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Christina Izzo

Christina Izzo

Christina is a former Food & Drink editor at Time Out. She can out-eat and out-drink you. Seriously, don't even try her—you're gonna lose. Follow her on Twitter at @christinalizzo.

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Articles (153)

The best things to do in NYC this week

The best things to do in NYC this week

If you’re looking for the best things to do in NYC this week, or even for today, there are tons of fun options, including the Whitney Biennial, "Aṣẹ: Afro Frequencies" at ARTECHOUSE, the Affordable Art Fair, Pasties and The Wolf, the "Dogs of New York" art exhibit, and awesome free events in NYC! For more ideas, scroll down to see this week's best things to do in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in New York Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

The best things to do in NYC this weekend

The best things to do in NYC this weekend

Looking for the best things to do in NYC this weekend? Whether you’re the group planner searching for more things to do in NYC today or you have no plans yet, here are some ideas to add to your list for this weekend: The St. Patrick's Day Parade, Sober St. Patrick's Day, two library parties, a women's history tour at Green-Wood Cemetery, a free calligraphy workshop, Bingo Loco, and free events around town. All you have to do is scroll down to plan your weekend! RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in NYCRECOMMENDED: The best New York attractions Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

The best St. Patrick’s Day events in NYC

The best St. Patrick’s Day events in NYC

They say everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, which is all the more reason to celebrate! From the annual St. Paddy's Day parades across the boroughs to pub crawls and live music, the Big Apple is alive with joyful festivities splashed in green. If partying isn't your scene, there's still plenty to do like trying Irish dancing and participating in Sober St. Patrick's Day activities. Either way, grab your green attire, belt your favorite Irish songs and bust out a limerick—St. Patrick’s Day in NYC is going to be a blast this year! RECOMMENDED: See the full St. Patrick’s Day in NYC guide

11 things to do to celebrate International Women’s Day in NYC

11 things to do to celebrate International Women’s Day in NYC

International Women’s Day in New York City falls on a Friday this year, meaning all the celebrations happening this time around will extend into the weekend! Yay for more days to celebrate women! On March 8 each year, International Women’s Day is a time to focus on the Women’s Rights Movement, which includes issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. The day originated from labor movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th century, in case you didn’t know. RECOMMENDED: The best Women’s History Month events in NYC In New York City, there is a plethora of incredible events, from comedy shows to art shows, that are not only recommended on IWD but in general. Below, we’ve rounded up a list of 11 events you should consider when celebrating International Women’s Day!

The best Oscar viewing parties and events in NYC

The best Oscar viewing parties and events in NYC

It's the night cinephiles have been waiting for—and debating about—all year: the Oscars 2024. The 96th annual Academy Awards may be taking place on the opposite end of the country (Los Angeles' Dolby Theater, to be exact), but that doesn't mean that New York movie lovers can't also partake in a night of glitz, glamour and great filmmaking. Some of New York City's best bars and restaurants are getting in on the fun with Oscar viewing parties, complete with prediction ballots, themed drinks and more.  So who are you rooting for? Will Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy's sixth big-screen collaboration, Oppenheimer, sweep with awards for both men? Will Poor Things have rich returns, or will the admiration for Killers of the Flower Moon bloom into a Best Picture win? Or are we all just living in a Barbie world? (Life in plastic is fantastic, after all.) Find out on March 10!RECOMMENDED: See the full list of nominees here. 

The best Women’s History Month events in NYC

The best Women’s History Month events in NYC

Badass ladies deserve a toast and that's exactly what Women’s History Month is all about—celebrating inspiring women from the past and present. Whether you see their incredible art in a gallery, hear them perform comedy, or learn all about their NYC lives, there are so many ways to show your pride. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Women’s History Month in NYC

NYC events in March 2024

NYC events in March 2024

The city is just beginning to warm up and thaw out from its winter slumber with some incredible NYC events in March, including St. Patrick's Day and Women’s History Month. For sure, we'll all be heading to the best Irish pubs in the city, but there's more to do from the powerful Harlem Renaissance exhibit at the Met to the fashion-forward Orchid Show at NYBG. And finally, we can start fantasizing about packing away that puffy coat and gearing up best things to do in spring. RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar for 2024

