Time In: The best things to do at home

For all the hate brunch might get—long wait times to be seated, a restaurant that just dials it in with less-than-creative offerings, the hullabaloo of getting everyone in your group to chat to agree on the time and place—oh, how we miss it so. Brunch has become synonymous with New York weekends not so much for the food but for the communal experience of getting together with your friends and downloading the gossip from the week before. And while it’s harder than ever to get your group together, many restaurants in NYC are still serving up their griddled brunch-y classics to give you a taste of your best weekend memories. This weekend, we suggest ordering brunch and video chatting with your friends while you eat. It might just feel like you’re getting closer to the real deal.    Soho Diner Your brunch best bet: The disco fries   Dimes Deli Your brunch best bet: The acai bowl   The Butcher’s Daughter Your brunch best bet: the Mexican breakfast bowl    Reunion  Your brunch best bet: Shakshuka with challah bread   Golda Your brunch best bet: egg sando, babka French toast, cold brew Photograph: Time Out/ Ali Garber Russ & Daughters Your brunch best bet: Their New York brunch package   Golden Diner Your brunch best bet: Honey-butter pancakes   Pies ‘n Thighs Your brunch best bet: The fried chicken box with a buttermilk biscuit and choice of sides such as baked beans or collards   Skal Your brunch best bet: The pimento cheese breakfast burrito   Queens Comfort Your brunch best b

We’ve ordered delivery pizza, wine and groceries. But we miss the days of cocktail parties, where even the bad ones usually had a cheese board to nosh on. We love nothing more than heading to our local larder shop and chatting with a cheesemonger about our flavor preferences, while getting to sample a bunch of options from behind the counter. Though sample stations may now feel like a thing of the past, many of the city’s best options for artisanal cheese are still available today for delivery—just in time to accompany tonight’s glass of wine and a movie. Sahadi's View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sahadis (@sahadis) on Nov 26, 2019 at 5:10am PST Crown Finish Caves View this post on Instagram A post shared by CFC (@crownfinishcaves) on Feb 7, 2020 at 9:24am PST   Saxelby Cheesemongers View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saxelby Cheesemongers (@saxelbycheese) on Mar 27, 2020 at 4:59pm PDT   Ideal Cheese Shop View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ideal Cheese Shop (@idealcheeseshop) on Sep 21, 2019 at 4:56am PDT   Riverdel Vegan Cheese View this post on Instagram A post shared by Riverdel™ (@riverdelcheese) on Mar 16, 2020 at 2:12pm PDT   Bedford Cheese Shop  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bedford Cheese Shop (@bedfordcheeseshop) on Feb 21, 2020 at 3:16pm PST Cowgirl Creamery 

Amid government mandates and social distancing, bars and restaurants have had to decide whether to temporarily shutter or shift their business model toward delivery and to-go options while putting their health at risk (let alone the financial stakes). But there may be a silver lining for the city's beer nerds, who might’ve panic-shopped with fears that the only options left to ride out this coronavirus pandemic meant they'd be drinking Budweiser and other mass-market brands (for what it’s worth, we really do love Coronas and have them stocked up in our fridge, never mind the misinformed widespread panic that there is somehow any connection to the virus). Now, some of the city’s best craft breweries have come to the rescue by adding delivery options for beers in packs or, in some cases, loosies (aka individually sold cans).  If you love the craft beer movement and its breweries as much as us, and want to continue supporting (and imbibing) throughout the current crisis, you’ll be excited to learn that some of the city’s most celebrated breweries, such as Grimm Taproom, Other Half Brewing, Threes Brewing, Evil Twin Brewing, Rockaway Brewing Co. and Mikkeller have adapted to offer to-go, pick-up and, in some cases, beer via Caviar and Grubhub, among other delivery services.  Our very own Time Out Director of Digital Content for North America (and self-proclaimed “beer nerd,”) is excited about the development: “Special releases and fancy brews should now be more accessible, becaus

Countless pastry chefs and bakers are out of work in New York right now, as the restaurants, bakeries and catering gigs they once relied on for a living have come to an abrupt halt. At the same time, the seemingly unending feelings of anxiety that pervade this uniquely uncertain era has many turning to sweets and baked goods of all varieties as a source of solace and comfort. While those with pastry and baking expertise cannot currently lend their services to the restaurants and bakeries you might’ve once found their treats at, all across New York they’re finding ways to create pop-ups, contactless deliveries and subscriptions to get people their goods in a personalized and safe manner.  One piece of advice: Be patient, because most of these options are totally DIY operations, wherein a lot of cases, you’ll need to slide into their Instagram DMs to make an order for that morning croissant you’d normally snarf down on your walk to the subway or the birthday cake for your significant other. Luckily, that also means there’s more customization and flexibility than ever before, as many are creating one-off, esoteric treats based around what’s available in their kitchens—with recipes changing weekly.   In an industry already ravaged by fragile wages and little healthcare coverage, these scrappy new developments are a way for those in the industry to stay busy and have a sense of purpose: They’re experimenting with recipes and styles of baking while finding revenue streams to make a

