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
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.
“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, Jul 5 – 6:00 pm / free; RSVP required Author Reading | The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama: A New Biography (virtual) Artist Rima Fujita talks about Rima’s new book about one of the most revered spiritual figures of ou … more
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Tue, Jul 6 – 6:00 pm / free; RSVP required Play | Hamlet: Classic Shakespeare Tragedy Outdoors Prince Hamlet is thrust into turmoil after losing his father. Will he obey the dictates of the dead … more
Tue, Jul 6 – 7:30 pm / free Opera | Met Opera: Strauss’ Elektra (virtual, streaming for 23 hrs) Elektra is one of the most frequently performed operas in the world. While based on ancient … more
Tue, Jul 6 – 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
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Wed, Jul 7 – 4:00 pm / free; RSVP required City Walk | Battery Park City Tour: The Business Core The second of the Skyscraper Museum’s three thematic walking tours of Battery Park City covers the m … more
Wed, Jul 7 – 6:00 pm / free; no reservation required Classical Music | Ensemble Connect: Baroque to Cutting Edge The brilliant musicians of Ensemble Connect bring thrilling virtuosity and energy to everything they … more
Thursday, July 8, 2021
Thu, Jul 8 – 5:00 pm / free Concert | Bach, Bartok, Broadway, The Beatles and More on Strings! String trio Lumiere performs musical selections from Bach, Bartok, Broadway to the Beatles! … more
Thu, Jul 8 – 7:30 pm / free Opera | Met Opera: Strauss’ Capriccio (virtual, streaming for 23 hours) Renee Fleming is Countess Madeleine, the beautiful, enigmatic woman at the center of Strauss’s sophi … more
Thu, Jul 8 – 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
Friday, July 9, 2021
Fri, Jul 9 – 6:00 pm / Pay-as-you-wish, reservation required Museums | New York City and American History Founded in 1804, this American history museum holds an extensive collection of historical artifacts, … more
Fri, Jul 9 – 6:30 pm / Pay what you can, reservations required Play | Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost Love’s Labour’s Lost is one of Shakespeare’s early comedies, believed to have been written … more
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Sat, Jul 10 – 2:00 pm / free; ticket required Dance Performance | …Praise: The Inevitable Fruit of Gratitude: A Rhythmical Expression of Appreciation NYC-based Dorrance Dance is an award-winning tap troupe that strives to share the African-American a … more
Sat, Jul 10 – 7:00 pm / free; RSVP required Play | King Lear — with a Happy Ending This version of King Lear by William Shakespeare will employ Nahum Tate’s 1681 “happy endin … more
Sat, Jul 10 – 7:30 pm / free Opera | Met Opera: Strauss’ Arabella (virtual, streaming for 23 hrs) Otto Schenk’s opulent production, conducted masterfully by Christian Thielemann, provides a perfect … more
Sunday, July 11, 2021
Sun, Jul 11 – 4:00 pm / free; no reservation required Concert | Live Music Sunday Lay out on the grass and enjoy live music. … more
Sun, Jul 11 – 7:00 pm / free; RSVP required Play | King Lear — with a Happy Ending This version of King Lear by William Shakespeare will employ Nahum Tate’s 1681 “happy endin … 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
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.
Interesting. Unusual. Uniquely NYC. Highlights of this week’s top events include Automania, the Bard SummerScape 2021 Schedule, Richard Haas: Circles in Space 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.
