[title]
Start spreading the news (and the schmear): Free bagels are hitting Midtown tomorrow morning, courtesy of Peacock and everyone’s favorite viral bagel brand, PopUp Bagels.
On Tuesday, September 9, Rockefeller Center’s North Plaza and Flatiron Plaza will both get a full newspaper-themed glow-up for a one-day-only activation celebrating Peacock’s new workplace comedy, The Paper. Think of it as a love letter to local journalism, except with more carbs.
RECOMMENDED: The 18 best bagels in NYC, ranked
Each plaza will transform into a pop-up newsstand inspired by the fictional Toledo Truth Teller, the small-town broadsheet at the heart of the show. Expect a towering “Tower of Truth” installation, cheeky photo ops and even a celebrity sighting: Oscar Nuñez (a.k.a. Oscar Martinez from The Office), who reprises his role in The Paper, will be on hand to greet fans.
But let’s be real, though: You’re here for the bagels. PopUp, the cult-favorite mini-chain that’s taken New York by storm, is doling out its signature smaller, crustier-than-average bagels (designed for ripping and dipping) completely free. Yes, that means gratis everything bagels with scallion cream cheese, salt bagels dunked in specialty butters and whatever else you can grab before the bins run dry. The only catch? It’s first-come, first-served, so set your alarm early and channel your inner commuter hustle.
The activation runs from 8:30am to 2:30pm, but don’t expect the bagels to last anywhere near that long. PopUp’s usual locations—from the Upper East Side to Penn Station—already draw lines down the block on a typical weekend. Add the magic word “free” and those sesame rounds may disappear faster than a metro section in a New York deli.
If you need extra incentive, The Paper comes from Greg Daniels (the mind behind The Office and Parks and Rec) and Michael Koman (Nathan for You), so the whole thing is engineered for both comedy and nostalgia. All 10 episodes are now streaming on Peacock, but tomorrow’s activation is your chance to live inside the world of the show for a few hours—and score breakfast while you’re at it.