Events & Things To Do

Here’s what closed in NYC due to unhealthy air quality

Image courtesy of Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

June 8, 2023

Here’s what closed in NYC due to unhealthy air quality

By Aaron Ginsburg

As the smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to blanket New York City with unhealthy air, many events and activities, especially those planned for the outdoors, have been canceled. The city broke its air quality index (AQI) record on Wednesday, hitting 405 out of 500, the highest record since the city started collecting air quality records in 1985. City officials have advised New Yorkers to stay indoors, and if they must go outside, to wear a high-quality mask. Ahead, find some of the places across the five boroughs that have announced closures and cancellations due to the air quality.
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Lincoln Center to reimagine Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

Corner of 65th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, facing corner stairway to Lincoln Center plaza level. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong.

June 8, 2023

Lincoln Center to reimagine Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts wants to break down barriers, both literally and figuratively. The cultural institution on Tuesday announced plans for a major renovation of the western edge of its campus to make it more welcoming and accessible, calling on local community members and stakeholders to help reimagine the Amsterdam Avenue-facing side, which currently has no direct access to the campus. The renovation is one way the center has worked to become more equitable and inclusive in recent years, including a new pay-what-you-wish ticketing model, diverse programming, the new David Geffen Hall, and partnerships with blood drives, food banks, and other charitable events.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

MTA celebrates Pride Month with train decals and limited-edition MetroCards

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

June 7, 2023

MTA celebrates Pride Month with train decals and limited-edition MetroCards

By Aaron Ginsburg

In celebration of Pride Month, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has decorated subway cars, buses, and commuter rail lines with Pride-themed decals, digital displays, and posters. The agency also released a special MetroCard that is available at select subway stations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
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30+ ways to celebrate Pride Month in NYC

Photo by Anthony Quintano on Flickr CC

June 7, 2023

30+ ways to celebrate Pride Month in NYC

By Michelle Cohen

The New York City Pride March is back at full tilt for 2023, and the month of June promises to be a wall-to-wall celebration around what has grown to be the world’s largest Pride march since it was first held in 1970, bringing in an average of two million visitors annually. Here in the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement at the Stonewall uprising of 1969, the list of Pride events is seemingly endless. Heritage of Pride, the nonprofit organization behind New York City’s official LGBTQIA+ Pride celebration, offers a calendar to help navigate the month of June. Below, you'll find dozens of ways to participate.
Pride, parades and parties, this way

Events & Things To Do

A public art installation in Lower Manhattan reimagines Earth using plastic waste

Photos courtesy of Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for B.N. Barkat Holdings and Studio

June 7, 2023

A public art installation in Lower Manhattan reimagines Earth using plastic waste

By Aaron Ginsburg

A timely new public art installation in Lower Manhattan depicts the devastating impact of pollution on Earth. Created by Israeli artist Beverly Barkat, "Earth Poetica" uses a mixture of plastic materials collected from the world's oceans, waterways, and forests to create a globe that appears beautiful on the outside but is in fact just trash on the inside. Located in the lobby of 3 World Trade Center, the 13-foot-tall sculpture is made up of 180 colorful panels and highlights areas of the world suffering from increasing plastic pollution.
See the artwork

Events & Things To Do

Where to watch outdoor movies in NYC this summer

Photo by John Eng for Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy

June 6, 2023

Where to watch outdoor movies in NYC this summer

By Devin Gannon

One of the best summer activities is returning to New York City: outdoor movies. 6sqft has put together a preliminary list of places to watch outdoor movies across the city, from a waterfront park in Brooklyn and a rooftop in Midtown Manhattan to the urban oasis that is the Queens Botanical Garden. As more movie lineups get released this summer, the list will be updated accordingly.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

NYC’s free Shakespeare in the Park program returns this week

The Delacorte Theater. Photo credit: Joseph Moran

June 6, 2023

NYC’s free Shakespeare in the Park program returns this week

By Aaron Ginsburg

Shakespeare in the Park, the Public Theater's beloved free program in Central Park, returns to the Delacorte Theater this week. Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, the Public will present one performance of "Hamlet" for an extended nine-week run from Thursday, June 8 until Sunday, August 6. A production of "The Tempest" will be presented from Sunday, August 27 through Sunday, September 3 before the Delacorte Theater closes for renovations.
See more here