Even during this moment of Time In, New Yorkers still want to experience everything the city offers: cocktails from the best bar in the world, books from the library, museum tours and so much more. While we’re admittedly biased, we miss our Time Out Market New York, which temporarily closed nearly a month ago. Like you, we can’t wait to walk into our favorite restaurants and bars to savor that one dish or cocktail we dream about. But one thing helping us pass the time is ordering delivery and takeout from Time Out Market eateries (there’s only so much sourdough we can bake and stuff our faces with). What arrives at our doorsteps is a sliver of the very best the city offers—something we can always expect from New York. Avocaderia View this post on Instagram A post shared by Your Friendly Bodega 🥑🥦🥕🍞🍗🥩🥬🧀🍌 (@avocaderia) on Mar 16, 2020 at 9:36am PDT While the artfully-decorated orders of avocado toast are on hold, Avocaderia has pivoted in these times to become a bodega where you can order groceries online. You’re still getting what they’re known for: healthy and fresh eating all day long. Bessou   Photograph: Courtesy of Bessou   If we can’t tear into Bessou’s perfectly-fried chicken karaage at the Time Out Market or the restaurant’s original Noho location, we’ll order it—and the rest of the Japanese homestyle-cooking—to our doorsteps. You can also order DIY meal kits or the comforting bento bowls (they’ll also donate one meal to a child in need

As you might’ve read from us, the State Liquor Authority has relaxed liquor laws to allow restaurants and bars to add cocktails to their offerings (provided they also offer food) if they've pivoted toward to-go and and delivery. To-go cocktails, wines, and beers are an exciting new prospect for New Yorkers: a small win in a time that’s immensely bleak for small businesses, particularly those in the hospitality industry. We’ve put together a list of the places selling to-go cocktails and wine that we’re most jazzed about. And, please remember, delivery workers are on the front-lines of this epidemic and do not have the same luxury of taking sick days or working from home. Tip kindly—as always—but especially in crisis.    Maison Premiere View this post on Instagram It has been trying few weeks, but we are excited to announce that we are now offering cocktails from our Pick-up window! Available from 4pm-7pm daily or until sold-out. Please note, all orders must be purchased through the website without exception. www.maisonpremiereaway.com 📸: @ericmedsker ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ #rawbar #scallop #caviar #vision #maisonpremiere #brooklyn #NOLA #seafood #cocktail #nyc #technique #sartorial #absinthe #craft #design #antique #napoleon #oldabsinthehouse #history #cocktailhistory #seafood A post shared by MAISON PREMIERE (@maisonpremiere) on Mar 26, 2020 at 7:44am PDT Dante View this post o

We know you're here for the animals. We are, too. Luckily, the Wildlife Conservation Society launched livestreams today of exhibits at both the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium. Both can be accessed at bronxzoo.org from 10am to 4pm daily. What will you see? Sea lions gliding around the Bronx Zoo's sea lion pool (feedings are at 11am and 3pm), penguins waddling to and fro (feedings are at 12:30 and 3:30pm) and jumping lemurs in its Madagascar! exhibit. On the ocean side of things, the New York Aquarium will show off the sea turtles and sharks in its Ocean Wonders exhibit as well as the octopus family and jellies in its Spineless area.  RECOMMENDED: Zoos are live-streaming their feeding times – here’s when to tune in Recently, the Bronx Zoo has been posting videos on its social channels of playful sea lions and its camel barn as well as sharing important updates of how its new baby penguins are doing.   View this post on Instagram Can you believe how quickly the little penguin chicks have grown? It’s a great sign that they’re learning to take food from their keepers and soon they’ll join the rest of the colony on exhibit. Check out our penguin chick highlight for all the details! 🥰🐧 . . #bronxzoo #penguin #penguinchick #penguinchicks #littlepenguin #littlepenguins #babypenguin #babybird #stayhome A post shared by Bronx Zoo (@bronxzoo) on Apr 14, 2020 at 8:06am PDT But now you'll be able to check in live with the animals, who currently have the whole zoo an

Aren't we lucky to have Thirteen? The PBS channel WNET, one of New York City's most cherished cultural resources, has already provided online access to past broadcasts of its first-rate series Great Performances to its subscribers. But now the station known locally as Thirteen is cracking open its vault to offer free access, through May 27, to five Great Performances versions of major theatrical productions.   “In these unprecedented times, we hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy," WNET writes on its page. "All of us at Great Performances are dedicated to carrying on our legacy of bringing the best of the performing arts to you.” You don't have to be a New Yorker to take advantage of this offer. Here are the five shows that you can watch for the next two months: Much Ado About Nothing: This delightful 2019 Shakespeare in the Park staging of the Bard's tart-tongued romcom stars Orange Is the New Black's radiant Danielle Brooks and an adorably goofy Grantham Coleman as two too-witty longtime enemies whose friends plot to get them together. Director Kenny Leon's all-black production is powered by strong women of color. Present Laughter: Kevin Kline pops bon mots like bonbons as an egotistical actor in this splendid 2017 Broadway revival of Noël Coward's witty 1939 comedy, directed by Moritz Von Stuelpnagel. Kline deservedly won his third Tony Award for this performance; the marvelous party of a supporting cast includes Cobie Smulders, Kate Burton, K