Where to go shopping in NYC

Where to go shopping in NYC

Whether you’re on the hunt for prime vintage, cheap (but still chic!) threads or avant-garde designer merch, shopping in NYC never disappoints. That is, if you know where to go (or sift through). Luckily, we’ve done the grunt work for you and uncovered the go-to spots to snag discounts, accessories, throwbacks and anything else you need to cross off your never-ending to-buy list. From trendy boutiques in Soho to thrift shops in Bushwick, you’ll find exactly what you envisioned at these retailers—if not more! Looking for stores in a specific nabe? Check out our shopping guides by neighborhood.

The best vintage stores in NYC

The best vintage stores in NYC

Some of the best (and, graciously, cheapest) clothing stores in NYC happen to be vintage stores. Personally, we think shopping vintage is always a good idea. For one, shopping secondhand helps the planet by reducing excess waste, but it also allows you to scoop up unique duds no one else has. Can’t afford $400 Chanel pumps or high-end retro clothes? No biggie: New York has a ton of economical options to make your wardrome dreams come to true. After making a profit by selling any outdated duds at thrift stores or consignment shops , go back to these prime vintage stores, snag a few unique throwbacks and style an outfit that will make you feel like a million bucks (but for way less). RECOMMENDED: Full guide to shopping in NYC

The quirkiest stores in NYC

The quirkiest stores in NYC

There are plenty of reasons why New York is the greatest city in the world and Gotham’s kick-ass retail scene is totally one of them. And while, yes, it is very convenient that some of the best shops in NYC come equipped with coffeeshops, serve complimentary booze or provide personal-shopping assistance, one of our favorite things to do when shopping in New York is to skip the chain stores and head straight to those off-the-wall boutiques and gift shops selling kooky merchandise and vintage curiosities. So if you're looking to fly your freak flag, find that magical piece of merch, or just looking for an out-of-the-norm shopping experience—welcome. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to shopping in NYC

The best fabric stores NYC has to offer

The best fabric stores NYC has to offer

Want to tap into your inner designer? Head to a fabric store! NYC’s fashion students and arts-and-craft types who love to make their own threads know that there are plenty of shops in NYC where you can get textiles with as much personality as you have. However, figuring out where to buy said textiles can be a bit of a daunting process—and you can’t always tell the quality from online clothing stores. Visit one of these shops to get a feel for which fabrics you like best and pick up a new pattern or two while you’re there. If you’re already a pro at accessorizing with home decor, now’s the time to take it a step further by personalizing your wardrobe.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to shopping in NYC

The best consignment shops NYC has to offer

The best consignment shops NYC has to offer

Looking good in Gotham can be a full-time—not to mention pricey—gig, but luckily, you can save a ton at consignment shops. NYC has enough high-end department stores and shops to please the most fashionable people in the city, but sometimes, you need to save that cash for something more practical. (Ugh, rent’s due again.) if you want to upgrade your wardrobe on the cheap or simply lack the closet space to hold everything you buy, these shops and the city’s best thrift stores will help you look stylish for less. Whether you take the cash or opt for store credit, consigning your duds is one of the best style hacks for New Yorkers. RECOMMENDED: See the full guide to shopping in NYC

Listings and reviews (341)

Drop Up Video: The Show Where Comedians Roast Music Videos

Drop Up Video: The Show Where Comedians Roast Music Videos

You can’t get an event title more descriptive than that, huh? This live show and multimedia experience at Bushwick’s Pine Box Rock Shop (12 Grattan St) on Friday, March 8 features—you guessed it —a panel of some of New York’s best comedians roasting and riffing on the music videos that we love to hate. Instead of traditional stand-up sets, the comics will view a surprise playlist of throwback videos, deep cuts and other oddities, and offer up their best jokes, critiques and responses to each. (Think Mystery Science Theatre meets Pop Up Video, organizers say.) Justin Thompson (Doug Loves Movies, BET) will act as the night’s emcee. 

