All articles by Lidia Ryan

Stoop and the City: This New Yorker turns her UES brownstone into a seasonal destination

All photos courtesy of Kristi Hemric/Stoop and the City

October 29, 2026

Stoop and the City: This New Yorker turns her UES brownstone into a seasonal destination

Kristi Hemric’s stoop is a destination. A stranger once reached out asking if he could propose to his girlfriend in front of it (after dinner and a wedding invite from the couple, they were no longer strangers). Another person posted a video of themselves walking across the Brooklyn Bridge to the Upper East Side just to check it out. Both were enticed by an elaborate Lego garden display Hemric and her husband spent weeks building and installing. “All of a sudden hundreds of people were stopping by every day,” she said. “The Lego one had my jaw on the floor. I was shocked."
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October 5, 2026

Archtober 2026: 9 must-see architecture tours in and around NYC

By Lidia Ryan

The annual Archtober Festival officially kicked off this month as a celebration of architecture and design in one of the most architecturally significant cities in the world: New York. The monthlong program, put on by AIA New York (AIANY) and the Center for Architecture, with partners and sponsors, hosts a variety of events and tours across the city and the greater New York City region to encourage the exploration and appreciation of architecture and how it intersects with our lives.
happy archtober

On the Upper West Side, you can visit the real-life Shop Around the Corner from ‘You’ve Got Mail’

Credit: Lauren Fleming

October 2, 2026

On the Upper West Side, you can visit the real-life Shop Around the Corner from ‘You’ve Got Mail’

By Lidia Ryan

This weekend, The Sunshinery is hosting two “You’ve Got Mail” walking tours that sold out within hours. But you can still play Kathleen Kelly by shopping at the locally owned gift shop that served as The Shop Around the Corner in the film.
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All photos courtesy of Edge NYC

June 12, 2026

Edge NYC opens new kaleidoscopic experience that leads to 100th-floor sky deck

By Lidia Ryan

Get ready to make some content. A new TikTok-friendly exhibit has opened at Edge NYC's sky deck at 30 Hudson Yards. The largest transformation of the observation deck since opening in 2020, the colorful, immersive indoor exhibit includes seven installations of moving color, sound, and light that lead to the city's highest outdoor deck. Created in collaboration with design studios Moment Factory, SOFTlab, and Journey, the multi-million-dollar exhibit "brings the magic of the skyline indoors," including New York City's largest kaleidoscope, a "room with four interactive zones filled with endless reflections and vibrant colors, where every angle reveals a completely new view."
see it here

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“Summer House” season 9 “Snoozefest” reunion. All photos courtesy of Scott Sicari

May 21, 2026

‘Summer House’ set designer kept it ‘classy’ for highly anticipated reunion

By Lidia Ryan

About two decades ago, Scott Sicari was approached to design a reunion set for a show called “Manhattan Moms." "We set up in the Russian Tea Room with some guy that nobody knew named Andy Cohen,” he said. The show, rebranded as "The Real Housewives of New York City,” would become a cornerstone of the Bravo reality TV phenomenon. Sicari has stayed for the ride. "It’s been a nice, really unexpected, beautiful twist in my career," he said.
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6 best under-the-radar museums in New York City

Photo credit: The New York Historical

May 12, 2026

6 best under-the-radar museums in New York City

By Lidia Ryan

The Met, the MoMA, the Guggenheim. The hallowed halls of these New York City institutions house some of the world’s most renowned works of art. But what if you’re really into posters? Or have a specific love for paintings of dogs? Well, there’s a place for everyone in this great city! Here are six niche museums to spend an afternoon.
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At the intersection of design and real estate, This Old Hudson sells the romance of life upstate

The Bruyn Estate in Pine Bush, New York, is listed for $1,695,000. All photos courtesy of This Old Hudson

March 9, 2026

At the intersection of design and real estate, This Old Hudson sells the romance of life upstate

By Lidia Ryan

Anthony D'Argenzio did not start his career in real estate. He was a designer and creative director in New York City, producing photo shoots for magazines and brands like West Elm and Anthropologie. He says his brand is "rooted in beautiful things." And that’s just the approach he takes when selling homes in the Hudson Valley and Catskills — it’s not just about square footage and lot size; it’s about a beautiful life. On social media, This Old Hudson presents more like an interior design brand than a real estate company. The Instagram page dishes out stunning historic homes decked out in design magazine-worthy decor to its 126,000 followers. It tells the homes’ stories and even gives them names. The fact that you can actually buy these houses is a perk.
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Getting Away