Sotheby’s buys the Breuer Building from Whitney Museum

Photo by Glenda Altarejos on Wikimedia

June 2, 2023

Sotheby’s buys the Breuer Building from Whitney Museum

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Whitney Museum of Art has sold the Upper East Side's iconic Breuer Building to the auction house Sotheby's. Designed by renowned architect Marcel Breuer in 1966, the five-story building at 945 Madison Avenue is known for its striking Brutalist architecture. While the exact price of the transaction remains unknown, sources close to the deal suggest it was around $100 million, according to the New York Times. Sotheby's will take over the building next September from the Frick Collection, which has operated there temporarily since 2021, and relocate its headquarters from York Avenue to the Breuer in 2025.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

It’s rose season in NYC: Where to see the summer’s prettiest blossoms

Photo by Malcolm Manners on Flickr

June 1, 2023

It’s rose season in NYC: Where to see the summer’s prettiest blossoms

By Devin Gannon

It's rose season. Not only is June the perfect time to drink rosé wine, but it is also when roses are in full bloom in New York City. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the New York Botanical Garden boast impressive collections, with both institutions offering guided tours and other events to celebrate the rose and its hundreds of varieties.
Stop and smell the roses

Events & Things To Do

Free photography festival Photoville returns to NYC with 80+ outdoor exhibitions

Photo courtesy of Kisha Bari

June 1, 2023

Free photography festival Photoville returns to NYC with 80+ outdoor exhibitions

By Aaron Ginsburg

Starting this weekend, enjoy more than 80 free photography exhibitions across New York City. Returning for its 12th year, Photoville NYC is a two-week festival with outdoor exhibitions displaying diverse photographic works across the five boroughs, as well as workshops, artist talks, and other events. The festival, which will run from June 3 to June 18, will include its signature Photoville Village in Brooklyn Bridge Park, in addition to open-air installations in other parts of the city.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

Popular Articles

Where to go horseback riding in NYC

Photo by Martin Seck courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

May 31, 2023

Where to go horseback riding in NYC

Do you ever dream about galloping on horseback down the busy streets of Midtown? Okay, well you can’t do that. But there actually are a number of places in New York City where you can go horseback riding, including at historic stables in Prospect Park and along the Jamaica Bay beachfront.
Saddle up!

Events & Things To Do

New mural on 14th Street in Union Square celebrates human connection to nature

All photos courtesy of Jane Kratochvil

May 31, 2023

New mural on 14th Street in Union Square celebrates human connection to nature

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new street mural along the 14th Street Busway in Union Square celebrates the intricate connection between humans and nature. Designed by Brooklyn-based artist Vanesa Álvarez, "Union with the Universe" uses serene designs and shades of color, inviting observers to slow down and take a moment to connect with the world around them. Unveiled on Wednesday, the mural was installed over a period of five days with the help of Street Plans, a Brooklyn-based urban planning and design firm, and other community groups.
See the mural

Events & Things To Do

100+ community gardens in NYC will open to the public this weekend

Image courtesy of Daniel Avila / NYC Parks

May 30, 2023

100+ community gardens in NYC will open to the public this weekend

By Aaron Ginsburg

More than 100 community gardens across New York City are opening their gates to the public this weekend. Hosted by GreenThumb, the largest community garden program in the country, the sixth-annual Open Garden NYC invites New Yorkers to participate in fun, free, and eco-friendly activities, explore lush landscapes, and learn about the local gardens in their own neighborhood. Open Garden NYC will take place rain or shine on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4.
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Events & Things To Do

Manhattanhenge magic is returning to New York City’s grid

Photo by d26b73 on Flickr

May 26, 2023

Manhattanhenge magic is returning to New York City’s grid

By Devin Gannon

The spectacular sunset that aligns exactly with the Manhattan street grid and only comes twice a year happened for the first time this past Memorial Day. The magical Manhattanhenge was first visible on May 29 at 8:13 p.m., when a half-sun streamed through major cross streets. According to the American Museum of Natural History, the final phenomenon of the year takes place this week, on Wednesday, July 12 and Thursday, July 13.
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This exhibit celebrates 100 years of art and pop culture in NYC

