the trumpet and flugelhorn, Ryo Sasaki leads the Jazz Par … 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
Last summer, as restaurateurs hastily built makeshift patios, Silver Apricot partners Emmeline Zhao and Simone Tong created a space that truly translated the dining experience to the street without sacrificing a bit of elegance or refinement. (Being situated on one of the West Village’s quieter blocks didn’t hurt.) Purse hooks on the plastic dividers, lavender planted along the perimeter, and quality glass and plateware made for a setting worthy of Tong’s inventive Chinese American dishes like chile-crab rangoon dip and burnished scallion puffs. Now they are renovating the dining room in preparation for indoor service and plan to reopen June 17 with a new seasonal menu.—A.K.
Veteran chefs John Nguyen and Nhu Ton began peddling their Vietnamese sandwiches and crispy pork-belly salad rolls from an empty pop-up space on the upper reaches of Amsterdam Avenue last summer, and the operation was such a hit that by January they’d put down permanent roots in the neighborhood. There are five varieties of toasty bánh mìs to choose from (when in doubt, order the charcoal-grilled pork), numerous sturdy classics from Ton’s native central Vietnam (try the Frisbee-size rice-noodle delicacy called bánh dap), and a deeply flavorful beef pho. —A.P.
Last summer, the outdoor-dining setup at downtown Portuguese-Spanish restaurant Cervo’s was a destination almost in spite of itself. Simple wooden folding tables and chairs sprawled across an unadorned and fluorescent-lit expanse of Canal Street. Counter-service orders were called out brusquely over a loudspeaker mounted on the building’s exterior. Serviceware was disposable. You found and bussed your own table. But the Dimes Square denizens flocked nonetheless, pushing together tables laden with dark-pink Spritzes, fried-fish sandwiches, and glistening head-on prawns. It was casual, cool, and as COVID-safe as one could hope for. Now, after a winter hiatus operating as a shop, the scene returns to Cervo’s, but this time the restaurant has full-service outdoor dining on a newly built yellow-tiled patio with proper glassware, plateware, and a menu of old favorites like piri-piri chicken, mussels escabeche, and crispy shrimp heads.—A.K.
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 “Jack Stuppin: The Beginning of My World,” Restart Stages’ “Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra,” the Public Theatre’s “Mobile Unit’s Summer of Joy,” 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.”
Dance is back at the 92nd Street Y with the fourth annual “92Y Mobile Dance Film Festival” — the first in-person dance program since the pandemic shut 92Y’s doors in March 2020. The MDFF – the only dance film festival featuring works shot entirely on mobile devices – explores the magic that happens at the intersection of choreography, camerawork and editing, revealing new dimensions in movement and offering intimate access and up-close perspectives on the physical and spatial …
The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) recently announced that the theater’s acclaimed MOBILE UNIT will return this summer with MOBILE UNIT’S SUMMER OF JOY, a free four-week tour to all five boroughs beginning July 31 and running through August 29 as New York City joyously returns to life. In partnership with New York City’s Department of Transportation, MOBILE UNIT’S SUMMER OF JOY will pop up at public plazas in neighborhoods that were both traditionally …
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts recently announced that the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and Renée and Robert Belfer Music Director Louis Langrée will return to campus for the first time since the pandemic for a residency with students from New York City area music schools from August 1–7, 2021. The week of activities culminates with a concert in Damrosch Park featuring Langrée conducting Mozart’s first and final symphonies with the MMFO and several of the students. As part …
Long Island / Fri, Jul 23, 2021 – Thu, Jul 29, 2021
“Ein Plein Air Reloaded: Green Fuse,” presented by the Black & White Gallery / Project Space, brings together six artists with unique perspectives and diverse backgrounds, who propose new experiences rooted in nature endlessly re-forming and reshaping itself. Through their uses of contemporary artistic forms, in various scenarios and formats—each with their own conventions — they each infuse life into dead fragments and propose different modes of contemplation: of nature and the boundaries between the …
“Jack Stuppin: The Beginning of My World,” on view at the Hudson River Museum from July 2–September 12, 2021, highlights nine oil paintings from the artist Jack Stuppin, ranging from 2008 to 2020, from this ongoing series the artist has called his “Homage to the Hudson River School.” Jack Stuppin (American, b. 1933), renowned for vibrant landscape paintings of Northern California, grew up in Yonkers and returns again and again to reconnect with the formative Hudson …
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.
