Events &amp; Things To Do

No matter how old or established they may be, New York City neighborhoods are in a constant state of change. With each new chapter, boundaries shift and new architecture and commerce arrive. The Manhattan neighborhood known as Nomad (for its location north of Madison Square Park) is a fine example. Nomad became a top residential choice, as well as an international dining destination and an all-around rising star, at the beginning of the 21st century. The neighborhood stretches from approximately 25th Street to 30th Street between Sixth and Lexington Avenues, but the bounty that surrounds it in the neighborhoods of Chelsea, Midtown, Union Square, and Gramercy knows no bounds.
What to do and see, and where to live in Nomad

Events & Things To Do

February 21, 2023

15 fun spots for games and grub in NYC

With all of the unique attractions and over-the-top experiences New York City has to offer, sometimes you just want to have a more casual night. There are several spots across the city that offer fun and frivolity, along with a full food and drink menu. Ahead, find some of the best bars and social clubs that offer activities and games, from axe throwing and mini golf to ping pong and shuffleboard.
Fun, this way

Events & Things To Do

See the Garment District’s new Big Button sculpture

Photo © 6sqft

February 16, 2023

See the Garment District’s new Big Button sculpture

The Garment District's iconic button & needle sculpture has been replaced with a new, permanent art installation. The Garment District Alliance on Thursday unveiled the new Big Button sculpture on the corner of Fashion Avenue and 39th Street. Designed by Local Projects and UAP Company, the sculpture measures 28 feet tall and has a 15-foot diameter aluminum button with a bright yellow automotive finish and a 32-foot brushed stainless steel needle, honoring the neighborhood's rich history in the world of fashion.
See the button

Events & Things To Do

A mini version of NYC’s Hippo Ballerina sculpture is now in Turtle Bay

Photos courtesy of Cavalier Galleries

February 16, 2023

A mini version of NYC’s Hippo Ballerina sculpture is now in Turtle Bay

A smaller version of New York City's Hippo Ballerina sculpture debuted this week in Turtle Bay. Created by Danish artist Bjørn Okholm Skaarup, Hippo Ballerina is a 15-foot-tall sculpture that has been seen over the years in front of Grand Central Terminal, the Flatiron Building, and Lincoln Center. The new mini sculpture, along with Hippo Ballerina, pirouette and Rhino Harlequin, pirouette, can now be found in front of the skyscraper at 885 Second Avenue in Midtown through March 2024.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

NYBG’s 20th annual orchid show is inspired by ancient Chinese garden design

Photos courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden

February 15, 2023

NYBG’s 20th annual orchid show is inspired by ancient Chinese garden design

The New York Botanical Garden's treasured orchid show returns this month for its 20th year. Designed by guest artist Lily Kwong, The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage transforms the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory with thousands of orchids and a fantastical landscape inspired by ancient Chinese garden design and artistic principles. Tickets are on sale now for the show, which opens Saturday, February 18, and runs through April 23.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

Tours of NYC’s old City Hall subway station return this spring

Photos © James and Karla Murray

February 14, 2023

Tours of NYC’s old City Hall subway station return this spring

After a three-year pandemic hiatus, in-person tours of New York City's abandoned City Hall subway station are returning this spring. The station, which is where the first ever subway ride departed in 1904, has been decommissioned since the 1940s. The New York Transit Museum has exclusive access to the station and offers 90-minute tours that explore its ornate vaulted Guastavino tiled ceilings, chandeliers, and skylights. Tickets will go on sale this March and are only available to members of the museum.
Get the details

Photo of The Lodge at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park courtesy of Colin Miller

February 10, 2023

Where to watch the Super Bowl in NYC

This Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs will go head-to-head with the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LVII. Luckily, New York City has a nearly endless selection of game-day watch party events and food specials to enjoy. Ahead, find some of the best spots across the five boroughs to watch the big game (or just the commercials), from kicking back with a cigar at the Upper East Side's swanky Merchants Cigar Bar to playing ping pong at SPIN New York in the Flatiron District.
See the spots

50 Valentine’s Day gifts that are not roses and candy

Photo by alleksana on Pexels

February 8, 2023

50 Valentine’s Day gifts that are not roses and candy

By Terri Williams

First, let’s dispel a Valentine’s Day gift myth: you really don’t have to buy roses, candy, and lingerie every year. Take this opportunity to get a gift your loved one will really appreciate - and for more than just a few hours or a few days. In fact, with the right long-term gift, they’ll think of your thoughtfulness every time they use that item - and what’s more romantic than that? So, instead of 50 roses, we found 50 great Valentine’s Day Gifts that are both practical and fun.
What to give your Valentine

Queens Night Market returns this April with $6 price cap on all food items still in place

Queens Night Market, Photo by Storm Garner

February 8, 2023

Queens Night Market returns this April with $6 price cap on all food items still in place

