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Looking for the best things to do in NYC this weekend? Whether you’re the group planner searching for more things to do in NYC today or you have no plans yet, here are some ideas to add to your list for this weekend: including the Spike Lee-backed festival Playback: The Brooklyn Watch Party, a rage-room-like pumpkin smashing event that turns your Halloween decor into compost and more, plus free events around town. All you have to do is scroll down to plan your weekend! And plan ahead for a great month with our round-up of the best things to do in November.  RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in NYCRECOMMENDED: The best New York attractions Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Give thanks for our list of NYC events in November 2026, which will help you make plans for things to do on Thanksgiving and the rest of the month, with ideas for everything from the New York City Marathon to Canstruction's sculpture display. Our guide will help you find the best holiday events, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and amazing holiday markets. Keep scrolling for how to make the most of this month with cool cultural events, new museum exhibits and quirky activities. RECOMMENDED: Our list of the best fall things to do in NYC.

If you’re looking for the best things to do in NYC this week, or even for today, there are tons of fun options, including NY Comedy Festival, Dave Matthews Band in concert, Kiku: Spotlight on Tradition at NYBG and more, plus awesome free events all over the city. For more ideas, scroll down to see this week's best things to do in NYC. And plan ahead for a great month with our round-up of the best things to do in November. RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in New York Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

The best holiday markets are right here in NYC—full of both the holiday spirit and the most unique gifts out there. While fancy Christmas window displays may entice you, NYC's holiday markets often include ice skating, twinkling lights, great food vendors and fun holiday activities. Shopping for the perfect gift doesn’t have to be stressful—make it fun at these hubs, from the Urbanspace Union Square Holiday Market to the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park and more. We'll continue updating this guide throughout the holiday season, so stay tuned for new additions. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in New York Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Somewhere between the “girl dinner” phenomenon and the great martini revival, a delicious idea took shape where the best nights are equal parts fancy and fun. Pour something elegant. Eat something messy. Apologize for nothing. Consider it permission to order a very particular martini and a basket of tenders in the same breath. Cîroc is taking that philosophy to the Lower East Side on November 6 with Tenders & ’Tinis, a one-night pop-up with Dave’s Hot Chicken at Sommwhere. The star of the evening is the Martini Machini, a first-of-its-kind, self-serve martini machine that puts you in charge of your own drink at the push of a button. It’s Cîroc’s luxury meeting Dave’s down-to-earth deliciousness, and nobody has to choose. Image: Courtesy of CîrocCîroc's Martini Machini Meet the Martini Machini Remember the self-serve soda machines at the movie theater, where you mix your own perfect drink? The Martini Machini is that, but for martinis. Dial in your own ratio of brine, garnish and flair, and the machine builds it just the way you like it. Dirty martini devotees, this one is for you. Savory-curious? Bring it. It’s a great way to find out exactly how much pickle you can handle. “The Martini Machini is about giving people permission to play with the martini and make it their own,” says Nick Tran, President & CMO of Cîroc. Image: Courtesy of CîrocCîroc's Messy Martini The Messy Martini, explained The drink behind the machine is Cîroc’s new signature serve, the Messy Martini....

The Village Halloween Parade—NYC’s creative and spooky procession—is one of the best Halloween events in Greenwich Village, and you won't want to miss it! Each year, more than 50,000 zombies, ghouls, witches, monsters, robots, Jedis, giant puppets and more things that go bump in the night take to the streets for an evening of costumed revelry. Here's a peek behind the scenes with some of the parade's most amazing artists. So get your costume ready, the Village is getting spooky! And if you need some last-minute NYC-themed costume inspo, we've got you covered.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Halloween in NYC When is the Village Halloween Parade in NYC? The Village Halloween Parade is on Halloween, Saturday, October 31, 2026.  What time is the Village Hallowen Parade? The parade starts at 7pm and will wrap up around 11pm.  2026's route This year's Halloween Parade starts at Canal Street and 6th Avenue and travels up the avenue to 15th Street. For more information, visit halloween-nyc.com.  This year's theme This year's theme is "Body and Soul." As the event organizers say: "Dance your body and find your soul!" With the skeletons leading the way, they are revered as "the All-Souls of Hallow’s Eve."' "We are all wandering souls," the event page reads. "And in order to truly embrace and live within our spirit, we must feel it in our bones, and so need an earthly body. But we live in an increasingly disembodied world." The theme emphasizes our reliance on technology and devices,...

Just being in New York City during the fall is an experience in itself—for a few brief months, we all channel Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail and breathe in the crisp air filled with the smell of leaves, pretending we're in the middle of a love story for the ages (maybe we are). It's true that NYC is one of the most sought-after places to experience the best that fall offers, from delightfully spooky Halloween events to gorgeous leaf-peeping opportunities and haunted houses that will scare you silly. Autumn in NYC is tough to match! Keep scrolling to find out how to make this season the best one yet.

We're throwing the spookiness into high gear with events for Halloween in NYC. October is filled with costume parties, haunted houses, corn mazes, parades (even for dogs)—and we're so ready! Don't bother breaking out your sewing kit, New York's greatest Halloween stores have plenty of options to make you look really spooky. Make sure to check out our NYC events in October, too, for even more activities to finish off the month in killer spirits.  Bookmark this link because we'll be updating this guide all autumn long. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Halloween in NYCThe 40 best Halloween songs of all timeThe best Halloween movies of all timeThe best Halloween events in the U.S.The best Halloween theater in 2026

Choosing a favorite restaurant in New York City is a joyful task with myriad possibilities depending on the occasion, mood and even the time of year. Your favorite dive, fine dining destination and neighborhood favorite might all occupy top spots on your personal best list in spite of their disparate qualities.  Our list of NYC’s 45 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalog of all the places we wish we were at right now. They don’t have to be the newest or the most recently reviewed, just places that we’ve been to and want to return to again and again, and that we think that you will, too.  Best NYC restaurants at a glance: For an excellent slice: L'Industrie - The New York slice shop that made us fall in love with Burrata slices, now has a new locale in Little Italy (Little Italy, West Village and Williamsburg) For a spin on a classic diner: Thai Diner – Even six years later, crowds line up for Thai tea babka, French toast, and disco fries from this Thai diner. (NoMad) For killer tacos: Carnitas Ramirez – The taqueria is home to nose-to-tail pork cookery, just in taco form, and it all goes down in a laid-back setting (Lower East Side) For a classic steak: The Dynamo Room - The throwback steakhouse offers prime cuts of steaks and classic cocktails right off of Madison Square Garden (Penn Station) Updated November 2026: Cozy season is upon us. But don't hide out in your home just yet. We recently updated our...

The fall weather is here and before you know it, it’ll be winter. New York isn’t exactly known for fireside coziness, but it is known for having just about everything and that includes fireside coziness. To wit: if you want a bar with a real roaring fire to sit beside as you sip a drink, New York’s got ‘em—more than you’d think. Some aren’t real fireplaces, but some are. With the logs and everything. Yes, they’re popular. Especially among dates. But if you plan it right, it’s not so hard to stake out your spot. RECOMMENDED: Find more of the best bars in NYC Updated fall 2026: A few of the places on the previous list closed, but some new places have opened. Many of these aren’t honest-to-goodness fireplaces; some are gas, some are kind of just fire pits. Real ones can only be found in the holdovers from back when. But hotels are your friend; the designers know what guests during the cold months want. They’re in that business. So even if you’re not staying at one, don’t be shy about ducking into a hotel–they’re, more often than not, impeccable.