In his most recent series of paintings and drawings, artist Richard Haas explores intersections between abstraction, color theory, and the geometry of the universe, bringing together passions and preoccupations from throughout his expansive and celebrated career. Richard Haas (American, b. 1936) is best known for his illusionistic architectural murals and trompe l’oeil style, painted on and within prominent buildings across the United States from Portland, Oregon, to New York City and Yonkers, as well as …
Since the first automobiles hit the road over a century ago, cars have left a lasting imprint on the design of our built environment. For both better and worse, they have fundamentally reshaped the ways in which we live, work, and enjoy ourselves. Cars have altered our ideas about mobility, connecting us across great distances at ever greater speeds. “Automania” takes an in-depth look at an object that has inspired countless examples of innovation, social transformation, …
“The New Woman” of the 1920s was a powerful expression of modernity, a global phenomenon that embodied an ideal of female empowerment based on real women making revolutionary changes in life and art. Featuring more than 120 photographers from over 20 countries, this groundbreaking exhibition explores the work of the diverse “new” women who embraced photography as a mode of professional and artistic expression from the 1920s through the 1950s. During this tumultuous period shaped …
Long recognized as “a hotbed of intellectual and aesthetic adventure” (New York Times), “Bard SummerScape” returns this summer with a full season of live music, dance, opera and more, culminating with the 31st annual Bard Music Festival, “Nadia Boulanger and Her World.” Productions will be staged for limited in-person audiences both indoors and out, across Bard’s idyllic 1,000-acre campus, adhering to rigorous health and safety protocols while celebrating the joys of live performance and the beauty of …
“Immersive Van Gogh” was created by the world-renowned master of digital art, Italy’s Massimiliano Siccardi, who for 30 years has been pioneering immersive exhibitions in Europe. His magnificent installations have been seen by over 2 million visitors in Paris. With the help of 60,600 frames of video, 90,000,000 pixels, and 500,000+ cubic feet of projections, this captivating digital art exhibit merges state-of-the-art technology, theatrical storytelling, and world-class animation. It gives guests the rare opportunity to “step inside”
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
Quick-serve grain-bowl spots don’t typically attract bustling social scenes. Not so this Chinese-inspired rice-bowl specialist, whose customers like to gather as much as they do grab and go. On a recent weekday evening, the restaurant’s breezy curbside shed drew a practically rowdy group of bowl aficionados: young women in NYU Dental School scrubs letting off steam, two skate punks hogging four seats, and, in a sure sign of the return to normality, rival parties aggressively eyeing a table whose occupants kept looking like they were about to bolt but never did. On weekends, we hear, things get even crazier. Chalk it up to an elegant-for-fast-casual design; cozy indoor booths; a short but sweet list of wine, beer, and sake; and chef Connie Chung’s savor-worthy cooking, especially her Yunnan brisket bowl — sticky, ripply, caramelized nuggets of meat candy with perfect rice and marinated cucumbers. —R.P. & R.R.
International destination dining took a long hiatus during the pandemic, but Chintan Pandya’s homage to the regional culinary traditions of India, which opened recently at the new Essex Market, is packed these days with mobs of gastronauts from around the city. The space inside is strung with colored lights and includes an increasingly crowded, lively bar, but if you wish to feel the full heat of the fresh, made-to-order cooking, we suggest you secure a table within the sidewalk enclosure, where there’s more space to spread out. Order a round of Brooklyn’s fine, Indian American–owned 1947 beer, then begin merrily working your way through the menu, which is filled with dishes that even the most knowledgeable food scholars from India may not have tried, like pots of Bihari-style mutton infused with garlic and crunchy-topped biryani folded with bits of chopped goat’s neck. —A.P.
With its pink neon sign, piano for live jazz, and bamboo placemats, this subterranean spot on the border of Elmhurst and Jackson Heights feels more like an artsy friend’s basement than an austere sushi counter. The $89 15-course omakase — including Hokkaido scallops, fatty tuna, and lobes of uni one recent night, among other pristine morsels — is exactly the sort of meal one should experience in person. While the sushi is top-notch, it’s chef Atip “Palm” Tangjantuk’s ability to turn a hushed culinary ritual into what feels like a fun night at a piano bar that makes the place so special. If you’re lucky, you may even be handed a blowtorch to sear your own fish.—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.
“It’s been a long and hot week here in New York City, and the 4th of July holiday weekend couldn’t have come any sooner. We’re now officially at the halfway point of the year, and on top of the full return of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show, there are plenty of things to do around the city to help salute America’s birthday. Try Friesling at a new bar, order up cherry pie from a top bakery, or check out a Brazilian-inspired festival under a DUMBO archway—we’ve got your fun weekend plans with seven actually fun things to do, eat, and see in New York this weekend. And for more actually fun things to do, check out our podcast streaming below.”
