Events & Things To Do

March 22, 2021

Where to find New York City’s secret waterfalls

New York state is home to many spectacular waterfalls that are worthy of any bucket list, but if you know where to look, there are a surprising number of waterfalls to discover right here in the concrete jungle of New York City. They're not all "secrets," but they do tend to exist well off the beaten path, tucked into the more remote parts of Central Park or in small Midtown plazas. Once you've found one, you'll likely have a new favorite spot perfect for escaping the city's unrelenting noise—if only for a short while.
Drown out the city at one of these 6 spots

Events & Things To Do

A former brickyard in Kingston is now luxury hotel cabins on the Hudson River

Cabin interiors; Photo courtesy of Hutton Brickyards

March 19, 2021

A former brickyard in Kingston is now luxury hotel cabins on the Hudson River

By Devin Gannon

For years, New Yorkers have been drawn to the Hudson Valley city of Kingston for its rich history, arts and culture, and proximity to nature, ideal for both a weekend getaway and year-round residence. A new hotel just north of New York City is set to open this spring that will offer 31 individual cabins across 73 acres of lush landscape, providing a coronavirus-safe escape for city dwellers. Located on the site of a former brick factory, Hutton Brickyards has been transformed from a manufacturing property into a laid-back but luxurious riverfront resort with private cabins, a spa, restaurant, and events space.
Details here

Where to order takeout Easter and Passover meals in NYC

Photo by Robert Couse-Basker on Flickr

March 19, 2021

Where to order takeout Easter and Passover meals in NYC

By 6sqft

Though restaurants are now open, many New Yorkers are still choosing to spend Passover and Easter at home. And thanks to local restaurants, catering companies, and delicatessens, handmade holiday meals can be delivered to your doorstep or picked up from your favorite spot. Ahead, find places for to-go Seder dinners and Easter brunch and baskets.
The full list

NYC’s ‘Open Culture’ program kicks off this weekend with outdoor performances

Mayor Bill de Blasio announces the opening of the Open Culture Program to allow live performances on designated streets. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 19, 2021

NYC’s ‘Open Culture’ program kicks off this weekend with outdoor performances

By Devin Gannon

More than 100 streets in New York can become stages under the city's Open Culture program that launched this month. Modeled after the Open Streets and Open Restaurant initiatives that close some streets to cars and let restaurants set up creative outdoor dining seating, this new permit type allows ticketed, socially distanced performances, rehearsals, classes, and workshops to take place on blocks in every borough. Mayor Bill de Blasio this week said the first three performances under the program would take place on Friday, with events in Mott Haven, Williamsburg, and Harlem.
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Baseball is back: New York announces increased capacity for sports venues

Photo by Matt Boulton via Wikimedia Commons

March 18, 2021

Baseball is back: New York announces increased capacity for sports venues

By Dana Schulz

In a press conference this morning, with guest appearances by former Mets and Yankees pitchers Al Leiter and CC Sabathia, Governor Cuomo announced that as of April 1, professional sports leagues that play in large outdoor stadiums can reopen at 20-percent capacity. What does this mean for baseball season? When Yankee Stadium has its home opener on April 1st, it'll be able to accommodate 10,850 fans; on April 8th, Citi Field will have 8,384 fans.
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“Arrivals + Departures” by YARA + DAVINA. Photo © Sam Polcer

March 17, 2021

‘Arrivals + Departures’ is a new public memorial in Brooklyn that honors birth, life, and death

By Dana Schulz

Outside the main entrance to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, there's a new public art installation that "offers a meditation on birth, life, and death through the simple, yet powerful act of naming." Created by UK-based social practice artists YARA+DAVINA, the memorial called "Arrivals + Departures" takes the shape of a traditional train station arrivals and departures board, listing the names of those who have been born (“arrived”) or passed (“departed”).
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Shakespeare in the Park will return to NYC this summer

