All articles by Lidia Ryan

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

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

9 gifts from NYC museums that are actually good

November 24, 2025

9 gifts from NYC museums that are actually good

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.
get shopping

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Studio Museum in Harlem unveils new home

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

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

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

Millennial nostalgia culminates in a Kel Mitchell burger fest in NYC

July 30, 2025

Millennial nostalgia culminates in a Kel Mitchell burger fest in NYC

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

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

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

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

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

"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

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

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

A guide to planning a park wedding in New York City

Credit: Sascha Reinking

March 3, 2025

A guide to planning a park wedding in New York City

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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4 cozy winter cabin getaways in New York

February 18, 2025

4 cozy winter cabin getaways in New York

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

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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Events & Things To Do

How to spend a perfect holiday afternoon in Central Park

A snow day in Central Park last year. Photo courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy.

December 19, 2024

How to spend a perfect holiday afternoon in Central Park

Is there anywhere more magical than Central Park during the holidays? With Christmas and Hanukkah beginning on December 25, take some time and appreciate the peaceful feeling of a day in the park before the rush of parties and gift-giving commences. Read on for our idea of a perfect holiday afternoon in Central Park.
our itinerary, this way

Events & Things To Do

9 gifts for the true New Yorkers on your list

December 12, 2024

9 gifts for the true New Yorkers on your list

Have a die-hard New Yorker in your life? These gifts will let them show off their true hometown pride and even support some local organizations.
new yorker-approved gifts this way

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11 perfect gifts for New Yorkers who live in small apartments

December 9, 2024

11 perfect gifts for New Yorkers who live in small apartments

It’s no secret that most New York City apartments are cramped, so it’s important to keep that in mind when shopping for the New Yorkers in your life. Here, we’ve rounded up 11 space-friendly ideas fit for Big Apple living.
space-saving gift ideas

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How an UWS dry cleaner brings joy to the community through elaborate Barbie window displays

All photos courtesy of Debra Kravet unless otherwise noted.

December 2, 2024

How an UWS dry cleaner brings joy to the community through elaborate Barbie window displays

There’s a splash of hot pink on Amsterdam Avenue — well, Barbie pink. Since the "Barbie" movie came out in the summer of 2023, a dream house scene with doll versions of characters from the movie, including Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken, has been on display (and still growing) in the window of Apthorp Cleaners. But Barbie has a much longer history with this Upper West Side dry cleaner. Since owner Debra Kravet and her husband Joel moved into the space at 383 Amsterdam Avenue in 2009, Debra has been creating elaborate Barbie window displays in keeping with pop culture, the seasons, and timely events. Right now, a "Wicked" display with doll versions of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba complement the “Barbie” movie window.
details here

Boroughs of the Dead ghost tours dive into the real-life macabre history of NYC

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Astoria. All photos courtesy of Boroughs of the Dead

October 25, 2024

Boroughs of the Dead ghost tours dive into the real-life macabre history of NYC

Spooky season is in full swing, and if you’re a history nerd who wants to learn about the "macabre, strange, spooky, weird, spectral history of the city," there’s a tour group for that. Boroughs of the Dead: Macabre New York City Walking Tours, founded by Andrea Janes, brings groups through the spookiest, most "haunted" areas of New York City, creating a "ghost map" of the city by overlaying scary stories over the “terrain of the real,” Janes describes.
discover the spooky side of NYC

10 spots in the Hamptons to pick your own pumpkins, apples, vegetables, and fall flowers

Photo by Zen Chung on Pexels

October 14, 2024

10 spots in the Hamptons to pick your own pumpkins, apples, vegetables, and fall flowers

The Hamptons conjure up images of long sunny days of waves lapping at your feet and relaxing in the heat with a cool drink in hand. But while it's a posh summer destination for many New Yorkers, the region is also home to rural communities growing year-round.
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8 best bike rides in NYC

Photo by Santeri Liukkonen on Unsplash

September 4, 2024

8 best bike rides in NYC

"We’re not hidden in a 3,000-pound cage," says Gersh Kuntzman. He’s an avid biker and the editor-in-chief of Streetsblog, a website "devoted to making the city’s streets and neighborhoods far more walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly." He touts the benefits of biking in New York City, including the community accessibility that driving in a car (or cage) does not afford. "Cycling is the best way to connect to the neighborhoods and your neighbors. Very few drivers ever stop along the way to shop or hang out, but cyclists always do."
Like To bike?

Inside the world of NYC birding: City wildlife is more than ‘just pigeons and cockroaches’

Photo credit: NYC Bird Alliance

August 15, 2024

Inside the world of NYC birding: City wildlife is more than ‘just pigeons and cockroaches’

Angie Co’s favorite spots for birding in New York City are Prospect Park, Greenwood Cemetery, and Jamaica Bay, a wildlife refuge and National Park that’s host to over 325 species of birds, mostly migratory waterfowl. But it was in a community garden a few blocks from her Brooklyn home that her husband, also an avid birder (and one gifted in recognizing bird songs), spotted a bright yellow Kentucky warbler. Within minutes, birders descended on the park with cameras; they had gotten a rare bird alert on eBird. Co prefers not to sign up for alerts. "I like to be surprised and find birds myself," she said. "I don’t like to chase birds."
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The ferry is a breezy way to get to NYC’s summer destinations — and maybe even see dolphins

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

July 8, 2024

The ferry is a breezy way to get to NYC’s summer destinations — and maybe even see dolphins

It’s in his blood, NYC Ferry Captain Vincent Ardolino says. His father was a captain, his grandfather was a captain, and his uncles, too. Growing up in the Rockaways, his typical ferry route from Wall Street to Brooklyn to Rockaway Beach is a natural one for him – and his favorite.
all aboard

5 beautiful NYC restaurants perfect for girls night

May 28, 2024

5 beautiful NYC restaurants perfect for girls night

Craving "girl dinner?" Have your next one in style at one of these NYC bars and restaurants. These spots not only serve girls-night-worthy cocktails and bites but offer some of the most stylish interiors and exteriors in the city.
it's girls night

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