It's never been easier to catch the ballet than right now. This month, you'll be able to tap into the grace and elegance of the classical dance online as the New York City Ballet takes its spring season virtual by releasing performances each Tuesday and Friday evening at 8pm, new episodes of "City Ballet The Podcast" and putting on two series of workshops—"Ballet Essentials" (for all ages) and "Ballet Breaks" (for children ages 3 to 8) and "Wednesday with Wendy," a series of ballet-inspired movement classes taught by NYCB Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan. Here's the schedule of performances: Tuesday, April 21: George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, filmed on January 18, 2017. Featuring Tiler Peck and Andrew Veyette. Introduced by Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford.Friday, April 24: The world premiere performance of Justin Peck’s Rotunda, filmed on February 26, 2020. Featuring Sara Mearns, Miriam Miller, Sara Adams, Claire Kretzschmar, Brittany Pollack, Unity Phelan, Gonzalo Garcia, Andrew Scordato, Adrian Danchig-Waring, Daniel Ulbricht, Jovani Furlan, Gilbert Bolden III. Set to a commissioned score by composer Nico Muhly, who will introduce this episode, NYCB’s most recent premiere was also scheduled to be performed at Sadler’s Wells in London last month as part of a festival of choreography to music by Muhly, which was also canceled.Tuesday, April 28: George Balanchine’s Apollo, filmed on January 22, 2019. Featuring Taylor Stanley, Tiler Peck, Brittany Pollack, an

Dancing is a huge part of NYC nightlife. So it's no surprise that a lot of New Yorkers are missing the feeling of hearing a thumping baseline on a Saturday night and bobbing with a crowd of fellow dancers. Luckily, even with the city's die-hard partiers staying-at-home, New York is still the city that never sleeps. How's that? Well, if you haven’t heard, New York has an entire nightlife ecosystem that's still happening through the digital ethers. And while you may not have flickering lights or giant disco balls in your living room, you can still enjoy the music while forging your own dance floor (without the reek of cheap booze and cigarettes at that.) Whatever you're into—warm vinyl, grimey bass, spacey techno, feel-good pop—there's a digital party out there for you to join—you just have to know where to tune in.  Here are the best virtual clubs where you can dance away some of that pent-up, stuck-inside energy. Virtually Nowadays Instead of heading to a lively party at Nowadays to dance your blues away, you can now hit up the popular Ridgewood dance spot's virtual incarnation. The club has created a sub-category for streaming on their site, and they go live every night from 8pm to midnight. You can blast all sorts of foot-tapping disco beats and listen in tandem with hundreds of others, dancing freely in their sweats and connecting through a live chatroom. You can even tune in for music-related tutorials to gain some new expertise. "Nowadays has become a trusted community

View this post on Instagram I never would’ve imagined that the best party I would create and DJ would be from the comfort of my own home. Homeschool is a thing! Yesterday was absolutely insane. The amount of artists and friends that virtually partied with me far exceeded my expectations. I’m feeling nothing but gratitude. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Thanks to all of you that supported. This has been a great way to keep our spirits high. Blessings! Sending some love to my family. Shout out to all of my industry execs! Much love to all of the artists! JLo, Drake, Naomi Campbell, De La Soul, Black Thought, Diddy, Bun B., Keri Hilson, Will Packer, Gabrielle Union, H.E.R., America Ferrara, Donnie Wahlberg, Uncle Luke, Russell Simmons, Dapper Dan, Rob Morgan, Mary J. Blige, DJ Khaled, T.I., Kelly Rowland, Common, Lance Gross, Queen Latifah, DJ Clark Kent, Rich Medina, DJ Tony Touch, Stretch Armstrong, Traci Ellis Ross, Ne-Yo, Usher, DJ Premier, Swizz Beatz, NO I.D., Yvette Noel Schure, Erykah Badu, Fat Joe, Jay Electronica, PNB Rock, Nile Rogers, Fonzworth Bentley, Marisa Tomei, Michelle Williams, Victor Cruz, Karruenche Tran, Ciara, Daymond John, Angie Martinez, Groove Theory’s Bryce, Tank, Cam’ron, Ludacris, Fabolous, Dorian Missick, Yvette Nicole Brown, Tasha Smith, Jadakiss, Kwamé, Chris Spencer, Royale Watkins, Estelle, Bresha Webb, Jermaine Dupri, Vanessa Williams, DJ Aktive, Lee Daniels, Affion Crockett, MC Lyte, Ro James, D-Dot Angelette, Kenny Burns, Tika Sumpter, Marlon Wayans, Lauren