None Whatsoever: Zen Paintings from the Gitter-Yelen Collection

None Whatsoever: Zen Paintings from the Gitter-Yelen Collection

This is more than your garden-variety art exhibition–None Whatsoever: Zen Paintings from the Gitter-Yelen Collection is, yes, a tranquil display of Zen Buddhist artwork. But it will also feature in-gallery activities like meditation sessions, calligraphy workshops, a tea ceremony demonstration and an ikebana (floral arrangement) workshop. Spanning over 400 years and drawn from the Gitter-Yelen Collection, the exhibit explores the origins of Zen Buddhism through more than 50 works by Buddhist painter-monks, including the 18th-century master Hakuin Ekaku. You can check out the show from Friday, March 8 through Sunday, June 16 at the Japan Society. 

Campfire Tales

Campfire Tales

Gather round for a good old-fashioned campfire–well, a metaphorical one, at least. Head to Williamsburg’s Fiction Bar/Cafe for a night of hilarious stories and live music at this comedy show on Saturday, March 9, hosted and produced by comedian Nick Hornedo. The night’s lineup includes stand-up comics including Alison Leiby, Chloe Radcliffe, Ibhan Kulkarni, Sunny Laprade and Gary Simons, along with musical guest Roosnam.

Cats Eye Cabaret : The Slayer

Cats Eye Cabaret : The Slayer

Burlesque meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer at this month’s edition of Cats Eye Cabaret, Ridgewood’s long running monthly variety show. The Hellmouth is officially opening under The Deep End on Saturday, March 16 in Cats Eye’s annual tribute to all things Buffy Summers and Sunnydale, CA, with a cast of circus and burlesque performers including Stephanie Keaton, Bobby Fishnets, Fey Tality, Dick Move and Desdemona Kinkade. Along with watching the performers try to stop (or bring about…) The Apocalypse, take part with Buffy-themed trivia and games, and enjoy drinks and a full menu of tacos at the bar. 

Drama Queens: When Melodrama Meets Film

Drama Queens: When Melodrama Meets Film

Immerse yourself in a world of passion, intrigue and stunning visuals at this silent-film festival of rare and restored Italian titles, with a week of screenings accompanied by live music or recorded scores, such as Mascagni and Pizzetti. From March 8 through 15, NYU Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò and NYU Department of Italian Studies presents “Drama Queens: When Melodrama Meets Film,” with films including the 1914 domestic melodrama Sangue Bleu and the 1982 documentary L'ultima Diva: Francesca Bertini. Many of the films were hand-tinted frame by frame, which will have you rethinking the notion that all of those early-cinema silent movies were black and white.

Oscars Watch Party at Caveat

Oscars Watch Party at Caveat

Who’s going to win big come Oscar Sunday? Whether you’re Team Barbie or going all in on Oppenheimer or still pulling for an Anatomy of a Fall upset, you can cheer on your favorite flicks of the year at the Caveat’s Academy Awards watch party. A live stream of film’s biggest night will be shown, including that glam red-carpet pre-show, peppered throughout with a play-along drinking game and live performances during commercial breaks. Hosted by Jenny Gorelick, the night’s panel will include Milly Tamarez and Alise Morales and the performing lineup will feature Christopher Morucci, Emily Evans, Gina Tonic, Sydney Duncan, John Trowbridge, and Schuyler Robinson. Make sure to fill out the Caveat Oscars ballot to see if you win big by guessing the correct category winners throughout the night’s festivities. 

Bingo Loco

Bingo Loco

We’d be quick to say that “Only in New York can you find a bingo rave party,” but Bingo Loco has been hosting sold-out shows in 200 locations around the globe, from Dublin to Dubai. It’s bringing its brand of revelry–which includes taking the traditional game of bingo and turning it into a three-hour long interactive stage show complete with dance-offs, lip sync battles, confetti showers, conga lines and more–to The Brooklyn Monarch on Saturday, March 16th for St. Patrick’s weekend. Prizes will be aplenty, ranging from air fryers and lawnmowers (uh, you totally have a lawn, right?) to international holidays and even cars.