“We know we say this every summer, but is it seriously August already? Luckily, even if we are entering the so-called dog days of the season, the city shows no sign of a summer slump (we even got our very own waterfall in Times Square this week). So, whether you’re in the mood for innovative Japanese food, an old-school game of mini golf, or immersive circus acts, we have you covered (on an important side note, so does the CDC with their latest updates on how to best stay safe from the Delta variant).
Read on for nine actually fun things to eat, see, and do this weekend in New York City.”
Weekend-long Prospect Heights As the creators of Ample Hills, one of the city’s most beloved brands of ice cream, Jackie Cuscuna and Brian Smith certainly know their frozen desserts. And while the duo had to sell the company last year, they’re back in action now with their new shop, the Social. The cheery space offers all brand-new flavors, including chocolate fudge, Hydrox cookies and cream, and decadent doughnut sundaes. Cost: Scoops from $4.75
Weekend-long Lower East Side Chef Chikara Sono has long been regarded as a chef’s chef. At the critically acclaimed Kyo-Ya, he introduced a whole generation of New Yorkers to the wonders of kaiseki and omakase meals. Now at his new restaurant BBF, Sono will showcase a more innovative menu, with dishes like abalone croquettes with truffle sauce and kale chips, and pork-garlic rice wrapped in sliced pork belly. And look out for Kappo Sono, an eight-seat chef’s counter located behind the restaurant that’s set to debut later this year. Cost: Entrees from $25
Weekend-long Chelsea Upstate is downstate at Creamline Beer Garden, a new collaboration between the restaurant Creamline and Livingston Manor’s Catskill Brewery. The outdoor space occupies a 90-foot expanse along 16th Street (right outside of Chelsea Market), and features its own menu of American classics and plentiful suds. Highlights include six kinds of boozy milkshakes (including the tempting Girl Scout Cookie), pretzels with warm beer cheese, and canned beers ranging from farmhouse-style ales to kettle sours. Cost: Beers from $9; entrees from $9
Weekend-long West Village Sometimes, you don’t need the words “molecular gastronomy” anywhere near your beverage and just want a damn good glass of wine. So, for your next night out, we suggest the newly opened Temperance Wine Bar. This spot, from Jonathan Rexroat and Devin Rochford, along with sommelier A.J. Ojeda-Pons (The Lambs Club, Mercado Little Spain), boasts over one hundred rotating selections of international wines, plus a tempting menu of small plates from chef Chris Jaeckle. Cost: Wines by the glass from $9
Weekend-long Williamsburg Chances are, the last time you played a full round of miniature golf was at the beach somewhere when you were eight years old. We’re happy to report that the sport has come a long way since then; just take a look at the artist-designed course at Putting Green. The North Williamsburg waterfront pop-up boasts 18 holes, each crafted by a local community partner, and themed around the ever-relevant topic of climate change. All profits from the course, in fact, will be donated to local organizations addressing this pressing issue. Cost: $10 per ticket
Friday, July 30 at 7 PM Bryant Park Broadway may be dark for a few more weeks, but there are still ways to see your favorite performers live. This Friday, catch the splendid Adrienne Warren (Tina, Shuffle Along) in the latest edition of Bryant Park Picnic Performances. The singer will be joined by fellow performers and talented friends such as Matthew Griffin, Amber Iman, Ashley Loren, and Jhardon Milton. Tickets are free, but are first-come, first-serve. Proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test are required for entry. Cost: Free
Weekend-long Governors Island While more New Yorkers are discovering the magic of Governors Island every year, we know there are a few of you out there who still haven’t been. Let this be the push you need: it’s just a few minutes away by ferry and The Arts Center is now reopened. Currently on view are Meg Webster’s mesmerizing geometric forms, as well as Onyedika Chuke’s arresting, large-scale sculptural installation. Cost: Free with ticket reservation
Weekend-long Manhattan Did you decide to go vegan but are still craving some of your favorite Chinese delivery dishes? Panda Express and Beyond Meat are here to help. Starting this week, the iconic restaurant chain is unveiling Beyond the Original Orange Chicken, a plant-based version of their most popular menu item. The item will be available while supplies last at three Manhattan locations: 1st Ave. and 69th St., 9th Ave. and 46th St., and Broadway & 111th St. Cost: Bowls start at $10
Weekend-long St. George We might have to wait a bit longer for a proper big-tent circus to arrive in NYC, but until then, we’ve got Eyes on New York. This new show on Staten Island is from the creators of the tourist-magnet The Ride and includes acrobats, dancers, and circus acts performing in a brand-new, 150-seat theater space. After the show, save time to take a spin around nearby Empire Outlets, the city’s only outlet mall. Cost: Tickets from $19
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, 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.
