Are people who FaceTime while walking down the street literally insane?

Spring is finally here, and Coney Island is ready to shake off the winter blues this weekend as Luna Park opens its gates for the 2026 season. The seaside institution will reopen this Saturday, March 28 at 11am, kicking things off with a two-day celebration featuring rides, games, treats and more.

On Sunday, March 29, the spotlight shifts to the legendary Coney Island Cyclone for its annual egg cream christening ceremony, a quirky, very New York tradition that marks the official start of the season. This year, the Cyclone turns 99, so the ceremony marks the beginning of the countdown to its centennial in 2027. To celebrate, the first 99 riders on Sunday will score a free spin on the iconic coaster and a classic egg cream (while supplies last).

Discounted Luna Boardwalk passes will be available on-site all weekend, with a portion of proceeds going to local charitable groups like the Coney Island Sharks, Children of Promise and the Coney Island Public Library.

New York’s outdoor food festival season is about to get a delicious jumpstart. JAPAN Fes, one of the city’s most beloved street food events, is returning this month to celebrate a major milestone: its 10th anniversary in New York City.

The festival officially launches its 2026 season on March 28 at Astor Place in the East Village, bringing dozens of Japanese food vendors to the streets for a full day of snacking, sipping and exploring. If you miss that first event, another festival will follow the very next day on March 29 on 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Midtown.

If you’ve never been, imagine a block party devoted entirely to Japanese street food. Vendors serve everything from teriyaki chicken skewers and crispy karaage to onigiri, ramen, takoyaki and yakisoba. Sweet treats like matcha shaved ice and bubble tea also make frequent appearances, along with Japanese snacks, crafts and cultural booths.

After months on the road, Cardi B is finally coming back to her hometown for the New York leg of her headlining tour, the Little Miss Drama Tour. But before she hits the stage for a two-night run at Madison Square Garden (March 25 and March 26) and another show at Newark’s Prudential Center (March 26), she’ll be heading up to the Bronx to offer folks an exclusive first look at her upcoming beauty line.

On Tuesday, March 24, Cardi B will be popping up in the Bronx to promote her new haircare line, Grow-Good Beauty. Powered by Shopify, the Grow-Good Beauty Supply Bus will be hosting a beauty bodega right in front of the still-under-construction Hip Hop Museum from 11am to 6pm. While it is unclear as to what time the rapper will be making an appearance or what products will be available, if it is anything like her massive “Bodega Baddie” pop-up in September, we say get there early and prepare for a crowd.

The Museum of the Moving Image's Marvels of Media Festival returns for its fifth installment from Thursday, March 26 to Saturday, March 28. Celebrating the work of autistic media-makers, the free, three-day event at the Astoria museum kicks off with the opening night program "The Human Condition" — spotlighting three works that explore universal struggles with communication and connection — and continues with film screenings, industry panels, networking events and workshops for puppetry, stop-motion animation and filmmaking and panels and networking opportunities. Designed with accessibility in mind, Marvels of Media will also include the MoMI Visual Story Guide, a sensory relief space in the Media Lab, as well as sensory kits.

Does your ideal night out involve dinner and a little spectacle? Clear your calendar for March 27: Sushi by Bou is debuting “Tuna Spectacle,” a one-night-only event that turns the usual quiet omakase counter into something far more high-energy. From 9pm to 11pm at its East Village location, guests will gather around as a team of chefs breaks down an entire 200-pound, premium bluefin tuna in real time.

As the fish is carved—a process that involves incredible precision—guests will also be served a steady flow of freshly prepared nigiri made from the very tuna being sliced moments earlier. The experience includes a welcome sake toast, with additional drinks available to keep the night moving.

The Eras Tour may be over, but Swifties still have a chance to hear Taylor's oeuvre live in a concert hall thanks to The Music of Taylor Swift: A Symphonic Tribute, a one-night only T. Swift spectacle conducted by Macy Schmidt as part of The Sinfonietta’s residency at The Town Hall on Saturday, March 28 at 7pm. Performed by an all-women 38-piece orchestra, the evening will span all of the pop star's memorable eras, bringing her music to life in a bold and fresh new way. Singing along not encouraged (sorry!).

The Midtown Cultural Alliance is hosting its second cross-organizational Open House from Thursday, March 26 through Sunday, April 5, bringing together the Japan Society, the Korea Society, Korean Cultural Center New York, L'Alliance New York and Scandinavia House. All five partner organizations will host a wide range of both free and paid programming intended to invite visitors to explore the Midtown neighborhood, with events ranging from gallery shows and film screenings to language courses and kids' activities. Check out the full lineup of 2026 offerings here.

Taking place on March 28 (from 11am to 7pm) and 29 (from 10am to 7pm), a free Hannah Montana pop-up will land in Greenwich Village, inviting fans to step inside a real-life version of the pop star’s famously fabulous glam closet. The two-day experience arrives as part of celebrations marking the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, which will premiere on March 24 on Disney+ and Hulu.

The activation was created in partnership with Maybelline New York and Disney and recreates one of the most memorable spaces from the beloved series. Inspired by the closet where Miley Stewart famously transformed into her blonde-wigged pop alter ego, the immersive setup turns that TV moment into a walk-through experience.

Inside, visitors will find interactive Maybelline beauty stations where they can try out stage-ready makeup looks inspired by Hannah’s signature pop-star style. Once the glam is complete, guests can strike a pose at a Polaroid photo station designed to capture their inner Hannah Montana moment.

The pop-up is free to attend and open to the public, with no RSVP required. Entry will be first-come, first-served, so fans eager to relive their Disney Channel era may want to arrive early.

The ultimate blonde bombshell and a movie star like no other, Marilyn Monroe is the subject of a new film series at the Museum of Modern Art, in celebration of the actress's 100th year. From March 12 through 25, "Marilyn Monroe: Celluloid Dream" will spotlight some of the performer's most indelible roles—including the 1953 Howard Hawks classic Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, the 1955 Billy Wilder-directed comedy The Seven Year Itch, and her final completed film role, 1961's The Misfits—as well as titles that drew direct influence from her iconography, including David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Check out the full screening schedule here. 

The Easter fun lasts all week during the East Midtown Easter Egg Hunt. From Saturday, March 28 to Saturday, April 4, kids under 12 can visit businesses throughout the East Midtown area to hunt for Easter eggs. 

How it works: Each participating business will have candy-stuffed eggs hidden at their location beginning Saturday, March 28, for kids to look for on a first-come, first-served basis. Each location will also have one golden egg hidden, which is redeemable for an extra special prize for the hunter and their parents. To make sure kids all over the city have the chance to participate all week long, children are kindly asked to hunt one egg per location.

The event is hosted for the fourth year by the East Midtown Partnership, a business improvement district. Here's the full list of participating businesses.