Women of New York Light Up Wall Street

Women of New York Light Up Wall Street

In honor of Women’s History Month, The Wall Street Hotel is playing host to its second annual Women of New York Light Up Wall Street panel discussion, spotlighting influential female disruptors who are reshaping their industries and breaking barriers. Moderated by Samantha Barry, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour, the engaging conversation will include: — Babba Rivera, CEO of Ceremonia— Kim Shui, Creative Director of Kim Shui— Dana Spaulding, Founder & CEO of Wander + Ivy— Zjantelle Markel, Principal Attorney at Cammisa Markel— Asahi Pompey, Global Head of Corporate Engagement and President of Goldman Sachs Foundation— Robin Arzon, Founder of Swagger Society and Vice President of Fitness Programming and Head Instructor at Peloton Speakers will give their insights on mentorship, innovative leadership, and industry-transforming trends. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Malala Fund.

Distorted Diznee

Distorted Diznee

These are not the movie princesses you remember from childhood. The cult drag revue Distorted Diznee celebrates its 12th anniversary and brings with it a twisted—and very adult—take on classic House of the Mouse characters. Tinkerbell is an applause junkie, a sleeping beauty has residual narcolepsy, a little mermaid “yearns for the carnal benefits of being an anatomically correct woman,” you get the picture. During the 80-minute non-stop extravaganza, expect high-energy dance numbers, dazzling costumes and plenty of lip-syncing "ladies.” See it on March 22 at 9:30pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Bada Swing!

Bada Swing!

Created by comedians Josh Nasser and Michelle Chan Bennett, this comedic cabaret-slash-musical at Caveat centers on two aging jazz crooners—Bobby Bingus and Tommy Linguini—"whose careers, livers, and opinions have seen better days" and decide to go on one final farewell tour together. Held on Saturday, March 16 at 7pm, this "once-in-a-lifetime reunion concert" offers up decades-long "Italian chemistry," sure, but also deep-seated conflicts that mirrors the evolution of gender and acceptable conduct, but with plenty of laughs and lounge-jazz groove thrown in, of course.  

Pysanky: Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating

Pysanky: Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating

Learn all about the history of the pysanka, a tradition of egg decoration in Slavic cultures and one of Ukraine’s national symbols, at this annual Easter egg-decorating workshop hosted by Ukrainian American Youth Association of New York. Held on Saturday, March 23 at Ukrainian National Home in the East Village, this community celebration will welcome local families, friends and youth groups—attendees as young as five are invited to attend—to explore the folksy tradition with master classes of Pysanky drawing. Supplies are included with your ticket and food will be available for purchase. 

William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill

William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill

From The Twilight Zone to T. J. Hooker to, of course, his career-defining performance as Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, William Shatner has been a TV icon for seven-plus decades and you can delve into that nerd-culture legacy with the man himself at the New York City premiere of the documentary, William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill. The doc screening kicks off on Sunday, March 17 at 2:30pm at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, followed by a 4pm Q&A with Shatner, alongside documentary director Alexandre O. Philippe and discussion host Neil deGrasse Tyson. 

News (608)

The MTA's Second Avenue Subway extension to 125th Street is finally happening

The MTA's Second Avenue Subway extension to 125th Street is finally happening

UPDATE 1/23/24: After months of near-announcements, the MTA finally revealed that phase two of the Second Avenue Subway line construction, set to push the Q train to 125th Street, will finally commence this year.  More specifically, the agency awarded the contract to CAC Industries, Inc., who will split the work into four steps, the first one dubbed "utility relocation," set to kick off in March.  Expected to take over three years and cost over $7 billion, the project will basically lay the ground work to eventually extend the line north from 96th Street, building stops at 106th, 116th and 125th Streets.  According to the MTA, all steps of phase two will be completed some time between 2030 and 2039. Yes, we've got a long way to go. -- The near-mythical Second Avenue Subway finally became a reality back in January 2017 when the first phase of construction introduced three new stations on Manhattan’s Upper East Side: 72nd, 86th and 96th Streets, the largest extension of the NYC subway system in five decades. And now the second wave is upon us, with a northern expansion of the Q train into East Harlem, with stops planned at 106th, 116th and 125th Streets—and we’ve got renderings for some much-welcome proof.On Wednesday, July 5, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State is currently soliciting bids for the first construction contract for phase two, which would reportedly rake in $50 to $100 million for the chosen design firm, with work set to begin by the end of 2023.