5 Things to Do This Weekend in NYC
Our critics and writers have selected noteworthy cultural events to experience virtually and in person in New York City.
Classical Music
Expanding Wagner’s Reach
Pop & Rock
An Extra Sultry Summer Night
KIDS
Calling Young Readers
Theater
Shakespeare on Wheels
Dance
Cinema by Mobile Device
Read a fuller discussion of these gallery shows 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.
5 NYC Art Gallery Shows to See Right Now
Julie Mehretu’s prints; Lee Lozano’s drawings; paintings by the Florida Highwaymen; sculptures by Hugh Hayden; and a survey of protest art.
Julie Mehretu
Through Sept. 18. Gemini G.E.L. at Joni Moisant Weyl, 535 West 24th Street, third floor, Manhattan, (212) 249-3324, gemini@joniweyl.com.
Lee Lozano
Through Aug. 13, Karma, 22 East 2nd Street, Manhattan; 212-390-8290, karmakarma.org.
Highwaymen
Through Aug. 13. Charles Moffett, 511 Canal Street, second floor, Manhattan. 212-226-2646; charlesmoffett.com.
Hugh Hayden
Through Aug. 13. Lisson Gallery, 504 West 24th Street, Manhattan; (212) 505 6431. lissongallery.com
‘The Protest and the Recuperation’
Through Aug. 14. Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, 615 West 129th Street, Manhattan; 212-853-1623, wallach.columbia.edu.
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.
Looking for the best things to do in NYC this weekend? Whether you’re the group planner searching for more things to do in NYC today, or you have no plans yet, here are some ideas to add to your list for this long summer weekend. Don’t miss Shakespeare in the Park, BRIC’s Celebrate Brooklyn! festival, go out for New York Restaurant Week, do an outdoor movie screening, or take a hot tub boat tour. “
Ms. Kim’s, a new K-town karaoke lounge from Korean beauty entrepreneur Anna Kim, combines sophisticated style with sing-alongs. Envisioned during the pandemic, when we all just needed to belt out our frustrations, and spend some much-needed time outside of our homes with friends, Ms. Kim’s offers both communal space and soundproof private karaoke rooms, so guests can customize their experience as it suits their needs. In the main lounge and bar, mixologist-approved cocktails take the place of the ubiquitous karaoke bar beer pitcher. Ingredients in the signature drinks, which start at $16, include butterfly pea flower, herbal infused syrups and top shelf spirits. Fine wine is sold by the glass or bottle, and beer is available on tap or by the bottle. For soju, the 46-proof Hwayo – 23° is available by the 375 mL bottle. Fridays will also bring live music to the bar, for those who prefer to sway to the sounds of jazz, rather than sing. To eat, Ms. Kim’s offers a short menu of Japanese and Korean finger foods, like vegetable or shrimp tempura with four types of salt, three types of fried dumplings, and chicken karaage with garlic ginger soy sauce.
BRIC’s Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival returns on July 31 to the Prospect Park Bandshell with shows continuing through September 18, and we couldn’t be more excited to take in live music with friends and strangers. All the shows will begin at 6pm, but you can see specific dates here. If you’re not able to make it to the festival, you can catch performances on BRIC’s website after the fact. Opening night features Ari Lennox, KAMAUU w/ special guest Adeline and Nesta on July 31.