Richard Estes. M Train on Route to Manhattan Approaches the Williamsburg Bridge. 1995. Copyright Richard Estes, courtesy Louis K. Meisel Gallery

May 25, 2023

This exhibit celebrates 100 years of art and pop culture in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new exhibition shares more than a century's worth of creativity inspired by New York City. The Museum of the City of New York's "This is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture" highlights what NYC has meant to generations of artists, musicians, writers, storytellers, and filmmakers who have captured the essence of the five boroughs through their work. The exhibition, which celebrates the museum's centennial is on view at the museum at 1220 Fifth Avenue from Wednesday, May 26 through June 21, 2024.
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Events & Things To Do

The 13 best things to do in Coney Island

Photo of the Mermaid Parade by Richie S. on Flickr

May 23, 2023

The 13 best things to do in Coney Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

Nicknamed the People's Playground, Coney Island has been the summer getaway of choice for generations of New Yorkers. Located on the southern shores of Brooklyn, the seaside destination is best known for its world-famous amusement district, which contains iconic attractions like the Brooklyn Cyclone roller coaster, Deno's Wonder Wheel, and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. The neighborhood offers visitors unforgettable experiences on exhilarating amusement park rides, classic carnival-style treats, and a chance to soak up some sun on the beach. From strolling down the boardwalk and riding the 100-year-old Cyclone to seeing sharks up close at the New York Aquarium, here are some things to do when visiting Coney Island this summer.
Plan your trip

Events & Things To Do

In reference to U.S. border wall, new Brooklyn sculpture explores relationship with land

Photo credit: Nicholas Galanin, In every language there is Land / En cada lengua hay una Tierra, 2023 Corten steel. Courtesy of the artist and Peter Blum Gallery. Images by Nicholas Knight, courtesy of the Public Art Fund, NY

May 18, 2023

In reference to U.S. border wall, new Brooklyn sculpture explores relationship with land

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new public art installation in Brooklyn questions how colonization and its impact on migration affect our relationship with land. Created by indigenous Alaskan artist Nicholas Galanin, In every language there is Land / En cada lengua hay una Tierra is a 30-foot-tall steel sculpture made of the same materials as the United States-Mexico border wall that spells out the word "LAND." The sculpture will be on view in Brooklyn Bridge Park on the north side of the Empire Fulton Ferry Lawn through the fall.
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Events & Things To Do

Ralph Lee, famous puppet maker and Village Halloween Parade founder, dies at 87

Photo by Erin Kestenbaum exclusively for 6sqft. See more here.

May 17, 2023

Ralph Lee, famous puppet maker and Village Halloween Parade founder, dies at 87

By Aaron Ginsburg

Ralph Lee, a legendary New York City puppet maker who helped create the Village Halloween Parade, passed away last Friday in his Manhattan home at the age of 87. As reported by the New York Times, Lee's death was confirmed by his wife Casey Compton, who stated that her husband's health had declined over the past several months. While he was also an actor, writer, producer, and director, Lee was best known for his innovative puppet and mask designs, many of which were seen in shows by the Metropolitan Opera, the NYC Opera, and a wide variety of dance troupes and theater productions, including his own Mettawee River Theatre.
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Events & Things To Do

Your guide to Morningside Heights: A college town in a city neighborhood

Tom’s Restaurant is a landmark in Morningside Heights thanks to Seinfeld. Photo by Scarlet Sappho on Flickr

May 17, 2023

Your guide to Morningside Heights: A college town in a city neighborhood

By Michelle Cohen

Bookended by Morningside and Riverside Parks on a high plateau in Upper Manhattan, Morningside Heights is tucked between the neighborhoods of Manhattanville to the north and Manhattan Valley to the south. The neighborhood's street boundaries are Morningside Drive to the east, 125th Street to the north, 110th Street to the south, and Riverside Drive to the west, with Broadway as its main commercial thoroughfare. Morningside Heights is also considered to be part of Harlem–with the Upper West Side just below. To use a bookend analogy is fitting: Morningside Heights is the largest student neighborhood in New York City; it is this distinction that provides the city neighborhood with its college town vibe.
What to do and see, and where to live in Morningside Heights