‘Mr Pink’ is lurking around Flatiron and Nomad’s rooftops

Photos courtesy of the Flatiron NoMad Partnership by Bizi Media

January 15, 2026

‘Mr Pink’ is lurking around Flatiron and Nomad’s rooftops

By Lidia Ryan

You’re not seeing things—there is, in fact, a rosy-colored man lurking around Flatiron and Nomad. Known as Mr. Pink, the quirky character is part of Flatiron NoMad Glows Pink, a public art trail composed of 10 illuminated inflatable and resin sculptures perched on rooftops and in public spaces. Part of the Flatiron Nomad Partnership’s annual Winter Glow public art program, “Mr. Pink” is a “cuteism” sculpture by French artist Philippe Katerine, and Thursday marks the character’s first installation in New York City—it’s also the first time the sculptures will be illuminated.
wave hello to mr. pink!

Bergdorf Goodman. Photo courtesy of Angela Pham.

December 24, 2025

Dine in style while you peruse the Fifth Avenue displays

By Lidia Ryan

The holidays are in full swing, and the week between Christmas and New Year’s is prime time to soak in all the holiday cheer on Fifth Avenue. Behind the iconic window displays of Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman by Central Park are stylish, upscale restaurants, perfect places to recharge before braving the crowds.
dine in style

Commuter gift guide: 7 ideas for on-the-go New Yorkers

Photo by Documerica on Unsplash

December 12, 2025

Commuter gift guide: 7 ideas for on-the-go New Yorkers

By Lidia Ryan

New Yorkers braving the daily subway and walking grind of the concrete jungle. Suburbanites who tirelessly hop on Metro-North, NJ Transit, or the LIRR each morning. These everyday hustlers deserve a little something to make the commute more enjoyable. Here are a few gift ideas for the commuter in your life.
ideas this way

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Experience the Victorian-era magic of Cape May this holiday season

Photo courtesy of Cape May MAC on Flickr

December 4, 2025

Experience the Victorian-era magic of Cape May this holiday season

By Lidia Ryan

If you live in New York City, you’re already in one of the most magical places to spend the holidays. But, if the itch to get out of town sets in this season, a short jaunt south offers Victorian seaside charm set to twinkling lights. Cape May, New Jersey, a longtime summer destination, is even more alluring in December with quaint holiday memories around every corner. From Santa visits with the kids to cocktails for the grown-ups, here’s your guide to a holiday weekend in Cape May.
a victorian-style holiday, this way

November 24, 2025

9 gifts from NYC museums that are actually good

By Lidia Ryan

Despite the apropos name, buying someone a holiday present from a gift shop can seem a bit, well, uninspired. But New York City’s museums are anything but that, and their shops’ selections include some incredibly chic and unique gift options. From unexpected conversation pieces for adults to toys that will enrich little ones, here’s a guide to the coolest museum gift-shop gifts in the city.
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Exterior view of the Studio Museum in Harlem’s new building, 2025. Courtesy Studio Museum in Harlem. Photo © Albert Vecerka/ Esto

November 17, 2025

Studio Museum in Harlem unveils new home

By Lidia Ryan

In the United States, 1968 was a year of political unrest and cultural change. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the Vietnam War was protested, the Fair Housing Act was passed, and President Richard Nixon was elected. In its list of major, shifting events that year, a much quieter moment: the founding of the Studio Museum in Harlem. The museum was founded by a group of artists, community activists, and philanthropists to foster the work of artists of African descent.
inside the studio museum

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ light exhibit returns to New York Botanical Garden

All photos courtesy of Avery Brunkus

August 19, 2025

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ light exhibit returns to New York Botanical Garden

By Lidia Ryan

Halloween, let alone Christmas, may not be top of mind yet, but the New York Botanical Garden is celebrating early with the return of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" immersive exhibit running September 25 through November 30. This year, the nighttime light trail, inspired by the 1993 Tim Burton film, features 8,300 square feet of light installation and new scenes and music, according to a release.
enter halloween town