The Delacorte Theater. Photo credit: Joseph Moran

March 16, 2021

Shakespeare in the Park will return to NYC this summer

By Devin Gannon

Bringing some much-needed sunshine on this dreary March day, the Public Theater on Tuesday announced plans to bring back its free Shakespeare in the Park program this summer. As first reported by the New York Times, the Theater is preparing to present just one production at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park for an eight-week run beginning in July. The news comes after Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this month announced live performances and events could resume in New York as early as April 2.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

Rendering courtesy of the Howard Hughes Corporation

March 15, 2021

Play cornhole, bocce, croquet, and more at the South Street Seaport’s new Lawn Club

By Dana Schulz

The Lawn Club is opening this fall at the South Street Seaport District's historic Fulton Market Building. This first-of-its-kind interactive concept features 10,000 square feet of indoor grass transformed into lawn game courts so you can play cornhole, bocce, croquet, and mölkky all year round. And during the warmer months, The Lawn Club will set up additional outdoor courts on the sidewalk surrounding South Street, Fulton Street, and Front Street.
Find out more here

Events & Things To Do

Ruth Bader Ginsburg statue unveiled in Downtown Brooklyn

Rendering courtesy of Gillie and Marc

March 12, 2021

Ruth Bader Ginsburg statue unveiled in Downtown Brooklyn

By Devin Gannon

A statue of late United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was unveiled in Downtown Brooklyn on Friday. Created by artists Gillie and Marc Schattner, the six-foot bronze statue is located inside the Flatbush Avenue entrance of the mixed-use development City Point. Visitors can "Stand with Ruth" and take photos with the statue, but a timed reservation is required to maintain social distancing, according to City Point.
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Events & Things To Do

Courtesy of Lincoln Center

March 12, 2021

Lincoln Center marks anniversary of NYC’s first COVID death with memorial events

By Devin Gannon

To mark the anniversary of the first reported coronavirus death in New York City, the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts will host two memorial events this Sunday. At 12 p.m. on March 14, a virtual performance by the Young People's Chorus of New York City singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" will be available to view online. Later that evening, hundreds of candles will be lit around the Revson Fountain to honor the roughly 30,000 New Yorkers lost to the pandemic.
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Events & Things To Do

St. Patrick’s Day 2021 in NYC: Parades, treats, takeout, and more

By Dana Schulz

Last year's St. Patrick's Day Parade was one of the first large events to be cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. This year, the event's going virtual, and there are many other safe and fun ways to celebrate the holiday. From a virtual tenement tour to an outdoor trolley tour at Woodlawn Cemetery to picking up sweet treats topped with Lucky Charms or ordering corned beef meals, we've rounded up all the ways New Yorkers can mark St. Patrick's Day this year.
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The Shed reopens in Hudson Yards next month with live music and comedy shows

Caption: The Shed’s McCourt configured for “An Audience With…” live performance series. Photo: Jasdeep Kang

March 11, 2021

The Shed reopens in Hudson Yards next month with live music and comedy shows

By Devin Gannon

As spring returns to New York City, so does its arts and culture scene. The Shed, the Hudson Yards performance center with a distinct moveable shell, announced this week it will reopen with a five-night indoor performance series kicking off on April 2. Following state guidelines, the capacity will be limited to 150 people and all attendees must present confirmation of a negative coronavirus test within 72 hours or vaccination completed at least two weeks before the event.
Details this way

Events & Things To Do

Here’s how to celebrate Women’s History Month 2021 in NYC

Photo of Augusta Braxton Baker courtesy of NYPL Digital Collections

March 10, 2021

Here’s how to celebrate Women’s History Month 2021 in NYC

By Devin Gannon

Every March the nation celebrates the contributions and achievements of women in the United States. With the origins of Women's History Month, along with the suffrage movement itself, rooted in New York, the city is one of the best places to pay tribute to and learn more about the many trailblazing women who shaped the world as we know it. Although the pandemic has changed how we commemorate Women's History Month, many local organizations and groups are hosting virtual lectures, tours, and art exhibits, from a two-day online festival hosted by the Apollo Theater to a feminist tour of Harlem. Plus, the city's official tourism organization, NYC & Company, has put together an itinerary full of women-owned businesses and cultural sites related to women's history across the five boroughs to visit, found here.
More here

