Anna Rahmanan

As the weather turns warmer, it's time to update our closets with the sort of airy outfits that we have missed all throughout the winter. Don't get anxious, though: turn to the best sample sales in NYC to buy some very good finds that won't break your wallet.  Happy spring shopping, New Yorkers!

It’s rare to be in the greatest city on earth and not have plans, but if you’re stumped for things to do in NYC today, consider us your entertainment saviors. Daily, there are awesome events to stream and new attractions to see, but if you’re searching for something really specific like new happenings at the city’s top destinations or something low-budget—like free things to do—we have everything you need listed right here. RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar

New York City is full of free outdoor art that you don't even have to go to a museum to see. Sculptures, murals and photographs can be found in its parks, sidewalks and on its buildings! Locations such as the High Line, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn, Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens and other NYC locales all have a wide variety of pieces awaiting you, from massive sculptures to eye-popping murals and graffiti. Best of all, it costs you nothing to pay a visit. Below, find the best outdoor art in NYC to stroll by on a spring day. RECOMMENDED: The best art shows and exhibits in NYC

Sometimes you just don’t have the PTO or the budget to go on that two-week vacay. Or maybe a weekend (or long weekend) reprieve is exactly what you need to put the pep back into your step. Luckiky, being in Miami means you have a multitude of worthy travel destinations at your fingertips. A quick drive or flight will get you to the heart of a totally different Florida landscape, sipping a piña colada on a beach in the Caribbean or strolling the cobblestone streets of historic cities. Looking for a quick weekend getaway from the city? We've rounded up our go-to destinations and the hottest seasonal travel deals to bring you this guide to the best weekend trips from Miami. RECOMMENDED: Spring getaways from Miami to escape the chaos of the city

The great American road trip is a tradition celebrated across books, movies and popular culture—nothing feels quite as freeing as setting off on the open road (windows or top down for the full, thrilling cliché). Seeing this expansive country by automobile is a true privilege that takes you through all types of terrains, delivering landscapes and waterfront views that will take your breath away and make you wonder—is this real life? You’d be amazed at how different one country can be as you explore coast by coast, traveling north, south, east and west. The question at hand then becomes, where are you going? There are some obvious choices, like the iconic Route 66 and the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, both incredible in their own right. But you’ll also find lesser-known favorites in our guide to the best road trips in the U.S., including mountainside parkways and tunneled highways. These road trips will cover plenty of ground, checking off boxes on your bucket list of adventures.

New York is a green city. Back in March of 2021, then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation into law that effectively legalized marijuana in the state. It was a long time coming: lawmakers had been trying to pass the guidelines since back in 2018 but conversations would stall on the topic of tax revenue from sales. Finally, in 2021, the stage budget proposal included the Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act (more on that later).  RECOMMENDED: Weed 101: Everything to know about cannabis in NYC Fast-forward nearly two years and the legalization of recreational cannabis began to actually take effect and all previous marijuana-related criminal records in the state of New York were given the current legality of the substance. New York State legalized the sale of cannabis for adult recreational use in 2022. That year, thousands of New Yorkers applied for their Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CUARD) license and (at the time of publication) over 40 of them went on to open licensed dispensaries, including 16 of them right here in New York City in 2023. There are a lot of questions to be answered: Can weed also be grown at home? Where can New Yorkers buy the stuff and will they be stopped if carrying it around? Can anyone sell marijuana now? Below, check out our extensive guide to marijuana legalization in New York state. Recommended: What to expect in NYC now that weed is legal What’s legal right now in New York? To put it simply, in New York state, folks who are

Television is widely thought to have entered its golden age in the early 2000s, but the road there was paved by the previous decade. In many ways, the ’90s completely changed the idea of what the medium could accomplish. It’s where Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld reinvented the sitcom. It’s where David Lynch actually got a spot in primetime. And it’s where HBO set up the revolution of the coming millennium by introducing a crime drama for the ages.  If you weren’t around back then – or ‘didn’t even own a TV’, as Gen X liked to brag – it’s a good time to catch up. The ’90s are everywhere again, in fashion, music and all over streaming platforms. Here are 35 can’t-miss suggestions, along with where to find them. Recommended: 💻 The 40 best Netflix original series to binge🎮 The best 50 ‘90s movies🎶 The 50 best ‘90s songs