Instead of rolling up to a thriving party at Nowadays to dance off your stress as you usually do, the popular dance club is going virtual during these uncertain and unsettling times. On their website, they've created a sub-category for streaming (nowadays.nyc/stream) and will be going live each night from 8pm to midnight (until they can re-open). You can tune in for all sorts of foot-tapping disco beats and even tutorials to keep your mind busy and morale up. Take a deep breath while in bed for peak relaxation during their Planetarium deep-listening sessions, or on other nights, the resident DJ may be pumping out disco-floor-fillers for your own bedroom dance party. All you'll need is your computer. Sure, your bedroom might not have hypnotic blue strobes or a fog machine, but you'll still be listening to house music in tandem with a glorious mass of humanity, dancing freely (in your pajamas), connecting with folks through chat rooms and, most importantly, respecting the advisories to practice social-distancing in order to slow the spread of Coronavirus.  Nowadays explained further details in a statement, “We’ve thought and talked a lot today about how we can stay connected with you while we’re closed, how we can rally support for our staff and how we can ensure that we’ll be able to open our doors again once it’s safe. Starting today we’ll begin live streaming technical how-to’s, DJ sets and other community programming that you can connect with while we’re closed. Francois f

The show tunes are going on at Marie's Crisis. And everyone at home can sing along. The coronavirus crisis has forced the beloved West Village piano bar to close its doors for now. But in a typical display of communal spirit, the Marie's Crisis staff is soldiering on. Every night on the Facebook page Maries Group, the talented pianists who would normally be playing at the bar will be live-streaming their sets to audiences at home. All you need to do to be part of the nightly festivities is apply to join the group; it is normally closed, but is currently accepting all applicants.  Marie's has been a New York institution for as long as anyone can remember. It doesn't look like much: a small, crowded basement on Grove Street, with colored lights strung from the ceiling and portraits of Broadway's greatest divas on the walls. But the place has bona fide history. (Revolutionary War pamphleteer Thomas Paine once lived in the building!) One of the city's rare remaining refuges for group singing of show tunes around a piano, it is a second home to some of New York's most fervent musical-theater devotees. It's a parallel-universe Cheers, where everybody knows not only your name but also the complete score to Little Shop of Horrors. In the virtual version of Marie's, the pianists' shifts are earlier than they would be under normal circumstances. The first shifts run from roughly 4pm to 7pm daily; the second shifts go from about 7pm to 9:30pm. The pianists play for hours at a time, tak

A new month is upon us and, with it, a batch of fresh content is set to drop on Netflix. We've got a lot to look forward to: from the much-anticipated new Ryan Murphy production, Hollywood, to what is poised to be the latest national obsession, Trial by Media, a docuseries about the most dramatic trials of all time, May is packed with binge-worthy entertainment. Also on our must-watch list: the second season of Dead to Me, a documentary about former Prime Minister and President of Israel Shimon Peres, a new Jerry Seinfeld standup special, 23 Hours to Kill, and Space Force, an original comedy series starring Steve Carell, John Malkovich and Ben Schwartz. On the film front, Netflix is dropping the Adam Sandler critical darling Uncut Gems to the delight of, well, everyone, and the Oakland-based All Day and a Night, a thriller that will have you clenching your teeth all throughout it. Here is a full list of everything coming to the platform next month. May 1: All Day and a Night Casi Feliz (Season 1) Den of Thieves Fun with Dick & Jane Get In Masha and the Bear (Season 4) Medici (Season 3) Mrs. Serial Killer Never Stop Dreaming: The Life and Legacy of Shimon Peres The Half of It Thomas & Friends: Marvelous Machinery: World of Tomorrow Thomas & Friends: Marvelous Machinery: A New Arrival Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine May 4: Arctic Dogs May 5: Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill May 6: Hangman Workin Moms (Season 4) May 7: Scissor Seven (Season 2) May 8: Dead to Me (Season 2) Res

Like the rest of the city, NYC museums have closed up shop and moved online, offering beleaguered New Yorkers staying at home a much-needed dose of uplifting cultural content. Major institutions are offering virtual tours of their exhibitions and collections, along with web-only features from places such as MoMA and the Whitney. And of course, Gotham's flagship institution, The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, is right up there with its own slate of online programming. Along with snazzy, high-tech features like its 360 degree panoramas of the Temple of Dendur and Grand Hall, The Met recently added a bunch of cool content to its website. For example, you can now download select publications from The Met dating back to 1964 for free, including 582 art catalogs covering artists from Caravaggio to Van Gogh. The Met's social media platforms host hashtags like #CuratorChat, where followers are can submit questions about the museum. There are also online concerts, including an upcoming series starring The Met's resident quartet, ETHEL & Friends, which usually plays Friday and Saturday evenings at The Met's Balcony Bar. Another thing you shouldn’t miss are The Met's videos showcasing current exhibitions and performances, and golden oldies from its archive. We've got a few samples below, so check them out before heading over to The Met's site for more. The Mother of us All The Met is now streaming its production from earlier this spring of the 1947 opera about Susan B. Anthony composed by