Events & Things To Do

NYC hospital that administered first COVID vaccine dose in U.S. donates vial to the Smithsonian

Photo by Scott Heins/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

March 10, 2021

NYC hospital that administered first COVID vaccine dose in U.S. donates vial to the Smithsonian

By Devin Gannon

The morning of December 14 was historic for New York and the nation. Sandra Lindsay, an ICU nurse at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, received the first coronavirus vaccine in the United States, marking the beginning of the end of this painful period. That moment will be preserved as part of a collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., which has acquired the empty vial of the first dose and other materials related to that day, including the ID badge and scrubs of Lindsay, officials announced on Tuesday.
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Events & Things To Do

March 8, 2021

Domino Park unveils interactive art display that lights up when stepped on

By Devin Gannon

Months after Domino Park painted circles on the lawn to keep park-goers socially distanced, a different type of ring has appeared at the waterfront Williamsburg green space. The park last week unveiled Reflect, an interactive sculpture designed by artist Jen Lewin made up of three concentric rings that react to the steps of visitors. Each jump, skip, and dance on the circular platforms triggers a new flash of light, with many people able to engage with the display at once.
See it here

Events & Things To Do

Lincoln Center campus will be transformed into 10 outdoor performance venues this spring

Illustration © Ceylan A. Sahin Eker

March 4, 2021

Lincoln Center campus will be transformed into 10 outdoor performance venues this spring

By Devin Gannon

The arts are making a major comeback in New York City this spring, with live performance venues permitted to reopen in early April. And one of the city's most beloved cultural institutions is leading the way. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts last week announced a new initiative that will transform its 16-acre campus into 10 new outdoor performance venues. Launching on April 7, "Restart Stages" will feature free and low-cost events by cultural organizations and community partners hailing from all five boroughs, in addition to Lincoln Center's resident companies.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

Limited live performances and events can resume in New York in April

Photo by Sudan Ouyang on Unsplash

March 3, 2021

Limited live performances and events can resume in New York in April

By Devin Gannon

After being closed for over a year, events, arts, and entertainment venues can reopen at a limited capacity next month. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced that as soon as April 2, live performance venues will be able to open indoor spaces at 33 percent capacity or up to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors. If all attendees present proof of a negative coronavirus test prior to entry, capacity can increase to 150 people indoors and 500 people outdoors, according to the state.
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New York lawmaker proposes converting empty offices and hotels into affordable housing

Photo by Dimitry Anikin on Unsplash

March 3, 2021

New York lawmaker proposes converting empty offices and hotels into affordable housing

By Devin Gannon

A state lawmaker introduced legislation this week that would allow New York to buy financially distressed commercial buildings and convert them into housing for low-income and homeless New Yorkers. The Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act, sponsored by State Sen. Michael Gianaris, includes the purchase and conversion of office buildings and hotels that are up for sale, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. The proposed legislation comes as commercial districts and tourist hubs have yet to recover fully from the impact of the coronavirus and as the housing crisis, particularly in New York City, continues.
Get the details

New digital art show that takes you ‘inside’ Van Gogh’s paintings will open in NYC

Immersive Van Gogh Chicago. Photo by Michael Brosilow

March 2, 2021

New digital art show that takes you ‘inside’ Van Gogh’s paintings will open in NYC

By Devin Gannon

An interactive digital art exhibition that has taken the world by storm will open in New York City this summer. Immersive Van Gogh explores the post-Impressionist works of Vincent Van Gogh through massive, moving projections. Created by film producer Massimiliano Siccardi and producer Corey Ross, and with mood-setting music by composer Luca Longobardi, the experience will open at a yet-to-be-announced location in the city on June 10.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