The year's most-watched musical performance wasn't at the Grammys; it was the Super Bowl halftime show. 2024 marked the second year Apple Music took the reins of the country's largest musical spectacle, bringing us 13 full minutes of Usher. The halftime show is a long-standing tradition that's featured some of the country's biggest stars, from Madonna to Prince to Lady Gaga. Every year, it brings us a thrilling performance filled with fireworks, splashy entrances, special guests and plenty of surprises to keep you glued to your TV set. It's also what gets many non-sports fans to tune into the big game.  But despite the many hits over the decades, we've also seen our share of halftime show misses. Below, we look back at the Super Bowl halftime shows that got us dancing, singing and discussing at the office the next day.  RECOMMENDED: How to watch the Super Bowl halftime show

Sandwiches are among the world’s most inspirational foods. It would be a Sisyphean task to even begin to enumerate all possible combinations here. They are there at some of life’s happiest moments. Picnics in the park. Half-imaginary tea parties. The big game. When people talk about “sad desk lunches,” they are usually talking about salads. If you’re ever feeling blasé, find motivation in the myriad possibilities of the sandwich. If you can dream it, a sandwich can be it. Unless it’s a hotdog.   RECOMMENDED: The 25 most spectacular sandwiches in the world

In the winter doldrums of February in NYC, after a money-sucking December and a resolution-filled January, it’s time to double down and really enjoy the winter with the best NYC events in February. Our event calendar includes some of the best things to do in winter as well as some epic Valentine’s Day events. This month is also a good excuse to take advantage of our winter getaways list, so plan your escape from the city and keep your fingers crossed for a little bit of snow to add to the winter wonderland aesthetic. RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar

Happy cannaversary, New York! We declared 2023 the year of weed and it really was. Over the last 12 months, Time Out New York has followed the wafts of smoke with coverage of NYC’s first-ever licensed recreational cannabis dispensary at Housing Works Cannabis Co. and its incredible revenue stream; its first luxury cannabis and cultural store; Brooklyn’s first woman-owned dispensary; and others including one with a Dior-clad staff and another travel-themed shop that comedian Amy Sedaris budtendered at. We also covered the opening of a THC museum, which could only make sense in a city that consumes the most cannabis in the world. It’s a brave new world and NYC’s licensed dispensary owners, some of whom were previously incarcerated on marijuana charges, are pioneers. They’re leading the city and the state’s foray into the sale of legalized recreational cannabis—an industry that has never been regulated here before. RECOMMENDED: Weed 101: Everything to know about cannabis in NYC New York State legalized the sale of cannabis for adult recreational use in 2022. That year, thousands of New Yorkers applied for their Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CUARD) license and 47 of them went on to open licensed dispensaries, including 16 of them right here in New York City in 2023. More than 3.5 million units of tested cannabis products were sold across the state’s licensed dispensaries bringing in about $150 million in retail sales and nearly $16.3 million in state revenue, accordin

New York City’s arts and culture scene is heating up as spring approaches with several powerhouse exhibitions, plus a few smaller but also impressive shows. We’ve rounded up more than a dozen museum exhibits, gallery presentations, and festivals to bookmark for your spring planning (and a few to check off before winter ends). Expect feminist comedy, meditative music, and jaw-dropping art.  From the always-important, oft-controversial Whitney Biennial to a Harlem Renaissance exhibit to a wonderland-themed floral exhibit, there's so much to look forward to this spring.

A new public art installation by artist Curry J. Hackett has just taken over The Plaza at 300 Ashland in Brooklyn, and it's as futuristic as art gets these days: the piece, dubbed Ugly Beauties, features panoramic, AI-generated images of Black folks among various native weeds. According to an official press release, the work, on display through May 2, highlights a “metaphorical connection between society’s perception of these species and its treatment of Black people.” Upon approaching the structure, the viewer will immediately notice the juxtaposition of the various elements depicted, prompting all to think of our perception of what is beautiful and what is part of society at large. “Ugly Beauties expands on Downtown Brooklyn Partnership’s commitment to activating itsshared spaces with art installations that enliven the public realm and capture the spirit of theneighborhood,” said Regina Myer, President of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, in a statement. “With residents, shoppers, workers, diners, and other visitors rushing around the neighborhood, we hope this piece will impart a moment of reflection and help Brooklynites to realize the beauty all around them. ”

There is something simultaneously spooky and romantic about walking through the Queens Botanical Garden after sunset—especially while participating in this year's Astra Lumina: An Enchanted Night Walk Amongst the Stars. A total of nine different installations are set up throughout the trail, each one capturing your attention in different ways, all embracing the power of light as their medium of choice. If it's an out-of-the-ordinary Christmas-adjacent light experience that you’re after, look no further than Astra Lumina.