Weekend-long Williamsburg At newly opened Thief, industry veteran and drinks expert of over 25 years, John McNulty (Katana Kitten), takes inspiration from 80s-theme graffiti, art, and music. Touting itself as a contemporary neighborhood bar with a friendly dive atmosphere, signature drinks include the perfect-for-summer Friesling (yes, that’s frozen riesling!), in addition to a curated list of cocktails and a lengthy wine list. Snacks and bites include sandwiches, Bavarian pretzels, and vegan mini corn dogs. Cost: Cocktails start at $12
Friday, July 2 and Saturday, July 3 Tribeca Say happy birthday to America and the holiday weekend with a classic cherry pie from Frenchette Bakery. Made with market cherries and an Emmer wheat butter crust, a slice of this is an ideal complement to your rooftop or park picnic. While they’re closed on the 4th, the dessert is available now for pre-order online and in-store pick-up for Friday, July 2, and Saturday, July 3. Local delivery is also available (within a 2-mile area). Cost: $50 per pie
Weekend-long Chelsea Located atop the Renaissance Hotel in Chelsea is the new rooftop lounge, nightclub, and pool experience, Somewhere Nowhere NYC. Designed with a vibrant light display, bamboo scents, and booming sound system, you’re in for a whimsically debaucherous time. Reserve a table during this grand opening weekend for a day or night of live DJ sets and firework views. Cost: Prices vary
Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4, 11:30 am Governor’s Island A quick ferry ride to Governors Island will net you a bottomless brunch hosted by luxury glamping experts, Collective Governor’s Island. With stunning views of the city skyline and Statue of Liberty in the background, guests can pair their unlimited Bloody Marys or Champagne with entree choices like french toast and shrimp and grits, in addition to special a la carte items like a pancake platter with red and blue berries (and festive sparkles). If you’re still standing, afterwards, hang around for sunset cocktails and s’more over a campfire. Cost: Starts at $30 per person
Weekend-long DUMBO Located on Water Street under the Manhattan Bridge, the DUMBO Archway sports 45-foot high ceilings and is one of NYC’s few covered outdoor public spaces. In addition to hosting events, performances, and vendors throughout the year, this summer’s Daily Dose of Summer series runs until late August. On Friday and Saturday, check out Archway: Brasil Summerfest (purchase advance tickets here) featuring an all-female Afro-Brazilian drum ensemble, a São Paulo-native percussion master, and more. And on Sunday, Brooklyn Flea starts at 10 am. Cost: Varies
Saturday, July 3, 7 pm Gowanus If it’s been a while since you last visited The Bell House, dust off the old rhinestone-studded outfit for a Brooklyn-based Dolly Parton cover band. Titled Doll Parts: Dolly Saves America! and performed by Doll Parts, a group of artists who joined forces in 2011 to honor Tennessee’s biggest icon, don’t expect karaoke-style renditions of Parton’s classic. Instead, band members Maggie Robinson Katz, Julia Sirna-Frest, and Shane Chapman pay homage to songs by harmonizing and through instrumentals. Cost: $20 per person
Weekend-long Downtown Brooklyn With the year we just had, we’re all about doing what’s necessary to disconnect from reality every so often—and if there are trippy disco ball lights involved, we love it even more. Starting this Friday and running until the end of July, Light Leaks is the city’s newest immersive art experience to debut (btw have you checked out the Van Gogh shows yet?). Created by artists Kyle McDonald and Jonas Jongejan and located at City Point, get flooded by lights and transported to a world of infinite space that’ll look even more cool on your ‘gram. Cost: $10
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
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.
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 includes Fourth of July events, outdoor art shows and rooftop hijinx and more By Shaye Weaver / Time Out New York
Looking for the best things to do in NYC this 4th of July 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. 4th of July parties can be found in every borough. There’s much more to do this weekend—all you have to do is scroll down to plan yours!”
