Events & Things To Do

October 26, 2022

Mexico Week returns to Rockefeller Center for Day of the Dead

Rockefeller Center is hosting its second annual Mexico Week, a celebration of Mexican heritage and Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Over the course of the weeklong event, New Yorkers can experience Mexican art, food, music, and culture across the campus. Mexico Week kicks off this Thursday and runs through November 2.
See more here
October 24, 2022

Nearly 100 NYC streets will go car-free for safe trick-or-treating this Halloween

For the first time, dozens of New York City's "Open Streets" will expand operating hours on Halloween to make trick-or-treating safer for young New Yorkers. As part of the Department of Transportation's "Trick-or-Streets," nearly 100 streets, plazas, and other commercial corridors across the city will be closed to cars on October 31 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
See more here
October 17, 2022

Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith to create floor-to-ceiling mosaics at new Grand Central Madison terminal

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has tapped two contemporary artists to create permanent artwork for the long-awaited 700,000-square-foot Long Island Rail Road terminal opening at Grand Central this year. MTA Arts & Design, the agency responsible for commissioning public art in subway stations, announced artists Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith will design site-specific floor-to-ceiling mosaics for the new terminal, dubbed Grand Central Madison.
Get the details
October 14, 2022

The top spooky and spirited NYC bars to visit this Halloween

New York City's favorite holiday is back and better than ever, with Halloween traditions and events returning in full force after two years. In addition to the parades, pumpkins, costume contests, and fright fests, many of the city's bars and restaurants transform into spooky dens decked out in eerie decor and serving spirited drinks and ghostly bites. Make the most of Halloween by visiting one of these freakishly festive bars.
Where to sip on spooky spirits
October 12, 2022

A history of the Village Halloween Parade: Puppets, performers, and NYC pride

The Village Halloween Parade may not be as completely outrageous as it once was, but this annual holiday extravaganza is quintessential Greenwich Village. Though many parade attendees are there to show off their costumes and check out those of others, there's a large number of guests who revel in the nostalgia of a New York tradition that's marched downtown since 1973. But there's a lot more history to the parade than most people may know. For instance, it didn't always go up 6th Avenue, and there's an entire art form behind those supersized puppets.
All the history right here
October 11, 2022

Open House New York returns this month with free tours of 270+ places in NYC

The annual Open House New York Weekend returns for its 20th year this month and for the first time, the festival will be totally free to attend. OHNY takes place from October 21 through October 23 and offers an up-close look at more than 270 buildings, projects, and other spaces across New York City typically off-limits to the public. Even better, the festival has done away with its $5 reservation fee at places with restricted capacity and has introduced a new lottery system for ticketed locations that will replace its old first-come, first-serve model.
See the lineup
October 11, 2022

The Garment District’s iconic button & needle kiosk will be redesigned

The iconic button and needle sculpture and information kiosk that has sat on a Garment District corner since the 1970s is getting a makeover. Located on Seventh Avenue and 39th Street, the new permanent art installation will be 28 feet tall and include a 15-foot diameter aluminum button and a 32-foot brushed stainless steel needle, according to the Garment District Alliance. The sculpture, which will replace the now-vacant kiosk, is set to be completed in December.
See more here
October 11, 2022

Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens for the first time in over two years

The Statue of Liberty's crown on Tuesday reopened to the public for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The crown closed in March 2020 when Covid-19 first hit New York City due to concerns about spreading the virus in the statue's enclosed spaces. Visitors should be prepared to climb the 162 steps to the top as there is no elevator service. 
Find out more
October 7, 2022

New exhibition at Grand Central traces 100 years of urban planning and design in NYC

In celebration of its centennial, the civic group Regional Plan Association has opened a free public exhibition in Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall. Designed by James Sanders Studio and curated by RPA, The Constant Future: A Century of the Regional Plan explores 100 years of New York City's development from 1922 to the present day. The two-story display will be on view through October 24.
Find out more
October 6, 2022

Whimsical ‘Wonderland’-inspired art exhibit and bar opens in Midtown

A new interactive art experience is bringing the whimsical world of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to Midtown. Created by artist Alexa Meade, the Wonderland Dreams art installation includes more than 20 playfully hand-painted rooms in Meade's signature 3D style. Meade has painted every inch of the 26,000-square-foot space, from floor to ceiling, creating a multi-dimensional work of art inspired by the Lewis Carroll novel. Taking over the old Best Buy at 529 Fifth Avenue, the limited exhibition opens on Friday, October 7 and runs through April 2023. The accompanying wine bar is expected to open later this month.
Get the details
October 5, 2022

Pumpkin picking and fall festivities return to Governors Island

Governors Island is welcoming back visitors for its annual Pumpkin Point fall festival. Hosted in Nolan Park, guests are invited to come and pick their pumpkins for free with a suggested donation. The event also includes a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, pumpkin painting, and more. Pumpkin Point will take place on the weekends of October 22- 23 and October 29- 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Get the details
October 4, 2022

Brooklyn art installation turns old emergency call boxes into memorials for victims of police brutality

A new public art installation in Downtown Brooklyn aims to bring attention to the fight against racism, violence, and the abuse of power within the criminal justice system. Created by artist Bradley McCallum, Witnessing transforms emergency call boxes once found on city sidewalks into memorials for victims and survivors of police brutality. McCallum's work will be on display in The Plaza at 300 Ashland through January 2023.
See more here
October 4, 2022

NYPL and Marvel team up to release special Spider-Man library card

The New York Public Library and Marvel Entertainment are releasing a limited-edition Spider-Man library card this month. Debuting just in time for New York Comic Con this week, the card will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis at NYPL branches throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island starting October 11. The collaboration marks the 60th anniversary of Spider-Man's first comic book appearance in the 15th edition of Amazing Fantasy. 
Get more details
September 30, 2022