If it's an eclectic kind of skating activity that you're after this holiday season, look no further: Sky Skate, the highest skating rink in the city, is officially back at the Edge in Hudson Yards starting November 15 through January 14, 2024.  Make no mistake: although the rink is set up in the indoor portion of the famous sky deck, you're still 1,131 feet in the air, on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards. That is all to say: perhaps opt for something a bit different if you're scared of heights?  But if you do decide to partake in the seasonal activity (tickets are available for 30-minute slots right here), make sure to also peruse through the site's other offerings, including City Climb, the highest external skyscraper climb in the world that challenges guests to scale the outside of a 1,200-foot building then lean out from the outdoor platform at the top of structure, according to an official press release.  We are, indeed, shivering with fear.

Always wanted to be a zookeeper? Now you can. The Central Park Zoo is currently offering exclusive early access to those interested in getting hands-on with animal caretaking activities. The first and only adult event of the season will allow you to pretend to actually work on site, interact with the animals before fellow humans start exploring the grounds for the day and just feel cool all around. The program is taking place on Saturday, October 14 from 8:30am to 10:30am but additional dates will open up in December and January as well.  Member tickets cost $80 while regular ones go for $96. You can snag a pass right here.

Talk about a cultural extravaganza: on October 7 and 8, Infatuation is hosting its annual EEEEEATSCON New York food festival, which is actually much more than a traditional celebration of all things gastronomic. In fact, in addition to grabbing treats from some of the nation's most renowned purveyors (Burns Original BBQ from Houston! Tacos Los Cholos from Los Angeles! Caracas Baery from Miami! Panzerotti Bites from New York!), attendees will get to listen in on conversations with some very prominent figures. This year's roster includes New Yorker par excellence Sarah Jessica Parker, The Kid Mero and more. You'll get to devour delectable food while listening to some inspiring talks at Forest Hills Stadium: sounds just like the perfect weekend. Grab your tickets for the festival right here.

Watch the Harlem Globetrotters show off their b-ballin’ skills at the New York stop of their just-announced 2024 world tour. You’ll be mesmerized as the basketball wizards shoot from midcourt, spin balls on their fingers and go head-to-head for two epic games, which are bound to keep you on the edge of your seat. Make sure to stick around until the very end to snag an autograph, photo and high-five session from your favorite players, plus you can add a legendary Marques Haynes bobblehead to your collection. Snag tickets to the February 18 game against the Washington Generals right here.

The 10th season of the New York Philharmonic's "Art of the Score" series kicks off this week with West Side Story.  As has been the case since its inception in 2013, the program features the legendary orchestra performing scores live alongside film screenings.  This year, for the first time ever, five of the six featured movies will be New York premieres, with soundtracks being performed live for the very first time in town. Those presentations include Black Panther (December 20-23), Vertigo (January 23-26, 2024) and Metropolis (February 6, 2024), among others. We are, however, particularly excited to listen to the May 17-19, 2024's presentation of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Although the orchestra has performed the film's score in the past, there's just something about the music that tickles all of our senses.  Buy tickets to the various events and learn more about them right here. 

Next month, iconic music hall The Apollo will host its first ever arts and ideas festival, dubbed [at] The Intersection. The three-day event will kick off on October 6 and it is curated by writer Ta-Nehisi Coates, who will be joined by the likes of Kerry Washington, Jelani Cobb, Barry Jenkins, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and more across a variety of panels focusing on different themes. The festival will also feature curated music performances and networking opportunities. Snag passes for the much-anticipated event right here.