Fresh produce and family farms: Find New York City’s best farmers markets

The Jackson Heights Greenmarket; Photo by Amanda Gentile Photography courtesy of GrowNYC

May 16, 2023

Fresh produce and family farms: Find New York City’s best farmers markets

Nine times a week, a driver arrives at Phillips Farm in Milford, New Jersey, at 2 a.m. to load up fresh fruits and vegetables onto a truck. The goods then make the approximately 70-mile trek to New York City and arrive around sunrise to be sold at one of the city’s various farmers markets. At around 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., the booth is packed up and the driver heads back, arriving home at around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. The farm has been selling in NYC since 1990.
Find a farmers market near you

Events & Things To Do

NYC’s historic Roosevelt Hotel becomes arrival center for asylum seekers

Photo by Billy Hathorn via Wikimedia Commons

May 15, 2023

NYC’s historic Roosevelt Hotel becomes arrival center for asylum seekers

By Aaron Ginsburg

A historic hotel in Midtown that has been closed since the start of the pandemic will become the city’s first arrival center for migrants, Mayor Eric Adams announced on Saturday. Located at 45 East 45th Street, The Roosevelt Hotel will serve as a “centralized intake center” for all arriving asylum seekers, providing them with legal, medical, and reconnection services and up to 175 rooms for children and families starting later this week. The new shelter is the ninth Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center opened by the city; more migrants are expected to arrive in New York after the end of the pandemic-era rule Title 42, which let the U.S. quickly expel migrants without documentation.
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Huge light installation coming to site of proposed Midtown East casino near the U.N.

Longwood Gardens, P.A USA – Copyright © 2022 Bruce Munro. All rights reserved. Image courtesy of Serena Munro

May 11, 2023

Huge light installation coming to site of proposed Midtown East casino near the U.N.

By Aaron Ginsburg

An impressive light installation will debut this fall at the storied 7-acre vacant site near the United Nations in Midtown East. Stretching from 38th to 41st Streets on First Avenue, and designed by world-renowned artist Bruce Munro, "Field of Light" will include an array of 17,000 flower-like lights that will serve as a "beacon of freedom and hope around the world." Opening in September, the free and public installation is being paid for by the Soloviev Group, the firm which has proposed constructing a mixed-use development dubbed Freedom Plaza on the undeveloped property, anchored by one of three casinos planned for the New York City area.
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Events & Things To Do

40 last-minute Mother’s Day gifts

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

May 10, 2023

40 last-minute Mother’s Day gifts

By Terri Williams

Your mom is unique and that’s why we’re presenting a variety of Mother’s Day gifts to choose from, whether she loves cooking, hates cleaning, or wants to trick out her home office or home entertainment center. We also included some options to help your mom relax – something she probably doesn’t do enough – and gifts that will just make her life easier. And these gifts, all available to purchase online, are also ideal for grandmothers, stepmothers, aunts – as well as wives, daughters, nieces, and friends.
What mom wants

New exhibition celebrates design icon Milton Glaser’s grooviest work

Questor. Annual report, 1969. Questor Corporation. All images courtesy of SVA

May 10, 2023

New exhibition celebrates design icon Milton Glaser’s grooviest work

By Aaron Ginsburg

A New York City exhibition is showing off rarely-seen whimsical work of famed late illustrator Milton Glaser. Hosted at the School of Visual Art's Gramercy Gallery, "Milton Glaser: POP" features nearly 150 items drawn from the Glaser archives, including book, album, and magazine covers as well as posters and advertisements. Many of these pieces have not been viewed since they were originally published, and some have never been published at all. Free and open to the public, the exhibition will be on view from Wednesday, May 17 through Monday, June 5.
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Events & Things To Do

19 best spots in NYC for outdoor music this summer

May 9, 2023

19 best spots in NYC for outdoor music this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

The summer is one of the most lively times of the year in New York City, with fun events everywhere you look. The season is especially exciting for music lovers who can enjoy an extensive selection of both free and ticketed shows at outdoor venues across the five boroughs. We've rounded up the best open-air spots hosting concerts in the coming months, from a jam-packed season at Forest Hills Stadium in celebration of its 100th anniversary to Lincoln Center's botanically-transformed campus for its three-month-long arts festival.
Get ready to groove

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