It will probably be a while before your next visit to the Museum of Modern Art—though you can still take a podcast tour of the collection or visit it online. But now that you have some down time, you might want to take things to another level and up your art game. As it happens, the Museum of Modern Art makes it easy through its free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on Coursera. Thanks to these offerings, you'll be able to hear directly from curators, artists and designers, and take a closer look at the works featured in MoMA's collection and exhibitions. You can enroll in the program anytime and complete it at your own pace. So what can you expect? A lot of cool stuff, actually, and to you give some idea, we've listed a few examples below. You can register for all of the offerings now at Coursera.  What Is Contemporary Art? Good question, and one that will likely get answered by exploring more than 70 works of art made between 1980 and the present. Modern Art & Ideas MoMA digs into its collection to examine some of the major themes that have occupied artists and designers over the last 100 years or so. Seeing Through Photographs Artist and curators weigh in on how photography has been used throughout its history, and the impact it's made on culture as a result. Fashion as Design What we wear, why we wear it, how it’s made, and what it means is the focus of this look at fashion and its crucial role in defining the look of historical periods, including our own.

Joining the scores of New York museums and galleries migrating online to present exhibitions and other web-based features, The Shed at Hudson Yards is launching a new digital initiative: A program to commission projects from artists of all disciplines. UP CLOSE, as it's called, will go live this Sunday at 6pm on The Shed's website and social media platforms, and will continue every other Sunday evening with brand-new content. The series kicks off with artists Justin Hicks, Kenita Miller-Hicks and Jade Hicks, performing together as The HawtPlates to present a DIY recording session of tracks from their piece, House or Home: 690 Wishes, a song cycle inspired by the writings of Toni Morrison and French author Georges Perec. Playing together as a family, the HawtPlates describe their music as reconstituted mix of blues, roots and funk. Among the upcoming artists participating in UP CLOSE is the renowned Argentinian sculptor Tomás Saraceno, who is probably best known in New York for his 2012 installation Cloud City for The Metropolitan Museum's rooftop garden. Designed by architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Rockwell Group, The Shed opened in April of 2019 as the Hudson Yards cultural hub—an incubator for new talent spread out over 17,000 square feet of flexible performance and gallery spaces. It's most unique feature is the building itself: A sort of futuristic barn with a wheeled outer shell that can slide along a set of rails to expand for outdoor ev

Art venues across the country have shut down because of the coronavirus and that includes all of New York City's museums. But the thing about works of art is that while you can never duplicate the experience of standing in front of one, they travel well online. Which is why museums both here and elsewhere are providing virtual tours of their collections. The same is true of some contemporary art spaces.  NYC galleries are now creating online viewing rooms that either explore current shows in greater depth, or offer specially curated presentations that are web-only. Artists and critics are also starting to self-organize, mounting online showcases that are unaffiliated with any specific gallery. Want to know more? Here are some examples of this trend you can check out now. David Zwirner Gallery Zwirner is one of the biggest players in the art world, so it's no surprise that they have the resource to go all-in online, with a viewing room that is the virtual equivalent of museum-quality. Posted are videos and images with wall label style annotations. Check out its current offering, "James Welling, Pathological Color," which features the artist’s psychedelic photos inspired by the ’60s counterculture.  Pace Gallery This mega-space is right behind Zwirner in offering museum-quality experiences online, including a presentation of watercolors by veteran color field painter and lyrical abstractionist, Sam Gilliam Gagosian Gallery Gagosian Gallery has 18 (!) locations around the world,

There's good news for all the New York City-based e-bookworms out there. The New York Public Library has an app that allows anyone with a library card (and an iOS or Android phone) to "borrow" any of the 300,000 e-books in the collection. It's called SimplyE and will allow you to read books on your phone, but beware, there might be a wait list for some popular titles, including the Game of Thrones series. (Check out the Harry Potter books, quick!)  RECOMMENDED: Time In: The best things to do at home To gain access, NYPL's free e-reader app, SimplyE, can be downloaded for iPhone or Android. There is a limit of three books that you can borrow because there has been a surge in the app's usage now that we're all at home, according to the library. You can also search the library's collection of 800,000 digitized items, including historic prints, photographs, maps, and manuscripts and check out Mango Languages and Career Cruising with your New York City library card.    

Forced at-home time doesn't have to be a monotonous succession of seemingly identically boring days. On the contrary, why not take our coronavirus-mandated quarantine as a chance to finally clean our apartments, learn to cook, listen to some podcasts or finally get through our endless book list?  If it's the latter that you're looking to tackle this week, you might want to consider ordering some reading material from these New York City bookstores. Not only will you support local businesses—which really need our help these days—but you won't have to step outdoors to get your hands on Michelle Obama's Becoming. All of these NYC stores will ship books to your doorstep. If you're not sure about what you should even be reading, consult an expert New York Public Library librarian before placing your order. Although all library branches are currently closed, the staff holds virtual "Friday Office Hours" once a week from 10-11am on Twitter (@nyplrecommends), offering the public personalized book recommendations.  Happy reading! Book Club: This literary paradise charges $2.50 for a single book shipment but if you order over $50 worth of reading material, the delivery will be free.  Books Are Magic: The Cobble Hill independent bookstore processes online orders daily from 10am-7pm, shipping nationally. Greenlight Bookstore: The supplier warehouse of this popular bookstore will ship orders for free if over $100. The Lit. Bar: National delivery is available. McNally Jackson: Free economy

