Events &amp; Things To Do

A three-day music festival that aims to raise awareness about the current climate crisis will take place in Queens next month. From September 16-18, the inaugural Big Climate Thing festival will be held at Forest Hills Stadium, the nearly century-old tennis stadium-turned-venue, with performances by world-class acts, including Haim, The Roots, The War on Drugs, Sheryl Crow, Courtney Barnett, and The Flaming Lips, among others.
See the lineup

Events & Things To Do

NYC to host 10 free concerts across the five boroughs as part of ‘Rise Up’ series

RISE UP Summer Concert Series at Wingate Park in Brooklyn. Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

July 28, 2022

NYC to host 10 free concerts across the five boroughs as part of ‘Rise Up’ series

A new concert series that will take place in every borough throughout the summer officially kicked off on Wednesday. The "Rise Up NYC' series involves 10 free community concerts in parks and outdoor spaces across the city. According to Mayor Eric Adams, the series is meant to "encourage New Yorkers to explore all of the city and reconnect with one another as the city emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic." The "Rise Up" series was announced with less fanfare than last year's "Homecoming" concert in Central Park, which was headlined by Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson, and Bruce Springsteen and meant to celebrate NYC's recovery from Covid but later called off in the middle of it because of severe weather.
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Museum honoring the legacy of Jackie Robinson opens in NYC

Photo credit: Robert Deitchler, courtesy of ©️Gensler

July 26, 2022

Museum honoring the legacy of Jackie Robinson opens in NYC

A museum dedicated to the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson opened in New York City on Tuesday. Located at 75 Varick Street in Hudson Square, the 19,380-square-foot Jackie Robinson Museum celebrates both Robinson's baseball achievements, as well as his role in the civil rights movement, and encourages a conversation about race and social issues. Designed by Gensler, the museum features immersive exhibits and artifacts, from an interactive model of Ebbets Field to his Dodgers home uniform.
See inside

Events & Things To Do

This year’s ‘Summer Streets’ will extend car-free blocks to East Harlem for the first time

Summer Streets 2019. Photo credit: New York City Department of Transportation on Flickr

July 26, 2022

This year’s ‘Summer Streets’ will extend car-free blocks to East Harlem for the first time

New York City's annual "Summer Streets" program, which closes several miles of streets in Manhattan to cars, will expand to East Harlem this year for the first time ever. Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced last week plans to extend the initiative by nearly two miles to East 109th Street. On three Saturdays in August, New Yorkers will be able to enjoy outdoor recreation, performances, fitness classes, and arts and crafts on more than eight miles of open streets spanning from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park.
Get the details

Photo credit: Jason Varney

July 26, 2022

See inside José Andrés’ Mediterranean restaurant Zaytinya, now open at NYC’s new Ritz-Carlton hotel

José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup on Tuesday opened Zaytinya, a new restaurant and hotel in-room dining option at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Nomad. The restaurant features a mezze menu inspired by Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisines in a 140-seat street-level restaurant with a mod-meets Mediterranean interior design courtesy of David Rockwell's Rockwell Group. The Nomad location will be the second for Zaytinya, which first opened in 2002 in Washington, DC.
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Citywide scavenger hunt tests your knowledge of NYC’s public libraries

The Adams Street Library in Dumbo; Photo Credit: Gregg Richards

July 22, 2022

Citywide scavenger hunt tests your knowledge of NYC’s public libraries

Think you know the library? Prove it during a citywide scavenger hunt next month. Hosted by Open House New York, "Library Love: Five Borough Scavenger Hunt" is a challenging "urban adventure" that will have participants racing across the city, deciphering clues, and deepening their knowledge about the city's public libraries. If you have a library card, it's free to compete.
Details this way

Events & Things To Do

10 iconic hot dog joints in New York City

Image courtesy of ajay_suresh on Flickr

July 19, 2022

10 iconic hot dog joints in New York City

On July 20, the country celebrates National Hot Dog Day, the commemoration of a delicacy synonymous with New York City and summer. The origins of the hot dog can be traced to German immigrant Charles Feltman, who sold frankfurter sausages on a long bun as a convenient snack for hungry beachgoers during the late 1860s. More than 150 years later, New Yorkers still love hot dogs as a quick and affordable meal and there is no shortage of great spots throughout the city to grab a frank. From internationally-known Nathan's Famous to local favorites like Papaya King, here are 10 iconic hot dog joints in NYC.
See the full list

July 14, 2022

20+ NYC art galleries will open to the public for free as part of annual Chelsea Gallery Walk

For one night next week, more than 20 New York City art galleries will open their doors to the public as part of the annual Chelsea Gallery Walk. Hosted by the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA), the free self-guided walk takes place on July 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 22 member galleries throughout Chelsea, providing a unique opportunity to see world-class art after-hours. In addition to enjoying the latest exhibitions on display, there will also be a selection of special programming.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