This magnificent ‘Field of Light’ installation will brighten up Manhattan’s East Side this winter

This magnificent ‘Field of Light’ installation will brighten up Manhattan’s East Side this winter

UPDATE 11/10/23: “Field of Light” at Freedom Plaza will officially open on December 15. Complimentary timed tickets are now available right here. --- New York is about to get more lit—literally. Rendering: Courtesy of the Soloviev Foundation Scheduled to open this winter for a yearlong residence, English-Australian artist Bruce Munro is bringing his “Field of Light” public art installation to Manhattan’s East Side. The immersive piece will transform more than 6 acres, from 38th Street to 41st Street on First Avenue, at the mixed-use Freedom Plaza space near the United Nations Headquarters.  RECOMMENDED: A giant garden of flowers just opened inside of Grand Central Terminal Honoring New York City as "a beacon of freedom and home around the world," per a press release, the installation will consist of an array of 17,000 lowlight, fiber-optic stemmed spheres that will illuminate with a range of colors, creating a landscape that will almost look painted. The spheres will be powered by solar energy, "the nexus of art, technology and nature."  “Bruce shares an aligned commitment to the use of sustainable and innovative technologies to spark imagination and push the bounds of creativity. We are thrilled to work with him on this significant project,” said Stefan Soloviev, Chairman of Soloviev Group, which is behind the development of Freedom Plaza.  The artist himself—whose works have been displayed everywhere from London's Victoria & Albert Museums the Sharjah Museum of Art in th

Holiday pop-up bars Miracle and Sippin’ Santa announce their 2023 return

Holiday pop-up bars Miracle and Sippin’ Santa announce their 2023 return

Updated November 8, 2023 Consider it Christmas in July: the team behind two of the best holiday pop-up bars in the city—Miracle on 9th Street and Sippin' Santa—have announced that this year's decked-out editions will be popping up beginning November 2023.  Since its founding in 2014 by bar owner Greg Boehm at his East Village cocktail den Mace, Christmas-themed Miracle pop-up bars have become a staple of the holiday season in New York, with their kitschy, over-the-top decorations, festive original cocktails and general good cheer. Two years later, it expanded globally with outposts in Greece, Montreal and Paris. And this year, Miracle, along with its beachy sibling series Sippin' Santa, will be held at more than 180 drinking establishments across the U.S.  In NYC, Miracle on 9th Street will be found at The Cabinet Mezcal Bar in the East Village, opening on November 9. Meanwhine, Sippin’ Santa will take place this winter at Lower East Side neighborhood bar Thief as of November 22. “It’s incredibly exciting to be kicking off the 2023 season, almost a decade to when we first started,” says Greg Boehm, founder of Miracle. “Witnessing the growth and transformation of Miracle and Sippin’ Santa, along with the addition of numerous cities and partners to the family, makes each season even more remarkable than the last." And as usual, the Miracle and Sippin' Santa holiday mug collections will also be making their return, with limited-edition glassware available for purchase exclusivel

All NYC subway stations are now getting OMNY vending machines

All NYC subway stations are now getting OMNY vending machines

The death knell of the NYC MetroCard has been ringing for years now, with the announcement back in January 2021 that OMNY’s contactless payment system will replace the old-school subway cards by 2023. Well, 2023 is almost over and it looks like the big switch-over is finally happening. OMNY vending machines will be installed by the MTA at every subway station in New York City—yes, all 472 of them—starting at the following stations as of October 30, 2023: 86 St and Lexington Ave ​​​ Atlantic Ave-Barclays Ctr ​​​​​​​​​ Bowling Green ​​ Fordham Rd ​ Fordham Rd ​​ Junction Blvd  For the analog-minded, the OMNY system allows riders to “tap to pay” on tech-y OMNY readers via their smart devices (iPhones, Fitbits, what have you), contactless bank cards or a physical OMNY card purchased at a retail shop. RECOMMENDED: Everything you need to know about using OMNY, the MetroCard replacement View this post on Instagram A post shared by MTA (@mta) There’s a temporary introductory offer for new OMNY cards for $1—the same price as a new MetroCard. OMNY cards last up to five years, which is more than three years longer than newly issued MetroCards. Along with the subway vending machines, the transit agency is also planning to install OMNY readers on the turnstiles for the Roosevelt Island Tramway and the JFK AirTrain by Thanksgiving 2023. Whether commuter trains like the Long Island Railroad and MetroNorth will soon accept OMNY payment is still to be seen. But, despite the