Here’s where to donate to support Asian communities in NYC

Photo by Mobilus in Mobili on Flickr

February 26, 2021

Here’s where to donate to support Asian communities in NYC

By Devin Gannon

Before the coronavirus even hit New York City last year, anti-Asian racism and xenophobia struck the city's Chinatown neighborhoods, affecting the residents and many small businesses. Throughout the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in harassment and violence against Chinese and other Asian New Yorkers, particularly stemming from racist misinformation about COVID-19. As The City reported, the Commission on Human Rights, recorded 205 cases in 2020 involving anti-Asian incidents, a nearly "sevenfold rise" compared to 2019. Hate crimes and attacks directed at Asian Americans have continued into 2021, in New York and across the country. Ahead, we've put together a list of local organizations to donate, for those looking to support Asian communities across the five boroughs. While incomplete, the list can serve as a starting point and will be updated.
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Events & Things To Do

New immersive art installation in Chelsea explores the beauty of mathematics and nature

All photos courtesy of Julius Horsthuis and ARTECHOUSE

February 23, 2021

New immersive art installation in Chelsea explores the beauty of mathematics and nature

By Devin Gannon

A stunning new digital installation exploring the beauty of "mathematics, nature, and architecture" opens in Chelsea next month. Artechouse NYC, an innovative digital art space beneath Chelsea Market, will kick off its 2021 season with Geometric Properties, a vibrant exhibition that explores mathematical patterns and fractional dimensions. Created by Amsterdam-based artist Julius Horsthuis, the installation opens March 1 and will be on view through September 6.
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Events & Things To Do

Petition launches against the Met’s plan to sell art amidst $150M deficit

Image by anielbaez0 from Pixabay

February 22, 2021

Petition launches against the Met’s plan to sell art amidst $150M deficit

By Dana Schulz

In early February, the Metropolitan Museum of Art began talks about selling some of its artworks in the face of a $150 million deficit. As the New York Times explained, the Association of Art Museum Directors created a two-year window during which its members could use the proceeds from sales of works in a collection to pay for its own expenses as opposed to just for future art purchases, as was the rule in the past. But a new Change.org petition is calling for the Met's board members, many of whom are billionaires, to foot the bill instead of selling off its art.
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Artist BKFoxx debuts new Year of the Ox mural in Chinatown

Photo by @just_a_spectator

February 17, 2021

Artist BKFoxx debuts new Year of the Ox mural in Chinatown

By Dana Schulz

Public artist BKFoxx recently debuted her new mural in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Located at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Middle School 131 on Eldridge and Hester Streets, the piece representing the Year of the Ox is titled "Onward." The artist tells us that she was inspired by what the Ox represents--honesty, hard work, stubbornness. "No better time than now for that theme, moving forward into 2021 and learning to be resilient," she says.
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Events & Things To Do

February 12, 2021

King Cake, crawfish, and more: How to celebrate Mardi Gras 2021 in NYC

By Dana Schulz

Like almost everything this past year, Mardi Gras is looking a lot different (New Orleans is even closing all its bars), but that doesn't mean the festive, celebratory sentiment is lost. Here in New York City, there are plenty of bakeries with King Cake and other colorful treats, and restaurants have put together special seafood boils. There are also some virtual events so you can celebrate carnival safely.
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These early 20th-century Valentine’s Day cards are delightfully bizarre

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. With loving greetings. NYPL Digitial Collections.

February 12, 2021

These early 20th-century Valentine’s Day cards are delightfully bizarre

By Devin Gannon

While jewelry, roses, and a steak dinner are always nice, a romantic greeting card remains one of the most popular, and affordable, ways to say "I love you." Instead of the typical heart and floral card designs, why not surprise your Valentine this year with a bizarre note from the early 20th-century that depicts delightfully weird cherubs and charming cupids? The New York Public Library has an amazing digital collection of vintage Valentine's Day cards, some of which stand the test of time and others that may not. Ahead, see some of our favorites from the collection and choose your own to exchange on February 14.
More here