Prospect Heights has a new ice cream destination. The Social, created by Ample Hill founders Jackie Cuscuna and Brian Smith, opened on Sunday! The new scoop shop offers a playful take on ice cream, and is also a story of resilience, following the founders’ bankruptcy in 2020. Now, The Social promises a carefree, fun experience that melds innovative flavors with nostalgia. The Go-Go Bananas banana ice cream reimagines the classics, with more unique flavors including a monkey bread and coffee infused scoop with homemade coffee toffee, and all-natural bubblegum ice cream with a marshmallow swirl. Locally made doughnuts, as well as milkshakes, specialty cones and sorbet are also on The Social’s menu. The decor and vibes riff on the 1970s, the decade the founders grew up in, and remember sweetly. Jackie and Brian also launched a podcast during the pandemic, “As The Ice Cream Churns”, detailing their journey as successful business owners, to losing it all, and starting over again.
5. Michelin-Starred Magic/Mentalism
Michelin-starred NYC restaurant, The Musket Room, is hosting acclaimed magician and mentalist, Mark Clearview, for a dazzling performance Saturday, July 31, paired with a decadent four-course meal from Executive Chef Mary Attea and a bespoke cocktail. Guests can choose their own adventure, selecting “Earth, Air, Water or Fire at the beginning, which will inform the mind bending mentalism journey to follow. Everyone gets a bespoke cocktail based on their choice, and the food menu was designed to compliment the performance at each step. Everything culminates in a climactic reveal at night’s end. Potential dishes based on guests’ choice of theme include Earth (Heirloom tomato salad, tofu, fermented green tomato, Thai basil) and Water (corn custard, uni, tarragon, corn “water”). Shows run at 5:45pm, 6pm, 6:45pm, 7:15pm, 7:30pm, 9:15pm, 9:30pm on Saturday, July 31. Tickets are $175.
The Drunk Texts, known for its Shakespearean boozy twist on classical theater, is back with its rendition of drunk Harry Potter! Join in for Harry’s birthday and watch his first year at school unfold like you’ve never seen it before (with drinking games)! “Will a certain friendly groundskeeper take too many shots of whiskey? Will the headmaster bust a rhyme (in verse) during a game of King’s Cup? And how drunk will That Gent Who Wilt Not Be Nam’d be by the time he finally gets to his first line? Anything could happen in this epic Elizabethan parody, come find out what does!” Catch the performance live on Saturday at Don’t Tell Mama. Reserve your tickets now (plus a two-drink minimum) or pay cash at the door day of the show.
Every Saturday night at 8pm, two piano men battle it out to prove who is truly the master of all 88 keys, with a playlist decided entirely by the audience. Whether you’re in the mood for Billy Joel, Christina Aguilera or current chart toppers, these pianists are up for the challenge. But they expect you to do your part by singing along, but from home. Find tickets and request songs here: bit.ly/SRRshows
Every Tuesday night at 7pm, play Name That Tune for a chance at $50 in cash and other prizes. There’s a new theme each week. Tickets are at bit.ly/SRRshows
On Wednesday nights at 7pm, try your hand at Piano Bingo, an interactive, all-request event. Every song checks a box and every game has a winner! There’s $100 in prizes every week. Get your game card at bit.ly/SRRshows.
And starting July 31, it’ll have an all-request rock n’ roll party at the Cellar (July 31), the Cutting Room (Aug. 7 & 21) and Burgerology (Aug. 28). Shows broadcast on facebook.com/SRRPianos and youtube.com/asongulove.
New York City Restaurant Week, which is now live for dining, has been a twice annual tradition since 1992. When it first got cooking, the culinary holiday was celebrated with $19.92 lunch specials at restaurants like Tribeca Grill. Surprisingly, those midday meals only rose to $26 by 2020. What’s even wilder? This year’s prices have actually fallen. Sort of. Summer 2021’s NYC Restaurant Week, which runs from July 19 through August 22, has three pricing tiers: $21, $39 and $125 for lunch or dinner. RW organizers advise restaurants to offer at least an entree and a side for the first two tiers, and the $125 ticket must include three or more courses plus a little something extra like wine. This year, more than 500 participating Italian, Thai, Russian, Cuban, Spanish, French, Mexican, Indian, Brazilian and Japanese izakayas, ice cream parlors, steakhouses, fish bars, brasseries, bistros, grills, cafes and sushi restaurants decide which deals to offer when. And you decide how many of these marvelous options you can cram into four-and-a-half wonderful weeks. It’s a lot!