The Statue of Liberty’s original plaster model from 1878, a nine-foot-tall bronze statue created by Auguste Bartholdi, has made a historic trip across the Atlantic Ocean from France in time for the Fourth of July. On July 1-4, it will take its place on Ellis Island across the way from the actual Statue of Liberty. This will be the first time in 135 years that the “sisters” will be together. The 1,000-pound sculpture was uninstalled at the Conservatoire national des arts et metiers (Cnam), where it had been on display at the entrance for the past 10 years. And while you probably haven’t visited the Statue of Liberty in a while, it could be worth seeing its “little sister”— while it’s in town. It seems like a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a piece of U.S. (and French) history before your eyes.
Celebrate America’s patron saint, Dolly Parton, this 4th of July at The Bell House. Doll Parts is a Dolly Parton cover band dedicated to pay full homage to the country and bluegrass roots Parton is known for representing. Sing along to hits like “I Feel the Blues Moving In,” “Jolene” and “Please Don’t Stop Loving Me.”
Art City Point, Downtown Brooklyn Jul 2 2021-Jul 31 2021
Light Leaks is an immersive art installation where visitors can escape into a seemingly infinite space created by patterns from millions of lights and a gigantic cluster of glistening disco balls. Thousand Deep and artists Kyle McDonald and Jonas Jongejan analyzed a few dozen photos of the space and predicted where each of the millions of pixels of projected light would shine after reflecting off the disco balls. They combined this data with a 3D model of the room to program immersive patterns with the reflections. “The result is a mesmerizing flood of lights that destabilize and reorganize a viewer’s perception of the space,” they say. The installation will also include disco-ball-inspired art by Kiichiro Adachi, Julia Walck, and Nick Oudsema. “To us, the disco ball represents values of celebration and expression. Through this event, we want to reinvigorate these values, and tell a story of emergence as cultural experiences come back to New York City,” says Carson Lee, co-founder & CEO of Thousand Deep. The “transformative” installation can be experienced July 2 – 31 in Downtown Brooklyn.
Head to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 2 to skate with a beautiful view of the city. While the roller rink is used by a hockey league twice a week, it is open for public skates most days in the summertime for just $6. It’s free on Mondays and Fridays between 3:30 and 6pm. Skate rentals are just $7. If you’re looking for some themed fun, the rink is hosting a 1980s throwback skate, a boy band night, and a Pride skate this year.
Immersive art exhibit Arcadia Earth has reopened after being closed due to the pandemic, and it looks better than ever! The exhibit aims to inspire visitors artistically and ethically, as it uses 15 rooms to spotlight the environmental challenges that our planet is facing (such as overfishing, food waste, and climate change). This exhibit will not only leave visitors in awe, but it will help support Oceanic Global, an organization devoted to raising awareness around our aquatic ecosystems. In addition, a tree will also be planted for every ticket sold, making it a perfect gift for your eco-conscious friends!
Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream, known for offering 88 flavors of specialty scoops, is now serving up a new type of ice cream sandwich… an ice cream burger! Designed to supplement the traditional cup or cone options, Morgenstern’s newest menu offering will sandwich fresh scoops of ice cream on a freshly baked bun—as if they are chilly, orb-shaped burger patties! Exclusively available at Morgenstern’s flagship scoop shop at 88 West Houston St. in Soho, the epic, brand-new all-American dessert was created by founder Nick Morganstern. The Ice Cream Burger features Neapolitan ice creams-strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate—stacked inside a buttered burger bun. Currently, no other flavors can be substituted in the ice cream burger, and no plant-based option is available. It goes for $10 and can easily serve two.
EurovisioNYC, which was on hiatus during the pandemic, has been a party by-and-for New Yorkers with a love of European Dance-Pop music and devotees to the annual Eurovision competition that celebrates the genre. Past events in NYC have featured Eurovision stars such as SuRie, who performed at EurovisioNYC in November 2019. It’s back on the Fourth of July at East Village bar The Phoenix with the PED (Post-Eurovision Depression) Party, which will bring together devotees from across the area, along with new fans, to celebrate the best of Eurovision 2021 and classic Eurovision favorites from the past.