Need a new read but not sure where to start? Librarians at the Brooklyn Public Library have lots of ideas to inspire you. The library's BookMatch program gives real book suggestions from actual librarians. All you need to do to get a personal recommendation is fill out a survey about what genres, titles and authors you enjoy and which ones you dislike, your desired format and your age. To borrow any books, you must have a Brooklyn Public Library e-card, which you can get here if you're a New York State resident. (It's $50 if you're out-of-state.) To help get you started, they've put together a series of lists to help Brooklynites and others through their self-isolation. (And to stave off any encroaching Groundhog Day effect.) Here are a few recommendations based on your needs: If you're looking for a more diverse view of the world: Modern Classics by Underrepresented Authors  This list includes titles like Half a Lifelong Romance by Eileen Chang, Every Tongue Confess by Zora Neale Hurston and The Selected Letters of Langston Hughes. If you're looking for an escape: Cross Cryptids Will Make You Jump This includes Monster of the Week by F.T. Lukens, You Don't Want a Unicorn! by Ame Dyckman and Lemons by Melissa Savage.  If you need to beef up your resume: Getting the Job Done--Resumes, Cover Letters, & Career Tips Check out Cracking the Code to a Successful Interview: 15 Insider Secrets from a Top-Level Recruiter by Evan Pellett, Career Match: Connecting Who You Are with What Y

Readers all around the country, unite! NetCredit and Goodreads joined forces to create a map highlighting the most popular book set in every state. Of course, we can't physically travel at the moment—but why not do so through splendid pieces of literature that depict our country so well?  To come up with the data, NetCredit searched for the top five highest rated books set in each state on Goodreads. Narrowing down that list to a single tome required the use of a formula based on a combination of the number of reviews and the overall Goodreads ratings.  Here is the resulting map:   Photograph: Courtesy NetCredit   Check out a broken down, state-by-state list: Alabama: To Kill a Mockingbird Alaska: Into the Wild Arizona: The Bean Trees Arkansas: True Grit California: Of Mice and Men Colorado: The Shining Connecticut: Revolutionary Road Delaware: Fight Club Florida: Their Eyes Were Watching God Georgia: Gone with the Wind Hawaii: Molokai'i Idaho: Housekeeping Indiana: The Fault in Our Stars Illinois: The Time Traveler's Wife Iowa: The Bridges of Madison County Kansas: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Kentucky: The Patron Saint of Liars Louisiana: Interview with the Vampire Maine: The Cider House Rules Maryland: Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Massachusetts: Little Women Michigan: Middlesex Minnesota: Ordinary Grace Mississippi: The Help Missouri: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Montana: A River Runs Through it and Other Stories Nebraska: Attachments Nevada: Fear and Loathing i

All gyms in the Tri-State area will be closed indefinitely as of 8pm tonight, as part of a joint regional plan to reduce the spread of coronavirus. That means gym rats, yoga enthusiasts and other fitness fans, like YMCA diehard Mayor Bill de Blasio, will have to move their workouts elsewhere if they want to keep in shape. (Side note: ClassPass is offering the option to pause this month for free, and they will keep all your credits until June. They'll also waive cancelation fees through the end of March.) Luckily, a number of gyms and instructors are offering their workouts via livestream. Most of them are offering limited free trials with a subscription that you can cancel later if you're not feeling it. Keep an eye out on your fitness instructors' and gyms' social media pages because many are announcing live workouts and deals through the next few weeks. Here are a few offerings you can jump on now: OBE Fitness (cardio, strength & flexibility): Use the code ‘SWEATSANDCITY’ for your first month of guided at-home workouts free and get a live sculpt workout on March 17 at 10:30am. P.volve (low-impact strengthening): An extended 30 day free trial of streamed classes with no credit card needed using the code "OnePvolve". Physique57(Barre): Seven-day free trial of recorded classes. Melissa Wood Health: Seven-day free trial and free live-streamed classes on Instagram. Tone It Up (low-impact): One free month for new users. Daily Burn (cardio kickboxing, HIIT, Barre, yoga, more): A

Say goodbye to your sad Quarantini. The home bar has taken center stage as New York City’s best bars are off limits these days—except for establishments selling alcohol to-go. But what do you put in the shaker when you have some vodka, a sad lemon and half empty bottles of liqueur guests brought to a dinner party last year? Bartenders in New York and across the country have turned to social media—check Instagram, Twitter and Facebook—for sharing recipes, providing tips on making better cocktails and even taking requests in live time so we can all drink better while social distancing. As you’re “qaurantending” from your apartment, here are some thirst-quenching resources, whether you set up that virtual happy hour or simply want to pour yourself one. Lynnette Marrero and Ryan Chetiyawardana, MasterClass Lynnette Marrero of Llama-San in the West Village joins Ryan Chetiyawardana, winner of the World Best Bartender award in 2018, lead a recently-launched series called Mixology for MasterClass. They share tips and techniques that the best bartenders across the world use every day to keep us hydrated. Derek Brown, owner of the Columbia Room in Washington D.C. Twitter may be the last place you want to troll these days, but for cocktail advice, respected bartender Derek Brown has been sharing recipes and fielding questions. So ahead and tweet before you tipple. Liquor Lab Photography: Courtesy of Liquor Lab Buy your ingredients ahead of time before streaming this hour