It's still Barbie's world and we're all just living in it. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of, according to a press release, "Barbie moving into her very first Dreamhouse," a Barbie Truck Dreamhouse is scheduled to roam through the streets of New York throughout September, offering visitors branded merch that will reignite your love for all things pink. Expect to see the truck at the Shops at Skyview at the main mall entrance on College Point Boulevard in Flushing, Queens, between 10am and 7pm on September 16. Folks in Staten Island will be treated to the experience the week after, on September 23 between 10am and 7pm at the Staten Island Mall near Barnes & Noble.  Merchandise for purchase will include branded totes, blankets, T-shirts, mugs, bottles, coasters, pouches, hats, necklaces and much more.  Although we might be all Barbie-d out following the success of this past summer’s Greta Gerwig movie about the doll, it’s important we give credit where it’s due. In fact, according to the myth, Barbie bought her very first Dreamhouse back in 1962, "before women in the United States could open their own bank accounts and when only 0.1% of young women were independent homeowners," according to a press release. Celebrations are clearly in order.

Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, is happening this upcoming weekend and to celebrate the occasion, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is hosting three pop-up tours led by Dr. Riva Arnold, an adjunct professor at Yeshiva University, who will speak about two astounding Hebrew manuscripts from the Italian Renaissance.  Specifically, the expert is going to guide visitors through the Rothschild Mahzor and the Mishneh Torah of Maimonides. Fun fact: both texts have actually been on display at the museum since March and the staff has been turning each manuscript’s pages every three months. At the moment, according to an official press release, the Rothschild Mahzor is open to a page pertaining to Rosh Hashana. How cool! The tours, which are free to attend with museum admission, will take place on September 14, 15 and 18 between 1pm and 2:30pm. Read more about them right here.

Kicking off on May 10 through May 13 with a slew of events held concurrently in New York and Los Angeles, PEN America's 18th annual World Voices Festival will feature a ton of literary happenings sure to delight folks of all backgrounds. This year, Ta-Nehisi Coates, the award-winning author of Between the World and Me, will deliver the prestigious keynote, the annual Arthur Miller Freedom to Write Lecture. Expect him to address topics related to book censorship in schools, among others. "America has long been haunted by men who considered 'freedom of speech' a right reserved for a certain class," Coates said in an official statement. "Indeed, this current effort to drive uncomfortable literature from the public square is as old as the slave codes, as old as the gag laws. And just as old are those who understand that true free speech cannot be divorced from freedom itself." Confirmed attendees include Roxane Gay, John Irving, Sarah Polley, Imani Perry, Min Jin Lee and Ottessa Moshfegh, among plenty of others. Find tickets on sale right here and a list of events, which will be held all over downtown New York, over here. Some of them will be free to attend!

Yoko Ono, Miles Greenberg and Louise Bourgeouis metaphorically join forces within the confines of the free, private museum Faurschou New York in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where their works will be on display through September 17 as part of the "Embrace the World from Within" exhibit. According to an official press release, the show "revolves around physical and metaphorical aspects of the embrace: from embrace as the merging together of bodies to embrace as an act of acceptance and shelter or by contrast as claustrophobic smothering."  Patrons will get to peruse through three different galleries, each one dedicated to one of the artists and focusing on works of various form—from sculptures to performative acts and more traditional installations. Read more about each exhibition right here.

Kicking off this May and running through September, TSQ Live is a series of over 80 free, open-air performances all over Times Square. Basically, a giant, free outdoor event festival with programs presented by the likes of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Soul Summit and more.  “Living up to its name, the Crossroads of the World, the free public programming of our plazas in Times Square is a direct reflection of our community, culture, and all that New York City has to offer and is just as diverse and dynamic as the people in Times Square,” said Joe Papa, director of events and programming at the Times Square Alliance, in an official statement about the series. “Complete with emerging artists as well as charting pop stars, this year’s TSQ LIVE lineup is stacked with an incredible range of talent, from a solo cellist creating an intimate soundscape to in-your-face rock-out moments; from a 17-piece big band to a 40+ dance crew; and everything in between at a venue like no other.” This year's full lineup can be found right here, but some standouts include dance workshops by Ailey Extension, held every Thursday in May and encompassing a variety of styles; weekly DJ sets by the likes of FEMME HOUSE, Matinée Social Club and Elsewhere; and a new series called Street Lab that will feature pop-up activations for entire families focusing on all things art. This year, for the first time ever, TSQ LIVE will also be hosting an open call for musicians and singers who would like to perform in