Edge, the highest outdoor sky deck in New York City, is throwing an exclusive 4th of July Celebration that’ll give unparalleled views of the Macy’s, Coney Island and Jersey City fireworks shows from 7pm to midnight. Tickets will give you private access to Edge’s indoor and outdoor viewing areas with its thrilling glass-floor, angled glass walls, and skyline steps, and include three drinks with champagne available for guests 21 years and older, as well as unlimited popcorn, and a personalized photo book to memorialize the occasion. There will also be a performance by a string quartet featuring MET Orchestra members Sarah Vonsattel, Garrett Fischbach, Shmuel Katz, and Julia Bruskin.
Take an 8-minute ferry ride from Manhattan to Collective Governors Island to celebrate the Fourth of July with a bottomless brunch, sunset cocktails and s’mores over a campfire. Collective Retreats has a new brunch menu for this special weekend featuring an entree and unlimited beverages from 11:30am-5:00pm. Guests can choose an entree from decadent entrees including an elevated Avocado Toast with Smoked Salmon, creamy shrimp + Grits or mouthwatering French toast to be topped off with Veuve or Belvedere Bloody Mary and the option to plus up your brunch with an Americana inspired celebratory pancake platter with red and blueberries and festive sparkles.
Jazz Blue Note, Greenwich Village Jul 4 2021-Jul 5 2021
Palmieri has been at the top of the Latin-jazz game for more than 60 years, offering fans subtle harmonies and heavy pianistic flurries. Here the maestro celebrates the 40th anniversary of NYC’s jazz hub, Blue Note.
One World Observatory | Manhattan, NY, Financial District Jul 4 2021
One World Observatory is throwing a patriotic celebration that’ll give an amazing view of the Macy’s 4th Of July Fireworks at almost eye-level at 102 floors high and unlimited, festive Americana food and beverages. An all-inclusive ticket includes unlimited premium cocktails from 8-11pm and passed holiday staples, such as hot dogs, pretzels, waffle fries, and more elaborate fare like truffle mac and cheese, churros and cheesecake lollipops. To attend, proof of vaccination is required and guests must be 21 or older. Availability is limited, and no tickets will be sold at the door.
Starting this week, the Michelin-starred restaurant Musket Room in NoLita is serving housemade ice cream sandwiches from its takeout window on weekends from noon to 4pm. These aren’t just any ice cream sandwiches—Pastry Chef Camari Mick, a veteran of Le Bernardin and Eleven Madison Park, has created mouthwatering flavors that we’ve never seen before. You can choose from a vegan coconut caramel cookie with coconut ice cream, a chocolate chip cookie with miso ice cream and a hazelnut macaron with blackberry. They’re just $8 a piece and will be available through the summer at 265 Elizabeth St.
amNY Weekender: 6 things to do in New York City this weekend
Friday, July 2
Movies Under the Stars: Moana: Acclaimed Disney animated film Moana is coming to the Bronx’s Concrete Plant Park this Friday for a free screening. Spread a blanket, bring a picnic and enjoy a movie in the warm outdoors. Perfect for kids and the whole family. Concrete Plant Park, The Bronx. 8 p.m. Free.
Brooklyn Foodie Festival: Friday Night Bites: Love food? Come to Friday Night Bites this Friday to find all that Brooklyn has to offer. Enjoy carnival games and a bouncy house, all while listening to live music and sampling food from over ten local vendors. Takes place right on the edge of the Gowanus Canal. 426 President St., Brooklyn. 5 p.m. $10.
Saturday, July 3
Cuban Salsa Dance Class: If you’ve ever considered learning Salsa, now is the time. Salsa Sabrosa School is offering a free class and social dance this Saturday at the end of Pier 45. Listen to music, socialize – and, of course, salsa – all while enjoying the heat and gorgeous views down the Hudson River. Pier 45 at Hudson River Park. 5 p.m. Free.