MTA partners with Katz’s Deli and Alidoro on new subway-themed sandwich

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has partnered with legendary New York City sandwich shops Katz's Deli and Alidoro to create a limited-edition sandwich in celebration of the subway's 118th anniversary. The sandwich is being sold at four Alidoro locations in Manhattan from September 29 through October 31.
Find out more
September 30, 2022

Lego-like Radio Hotel and Tower opens in Washington Heights

Washington Heights' first-ever full-service boutique hotel is now open. Located at 2420 Amsterdam Avenue at the foot of the Washington Bridge, the colorful Radio Hotel and Tower was designed by Dutch firm MVRDV, with Stonehill Taylor as the architect of record, to "stand out at the entrance of Manhattan." The 23-story mixed-use building contains a 221-room hotel, ground-floor retail, office space, a Santo Domingo-inspired restaurant, and a rooftop lounge with 360-degree views.
Take a look
September 29, 2022

A free festival celebrating Chinatown and its community takes place this weekend

A new festival celebrating Chinatown is coming to Lower Manhattan. Hosted by the neighborhood advocacy group Welcome to Chinatown, the 88 East Fair aims to bring business and appreciation to Chinatown's businesses and cultural institutions that have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Held at the East Broadway Mall at 88 East Broadway, the fair will run on September 30 and October 1 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Details this way
September 29, 2022

Take a virtual tour of Bed-Stuy’s turn-of-the-century brownstones

The Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant is once again inviting architecture lovers and design buffs on a virtual tour of the neighborhood's most remarkable brownstones. Returning for its 44th year with the theme "Preserving Our Legacy, While Embracing Our Future," the house tour will be available starting on October 15, with ticket holders able to view the video until November 27. While it once was an in-person experience, the event has been held virtually since 2020 because of the pandemic.
See more here
September 29, 2022

Take a yoga class surrounded by immersive art in NYC’s Hall des Lumières

Here's a chance to participate in a unique "art-infused" yoga experience in the Hall des Lumières, a new permanent immersive art museum in Tribeca. Equinox has launched a six-week yoga series in the new cultural institution, which opened earlier this month inside the landmarked Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank. During the 45-minute vinyasa yoga flow class, participants are surrounded by the museum's inaugural exhibition featuring glowing projections of Gustav Klimt's famous artworks. Classes, some of which are open to non-Equinox members, take place on Thursday mornings through October 27 and cost $50.
Learn more here
September 28, 2022

Bryant Park’s Winter Village returns for 21st season next month

Bryant Park's famous Bank of America Winter Village is set to return for its 21st season, offering New Yorkers the city's only free admission ice-skating rink, a renowned open-air holiday market, and the cozy rinkside Lodge with its seasonal cocktails and food. The Winter Village will be open daily starting October 28 through March 5.
Find out more
September 28, 2022

10 best apple & pumpkin picking spots near NYC

With autumn in New York City officially here, you can take in the changing leaves and crisp air, and there are few places better to do that than a local farm. Some of the best spots near town offer apple and pumpkin picking, in addition to a slew of other fall-ready activities, making it easy to bring some of the season home with you. Ahead, we've rounded up our 10 favorite spots to check out.
Check 'em out!
September 27, 2022

An immersive art exhibit honoring Frida Kahlo is opening in Brooklyn

An immersive experience honoring one of modern art's most influential figures is coming to Brooklyn. Located within the Immersive Pavilion at 261 Water Street in Dumbo, Frida Kahlo, The Immersive Biography will transport guests into the life and work of the inspiring Mexican artist through a series of virtual reality experiences and "transformational spaces," according to a press release. Tickets can now be purchased for the experience, which officially debuts on October 27.
See more here
September 26, 2022

The best ways to celebrate Halloween 2022 in NYC

It's time to figure out your costume because Halloween is almost upon us. In New York City there is no shortage of fun events celebrating the spooky holiday, with plenty of opportunities to dress up, get candy, dine, and enjoy the season. Ahead, we found some of the city's best Halloween offerings this year, from the legendary Village Halloween Parade to more low-key pumpkin picking at Historic Richmond Town's Decker Farm on Staten Island.
See the full list ahead
September 23, 2022

José Andrés opens romantic rooftop bar at the Ritz-Carlton in Nomad

José Andrés opened a new cocktail bar on the rooftop of The Ritz-Carlton New York, Nomad last week. Described as a "glittering jewel box," Nubeluz, (the name is a mash-up of the Spanish words "nube" for cloud and "luz" for light), sits 500 feet above Nomad, becoming a part of the skyline while also boasting 270-degree views of it.
See it here
September 22, 2022

Construction begins on Socrates Sculpture Park’s permanent home made of shipping containers

NYC Parks and Socrates Sculpture Park broke ground this week on "The Cubes," a two-story building that will be the first permanent structure in the Astoria park's 30-year history. The 2,640-square-foot facility will house programming, administrative offices, community work, and arts education. Designed by architecture studio LOT-EK, the $5,735,000 project will be created using recycled shipping containers to honor the neighborhood's "industrial roots," according to a press release. Construction is expected to finish in early 2024.
See more here
September 16, 2022

10 NYC museums are offering free admission this Saturday

The Smithsonian Magazine's 18th annual Museum Day is taking place on Saturday, September 17, with 10 New York City museums participating in this year's celebration. As part of the special day, hundreds of museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free admission to any guest with a Museum Day ticket.
Find out more