Subway announcements, and the voices behind them, are part and parcel of New York City living. So when news regarding a shift in those audio clips reaches us, our attention is peaked.  Case in point: a new report by The City outlining the MTA's decision to test new audio tracks underground "with on-train announcements from boldface name New Yorkers and in-station promotions for big-ticket events." According to the outlet "a pair of one-year pilot programs [...] will gauge rider reaction to announcement aboard trains and to some that will, at select stations, play paid advertisements for sporting and entertainment events."  This isn't an entirely new concept.  Just last year, subway riders were treated to a number of audio promos about the then-to-be-released movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Even before then, in 2020, Awkwafina partnered with the MTA to promote her Comedy Central TV show, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens. For a week, the actress was the voice heard on the 7 train during announcements. A year later, in 2021, famous New Yorkers like Edie Falco and Jerry Seinfeld recorded pandemic-era messages inviting commuters to wear masks on the subway.  The new trial run, in effect through the beginning of April 2025, will include a set of guidelines: there will be volume and frequency limits in place and, although "designed to raise money for the agency through fees charged to program partners," according to The City, the ads will have to abide by an advertising po

CAVA, a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant chain that boasts locations all around the United States, is finally coming to Illinois. Chicagoans, specifically, can rejoice: The new eatery has just celebrated its grand opening at 1484 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park. The 31,000-square-foot dining room can accommodate 30 patrons at once from 10am to 10:45pm daily. Digital order pick-up and delivery services are also available, processed through an expanded kitchen for centralized catering production. "We are excited to bring CAVA to the upper Midwest and, as we welcome Chicagoans to our table, we look forward to becoming part of the community and delivering on our mission of bringing heart, health, and humanity to food," said Brett Schulman, the co-founder and CEO of Cava, in an official statement. CAVA's signature fare includes harissa honey chicken, spicy lamb meatballs, a ton of customizable bowls and pitas, delicious dressings, dips and spreads prepared in line with the sort of Mediterranean dietary customs that folks on the other side of the Atlantic swear by. Let's be clear: The food at CAVA is absolutely delicious and always tastes fresh. Chicagoans should start getting acquainted with the chain as the company has announced intentions to majorly expand its footprint all across the nation within the next few years. According to an official press release, the plan is to debut 1,000 new restaurants by 2032, including a second Illinois outpost that is slated to open in Ve

It's official: Sage Plant Based Bistro & Brewery is going non-vegan. After 13 years spent catering to the city's herbivorous masses across a variety of locations, the eatery has just announced that it will be "revamping the entire menu to include regenerative meat, dairy and eggs," according to an official press release. In case you were wondering, regenerative meat is, well, still meat, albeit coming from cattle that lives in cleaner living conditions that other more "conventional" beef. The focus on health is clearly still there. Photograph: Courtesy of Sage Plant Based Bistro & Brewery Overall, you can still expect the restaurant to serve a vast variety of vegan dishes alongside other "meatier" options that include the "what's possible burger" made with a fully pastured 100% grass fed bison patty; the pezzolo sandwich featuring hand-tossed sourdough pizza crust folded in half, seasoned and baked with an assortment of veggie and meat options; and the breakfast burrito made with fully pastured eggs and bison sausage.  According to the press release, the dining destination will also stop using seed oils, opting instead for beef tallow when it comes to frying foods.  The reasons behind the major change are fairly obvious: the new menu will cater to a larger number of potential diners. "This move positions Sage to attract a wider audience of health conscious diners who are looking for regenerative protein options and value knowing where their food is coming from," reads the p

As any Italian living in NYC knows, some of the most delicious, Italian-tasting food in the city can be found at Piccola Cucina, a trio of restaurants by chef and restaurateur Philip Guardione.  Until now, Guardione has been operating his three Sicilian eateries—Piccola Cucina Enoteca, Osteria and Estiatorio—within the confines of Manhattan's culinary scene. That has officially changed with the debut of Piccola Cucina Casa, a new concept that just opened at 141 Nevins Street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. The new location will be slinging out familiar dishes—ricciole pasta with braised tuna, pistacchio foam, 'nduja and taralli crumble and a cotoletta alla Milanese, for example—but also serve as the owner's first foray beyond traditional dining. In fact, on top of the restaurant on the ground floor is a duo of recently renovated guesthouse suites that people can actually rent out. Photograph: Courtesy of Piccola Cucina Casa According to an official company spokesperson, Piccola Cucina's apartments are inspired by the Italian concept of "villeggiatura," basically resting in a pleasant place. "Guardione wanted to offer insiders a 'Piccola Cucina Casa 360' [experience], like a bed and breakfast," the spokesperson explained, also noting that "inquiries will be handled very old school." The exact reservation process is not entirely clear at the moment. Photograph: Courtesy of Piccola Cucina Casa At the moment, the two units—each one boasting a private patio, wood beam ceilings, bric