Lake Paddle: Come to Bronx Park this Saturday at 10 a.m. for a chance to paddle-boat down the Bronx River. Enjoy the lull of the boat, the sound of the water, and the play of the sun along the river. This section of the River is calm and so perfect for beginners and families. River Park in Bronx Park. 10 a.m. $25 for adults, $15 for children.
Sunday, July 4
Smorgasburg: Smorgasburg, New York City’s food bazaar spectacular, is returning in earnest this year to parks across the City. Come to Williamsburg this Sunday to celebrate the fourth of July with dozens of vendors, selling everything from bao to tacos to ice cream. 90 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free to enter.
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks: Come celebrate the way New York City knows best: with Macy’s annual fireworks show. Watch from Red Hook, the downtown Manhattan riverfront, or a rooftop near you. Macy’s show is the largest in the country, so come prepared for noise. Several local sites or at home, 8 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, Photographs by Dina Litovsky
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.
“Forget about the solstice, come June 1st New York summer has practically begun!
Though summer officially begins at the end of June, there are already plenty of warm weather activities already taking place. Not to mention, it’s Pride Month! So get ready for a fun-filled June, packed with plenty of fantastic events that will be popping up all month long.”
Here are 70 spectacular things to do.
Visit Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Experience a little taste of Italy at NYC’s exclusive “Brunello Week”
Listen to enchanting music by candlelight in beautiful NYC spaces
Show your Pride at the Pride March
Put your baking skills to the test with Nailed It! at home bake off
See the new Hall of Gems and Minerals at the Natural History Museum
Immerse yourself in a dazzling, multi-sensory experience
Visit NYC’s first-ever floating park ‘Little Island’
Transport to Paris with this Moulin Rouge-era outdoor show in the Village
See a concert at Bryant Park
Grab your tickets to the new multisensory exhibit on infamous British street artist Banksy
Swim at Time Square’s only outdoor pool
Experience an audio immersive theatrical experience of ‘I Couldn’t Tell You Why’
Celebrate World Bicycle Day (June 3rd)
Hop Aboard NYC’s first-ever floating Mexican restaurant
Get brunch with friends
Roller skate at JFK Airport
Do something special for dad on Father’s Day
19-40. Take in skyline views at these stunning rooftops
Enter the wizarding world of Harry Potter at the new flagship store
Sip on Butterbeer just like Harry and his friends
Relax at new wellness spa on Governors Island
Taste international fare at outdoor food markets
Lounge at ‘The Green’ at Lincoln Center
46-60. Enjoy happy hour with friends
Stand next to the 25-foot tall bronze sculpture taking over Rockefeller Center
Order dumplings around the clock
Catch Lady Liberty napping in Morningside Park
Get your tan on at the beach!
Read up on Juneteenth
Hit up Coney Island’s Luna Park
Kayak for free at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Play arcade games at the entirely pink bubble tea shop in Queens
Watch a movie at Astoria Park Lawn
Try NYC fine dining icon Eleven Madison Park’s new 100% vegan menu
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.