Events & Things To Do

July 30, 2025

Millennial nostalgia culminates in a Kel Mitchell burger fest in NYC

By Lidia Ryan

It’s no secret millennials love a throwback. From “I Know What You Did Last Summer” to “Freakier Friday” and “Devil Wears Prada 2,” movie reboots of late ‘90s and early aughts classics abound. But those who miss the 1997 Nickelodeon slapstick comedy “Good Burger” can go a step further than just hoping for a remake — they can share a burger with Kel Mitchell. Kel’s Burger Fest, hosted by Bucketlisters, is coming to Williamsburg on August 30.
can I take your order?

Life-size Edward Hopper paintings pop up in the Meatpacking District

All photos from the 2024 Step Into Hopper event © Brake Through Media

July 11, 2025

Life-size Edward Hopper paintings pop up in the Meatpacking District

By Lidia Ryan

In a fluorescent-lit diner on a dark city street, film noir-type characters look aloof at the counter while a waiter tends to them. It’s 1942, and the scene is called "Nighthawks." This painting by artist Edward Hopper is regarded as one of the most famous American paintings. Although it depicts a fictional street corner, the artwork was inspired "by a restaurant Hopper had seen on Greenwich Avenue in New York," according to the Art Institute of Chicago, where the painting resides. The largest collection of Hopper’s works, including "A Woman in the Sun," however, can be found at the Whitney Museum. If you have your hearts set on seeing "Nighthawks," though, the Whitney and the Meatpacking District have leveled up the experience by allowing art lovers to step inside the iconic painting.
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Events & Things To Do

New sleeper cabin hotel in Noho brings trendy, affordable lodging to downtown Manhattan

All photos courtesy of Matt Kisiday

June 30, 2025

New sleeper cabin hotel in Noho brings trendy, affordable lodging to downtown Manhattan

By Lidia Ryan

New York isn’t known for being a bargain, but a new hotel that opened this spring is bringing affordable lodging to one of Manhattan’s most desirable downtown neighborhoods. A unique concept hotel called Now Now NoHo offers sleeper-cabin-style rooms designed for solo travelers, "inspired by the efficiency of Japanese capsule hotels, the romance of European train cars, and the communal vibe of boutique hostels." The single-occupancy cabins start at $125/night.
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The Frick Collection opens its first cafe

All photos of Westmoreland, the new cafe at the Frick Collection, courtesy of William Jess Laird, unless otherwise noted.

June 5, 2025

The Frick Collection opens its first cafe

By Lidia Ryan

Spending an afternoon at a museum is one of the most "New York" things you can do. And while MoMa, the Met and the Guggenheim are flocked to, the Frick Collection is a quieter Upper East Side gem. Now, the newly renovated museum housed in the 1914 residence of Henry Clay Frick serves up Rembrandt and El Greco masterpieces with a cocktail and a bite.
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10 tranquil spots in NYC for some peace and quiet

The Pergola at Wave Hill in the Bronx frames stunning views of the Hudson River and the Palisades. Photo courtesy of Wave Hill

May 30, 2025

10 tranquil spots in NYC for some peace and quiet

By Lidia Ryan

When the sun comes out, so do the people. The energy of New York City is palpable on the warm days of late spring and early summer. After a long winter spent inside apartments, museums, and restaurants, New Yorkers crave sunshine and nature this time of year. And while that’s a beautiful thing, it can make it difficult to escape crowds. If you’re looking for a little relaxation in the great outdoors, we’ve rounded up 10 tranquil spots perfect for an afternoon with a book, a picnic, or just your thoughts.
find your moment of zen

Behind the Mexican Modernism of Luis Barragán that inspired this year’s NYBG Orchid Show

“The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism.” Photo courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden.