Movies Under the Stars: Little Women: Come out this Friday to see Greta Gerwig’s acclaimed 2019 of Little Women. Bring your kids, spread a blanket, and watch the March sisters’ adventures in Manhattan’s Robert Moses Playground, under a sky of stars, just feet away from the East River. Robert Moses Playground, 1 Ave., bet. E. 41 St. and E. 42 St. 8:30 p.m. Free.
Shakespeare In the Park: Merry Wives: Shakespeare in the Park, a New York City classic, is returning this week with a production of Merry Wives, an adaptation of the Merry Wives of Windsor. Set in a vibrant South Harlem community, Merry Wives is billed as a “celebration of Black joy, laughter and vitality.” Come grab a seat and enjoy. Delacorte Theater, 8 p.m. Free.
Saturday, July 31
Coastal Exploration Hike: No matter where you are in the City, nature is just a subway ride away. Explore the stunning ecological diversity of Staten Island’s coastline this Saturday as part of a free hike with Urban Park Rangers. Perfect for kids. Cornelia Avenue and Chester Avenue in Wolfe’s Pond Park, Staten Island. 11 a.m. Free.
City Point Cirque: City Point Cirque, a New York City circus troupe, is performing every Saturday night at City Point Brooklyn. Come enjoy aerial performances, contortions, juggling and more. Great for families, pay what you can. 445 Albee Square West, 11;30 a.m. Pay what you can, or $25 for adults, $15 for kids.
Ari Lennox at Celebrate Brooklyn: Celebrate Brooklyn, Prospect Park’s annual music festival, is opening this Saturday with a free performance by neo-soul phenom Ari Lennox. Named one of the “most inspiring and innovative vanguards,” in black music, Ari Lennox is performing with fellow DC native KAMAUU, a socially conscious rapper and poet. Dance near the stage, or spread a blanket on the grass, relax, and watch from afar. Prospect Park Bandshell. Doors open at 6, starts at 7:30. Free.
Sunday, Aug. 1
Underground NYC Tour (Empire Beneath The Streets): Ever wondered if there’s a subway tunnel right under your feet? Discover the real subway system, one that even few New Yorkers know about, with this private guided tour. Learn about art, history and architecture on this tour of stations open to the public but largely unknown. Begins at Chambers Street and ends in Grand Central. Starbucks – 38 Park Row #4. 10 a.m. $39.95. Multiple dates available.
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
Amy Pryke, who opened Native Noodles in February, has gifted a rare Singaporean restaurant to the city — great news for workers at nearby New York–Presbyterian Hospital and the Washington Heights neighborhood in general. On a recent weekday, two silver-haired folks slurped thick rice noodles in a shrimpy yellow curry as the scent of coconut-jam waffles perfumed the air. Others went for the roti john, a squishy sandwich stuffed with ground beef, soft omelet, and sweet-spicy chile ketchup. If the small dining room is full, take your lunch over to nearby Highbridge Park. —R.P.S.
Mark Coleman (Rezdôra) and Jacob Siwak (Olmsted) are the captains of this snug little establishment, which began life as a pop-up many months ago and is crowded now with a rabble of Italophiles, off-duty cooks, and carbonara loons, all clamoring for a taste of the city’s latest haute-pasta menu. The small, blond-toned dining room is nice, but if you want to feel like you’re dining on a side street in Bologna or Rome, ask for a table in the sidewalk cabana, which is strung with lights up in the rafters, lined with baby pine trees, and filled, on temperate evenings, with the bouncy sounds of Italian pop tunes. Pay special attention to Coleman’s elegant interpretations of the old Roman classics, like eggy tangles of tonnarelli pasta tossed alla gricia with pecorino, little chunks of guanciale, and plenty of black pepper.—A.P.