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
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, Jun 28 – 3:00 pm / free; no reservation required Discussion | (IN-PERSON, indoors) Reel Talks: A Conversation on Martin Scorsese’s NYC Films With Stephen Whitty. Hosted by Scott Adlerberg. … more
Mon, Jun 28 – 7:30 pm / free Opera | Met Opera: Nico Muhly’s Marnie (virtual, streaming for 23 hours) Based on Winston Graham’s gripping 1961 novel of intrigue and deception, Nico Muhly’s opera had its … more
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Tue, Jun 29 – 6:00 pm / free; RSVP required Play | The Winter’s Tale: Shakespeare Outdoors When King Leontes is overcome with jealousy he issues a series of fascistic edicts that touch nearly … more
Tue, Jun 29 – 7:30 pm / free Opera | Met Opera: John Adams’s Doctor Atomic (virtual, streaming for 23 hours) John Adams’s mesmerizing score, in the powerful production of Penny Woolcock, tells the story of one … more
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Wed, Jun 30 – 7:00 pm / free; RSVP required Play | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) King Lear — with a Happy Ending This version of King Lear by William Shakespeare will employ Nahum Tate’s 1681 “happy endin … more
Wed, Jun 30 – 7:00 pm / free; no reservation required Jazz | (IN-PERSON, outdoors) Jazz at the Pier: ZonaVibe This seasonal favorite combines smooth tunes with beautiful evenings on the Park’s green piers for a … more
Thursday, July 1, 2021
Thu, Jul 1 – 5:00 pm / free Concert | Bach, Bartok, Broadway, The Beatles and More on Strings! String trio Lumiere performs musical selections from Bach, Bartok, Broadway to the Beatles! … more
Thu, Jul 1 – 7:30 pm / free; no reservation required Concert | Six-time Grammy Award winner James Taylor in a 2011 Concert (virtual) More than 40 years after his debut in 1970, James Taylor curated a historic concert to mark Carnegie … more
Friday, July 2, 2021
Fri, Jul 2 – 10:00 am / free Fair | Independence Weekday Fair: Food, Goods, Accessories and More Experience the 20+ authentic food booths, browse the 50+ merchandise booths that sell a huge variety … more
Fri, Jul 2 – 1:00 pm / free Classical Music | Comfort at One: Fourth of July Improvisation on “America” (virtual) For a special Fourth of July performance, the Director of Music at Trinity Wall Street Julian Wachne … more
Fri, Jul 2 – 7:00 pm / free; RSVP required Opera | Picnic Performance: New York City Opera Presents Carmen The 2021 return of Picnic Performances includes twenty-five live and in-person music, dance, and the … more
Saturday, July 3, 2021
Sat, Jul 3 – 10:30 am / free, tip supported, advanced booking required Tour | Karlovy Vary – The Most Famous Czech Spa Town (virtual, live stream) Explore the biggest spa town in the Czech Republic with its marvelous architecture and romantic atmo … more
Sat, Jul 3 – 7:00 pm / free; RSVP required Play | King Lear — with a Happy Ending This version of King Lear by William Shakespeare will employ Nahum Tate’s 1681 “happy endin … more
Sunday, July 4, 2021
Sun, Jul 4 – 10:00 am / free Fair | The Great July 4th Festival: Food, Jewelry, Fashion Accessories and More Experience the 20+ authentic food booths, browse the 50+ merchandise booths that sell a huge variety … more
Sun, Jul 4 – 1:00 pm / free, tip supported, advanced booking required Tour | Poland’s Krakow – Splendid Old Town (virtual) Have you ever experienced charming and beautiful Old Town of Krakow? Biggest mediaeval square, the o … more
Sun, Jul 4 – 7:30 pm / free Opera | Met Opera: Philip Glass’s Akhnaten (virtual, streaming for 23 hours) One of the biggest hits of the 2019-20 season, Philip Glass’s Akhnaten is the third install … 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.
8 Actually Fun Things to Do in New York This Weekend
“Bust out all the rainbows for the last weekend of Pride month.
“Although this week marked the official end of takeout cocktails in NYC (R.I.P. pal, and thanks for all the pandemic memories), we’ve still got plenty to look forward to this weekend as the next few days also marks the culmination of the city’s Pride festivities.
While the NYC Pride March may certainly take center stage, it seems every corner of the city is celebrating in its own way, from glitter stations to impromptu weddings. There are also revamped luncheonettes to visit, free concerts in the park, and much, much more. Read on for eight actually fun things to eat, see, and do this weekend in NYC.
And for more actually fun things to do, check out our podcast streaming below.