600 NYC restaurants to participate in Restaurant Week this summer

The restaurant Gentle Perch in Brooklyn is participating in Restaurant Week. Photo by Evan Angelastro, courtesy of NYC & Company

July 11, 2022

600 NYC restaurants to participate in Restaurant Week this summer

New York City's beloved dining event that gives patrons the opportunity to eat at the city's best restaurants with discounted, prix-fixe menus is back for its 30th season. NYC & Company, the city's tourism agency, last week announced reservations are now open at 600 participating restaurants across 85 neighborhoods. The program, which launched in 1992, runs for a month from July 18 through August 21.
Get the details

$74.34M penthouse at Aman New York is NYC’s biggest sale of the year

A penthouse on New York City's Billionaires' Row has sold for $74.34 million, the highest closed sale of 2022 so far. Taking up the entirety of the 20th floor of the Aman New York, a new hotel and residential project at the iconic Crown Building on Fifth Avenue, the home measures over 6,700 square feet and features a private saltwater swimming pool, cabana, and two terraces. The apartment--dubbed the "Jala Penthouse"--was originally listed for $83.53 million.
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Where to see the final Manhattanhenge of 2022

Photo by Dan Nguyen on Flickr

July 8, 2022

Where to see the final Manhattanhenge of 2022

Twice every year, the setting sun aligns perfectly with Manhattan's street grid, making for a picturesque moment that brings New Yorkers a much-needed moment of calm. This effect, dubbed Manhattanhenge by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, first blanketed the city streets with the sun's glow on May 29 before making its final appearance on July 12.
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How to celebrate Bastille Day 2022 in NYC

A past Bastille Day event hosted by the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) Photo © Brittany Buongiorno

July 8, 2022

How to celebrate Bastille Day 2022 in NYC

Just a little over a week after the United States celebrates its independence, France celebrates its own freedom. Held on July 14, Bastille Day commemorates the day French revolutionaries stormed the Bastille and sparked the beginning of the French Revolution. Here is a round-up of Bastille Day celebrations in New York City, from the larger festivities in Central Park to specials at French restaurants throughout the city.
See the list

Events & Things To Do

In Brooklyn, Fred Wilson’s first large-scale public sculpture examines concept of freedom

All images courtesy of Daniela G. Maldonado

July 7, 2022

In Brooklyn, Fred Wilson’s first large-scale public sculpture examines concept of freedom

Bronx-born conceptual artist Fred Wilson last week unveiled his first-ever large-scale public sculpture. Located within Columbus Park in Downtown Brooklyn, Mind Forged Manacles/Manacle Forged Minds features the use of ornamental gates, fences, and 10-foot-tall statues of African figures as metaphors for systematic racism and "acts in conversation" with the neighborhood's nearby landmarks and buildings. Presented by More Art, Wilson's sculpture is on display through June 2023.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

The Giglio Feast: History, fun facts, and what to expect at this year’s celebration in Brooklyn

Photo by Howard Brier on Flickr

July 6, 2022

The Giglio Feast: History, fun facts, and what to expect at this year’s celebration in Brooklyn

Revelers will once again gather in Williamsburg this week for a festival full of food, dancing, and live music. The Our Lady of Mount Carmel and San Paolino di Nola Feast is based on a tradition that got its start in Italy over 1,000 years ago, with its centerpiece a four-ton 72-foot tower. As part of the neighborhood’s nearly two-week feast, the tall, ornately decorated structure, known as the “Giglio,” is carried through the streets by over 100 men. The Giglio Feast, which runs through July 16, has been held in Williamsburg every July since 1903, nearly two decades before the better-known Feast of San Gennaro was celebrated in Manhattan's Little Italy. Ahead, learn about the roots of the unique festival, how it’s evolved over the last century, and what to expect this year.
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Portside is Lower Manhattan’s latest waterfront retreat

Renderings courtesy of Brookfield Place

July 5, 2022

Portside is Lower Manhattan’s latest waterfront retreat

Brookfield Properties last week announced the grand opening of their new nautical-inspired pop-up, Portside. Located at Brookfield Place's Upper Plaza in the Financial District, the space is free, open to the public, and offers guests breathtaking views of the New York Harbor. The space will also host weekly programming and events, as well as offer cocktails and food provided by Tartinery. Portside will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through September.
See more here

New photo exhibit shows New York City children playing on car-free streets in the summer of ’68

Photo credit: Katrina Thomas. NYC Parks Photo Archive

July 5, 2022

New photo exhibit shows New York City children playing on car-free streets in the summer of ’68

