Anna Rahmanan

You don’t need us to tell you that The Big Apple is a pricey place. Anybody visiting for the first time will soon realise that all the pizza slices, cocktails, museum tickets and cab fares quickly stacks up, but one way to easily make some savings is by booking yourself into a budget-friendly hotel.  What are hotel prices like in New York City? Hotel prices in NYC can be pretty harsh on your wallet, whether you book well in advance or not. But don’t fret, weary traveler—we are here to help. Our cheap New York hotels guide comprises a list which has not been skimpy on that effortlessly cool New York style, but still only features stays with a starting price of $215 per night or less.  What’s the best area to stay in New York City? It’d be easy to assume that staying smack-dab in the heart of Manhattan will set you back a chunk of change—and don’t get us wrong, that is often the case. However, even in New York’s coolest zip codes, you will find budget-friendly places to stay. Have a read of our guides to all NYC’s neighborhoods, and cross-reference with our brilliant list below for the best affordable hotels in the city.  New York’s best budget-friendly hotels, at a glance: 👙 Best pool: Margaritaville Resort Times Square 🗺️ Best location: Now Now NoHo 🤩 Coolest: Romer Hell’s Kitchen Hotel  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old

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 37 can’t-miss suggestions, along with where to find them. Recommended: 📺 The 101 best TV shows of all-time💻 The 40 best Netflix original series to binge🎮 The best 50 ‘90s movies🎶 The 50 best ‘90s songs

This list is old. Here are the best things to do in the world in 2026.  2025 is set to be a momentous year when it comes to travel. Citywide celebrations and milestone anniversaries will be taking place in Amsterdam and Rome, sparkling new cultural centres are flinging open their doors in Rotterdam, New York and Abu Dhabi, and there are fresh chances to see some wonderful wildlife in Australia, Singapore and Greenland – but that’s just the beginning. Read on for our roundup of the 25 coolest, weirdest and most adventurous new things to do across the world in 2025, no matter your whereabouts or budget. RECOMMENDED:🇬🇧 The best things to do in the UK in 2025🛍️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🎪 The world’s best music festivals for 2025🌃 The best cities in the world right now  

If you’re looking for a travel destination, don’t underestimate Busan. In our opinion, Busan is one of the most underrated cities in the world, but let’s not go there right now. See the magic for yourselves. This huge, sprawling city at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula is home to three and a half million people, and to fully embrace it, you’ve just got to go along for the ride.  Busan has huge beaches, a seriously good food scene and plenty of markets and shopping spots to explore. The best part? You can get all this alongside the bright lights of city life, which lends itself to trendy micro-breweries, cool coffee shops and vintage bargains. Fancy fresh seafood from the biggest fish market in Korea? An underground photographer’s gallery? You’ve got it all here. Read on for the best things to do in Busan right now.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Seoul🇰🇷 The best things to do in South Korea✈️ The world’s most underrated travel destinations🌆 The best cities in the world🏬 The coolest neighbourhoods in the world Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

Few travel experiences capture the spirit of adventure quite like a road trip—and in America, it's practically a rite of passage. With thousands of miles of scenic byways, historic highways and wide-open roads, the United States, in our opinion, is best explored via four-wheel drive. While there are many reasons to love road trips, it's the freedom to roam that makes them truly special. Without the rush, distractions, or rigid schedules that come with pre-booked flights or train tickets, travelers can explore at their own pace—lingering where they want, skipping what doesn't interest them and embracing spontaneity. So, instead of racing to an airport or train station, travelers have ample time to explore, be it strolling through small towns, pulling over for a scenic hike or making a beeline for quirky roadside attractions. Whether you're weaving through coastal cliffs along the Pacific Coast Highway, winding through the Smoky Mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway or cruising through red rock arches on Utah's Route 12, there's a scenic and spectacular route for every kind of traveler. Here are 20 of our favorites across the country, each offering picturesque landscapes and postcard-worthy views. We've also included Airbnbs to stay in at the end of each route!

A new season calls for a new wardrobe, but who says the swap has to come with a hefty price tag? The best sample sales in NYC offer a goldmine of designer finds at a fraction of the cost. From chic outerwear to fresh footwear, these sales let you step into spring with a stylish new look—without breaking the bank.

