The best things to do for Easter in NYC

Brunch is competitive in New York City any time of year, and interest ticks up even higher on holidays. On Easter Sunday in particular, which falls on April 5 this year, demand for mimosas, bloody Marys, eggs Benedict and all manner of pancakes soars higher than rooftop bars.

It's a good time to plan ahead, is all, and these restaurants are receiving some of the best Easter brunch offerings in NYC this year. 

Orchids aren’t supposed to feel gritty. They’re usually framed as precious, tropical and politely removed from real life. But the New York Botanical Garden’s annual orchid show flips that idea on its head, then plops it onto a city stoop, a bodega, scaffolding, a subway station and more.

Running through April 26, “The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle” has transformed the garden's Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a bloom-laden remix of the city itself. Imagine taxis dripping in orchids, fire hydrants flowering over and everyday street scenes electrified by thousands of plants from around the world. 

Educational signage throughout the conservatory breaks down orchid diversity, hybridization and care—explaining why some cling to trees, others grow in the ground and how breeders create the wild color combinations on display. (Fun fact: blue is still elusive.) It’s a rare exhibition that works equally well as eye candy and a crash course in plant obsession.

For visitors who want a little nightlife with their botany, Orchid Nights return on select evenings starting March 21, transforming the conservatory into what NYBG calls the “lushest bar in town,” complete with music, dancing and cocktails surrounded by blooms.

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 later this month to celebrate a major milestone: its 10th anniversary in New York City.

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.

The Big Umbrella Festival at Lincoln Center returns with another year of programming aimed at neurodiverse audiences of all ages, from babies to adults. From immersive productions that take audiences on a journey to Antarctica to an ASL Baby Slam aimed at promoting language acquisition, the festival is teeming with events that welcome audiences across the Lincoln Center campus from April 10 through 26. Most shows are pay-what-you-wish, so families can feel free to map out their own singular experience.