As the weather turns warmer, folks heading to the Rockaways should consider spending some time at the new 35-acre preserve that officials just unveiled. Boasting five different ecosystems, the new preserve features accessible connections to the Rockaway boardwalk and beach as well.  Expect a number of pedestrian pathways weaving through the preserve, allowing visitors to come face to face with the various natural environments on site: maritime grassland, maritime dunes, maritime shrubland, maritime forest and maritime swale. Photograph: Daniel Avila   Photograph: Daniel Avila Officials have also built a new welcome center, home to a community meeting space, office space for park rangers, crew headquarters for maintenance staff and public restrooms, according to a press release. “The Rockaway Renaissance takes another historic step forward today,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. in an official statement. “What was once a vacant, overgrown illegal dumping ground for decades is now a stunning hub of wildlife and a successful example of what community-centered sustainability work looks like.” Photograph: Daniel Avila But there's more: a local non-profit, RISE, has also set up camp in the area. The organization will be operating a native plant nursery, "raising locally-adapted native plant seedlings and saplings to support ongoing revegetation of the nature preserve, dunes, and other natural areas around the coast," reads the press release, while an urban

New music venues don't exactly open every other week in Chicago, which is why we're so excited about the June 1 debut of Outset, a 10,000-square-foot live entertainment space near Lincoln Yards with a 750-person capacity.  According to an official press release, the new destination "has been designed to offer the production value of a large-scale venue coupled with the vibe or an intimate and close-up setting." To deliver that vibe, owners Nick Karounos, Stuart Hackley and John Curley—who are also behind Concord Music Hall and Radius—have invested in a state-of-the-art acoustic and production system, plus "sight lines both from the main floor and the unique wrap-around balcony."   Photograph: Courtesy of Outset "For us, music is how we make memories," Hackley said in an official statement. "We’re excited to bring more experiences, artists, and moments to life as we add to the fabric of Chicago’s musical landscape for decades to come.” Even more exciting are the activations that will come along with each scheduled show: Prior to performances, ticket holders will get to roam around the outdoor space, which will be filled with a rotating roster of local food trucks, artist merchandise purveyors, drink vendors, community events and more. Below is a calendar of upcoming shows at Outset: June 1: Parliament Funkadelic feat. George Clinton, w/ Dumpstaphunk June 2: Parliament Funkadelic feat. George Clinton, w/ Dumpstaphunk June 7: Manwolves June 14: Bonobo (DJ Set) June 16: Rawayan

A few days ago, public transit sleuth @numble pretty much shocked local travelers when sharing a set of official documents pertaining to the possible renaming of LAX’s terminals, gates and other facilities. The gist: As part of a wayfinding improvement project that goes hand-in-hand with the airport’s increasingly delayed automated people mover, the airport is proposing that most number terminals be combined with their neighbors and for gates to be assigned letters in front of them. Although many people on social media praised the would-be changes, they simultaneously expressed surprise and confusion at the process: What were the new monikers going to be? Will they be less confusing than what’s currently in use? In order to calm everyone’s nerves and make sense of it all, we’ve penned this handy little guide dissecting the sorts of updates we could expect to see. Post by @numble View on Threads Why is LAX changing the name of its terminals and gates? According to official planning documents, the developments are part of a larger “LAX Wayfinding Enhancement Program” that seeks to change the on-site standard “to a world-class system and provide a user centered approach to achieving a clear, consistent” network that will “enhance guest experience.” Basically, the idea is to help travelers move around the growing airport more seamlessly. What will the new terminal names be? The following changes can be seen in the proposed plans that were just released: Terminal 1 and th

Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul released a new $237 billion state budget deal that, among other things, included a clause permitting local movie theaters to apply for a license to sell hard liquor on site.  Both the New York State Senate and the Assembly already approved the measures, but no word yet on when the changes will go into effect. One thing to keep in mind: according to the new guidelines, customers will only be allowed to buy a single drink per transaction (so you and your date will have to head to the bar together).   Of course, the concept of drinking while catching the new Dune isn't completely foreign: theaters like iPic are known to deliver a culinary experience alongside movie screenings, and they do so by holding a restaurant license and operating a full kitchen with staff delivering orders directly to the various seats.  Back in 2022, officials passed new laws allowing "traditional" theaters to serve wine, beer and cider to movie-goers. Sipping on a mojito, though, has been prohibited until now.  The new budget includes a number of other measures: liquor stores no longer have to be located at street level to qualify for a license (believe it or not, that was a Prohibition era law!) and the "drinks to go" provision that came about during the pandemic will now be extended another five years, beginning 2025 through 2030.  Basically, NYC is entering the golden era of cocktail sipping outside of bars—and we're here for it.

The MTV Video Music Awards, widely referred to as the VMAs, first aired from Radio City Music Hall in 1984, making this year's festivities the program's 40th.  For the first time since 2018, the award show will take place in New York once again, this time at the UBS Arena in Queens on September 10. “We are excited to welcome back the MTV Video Music Awards to New York State," Governor Kathy Hochul said in an official statement. "From its origins at Radio City Music Hall in 1984 to this September’s event at the UBS Arena, the VMAs continue to captivate millions, showcasing the very best in music video artistry. As we prepare to host this 40th anniversary event, let’s embrace the spirit of creativity and innovation that defines our state’s cultural landscape.” A confluence of factors make the 2024 iteration of the show super-exciting: not only is it the program's 40th anniversary, but it's the first time that the staff will venture out to Long Island. It's also the first time that UBS Arena gets to host an awards show. For the past two years, the VMAs have been held at the Prudential Center in New Jersey and, before that, the show had taken over both Manhattan and Brooklyn arenas in addition to spaces across Los Angeles.  The host of the event and the list of nominees have yet to be announced but, if we may, we'd love to make a few suggestions that honor the event's anniversary. Back in 1984, the inaugural broadcast was led by Canadian actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd and the alw

New York is home to many "best" things—from the top restaurants to some of the most sought-after bars in the world. Now, we've got another accolade to add to our list: according to consultancy firm Skytrax, our very own TWA Hotel is the best airport hotel in all of North America, also landing at the number three spot on a global list ranking the destinations. To come up with its list, the website reviewed guest surveys and ranked the hotels based on a variety of factors, including in-room amenities, overall experience, quality of facilities, reception service, access to and from the airport, leisure facilities, value for money and more. The destination, formerly the TWA terminal at JFK Airport, famously re-opened as a renovated hotel, food-and-drink and convention destination in 2019. Since then, the 1960s-like decor inside and overall character of the space has consistently landed it on local must-see lists, and for good reason: it's really awesome to have a drink in the magnificent main hall and the Paris Café restaurant, the brainchild of world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, always yields delicious fare. Needless to say, TWA Hotel is the perfect staycation reservation. Here is the top five list of best airport hotels in North America: 1. TWA Hotel—John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York2. Fairmont Vancouver Airport—Vancouver International Airport in Vancouver3. Grand Hyatt—San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco 4. The Westin—San Francisco

We can’t believe this is actually happening, but the drive from Las Vegas to L.A. is about to become a bit less of a nightmare—because in a few years you won’t have to drive at all. Brightline West has just announced that it broke ground today on a high-speed rail line set to connect the Nevada city to Southern California, which will likely be the first system of its kind in the U.S. As early as 2028, zero emission, fully electric trains capable of reaching 200 miles per hour could be whisking prospective train riders between Vegas and not-quite-in-L.A. Rancho Cucamonga (more on that in a minute).  Rendering: Courtesy of BrightLine West Illustration: Courtesy Brightline West According to an official press release, “the 218-mile system will be constructed in the middle of the I-15 and is based on Brightline’s vision to connect city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive.” Not included in that statement: a description of how absolutely horrible it is to take on that trip by car, between the boringly straight stretches of highway and the notorious miles-long backups by the state border. Map: Courtesy of BrightLine West Rendering: Courtesy Brightline WestRancho Cucamonga station The project, which was awarded $3 billion in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, will otherwise be privately funded. Upon completion, it will offer stops in Vegas, Victor Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga; it will connect the latter to Vegas in abut two