Growing up, a shelf-stable sandwich was a constant cast member in my brown bag lunch, from the reliable turkey with a squirt of mustard to the simple yet satisfying peanut butter and jelly variety, all of which was prepared by my loving mother. But as I've grown, so has my imagination as to what I can slide between two halves of bread.  The mighty sandwich is really a vehicle for all. Carnivorous appetites call for hunks of brisket and barbecue to pastrami-stacked creations. Yet sandwiches sprouting with veggies and vegetarian-forward ingredients can be just as satisfying if not more. And no matter what, a sandwich beats a sad desk salad, any day. When the hankering calls for a carb-laden lunch (or breakfast or dinner, we don't care), thumb through this list and discover your new favorite sub. Editor's note: We removed Bonafide Delicatessen and Cafe, Ciao, Gloria, Henry Public and Rowdy Rooster. We added Bark Barbecue, Calyer, Daily Provisions, Ends Meat, Ollin, Win Son Bakery and The Bonnie.  RECOMMENDED: The 25 most spectacular sandwiches in the world

New York City's art scene is in for an impressive spring season. The season begins with an extensive survey of Brooklyn artists at the Brooklyn Museum. Then, there's The Affordable Art Fair, The Frick Collection's re-opening, never-before-seen Hilma af Klint illustrations, and an exhibit on nuclear posters at Poster House. We're especially looking forward to "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at The Met and "Out of the Closets! Into the Streets!" at Hispanic Society. From public art displays to gallery shows to museum presentations, here are 17 art experiences we’re excited about this spring for you to mark your calendar. No matter which you choose, New Yorkers you're guaranteed to feast your eyes on some incredible works this spring.  

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. Since then, more than 300 have opened across the state, as of January 2025. Of course, there are still 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

Whether or not you’re a sports fan, the halftime show is the one thing everyone tunes into on Super Bowl Sunday. This year was no different with Pullitzer-prize-winning rapper (!) Kendrick Lamar taking the stage alongside special guest SZA (plus a few other surprises we won’t ruin just yet). The halftime show is a long-standing tradition that has featured some of the country's biggest stars, from Beyoncé to Prince to Madonna. 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. This year’s musical spectacle made a big impression, but that doesn’t mean they’ve all landed well with audiences. We’ve seen our share of misses among the best Super Bowl halftime shows. Below, a cherry-picked ranking of the performances that got us dancing, singing and discussing with colleagues the next day.

No matter where you are or where you work in New York, you’re probably stressed out. As great as our fair city is—with so many amazing things to do, fabulous restaurants and top-notch bars—it’s hard to find time to chill out. Taking a weekend getaway or relaxing on a nearby beach are good ways to relax, but often we need serenity NOW (and let’s face it: sometimes planning that beach trip or weekend getaway can lead to even more stress!). A relaxing spa treatment can be just the thing for a quick fix. Problem is, most of us can’t afford the luxurious spas that promise instant bliss. Fortunately there are a number of spots for affordable spa treatments in NYC. Whether it’s a facial, a massage, a mani-pedi or a body scrub, one to two hours at a spa will give you the re-set you need. You’ll feel refreshed and glowing in no time. RECOMMENDED: Find more spas in NYC

This year started off strong as New York City started winning its war against rats, was named as the best city in the world and had an extremely packed spring season on Broadway. But then as 2024 unfolded, we experienced some pretty radical moments, like an incredible solar eclipse and an earthquake—and when Jennifer Lopez declared “if you know, you know” about her mystifying Bronx bodega order. From there, we ditched the dating apps and confoundedly found love at live dating shows and running clubs, and suffered heartache when we lost a few greats—RIP to the Rubin Museum‘s physical space (it’s still in operation), the Fotografiska museum of photography (temporarily at least), our beloved Flaco the owl, pandemic-era dining sheds and $15 congestion pricing (oh no!). But New York City is nothing if not resilient. We celebrated the Paris Olympics from afar, turned out to the U.S. Open, saw top-notch theater, welcomed back Kellogg’s Diner, Papaya King and Pioneer Works, and even held a Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest.  But so much more is worth celebrating this year, which is why Time Out New York editors—all of whom experienced these crazy NYC moments—are unveiling their top picks in the food and drink sphere, the world of theater, art and culture, nightlife circles and more. RECOMMENDED: Time Out New York’s 2023 Best of the City award winners