The Seaport's annual food festival returns this November

The Seaport's annual food festival returns this November

UPDATE, September 21, 2023: Because of expected rain, the date for Taste of the Seaport has been rescheduled to Saturday, November 11, 2023. Already purchased tickets (both single and family pack) remain valid for the new date — and tickets are still on sale for the new Saturday come November. The Seaport has become a surprisingly vibrant food hub over the years, and you can get delicious proof for yourself at Taste of the Seaport. Now in its 13th consecutive year, the one-day culinary and community festival returns to Lower Manhattan on Saturday, September 23 from noon to 5pm, with the aim of raising funds for both student and teacher cultural enrichment programs at area schools including Peck Slip (PS 343) and Spruce Street (PS 397) for the 2023-2024 school year. RECOMMENDED: Flavors of the Open returns with an all-star lineup of celebrity chefs “We are proud to support our local schools through Taste of the Seaport,” said Andrew Schwartz, the co-president of the New York Region at Howard Hughes. “This beloved annual event highlights the future of our community–our kids–and it’s moving to see businesses and residents come together year after year to support this worthy cause.”  And it should easily meet its monetary goals with the cooking talent involved: the teams behind local favorites including Jean-Georges Vongerichten's The Fulton, Andrew Carmellini's Carne Mare, Helene Henderson’s Malibu Farm and legendary Brooklyn pizzeria Di Fara, among others, will be doling out el

You can win a year of free Raising Cane's at its new NYC location

You can win a year of free Raising Cane's at its new NYC location

Good news, tender lovers (we mean chicken tenders, of course): Raising Cane's is spreading its wings in New York City. The Baton Rouge-based fast-food chain first came to the Big Apple this past June with a Times Square flagship at 1501 Broadway, complete with Texas Toast-themed seating, Cane’s sauce-inspired coffee tables and, of course, those beloved fried chicken fingers. Now the chicken chain is coming to Noho—20 Astor Place at the corner of Lafayette Street, to be exact—and to celebrate, 20 lucky customers who are lined up for the new location's opening celebration on Wednesday, September 13 will win free Cane's for a year. Twenty people from the line will be selected at random to win Free Cane’s For a Year through a "Lucky 20." Entries will be accepted from 7:30 to 8:30am and winners will be announced following the opening ceremony shortly after.  RECOMMENDED: The best fast food restaurants in NYC, from Shake Shack to Sweetgreen  The opening-day celebration will also feature a ribbon cutting before doors officially open at 8:45am, as well as a live graffiti artist show at 10:30am and a musical performance from a capella group The TeeTones at 5pm. The 4,500-square-foot Astor Place location—which is smartly set just a chicken bone's throw from the NYU campus and all of its hungry coeds—marks the second NYC outpost for Cane's. The Times Square restaurant drew 10,000 customers on its opening day alone and has served more than one million chicken fingers since opening its do

This new LES cocktail bar comes from a Double Chicken Please alum

This new LES cocktail bar comes from a Double Chicken Please alum

There's no shortage of cocktail bars in the Lower East Side, but that doesn't mean we'd ever complain when another new drinking den gets added to the fold, especially when it comes from an alum of one of our favorite spots in town.  Ray Zhou, former R&D captain of Double Chicken Please—the experimental Allen Street bar that took the top spot on this year's North America’s 50 Best Bars Awards list—is behind Chinato, a new immersive barroom opening at the corner of Stanton and Ludlow Streets on Wednesday, September 20. (The spot soft-opened this week at limited capacity, accepting reservations only and serving a truncated menu.) RECOMMENDED: The 23 best cocktail bars in NYC, from Attaboy to Bemelman's  The name "Chinato," or "China-to," references Zhou's own beginnings in the port city of Dalian in Northeastern China and his later immigration to New York City, and the concept reflects his decades-long experience in the city's cocktail scene. (Prior to Double Chicken Please, he was the beverage director and head bartender over at Queens tiki bar The Compass.)  Unsurprisingly, the drinks—and the drink-making—takes center stage: the 1,200-square-foot space is centered around an island-style bar where patrons can see all of the interactive, tumbler-shaking action from all angles. There's also a more traditional five-seat bar area with black-leather tufted stools, as well as additional table seating for 20 guests.  The opening cocktail menu (see a sample lineup below) takes inspirat