While the price of food continues to increase at grocery stores and restaurants, one market in New York City is keeping consumer costs low. When the Queens Night Market opens for its eighth season this April, the open-air food market will maintain its popular price cap of $5 or $6 on all food items. Vendors will be able to stay affordable this year because of a sponsorship from Citizens bank, according to John Wang, the founder of the Queens Night Market.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

22 local and unique Valentine’s Day gift ideas

It's easy to find a heart-shaped box of candy around Valentine's Day. Locating a box of caviar paired with modern glassware, a private tasting of locally-brewed craft beer, or dinner at 1,776 feet above lower Manhattan might take a bit of doing. We've done the legwork and picked a list of beyond-the-ordinary ways to say "I love you," while staying in a New York state of mind (plus a few global finds).
Find romance in retail, this way

A pop-up roller disco is opening at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal Mall

Rendering courtesy of The Roller Wave

February 3, 2023

A pop-up roller disco is opening at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal Mall

An indoor roller rink is coming to the heart of Brooklyn. Set to open on February 11 at the Atlantic Terminal Mall, The Roller Wave will offer a 24,000-square-foot venue with skating, live performances, DJs, food and beverage options, and an arcade. Founded by NYC native Harry Martin, the Roller Wave is a traveling pop-up roller skating experience. The rink, which will be open through June 4, will be the Roller Wave's first true location.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

Heart-shaped hedges blossom with real roses as part of Valentine’s Day installation in Times Square

Photo by Jonathan Hokklo

February 2, 2023

Heart-shaped hedges blossom with real roses as part of Valentine’s Day installation in Times Square

Love is in bloom in Times Square this February. As part of its 15th annual Love & Design competition, Times Square Arts on Wednesday unveiled a new public art installation on Duffy Square that invites visitors to get lost in love. This year's winner, Almost Studio, created an interactive configuration of four artificial hedge rows that form a maze-like structure with heart-shaped interiors. Called Love’s h|Edge, the sculpture features illuminated benches and trellises, the latter of which will be filled with fresh roses by passersby.
Take a look

Events & Things To Do

20 ways to celebrate Black History Month 2023 in NYC

Photo of the Seneca Village mosaic courtesy of © 6sqft

February 1, 2023

20 ways to celebrate Black History Month 2023 in NYC

February is a month dedicated to the celebration of Black culture and achievements in the United States. In New York City, you can commemorate Black History Month with special events and programs at museums, theaters, art galleries, pop-up markets, parks, and more. From listening to the Harlem Chamber Players perform pieces by legendary Black composers to viewing period rooms inspired by homes from Seneca Village at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, here are 20 ways to celebrate Black history throughout February.
See the list here

February 1, 2023

Anish Kapoor’s bean sculpture is finally complete in Tribeca

New York City finally got its bean. About five years and several delays later, Anish Kapoor's mirrored sculpture was unveiled to the public this week, seemingly propping up Tribeca's "Jenga Building" at 56 Leonard Street. As first reported by Tribeca Citizen, and confirmed by 6sqft, the longstanding barriers and scaffolding have been removed, with the monumental permanent public artwork taking its rightful place on the corner of Church and Leonard Streets.
See the sculpture

Events & Things To Do

NYC’s urban wineries connect the vineyard to the city for date night

Red Hook Winery. Photo credit: Sava Studio

January 31, 2023

NYC’s urban wineries connect the vineyard to the city for date night

By Lidia Ryan

When asked why a couple should spend Valentine’s Day at City Winery, CEO and founder, Michael Dorf responded, "Wine not?" Puns aside, he believes "there's this romantic vibe to wooden barrels — something sexy about a winery." It’s what he attributes to City Winery hosting so many weddings. Plus, he joked, if you get engaged at his winery, you’re guaranteed to stay married. Time might tell whether or not that’s true, but when it comes to planning a date night, urban wineries are like a more romantic version of the ever-popular urban brewery.
Where to wine and dine

New 34th Street station entrance features mosaic depicting clock from old Penn Station

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 27, 2023

New 34th Street station entrance features mosaic depicting clock from old Penn Station

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday unveiled new accessibility improvements at Penn Station. In addition to four newly modernized elevators, the new, fully accessible entrance at 7th Avenue and 33rd Street features artwork by Diana Al-Hadid. Measuring nearly 15 feet tall, the glass mosaic, called The Time Telling, was inspired by a photograph of the clock that hung at the entrance of the old Penn Station.
Learn more here

Photo credit clockwise: Jessica Minghi/Borough Chocolates, Jacques Torres Chocolates, Jessica Minghi/Borough Chocolates, Chocolate Noise.