Mercer Labs, Museum of Art and Technology is a unique immersive museum created by artist Roy Nachum (you might recognize his name because he designed Rihanna's famed Anti album cover) and his business partner Michael Cayre, a real estate developer. The 36,000-square-foot space opened in early 2024 at 21 Dey Street, with a total of 15 different rooms to explore, each one attacking all the senses upon entrance. Some outstanding installations include the one that the staff refers to as "The Dragon," where a total of 500,000 individual LED lights hung on strings adorn a room and are lit up to created 3D videos, including one of a galloping horse, that will catch your attention. Towards the end of the walkthrough is what can only be described as a cave of beautiful pink flowers (plastic ones), where there will soon be a bar as well. This is perhaps the most Instagrammable space within the museum as a whole, one that will likely come to represent the destination on social media once it officially opens.   A mere walk through Mercer Labs makes one thing clear: the immersive space can be much more than that given its size and the clear technological capabilities embedded in each room. That’s something that wasn’t lost on the founders: folks can rent out different rooms. May we suggest a very unique and technologically avant-garde wedding in a room filled with pink flowers, perhaps?

Dining at Malka in Dumbo, the kosher Israeli restaurant by celebrity chef Eyal Shani, shifts depending on when you walk through the door. On most nights, it’s a polished, Middle Eastern–flavored dining experience, anchored by the now-famous golden Malka schnitzel—stuffed with mashed potatoes and served with dips begging to be dragged through. The vibe: Weeknights are calm and focused on the food, but come Thursday, the lights dim, the DJ cranks up and the restaurant transforms into a Tel Aviv–style party. Prix fixe tends to dominate because who has time to order while people are dancing on tables? The Dumbo outpost, Shani’s first U.S. kosher venture after the Upper West Side debut in 2023, also hosts wine-pairing dinners spotlighting kosher bottles from around the world, matched with regionally inspired dishes. The food: While the menu offers green beans, a field-of-greens salad and red meat entries, the schnitzel steals the show. Crispy and stuffed just right, it practically crackles under your knife, revealing a pillowy potato filling. Order it as a starter with the focaccia to swipe up every last bit. The branzino hraime—a North African fish stew in a fiery tomato, garlic and chili sauce—is another standout, served whole and begging for that same bread-soaking treatment. The drinks: Cocktails hit the mark with Israeli-inspired twists: the Jerusalem Negroni with grapefruit, the Limonarak with arak, mint and soda and the Sweet Luisa with gin, lemon, honey, verbena and brut.

One of the most visited historical sites in Europe, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, has opened an exhibition in New York for the first time. Find it at the Center for Jewish History in the Flatiron District through April 30, 2025. New Yorkers can now walk through a full-scale re-creation of the rooms where Anne Frank, her parents Otto and Edith, her sister Margot, the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer (all Jews) spent two years in hiding from the Nazis during World War II. Inside the re-created annex itself, every object displayed in glass cases is original—things that Anne, her family and fellow hideout Jews touched and used daily, alongside exact replicas of other items. The exhibition also includes a gallery space that walks visitors through the events leading up to the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were murdered, and its aftermath. Expect to see objects—some original, others exact replicas from the house in Amsterdam—alongside striking images. There's a remarkable amount of archival footage on display—photos and videos blown up to massive size that demand attention to every detail.  Brace yourself for a deeply emotional experience. Time Out tip: upon entering, be sure to grab an audio guide. The space is filled with artifacts, photos and videos, but the text on the walls is minimal, mostly consisting of quotes from Anne’s diary and from family members. 

In what is likely to be the most New York-way to ring in the New Year, dance to electrifying beats by DJ Kristaval, who will be performing 1,000 feet above the city at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt on December 31. You can also expect two complimentary cocktails of your choice, a complimentary champagne for a midnight toast, and a dessert bar with plenty of gourmet bites.  For $300, you'll gain access to all three floor sof the space until 2am, including the beautiful rooftop. You can purchase tickets right here.