Work Your Way Through the Brand-New Menu at Brooklyn’s Best Thai Restaurant
At Ugly Baby, New Yorkers exchange glances and ask their neighbors for recommendations — yes, even during a pandemic. The great unifier? The incendiary cooking of southern Thailand. After a winter restricted to delivery, the neighborhood rejoiced when chef-owner Sirichai Sreparplarn reopened for indoor dining in April. Even more exciting: His new menu was nearly three times as long as the original, comprising mostly new dishes like peek gai (ground-pork-stuffed chicken wings over green beans) and kang leung (sour sea-bass curry). While on a recent visit, the restaurant’s laab ped, labeled “stay away duck salad” on the menu, lacked some of the promised heat, Ugly Baby remains a place where napkins are reserved for wiping noses, not hands. —L.F.
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.”
The best things to do in NYC this week include Restaurant Week and new outdoor performances! By Shaye Weaver / Time Out New York
If you’re looking for the best things to do in NYC this week or even today, there are tons of fun options. Enjoy Restaurant Week, attend a Daybreaker party or head to Prospect Park’s outdoor movie screening. For more ideas, scroll down to see this week’s best things to do in NYC.”
New York City Restaurant Week, which is now live for dining, has been a twice annual tradition since 1992. When it first got cooking, the culinary holiday was celebrated with $19.92 lunch specials at restaurants like Tribeca Grill. Surprisingly, those midday meals only rose to $26 by 2020. What’s even wilder? This year’s prices have actually fallen. Sort of. Summer 2021’s NYC Restaurant Week, which runs from July 19 through August 22, has three pricing tiers: $21, $39 and $125 for lunch or dinner. RW organizers advise restaurants to offer at least an entree and a side for the first two tiers, and the $125 ticket must include three or more courses plus a little something extra like wine.
The Tokyo Olympics are officially underway, and like we do each time, New Yorkers will flock to their favorite sports bars to catch the games. It’s safe to say sports bars across the boroughs will be screening the games but some bars and restaurants are hosting special viewing parties between Friday, July 23, and Sunday, August 8 that you’ll want to take part in.
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music is hosting “Midsummer Nights: Stoop Concerts,” a series of free outdoor concerts for the public on Thursday afternoons at 4:30pm. Below is the lineup:
July 29: Klezmer Music with Zoe Aqua, Dan Blacksberg and Ira Temple August 5: The Kirk Driscoll Trio August 12: Special Series Finale Performers To Be Announced
Hosted by Reed Kavner, Next Slide Please invites comedians to prepare and deliver PowerPoints about whatever they want, from a data-driven ranking of the best Manhattan street corners for first date make-outs to pitches for start-up investment opportunities that are *probably* not scams. This edition will feature presentations from Zach Zimmerman (The New Yorker), Shalewa Sharpe (The Tonight Show), Jonathan van Halem (“Tooning Out The News”), Shannon Odell (“Drunk Science”) and Kyle Turner (GQ, NYT). The show is on Tuesday night at 10pm and tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door, which is Caveat (21 Clinton St.). Proof of vaccination is required.
Taste your way around the world at a new wine bar that offers dozens of international wines, all by the glass. Temperance Wine Bar (40 Carmine Street), which officially opened yesterday, is a new neighborhood drinking spot with a fun energy and eclectic design featuring local artists. Most importantly, there’s plenty to drink. At Temperance, Ojeda-Pons has curated an extensive menu of over 100 rotating international wines by the glass, as well as a selection of eight wines on tap. The wines range from affordable to higher-end, featuring classic European producers like Foradori and Clotilde Davenne, wines from New York like Millbrook Estate in the Hudson River Valley and Osmote in the Finger Lakes, wines from across the US like Monte Rio Cellars in California and Day Wines in the Willamette Valley, as well as wines from less traditional wine regions including countries like Morocco, Lebanon and Cyprus, and more. Other wine categories featured include smaller producers, lesser-known grape varieties, natural wines, orange wines, year-round rosés, sherry, sparkling wines from Champagne, and beyond
Get your feet tapping at Times Square on Thursday nights with Jazz at Lincoln Center. It’ll bring NYC’s hottest young jazz bands to the plaza weekly through the end of September (weather permitting). Can’t make it in person? You can catch the show on Youtube as well.
July 15: Vanisha Gould Trio July 22: Ashley Pezzotti July 29: Corcoran Holt Trio August 5: Luther S. Allison Trio August 12: Willerm Delisfort Duo August 19: Sarah Hanahan Trio August 26: Zaccai Curtis Trio
For the full list and descriptions of all 88 events go 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
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.
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