January 25, 2023

The best local chocolate shops in NYC

It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day to crave chocolate. But the sugar-coated holiday certainly provides a good excuse to indulge. Far beyond the red-wrapped drugstore box, creating the sweet (or bitter) treat is now recognized as a craft all its own. Chocolate purveyors range from the old-fashioned to the eco-conscious to makers who hand-mix exotic ingredients and flavors. If you're really hooked, you can make an event of it at a chocolate-themed restaurant, factory tour, or private tasting. Whether you're looking for a last-minute gift for someone special or just a sweet snack, the New York City establishments listed here have something for every chocolate lover–and you can order online or visit the source right in your borough.
Find the chocolate of your dreams, this way

An iridescent sculpture seen at Burning Man is now on view at Brookfield Place

Pulse Portal at Brookfield Place New York. Artwork and photos by Davis McCarty

January 20, 2023

An iridescent sculpture seen at Burning Man is now on view at Brookfield Place

A new iridescent public art installation on the lower Manhattan waterfront shines with transforming colors and casts colored shadows that shift with the time of day. Created by world-renowned sculpture artist Davis McCarty, Pulse Portal is a 20-foot archway made of material that can change color depending on how the light hits it and the perspective of the viewer. Pulse Portal is on view at Brookfield Place's Waterfront Plaza through March 10.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

‘Living’ lantern installation offers a moment of zen in Midtown

Photos courtesy of Alexandre Ayer / @DiversityPics for the Garment District Alliance

January 19, 2023

‘Living’ lantern installation offers a moment of zen in Midtown

A new animated public art installation is radiating light and tranquility in Midtown. Located on the Broadway pedestrian plazas between 39th and 40th Streets, Living Lantern is a dynamic sculpture with wooden pieces that move with the wind. Measuring roughly 14 feet tall and 20 feet wide, the illuminated lantern evokes a calming effect through shifting colors and movements. Created by NEON and Frankie Boyle, the installation is meant to serve as a beacon of hope, brightness, and a guiding light in Midtown. Open to the public for free through February 24, Living Lantern is the latest public art exhibition sponsored by the Garment District Alliance.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

Lunar New Year brings celebrations and joy to NYC’s Chinatown

All photos courtesy of Welcome to Chinatown unless otherwise noted

January 18, 2023

Lunar New Year brings celebrations and joy to NYC’s Chinatown

By Lidia Ryan

In early 2020, Vic Lee, who grew up in Manhattan's Chinatown, noticed that there was less foot traffic in her neighborhood. "It was obvious something was going on that Lunar New Year,” Lee said. “We talked to business owners, and it was because of xenophobia and racist rhetoric." During the height of the coronavirus pandemic in March of that year, she co-founded Welcome to Chinatown as a way to amplify small businesses and entrepreneurs in Chinatown via their Longevity Fund. The organization also has a meal donation program for underserved residents and does research and data collection. And this month, for the third year, Welcome to Chinatown will be hosting Lunar New Year celebrations to usher in the Year of the Rabbit, which begins January 22. We spoke to Lee about what to expect and what Lunar New Year means to her, as well as the Chinatown community.
Read more here

NYC signs $275M deal to provide hotel rooms for migrants

Mayor Eric Adams tours the Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center in Manhattan on September 15, 2022. Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 18, 2023

NYC signs $275M deal to provide hotel rooms for migrants

Mayor Eric Adams has agreed to a $275 million contract with the Hotel Association of New York City to provide housing for at least 5,000 migrants–$55,000 per asylum-seeker–the New York Post reports. The emergency agreement between the city's Department of Homeless Services and the Hotel Association, which put in a formal bid to provide shelter amid the current migrant crisis, will include up to 55 smaller hotels, according to the association's president, Vijay Dandapani.
Find out more

Photo courtesy of Whitney Cox

January 13, 2023

Tours of Brooklyn’s historic Kings Theatre are back

Tours of Brooklyn's historic Kings Theatre are back. Over the course of the 75-minute tour, guests will be transported nearly 100 years into the past, learning about the opulent theater's history and striking architecture. Highlights include insight into the theater's baroque stylings and a closer look at the Robert Morgan Wonder Organ. Tours will be hosted on February 18 at 1 p.m., March 11 at 1 p.m., and for the first time, a weekday tour on Tuesday, March 21 at 7 p.m.
Learn more here

January 13, 2023

5 NYC spots to keep you on track this dry January

By Lidia Ryan

The holidays are over and we’ve settled into the long month of January. With the sun setting early and the days cold and blustery, it can be hard to keep up with your healthy resolutions of exercising and eating healthy — sitting on a cozy couch and a glass of red wine is so tempting. But, if you’ve decided to partake in dry January (a month free of alcohol), there are a number of spots around New York City that can make it fun. With mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits becoming more and more popular, you don’t have to stay in on Friday and Saturday nights drinking green juice and water! Here are five bars and "liquor" stores serving up alcohol-free libations to keep your January fun and healthy.
Sober spots here

January 12, 2023

Lunar New Year 2023: Where to ring in the Year of the Rabbit in NYC