If Netflix’s Squid Game was one of your favorite shows and you’re looking forward to the new season premiere this December, you’ll want to try your hand at some of the challenges at Squid Game: The Experience here in NYC. Set within Manhattan Mall (100 West 33rd Street by Sixth Avenue), you get into teams of up to 24 people each to complete challenges across 60 minutes, including those that appeared on the TV show (yes, you’ll get to try your hand at the iconic Red Light Green Light) plus a number of brand-new ones built specifically for the experience.  Once done playing, you can enjoy a night market offering a variety of Korean and international sweet and savory foods—plus drinks! As the event's official spirits partner, Johnnie Walker is serving signature cocktails inspired by the show such as The 456, at the Johnnie Walker Black Label bar.

The ultimate family concert experience, the Kidz Bop tour is hitting New York's Beacon Theatre with 90 minutes of pop tracks sung by children... for children. The concert coincides with the group's latest album Kidz Bop 2024 Vol. 2. This year's Kidz Bop Kids—Aleah, JJ, Shila and Tyler—will perform songs like "Dance the Night," "Shake it Off," "TEXAS HOLD 'EM," "Sunroof" and "Uptown Funk," among others. A few things to keep in mind: the show features an intermission and you are more than welcome to snap photos of the experience before, during and after the producion. A message to fans: every Kidz Bop tour is different, so expect an all-new set design, novel costumes, choreography and more at this year's shenanigans. You can snag tickets to the Beacon Theatre concert right here. 

Is the role of a hotel to shield its guests from the outside world or render them participants to the goings-on of the city they get to temporarily call home? If you’re leaning towards the former, then the Greenwich Hotel, the eight-story luxury abode near Tribeca that's partly owned by actor Robert De Niro, is where you’ll want to stay while in town.  Nestled on the corner of North Moore Street and Greenwich Street right by the West Side Highway, the building boasts 73 rooms, some of which overlook an interior courtyard, 11 suites and two duplex penthouses that are aptly named The Greenwich and The North Moore.  On a recent visit while staying in a luxurious suite on the second floor, I was struck by one aspect of the experience: I forgot I was in New York. When looking out the window and into the courtyard, I noticed the absence of the very things that make the city what it is on a visual level. There were no buildings, no people rushing down the street and all was… quiet?  Despite the disconnect from its surroundings, the hotel offers a premium experience when it comes to your actual stay: the beautiful bathroom, complete with a shower and a bath, was stocked with Red Flower products developed specifically for the hotel and the bed, by British company Savoir, was particularly comfortable.  But there’s more: guests receive a complimentary newspaper every morning and the mini bar is filled with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks to be enjoyed completely gratis (keep in mind tha

Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth studio album, Short N’ Sweet, is set to drop this Friday. And Angelenos will get to celebrate the much anticipated new record with a visit to this exclusive pop-up experience, courtesy of Complex L.A. at 433 North Fairfax Avenue. Friday, August 23 through Sunday, August 25 from 11am to 7pm, folks can shop exclusive merchandise inspired by and dedicated to the 25-year-old singer and actress. From T-shirts to tanks, hats, totes, CDs and vinyl records, the roster of products on offer run the gamut in terms of style and genre, but each one pays homage to the artist behind the hit “Espresso.”

Angelenos will soon be able to taste one of the most iconic dishes served in New York when Katz’s Delicatessen, perhaps the most recognized deli in all of the East Coast, will open in L.A. for one day only this Saturday, June 29 from 11am to 6pm. Brought to this side of the country by Postmates and West Hollywood spot Bar Next Door, where the activation will be setting up at 9159 Sunset Boulevard, the pop-up will be serving a limited number of Katz’s famous pastrami sandwiches on rye with a side of the legendary house-made mustard and pickles. You can opt for either pickup or delivery on Postmates, and in addition to the app, there’ll be a limited number of sandwiches available at the bar for walk-ups (though you’ll likely need to wait in a standby line). Fair warning: The culinary delight will cost you $25 for half a sandwich and $45 for a full one. But trust us: The food is worth the price tag. Guests will also be able to look through limited-edition branded merch.