April 1, 2025

Behind the Mexican Modernism of Luis Barragán that inspired this year’s NYBG Orchid Show

By Lidia Ryan

"We want people who know his work to come and say 'Oh yeah, that is Barragán pink,'" Michaela Wright, director of Exhibition Content and Interpretation, said of this year's orchid show at the New York Botanical Garden. She’s talking about renowned Mexican architect Luis Barragán. "By the time of his death in 1988, his persona and way of working had attained almost mythical status, and the interest in his oeuvre has increased ever since," as described by the Luis Barragán Foundation. The hallmark of his designs are clean, painted stucco walls in contrast — yet harmony — with the natural surroundings. Some of his prominent works in Mexico City include the Barragán House, Las Arboledas, Fuente de los Amantes, and Cuadra San Cristobal. This legacy of color and Mexican Modernism was the inspiration for this year’s orchid show and accompanying photo exhibit, running through April 27.
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From a cemetery to an island: The best places to see cherry blossoms in NYC and when to visit

Cherry blossoms at Little Island. Photo Credit: Liz Ligon

March 28, 2025

From a cemetery to an island: The best places to see cherry blossoms in NYC and when to visit

By Lidia Ryan

Sara Evans is the Director of the Living Collections and Curator at The Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. While that title may sound ironic given her workplace, cemeteries are home to a large breadth of plant life. This includes cherry blossom trees, of which Green-Wood has 172.
cherry blossoms this way

The Affordable Art Fair returns to NYC with artwork for every budget

Photo courtesy of Phillip Reed Photography and the Affordable Art Fair.

March 19, 2025

The Affordable Art Fair returns to NYC with artwork for every budget

By Lidia Ryan

Art is at New Yorkers’ fingertips, from the world’s most famous and significant works housed in the hallowed halls of The Met, MoMA, and Guggenheim, to countless art galleries and exhibitions across the five boroughs. However, when it comes to building a personal collection, or even just owning one special piece, art becomes less accessible with prices soaring into the tens of thousands. But for the past 23 years, the Affordable Art Fair has been bringing one-of-a-kind art pieces to New Yorkers at a price range of $100 to $12,000. There’s even a curated installation called Wonders Under $1,000 marked by pink stickers. This year, the spring fair runs from March 19 to March 23 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea with 78 exhibitors and 400 contemporary living artists from all over the world.
details here

Credit: Sascha Reinking

March 3, 2025

A guide to planning a park wedding in New York City

By Lidia Ryan

Dana and Asiedu met for the second time on the L train. The first time they met was about 20 years prior as teenagers. They dated for four years and then lost touch for 16 years, until a fateful day in 2019 when they crossed paths again in the most New York City fashion. "One night while I was getting off the train heading home from work, I recognized the back of her in the crowd walking out of the station," Asiedu recalled. "She lived out of state but was visiting her dad who happened to live in my neighborhood. We talked and walked her dad’s block. It took about a year for us to see each other again. We were married about a year and a half later." The couple, who now lives in Brooklyn and has an 18-month-old son, wed in true New York style at Prospect Park in Brooklyn in the fall of 2021.
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February 18, 2025

4 cozy winter cabin getaways in New York

By Lidia Ryan

Illustrator Jennifer Velasquez and her husband Jacob Kolbusz met in high school and bonded over a children’s book called "My Side of the Mountain." In the book, a boy named Sam runs away from New York City to live in the Catskills. "'Let’s build a cabin Sam would want to live in,'" Velasquez says they decided. Today, the couple owns 40 acres of land in Margaretville, where they live and operate a small 1950s A-frame Airbnb. "When we bought the house we fell in love with the land first, it was just everything you could ever want – no neighbors, backs into state land. We knew that's what we wanted forever home," she said.
book your getaway

There’s still time to get special Broadway Week pricing for these shows

Hadestown. Photo by Matthew Murphy

January 27, 2025

There’s still time to get special Broadway Week pricing for these shows

By Lidia Ryan

Broadway Week is back, with over two dozen shows offering two-for-one ticket pricing through February 9. With the success of the "Wicked" movie adaptation catapulting Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo into award season, the stage show has been sold out for weeks. But there’s still time to catch other major productions like “Romeo + Juliet” starring Rachel Zegler, “Aladdin,” “The Book of Mormon,” and “Sunset Blvd.” with Nicole Scherzinger. New shows include the musical adaptation of the 1992 Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep movie “Death Becomes Her,” featuring Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child fame, and “Redwood” with Idina Menzel. Since its inception in 2011, Broadway Week has aimed to make theater accessible to more people.
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