The city's Parks Department opened a new photography exhibition at Central Park's Arsenal Gallery that displays more than 40 archived photographs from the department's collection. Called "Streets In Play: Katrina Thomas, NYC Summer 1968," the exhibit features images taken by the late photographer Katrina Thomas, who in 1968 was hired by NYC Mayor John Lindsay and tasked with capturing the city's summer initiative, "Playstreets," in which residential blocks were closed to vehicles and instead equipped for recreational activity.
Take a look

Macy’s fireworks by the numbers: The tricks and stats behind the nation’s largest 4th of July show

Image via Flickr cc

June 30, 2022

Macy’s fireworks by the numbers: The tricks and stats behind the nation’s largest 4th of July show

America's largest 4th of July fireworks show is getting ready to light up the New York sky; Macy’s 46th annual Fourth of July live fireworks extravaganza happens Monday, July 4th at 8 P.M., Plans are being hatched to snag a spot at one of the city's better viewing locations (or in front of a bigger screen; the show is being broadcast live) to watch the amazing choreography of pyrotechnics throughout the two-hour display. The fireworks are set to sail skyward from five barges stationed on the East River centered around Midtown Manhattan starting at about 9:25 P.M.–and the numbers behind the show are even more impressive this year.
Check the figures behind the fireworks

Where to watch the Macy’s July 4th fireworks for free in NYC

Photo by pparnxoxo on Unsplash

June 29, 2022

Where to watch the Macy’s July 4th fireworks for free in NYC

Nowhere is quite like New York, especially on the Fourth of July. Macy's signature fireworks show, the largest in the nation, will once again ring in Independence Day with more than 48,000 shells and effects from five barges floating in the East River. While there are many places around the city hosting fireworks watch parties, there are seven official public viewing locations along two miles that will offer the best (read: free) views of the Macy's Fourth of July show, including Midtown, Long Island City, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

Meriem Bennani reveals first-ever public sculpture on the High Line

“Windy” by Meriem Bennani, co-commissioned by High Line Art and Audemars Piguet Contemporary. Image courtesy of the artist, High Line and Audemars Piguet

June 28, 2022

Meriem Bennani reveals first-ever public sculpture on the High Line

New York City-based artist Meriem Bennani last week debuted her first public sculpture, a captivating kinetic structure that kicked off the summer season of the High Lines Art's program. Windy, co-commissioned by High Line Art and Audemars Piguet Contemporary, is a 9-foot-tall spinning structure comprised of approximately 200 black foam discs that spin at different speeds and in unique sequences. Located on the High Line at 24th Street, Bennani's piece will stay on view to the public until May 2023.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

Photo credit: Caroline Culler via Wikimedia cc

June 28, 2022

The ultimate guide to Dumbo, a neighborhood that led the way to Brooklyn’s 21st century

Brooklyn's 25-block Dumbo neighborhood gets its name from where it can be found: Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, which explains not only the neighborhood’s location, but its cultural and residential evolution. The waterfront district’s iconic East River and Manhattan views and its stunning bridge-framed architectural vistas have defined it long before its current acronym and status as a coveted residential choice. Unlike many other Brooklyn neighborhoods, the area it occupies is quite small, but its architecture, infrastructure, and economic status are formidable.
Your guide to Dumbo, this way

Events & Things To Do

13 spots to watch the 4th of July fireworks in NYC

Photo by John Saeyong Ra on Flickr

June 27, 2022

13 spots to watch the 4th of July fireworks in NYC

To most Americans, the Fourth of July means good food, drinks, time spent with family and friends, but most importantly, fireworks. Luckily for New Yorkers, the city has plenty of opportunities to see fireworks with Macy's annual 4th of July Fireworks show and Jersey City's own grand fireworks display. For those seeking an unforgettable Independence Day experience, here is a selection of the best ticketed events to enjoy this year's July 4th fireworks celebration, from waterfront bars lining the East River's piers to the city's highest observation decks.
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Events & Things To Do

Everything you need to know about the 2022 NYC Pride March

Photo by Jessica Green on Unsplash

June 21, 2022

Everything you need to know about the 2022 NYC Pride March

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the NYC Pride March is returning to the city, fully in person, on Sunday, June 26. The theme for this year's march is "Unapologetically Us," with Ts Madison, Punkie Johnson, Schuyler Bailar, Dominique Morgan, and Chase Strangio set to be the event's grand marshals. Ahead, get the details for this year's parade and learn more about other Pride events taking place.
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Events & Things To Do

Radio Park debuts summer garden dining series atop Radio City Music Hall

Radio Park above Radio City Music Hall. Photo credit: Rockefeller Center

June 20, 2022

Radio Park debuts summer garden dining series atop Radio City Music Hall