The kids will surely love this one: the Newark Museum of Art has just announced the opening of "Animal Kingdom," a new immersive exhibit that explores the concept of ecology and nature through art, digital workshops and more. Opening on September 23 through May 2024, the show will feature, among a variety of offerings, an animal-matching game with ancient cave drawings and a digital recreation of three ecosystems, including highlights regarding endangered and extinct species that once called them home.  The show's piece de resistance, though, will be "Sketch Aquarium: Connected World," an interactive digital installation by teamLab where "visitors will be able to draw their own sea creatures to join an underwater habitat where animals come to life and swim in a virtual aquarium," reads an official press release. Exciting things ahead!

When trying to gauge whether a stay at the Surf Lodge in Montauk is worth the effort, the first thing you have to figure out is whether you want to head to Montauk at all. About 112 miles from midtown Manhattan, the three-hour drive to Montauk will take you across all of Long Island, passing through locales such as Southampton, grazing Sag Harbor and even waving to folks as you pass by Fire Island.  If it’s a high-end vacation with tons of shopping opportunities and real estate porn that you’re after, then you’re likely going to want to stop a few hours into your drive and set up camp in East Hampton.  But if it’s a more subtle cool that you’re craving, defined by high-priced but casual-feeling outings, Montauk is the place to be during summer weekends in New York. Think of it as the equivalent of living in Manhattan versus Brooklyn: although both are part of this grand city of ours, each borough caters to slightly different characters. One fact mostly rings true across all of Eastern Long Island: when looking for lodgings, options include motels, Airbnbs or very expensive hotels, which is the category that the likes of the Surf Lodge and Gurneys in Montauk belong to. Straight off the bat, the price of an average room during the summer season at the Surf Lodge seems pretty daunting: it’ll cost you about $800 to stay there a single night. The prohibitive pricing probably has to do with the fact that the destination is more of a sunset-to-night hangout spot than it is a hotel w

Gaming company Immersive Gamebox has just partnered with Netflix to launch a full-scale, interactive version of Squid Game that New Yorkers can play beginning September 21. Specifically, the company has opened its first venue in New York (the 13th across the United States and Europe) at 242 Broome Street between Ludlow and Essex Streets, outfitting the space with a multitude of different games for all ages (think a life-size Angry Birds, for example). The company relies on its proprietary motion-sensing technology and touch screens to create all games, none of which require the use of headsets. The Squid Game offering is set to debut within the venue this fall.  According to an official press release, "groups of two to six players will navigate challenges inspired by the series, including Red Light Green Light and the 'Squid Game' itself, among others."  Think of the destination as a happy marriage between the various immersive experiences that have taken over the city in recent years and the escape rooms that some argue actually portended the trend. 

Big news: yesterday, Amtrak and the Trump administration jointly approved a plan for a massive Penn Station rebuild without relocating Madison Square Garden, despite Trump previously signaling he'd be open to it. The two parties announced the selection of Penn Transformation Partners, a dedicated developing team that is going to lead the massive revamping of the transportation hub.  According to an official press release, the plan involves a grand new entrance on Eighth Avenue leading to a new train hall (perhaps one more akin to the beauty of Grand Central), new concourses replacing the current cramped walkways, increased track capacity—including the introduction of at least limited through-running on the regional rail network—passenger experience upgrades and an improved subterranean structure. Madison Square Garden is also going to be renovated: expect a new glass entrance and an upgraded exterior. “We took over the transformation of New York Penn Station because the project was behind schedule, over budget and hopelessly mismanaged. One year later, we continue to hit major milestones at record speed,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy in an official statement announcing the news. “In selecting Penn Transformation Partners and their innovative plan, we are one step closer to delivering a world-class travel hub that daily commuters and travelers have dreamed of for decades.” What's perhaps most shocking is the timeline that was just made public: according t