Weekend-long Seaport District We are big believers that there is no such thing as a bad cookie, but some are definitely more fun than others. New bakery Funny Face certainly makes some of the wackiest out there, with bright designs that feature everything from a crying Kim Kardashian to, yup, a New York City Metrocard. They can even custom-make confections with your face (make note of that for Mother’s Day next year). And if you’re looking for something a bit more classic, they’ve also got stellar versions of chocolate chip and oatmeal. Cost: Cookies from $5
Weekend-long West Harlem College dining hall food can be called a lot of things, but generally, tasty isn’t one of them. That all changes with the opening of Manhattanville Market, a food hall on the grounds of Columbia University that is also open to the public. Helmed overall by chef Franklin Becker (Galinha, Little Beet), the concepts include Southern-inspired Butterfunk Biscuit Co., Mediterranean spot Shai Hummusiya, fresh “living” salads at The Botanist, and Sicilian pizza from Benny Casanova’s. Cost: Prices vary
Friday, June 25, 7 pm Bryant Park Looking for something different for date night this weekend? Bring your partner to Bryant Park for one of their summer Picnic Performances. This Friday, the New York Chinese Cultural Center is curating a show featuring professional folk dancers, traditional Chinese instruments, and even a yo-yo artist. Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnic blankets and food, but there will also be vendors on site selling meals and beverages. Entry is first-come, first serve, with proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test. Cost: Free
Saturday, June 26, 11 am–6 pm Williamsburg Every NYC institution that reopens post-COVID is cause for celebration, but we’d be lying if we said we hadn’t been especially excited forthe return of Smorgasburg. Finally, after months of waiting, the food market’s famed Williamsburg location will start its season this Saturday, with social distancing rules in place. Expect to sample bites from over three dozen vendors on the market’s opening day, like fan-favorite, Thai-style fried chicken fromThai Bird, with many more to be announced. Cost: Prices varyhttps://0cb6d3085c6a963fb66d9543bbb14022.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Celebrate Pride the way only NYC can
Weekend-long Citywide Pride month is always one of the most joyous times in our city, but the week leading up to the NYC Pride March is especially climactic. And this year, after most celebrations were canceled in 2020, is sure to be epic. Some of our favorite events to look out for this weekend:Sweet Hearts hosting pop-up weddings at theAce Hotel New York, Pride-themed DJ sets atLe Bain, Little Island’s Bring Your Own Beautiful free variety show on Saturday, a complimentary glitz station with professional glitter makeup artists on Sunday atShowfields NY, and thePride Island watch party also on Sunday atThe Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17. Cost: Varies
Weekend-long Financial District We know there are a lot of immersive and VR happenings right now, but here’s one that’s actually not aboutVincent Van Gogh. SuperReal, produced by Moment Factory (the creative team for Billie Eilish’s tour), is located inside the iconic and soaring downtown Cipriani building on Broadway. Part of what makes this experience so unique is the mirrored floor: visitors feel as if they’re actually inside the installation instead of just watching a projection. For a limited-time, ticket holders can explore five, dream-like spaces, each with its own narrative and custom music. Cost: $35 per ticket
Saturday, June 26, and Sunday, June 27 Upper West Side It’s picnic season: do you know where your basket is? If you can’t find it, no worries: Resy and Amex Gold Card are swooping in to help with some tasty outdoor lunch spreads. This weekend, the companies are partnering with Pastis (Saturday) and Roberta’s (Sunday) for three-course feasts that are certainly an upgrade on tuna salad. At a pickup location of 72nd Street and Central Park West, Pastis’s menu will include marinated bean salads and Parisian ham sandwiches, while Roberta’s features a porchetta sandwich and fresh crudité. Cost: $45 per person, with reservation
Weekend-long SoHo The world is opening back up: is your passport still valid? If it’s not, get on that quick because the wait times are long. But more exciting: we found a place to take actually nice passport photos and it’s free. At Rimowa’s new Passport Studio, visitors can use a self-service photo booth (with really flattering lighting) to take a new shot and then have the pic printed and emailed. Don’t blame us if you walk out of there with a new suitcase though; the new ones arereally sweet. Cost: 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, 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.
NYCity 1-2-3 : What's Happening / Manhattan's WestSide 