Our advice when it comes to cutting your own hair? Put down the scissors. We know you've thought about it. Besides, now is a very tempting time to do something crazy or get creative with your look. But very few of us actually have the skills to trim and color quite as well as those who get paid to do it. But, if your hair is really scraggly, and you are absolutely determined to go through with it, some of New York's best salons and experts have decided to lend a helping hand... with some hesitation. So, with advice from the following New York stylists, we wish you the best of luck!  New York stylist and YouTuber Brad Mondo Brad Mondo is known for his "Hairdresser reacts" videos, and if you've seen any of them, you know there are a lot of ways to screw up your own hairdo. We feel pretty confident that someone who has seen and gawked at what not to do will be able to guide you through an "absolute basic" haircut and (if you must) color job. Earlier this month, he "read the room" and posted a Hairdressers Guide To Cutting Your Own Hair And Not Ruining It and a Hairdressers Guide To Coloring Your Own Hair And Not Ruining It. "This does not replace a professional hairdresser," he says in his hair color video. "It's a guide through these tough times... to do it and do it well, not amazing, but, well, I hope." Already, people have given his tutorials a try. It’s INSANE how many of you have followed my at home haircut tutorial and gave yourself a haircut :fearful: — Brad Mondo (@bra

So you have a friend who's going to be stuck at home on their birthday. Who says you can’t still throw them the baddest party around?   When it comes down to it, the most important part of anyone's birthday is feeling celebrated by the people they love. So even though you can’t meet them at their favorite bar, catch a broadway show or dine at a newly opened restaurant, you can still bring together the people that matter most to them. And thanks to technology and delivery options, you can make memories that they’ll value long after this.  Here are a few things not to miss while you plan. Put an official Zoom time on the calendar Make it official! It's a party! You’ll definitely be hopping on a video-chatting platform like Zoom to see your birthday baby face-to-face, and so you can all tell them how much of a rockstar they are. Whether you want to keep it simple with a group text or make a more elaborate e-invitation, let that digital date and time be known! Don’t forget a birthday card this year When you used to meet up with your birthday honcho in-person, bringing a birthday card wasn't usually a top priority. This year, make it one. Reach out to those closest to them and have every friend send the birthday star something via an e-card with their favorite memory of them and one thing they're looking forward to doing together when this is all over. While cards are usually kept private, why not shake things up this year? Have them read each birthday message out loud to a (virtu

We’re all staying at home these days filling our time with baking projects (everyone seems to be baking sourdough bread) or mixing a cocktail for the quarantini happy hour on Zoom with friends across town. Like you, we miss going out to support our favorite restaurants and bars that make up the fabric of New York City. Luckily, many of our go-to spots have books we can turn to recreate the dish or drink we miss most. A hearty cassoulet or that perfect gin and tonic? The following books have you got you covered and more. The Basque Book by Alex Raij with Eder Montero and Rebecca Flint Marx Photograph: Bao Ong The Basque Country may be well-known for its many celebrated Michelin-starred restaurants (not that anyone is dining out these days), but chef Alex Raij and Eder Montero have brought life to the soulful cooking of the Spanish countryside diners have come to love at their popular restaurants (Txikito, El Quinto Pino, La Vara and Saint Julivert). You can tackle easy recipes of small plates perfect for a cocktail hour or if you’re more ambitious, the cider house-style prime dry-aged ribeye steak is always a crowd pleaser. Boqueria by Marc Vidal and Yann de Rochefort with Zach Bezunartea Photograph: Bloomsbury Press You can bring a slice of Barcelona into your New York apartment with Boqueria, from one of our favorite destinations for tapas in the city. Chef Marc Vidal breaks down a daunting paella recipe that’s manageable for the home cook but there are plenty of Spanis

There’s never been a time where our favorite comfort foods are needed more than now. For many New Yorkers, our favorite bagels, red sauce Italian restaurants and pizzas feel like essential parts of our oh-so-very-healthy food pyramid. The story is no different when it comes to Shake Shack’s burgers, which consistently rank among the best burgers in NYC. But until recently, who really wanted to grill burgers in their tiny New York apartments? Yes, we told you about some great burgers you can have delivered to your doorsteps, but everyone is diving into home cooking projects these days. It's also worth noting that Shake Shack did just launch delivery with Goldbelly, where you can order all the ingredients pre-packaged and ready to cook at home ($49 for eight people).  If you want to flex those culinary skills you’ve been honing the past month, however, below you’ll find Shake Shack’s recipe (courtesy of Mark Rosati and also available in Shake Shack: Recipes & Stories) for its famed ShackBurger—the ShackSauce included! If there’s one tip to take away: make sure you get a good sear on those puck-size patties we love whether dining in or out. Here’s what you’ll need... For the ShackSauce: ½ cup Hellman's mayonnaise 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon Heinz ketchup ¼ teaspoon kosher dill pickle brine Pinch cayenne pepper   For the ShackBurgers: 4 hamburger potato buns 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted ShackSauce 4 pieces green-leaf lettuce Eight ¼-inch slic