Earlier today, Michelin announced that 11 new L.A. restaurants were going to be added to its California Michelin Guide, in addition to picks in Palm Springs, San Diego and Santa Barbara. To be clear, these new additions are entry-level designations. What that means is that Michelin's anonymous inspectors have visited the eateries and thought they are worth telling people about. These restaurants did not receive any Michelin stars (yet) but they're now on the watch list for potential mentions during the 2026 Michelin ceremony that will be held in San Diego next month, on June 24.  Interestingly enough, the directory just recently issued an update to its California edition, adding six L.A. restaurants to the guide at the end of March. This latest round of inclusions features live-fire Studio City restaurant Alto; Joshua Whigham's Los Feliz Spanish eatery Casa Leo; Electric Bleu, the French bistro in Mar Vista; Good Alley, the modern dumpling hit; eight-seat Sawtelle sushi eatery Kojima; seasonal California set menu destination Lielle by Marcus Jernmark, one of Sweden's most celebrated chefs; Lynx, which is just as much a cocktail hit as it is a pizza one; Beverly Hills omakase spot Miura; The Mulberry, also in Sawtelle; Sonoratown in Downtown, which amounts to taco and tortilla heaven; and Sora Craft Kitchen, which focuses on Turkish and Anatolian dishes. Whether any of these mentions will translate into even more exciting Michelin nods is yet to be seen—but our money is on Ko

It took almost 80 years, but Katz's Delicatessen just officially unveiled The Ludlow Room, a restored 68-seat dining room that has been closed to the public since 1949—when it was actually converted into an enormous walk-in fridge "to support the deli's growing demand for pastrami, corned beef and brisket during the postwar boom," according to an official press release. Photograph: Courtesy of Katz's DelicatessenKatz's Delicatessen's restored Ludlow Room The revamped space will be used for additional seating during busy hours and will also be available for private events, complete with an on-site cutter hand-slicing a variety of meats for guests. Considering that every single piece of meat served at Katz's between 1949 and 2026 was weighed on a freight scale inside the now-renovated room, this feels like a true full-circle moment. Photograph: Courtesy of Katz's DelicatessenOriginal freight scale inside The Ludlow Room “We’ve always said Katz’s is more than a deli, it’s a living piece of New York history,” said Jake Dell, fifth-generation owner of Katz’s Delicatessen, in an official statement. “Reopening this room feels like uncovering a forgotten chapter of our own story. For decades, this space helped support the demand that made Katz’s what it is today, but very few people ever got to see it. Bringing it back to life is a way of honoring the generations before us while creating something new for the generations still to come.” Although adapted to modern times, teh new

UPDATE: May 19, 2026 *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:1d385fdc-06f5-4471-9a44-a17ae8b09f13-0" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:1d385fdc-06f5-4471-9a44-a17ae8b09f13-0" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="assistant"> Late last night, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) workers and transit officials reached a new contract agreement, ending the three-day strike that threw weekend travel and yesterday’s commute into complete chaos. According to The New York Times, full service across all lines won’t be restored until 4pm today, as crews are unable to return in time for the morning rush. Partial service, however, is expected to resume at noon—making for another difficult commute this morning but, hopefully, a far smoother trip home tonight. Although the exact details of the agreement have not yet been made public, workers seeking a raise were reportedly able to secure one. Governor Kathy Hochul also issued an official statement clarifying that the agreement will not lead to increased fares or higher state taxes. This marks the first shutdown of the railroad since 1994, when a similar strike brought the region to a standstill for two days. ---- The Long Island Rail Road is officially suspended as a massive worker strike ent

On June 1, Bryant Park, already home to a pretty popular outdoor library of sorts, will host its first-ever "read on the lawn day," encouraging visitors to enjoy an evening of book discussions, ambient music and simple relaxation on its sprawling green space. The event, scheduled to run between 5:30pm and 8pm, will kick off the park's literary lineup of free weekly events for the summer, including lunchtime author panels, poetry readings, writing workshops and more. Bryant Park has quietly become one of the city's most underrated celebrations of all things literary (and yoga!). Its open-air Reading Room — a free, outdoor public reading space on the 42nd Street side of the park — runs yearly from April through October and has become a favorite warm-weather destination for anyone who loves a good book and a reason to sit outside. Marked by its signature yellow umbrellas, the space offers shaded seating along with a rotating selection of books, magazines and newspapers available to browse and read on site. Regular free events round out the programming throughout the season, from author talks to writing workshops and storytelling sessions for kids. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bryant Park (@bryantparknyc) The concept actually has deep roots in the park's history. The original open-air library first appeared at Bryant Park in 1935, born out of the Great Depression as a way to give New Yorkers a free, dignified public space to spend time during so

Used to bemoaning the shuttering of iconic NYC retail institutions, we are excited to take a moment to celebrate the expansion of one of the greats: Fishs Eddy, the eclectically delightful home goods store, which we can exclusively reveal will open its third NYC location inside Chelsea Market tomorrow. Photograph: Courtesy of Chelsea Market Founded in 1986 by Julie Gaines and David Lenovitz, the shop carries the kind of offbeat kitchen and houseware items you'd expect to find only in the truest, most authentic NYC apartments. A mere scroll through the store's Instagram makes that clear: a mug bearing Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court portrait, a glass printed with "NYC Tap" alongside a picture of a water tower, New York-themed prints, charmingly colored plates and plenty more. Oddly enough, given that the original location opened near Union Square back in the '80s (and is still standing!), the cornucopia of items found inside lends itself perfectly to the world of social media, where odd knickknacks with a lot of personality are very much right at home.  Photograph: Courtesy of Fishs Eddy The origin story of Fishs Eddy doesn't skimp on the oh-wow factor, either: as legend has it, Gaines and Lenovitz started the business after getting lost upstate in the mid-'80s and stumbling upon a small town called Fishs Eddy, where they wandered into an old barn filled with restaurant dishware that, the myth goes, had survived a fire. They bought the entire inventory, hauled it back

How often does someone get famous doing one thing and, then, while still riding high doing that very thing, resurge as famous for something else entirely?  Melissa Ben-Ishay is exactly that: a genuine original. The creator, owner and founder of Baked by Melissa built what has become a defining fixture of New York City's dessert world, those tiny, visually perfect mini cupcakes that somehow managed to be impossibly Instagrammable before Instagram was even a thing. Her cupcakes didn't just survive the social media era, they were made for it, even though they predated it.  But Ben-Ishay wasn't done. In 2021, while still helming her cupcake empire, she went viral on TikTok... for salad. Specifically, her Green Goddess Salad, which swept across the Internet and introduced her to an entirely new audience who had no idea she was already a household name in New York. Suddenly, she wasn't just the cupcake queen. She was a full-on culinary personality. Photograph: Courtesy of Melissa Ben-Ishay Now, Ben-Ishay is channeling that momentum into a new cookbook, her third, Come Eat: 100 Nourishing Recipes to Eat Every Day.  We sat down with Ben-Ishay to talk about her gastronomic inspirations, her favorite spots around NYC and what it means to reinvent yourself without ever leaving. Below are edited excerpts from our conversation—followed by an exclusive recipe from her new cookbook. What inspired your latest cookbook? "I'm really in the thick of my mom era, to say the least, and, as someb

Downtown Manhattan is now home to a massive physical library containing all 3.5 million pages of Jeffrey Epstein-related records recently released by the Department of Justice. Organized into more than 3,700 volumes, the documents are the centerpiece of the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room, a pop-up exhibit set up by the Institute for Primary Facts, a nonprofit that describes itself as "advancing civic literacy through immersive traveling museum exhibits."  Located in the Tribeca neighborhood of lower Manhattan, the installation weighs 17,000 pounds and is spread across a two-story gallery space. According to Wired, it took organizers roughly a month to print, bind and arrange the collection. In addition to the files, the installation features a timeline of Epstein's relationship with current President Donald Trump—from their supposed first meeting in Palm Beach back in 1987 to Epstein's ouster from Mar-a-Lago in 2007—and a tribute to Epstein's over 1,200 victims: there are a number of candles on the floor representing them all. The exhibit's chief organizer, David Garrett, told Wired that the goal is to convey the scale of Epstein's crimes and the impunity with which they were carried out. "The evidence in this room is evidence of one of the most horrific crimes in American history," he said to the outlet. "When people come through this room, I hope they realize that in America, we have the rule of law, and if they stand up, they can take action and