New York restaurants and bars have been hit hard during the coronavirus pandemic. Many have turned to delivery and takeout after the government mandated a shutdown. The concept of “business as usual” is out the window as these establishments figure out how to survive (selling alcohol to-go is now allowed). Chefs, bartenders, restaurateurs and the industry’s countless employees have shared their thoughts below with Time Out New York on how we can all help, from purchasing gifts cards to supporting a bailout for the food and beverage industry.  Photography: Jose Portillo “We need government stimulus. If you work in restaurants or care at all about the hard working individuals in the industry, please call your representatives and your senators and demand that we are part of the federal stimulus plan." Tom Colicchio, founder of Crafted Hospitality and Top Chef judge “If you’re able, make sure to tip well. The employees need every dollar they can get and they’re out working through this thing to make sure food is available for the public and to support their families.” Noam Grossman, chef and founder of Upside Pizza and Norm’s Pizza Photography: Lizzie Munro “A great fundraiser to donate to is the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund! It aims to help both individuals in the industry and small businesses, so it has broad reach." Caroline Schiff, pastry chef at Gage & Tollner (pictured above, which has delayed its highly-anticipated opening in l

Musicheads: The New York City music scene is surely in trouble. Since the state forced all NYC venues to shut their doors last week for safe social distancing, countless staff members who keep each nightlife venue afloat, including bar backs, security guards, resident DJs, late-night cooks, cleaners, talent bookers, general managers, are finding themselves without work right now. From epic dance clubs to indie venues known for breaking out baby bands, New York has it all. Virtual concerts are fun in the meantime from home, but if you’ve made memories at any of the following music havens and want to help ensure they’ll be able to open their doors again, we’ve compiled a tidy list of where to donate funds for each. Alphaville You can buy a gift certificate to redeem for future drinks, and 70% of proceeds will go to their out-of-work staff, you can also donate directly to their team where 100% of sales will go to staff. Arlene's Grocery Send donations to their Arlene’s Grocery Staff Relief Fund GoFundMe. Baby's All Right  All funds from Baby's season pass  "Baby Chain" for $200, will go towards their staff relief fund. On their Instagram, Baby's stated that the season pass is also "good forever".  Bossa Nova Civic Club You can directly support the staff via their Venmo account (bossanovacivicclub). Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge Send donations to their Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge Staff GoFundMe.  Bowery Electric Send donations to their The Bowery Electric Staff Fund

By now, you’ve probably witnessed (first-hand or via social media) supermarkets emptied of goods—including toilet paper dairy items and meat—due to folks stockpiling and panic-buying out of fear over coronavirus. While most of us can head back out to shop once the stores become restocked, it's a much higher health risk for the hardest hit demographics of the coronavirus, including the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. If you want to know what you can do help, from donating funds to physically volunteering, we’ve rounded up a tidy list of amazing organizations that are rallying to ensure food, aid, and medical supplies are delivered to those who are in need while alone during this outbreak. Heights and Hills: This Brooklyn-based organization works with over a thousand seniors who receive care at home and may be unusually isolated and in need of support or medical attention during the coronavirus pandemic. You can easily help by volunteering to check in with them over the phone. They are providing "virtual training and a call script to each volunteer, so no need to worry that you won’t know what to say! Volunteers will ask basic questions about how seniors are feeling, whether they have enough food and medication, and what other kinds of support might be helpful. You’ll record the information from the call in an easy-to-use form so that Heights and Hills can follow up with individuals," they explain here. For now they're starting with phone outreach but soon m

Our favorite New York restaurants and bars often feel like an extension of our cramped apartments. But the spread of COVID-19 is quickly changing all that as Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered all restaurants and bars to close—except for offering delivery and take-out—starting 8 p.m. March 16.  This still poses a significant challenge, as the profit margins have never been high for business owners feeding our city. The mandate puts pressure on restaurants and bars already struggling to keep their doors open. On top of that, many employees in the hospitality industry will be left with a paycheck (especially those who depend on tips). As critics crisscrossing the five boroughs looking for the best bites to share with our readers, we know it is our duty to help bring you the best of the best even when dining out is facing challenges. Even if you are self-isolating in the coming weeks, there are many ways to still support your favorite food businesses. Buying gift cards and restaurant merch is a great way to support your go-to spots in the meantime, so these businesses can continue to pay their bills and staff. When the public health crisis is under control, we’ll be ready to patronize our favorite establishments (perhaps with a shirt or tote in hand). In the meantime, should you choose delivery, we put together a list of our favorite spots that do that, too. As always, if you have recommendations of spots we missed, please send them to food.ny@timeout.com  Adda (email hello@addanyc.co