There's a conception of touristy things to do in NYC as being not very New York at all. And while I generally agree with that idea, there are exceptions to the rule: the Strand is considered one of the most important bookstores in the city and I find it to be a must-visit every couple of months, a reminder of how shops like this define the culture of a place, even when swamped with tourists snapping photos of its “18 miles of books.” Biking along the Hudson River falls into that category as well, and so does visiting Central Park—because a man-made park in the middle of the urban palace that is NYC cannot be just a sight for tourist eyes. It belongs to everyone. Photograph: Anna Rahmanan I’ll say even more: even embarking on a pre-planned tour of Central Park—and even doing so in a pedicab mostly frequented by tourists—should not be considered a “just for tourists” pursuit because, let’s be honest, how many New York residents can say they've gone through the perimeter of their own local giant park? So when I was told that TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice for best thing to do in NYC was a pedicab guided tour of Central Park, I told myself there was no way I was not going to do it. And I am so glad I did.  Photograph: Anna Rahmanan There are three tour options, ranging from one to three hours and priced between $96 and $198 (plus tip) for two people. I opted for the 90-minute ride, which officially includes five stops—Wollman Rink, Bethesda Fountain, Cherry Hill, Strawberry

My first thought after biting into the falafel and hummus wrap from Gwyneth Paltrow’s just-opened Goop Kitchen: Is there anything this woman can’t do well? Photograph: Courtesy of Goop KitchenGreenest green salad Considering that even a ski accident turned into a court appearance—which then became a cultural moment and ultimately an Off-Broadway show—one could assume that Paltrow would launch a food business that was perfectly crafted for her public. Goop Kitchen officially opened in midtown Manhattan last week, the first of seven planned New York locations, and, to be clear, the project is just that: a kitchen—not a full-on restaurant. The food, which follows Paltrow's famously "clean" eating ethos, is available for pickup and delivery only.  To the surprise of no one, given the precision of all of Paltrow’s business moves, the lunch I got delivered—a variety of salads, a wrap, and a cookie—was very good. Price-wise, they all fell squarely within the price range of the same types of lunch orders from other go-to fast-casual spots around town, between $16 and $20—totally acceptable in a city like New York. Photograph: Courtesy of Goop KitchenG-potle taco crunch bowl The G-Potle taco crunch bowl, which I ordered vegan-style with mushroom carnitas, had the tasty kick that elevated it from a not-too-exciting salad I usually make at home. The everyday kale and Brussels salad wasn’t as innovative but still delivered the sort of green, health-forward trend that has enveloped us

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced on Sunday that the 2026 World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19. Talk about a glam-up for our neighboring state. The announcement included the release of the tournament's full schedule, which will take over 16 different stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico before the wrap-up match in what is basically New York's backyard. "New York [and] New Jersey [are] ready for North America to be the center of the soccer world, and the history we’ll be making in 2026 will create lifetime memories for fans, provide new opportunities for our communities, infuse billions into our economy, and help shape our region and propel it forward for decades to come," said Mayor Eric Adams in an official statement last night. The politician joined New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in applauding FIFA's decision in a video that was recently posted on X.  “Name a team or a country and I guarantee you this: they will have a built-in fan base on either side of the Hudson River,” Murphy says in the clip.  Back in 2022, FIFA selected New York and New Jersey as the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, without offering much details about specific game locations. Now, we know that the tournament will kick off (no pun intended) at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. The American team’s first game will take place the next day, on June 12, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Cali

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced that New York and New Jersey have been selected as hosts for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the cities' joint bid for the job. Specifically, the sport's stars will play games inside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. How exciting! "The biggest sporting event in the world is coming to the biggest stage, and New York City cannot wait to welcome the world to our region," said Mayor Eric Adams in an official statement about the news. "Not only will the World Cup strengthen our economy by providing a major boost but it will showcase FIFA and the sport of soccer to all of America." Phil Murphy, the governor of New Jersey, also released a celebratory statement. "Future generations of New Jerseyans will remember fondly that, on the heels of a global pandemic, the biggest sporting event in the world was hosted by the greatest region in the world," he said. "in addition to building upon our lasting global legacy, as a host region we will also benefit from significant economic activity and impact, as well as opportunities to showcase the rich cultural diversity of our state." MetLife Stadium happens to be suited to the task, on average hosting two million audience members annually. The New York/New Jersey region is also home to five different airports that service flights from over 180 countries.  City dwellers can also expect the two towns to host FIFA Fan Fest sites all over the region while proposed training fa