Splash Spots are upgrading fire hydrants all over NYC

Splash Spots are upgrading fire hydrants all over NYC

Cranking open a fire hydrant to combat the swelter of summer in NYC is a rite of passage for every New York kid, but now those old johnny pumps are getting a modern—and more eco-friendly—makeover: meet Splash Spots.  RECOMMENDED:  Here’s where to find cooling centers in NYC A collaboration between the creative agency Zulu Alpha Kilo and the industrial design studio Group Project, "Splash Spots are a new take on the traditional caps the FDNY already uses," per the brand. Made using “machined metal for optimized durability and safety,” the upgraded sprinkler caps transform the heavy hydrant into a more dedicated stream, which aids in water conservation because it “features an on/off function and releases approximately 50% fewer gallons per minute than a traditional capped hydrant.” Beyond that, they're fun AF: as well as being brightly colored, the Splash Spots feature a multidirectional design and "precisely calibrated array of valves and channels" to "create mesmerizing water effects." It's like a mini waterpark, right on your neighborhood sidewalk.  There are currently four prototypes of the colorful Splash Spot caps: the Sunshine option, which sprays "rays of water in all directions"; the Blossom, a mister that allow you to "immerse yourself in a cloud of refreshing water droplets"; the Jump Rope, where you can "leap over a whirling rope of water"; and a twirling Pinwheel design, which "unleashes a stunning spray of three rotating streams." Zulu Alpha Kilo partnered with St

NYBG announces a new ‘Alice in Wonderland’ -themed exhibit

NYBG announces a new ‘Alice in Wonderland’ -themed exhibit

New Yorkers have a bit of a love affair with Lewis Carroll’s iconic 1865 children’s novel: we got an immersive Alice in Wonderland experience last fall, an Alice in Wonderland-inspired pop-up wine bar that ran through this spring and, of course, the famousand, of course, there’s the famous, bronze Alice in Wonderland statue that has stood in Central Park since 1959. Now the New York Botanical Garden is getting in on the Mad Hatter fun with a new, garden-wide exhibition for 2024 entitled “Wonderland: Curious Nature.” On view from Saturday, May 18 through Sunday, October 27, 2024, the enchanting display will “feature horticultural and contemporary art installations that evoke the spirit of exploration and uncanny nature of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” per the NYBG. RECOMMENDED: The best gardens in NYC where you can stop and smell the roses Inspired by the classic tale and its 1871 sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, the immersive exhibition will be a true sensory adventure, with visitors able to explore a variety of mind-bending experiences set throughout the botanical garden’s iconic glasshouse, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building and across its stunning 250-acre grounds. The installations will be fittingly trippy, including works that play with scale and perspective, with no shrinking “Drink Me” potion necessary. View this post on Instagram A post shared by New York Botanical Garden (@nybg)

A mesmerizing Fred Eversley sculpture has come to Central Park

A mesmerizing Fred Eversley sculpture has come to Central Park

New York City has been awash in Barbie pink the entire summer and a new outdoor art piece is keeping the rosy makeover going through fall and beyond. From Thursday, September 7, 2023 through Sunday, August 25, 2024, Central Park goers can get an eyeful of ”Parabolic Light,” a 12-foot tall, magenta-tinted sculpture from Brooklyn-born artist Fred Eversley, set at the Doris C. Freedman Plaza at 60th Street and Fifth Avenue. Cast in polyurethane and shaped like a tapered cylinder, the luminescent piece “serves as a focal point of serenity, transcendence, and exploration of new dimensions and perspectives,” reads a press release. RECOMMENDED: The beloved “LOVE” sculpture is returning to NYC after 4 years The free outdoor exhibition, which is presented by Public Art Fund, is not only the artist’s first public sculpture in his hometown of New York but also the first outdoor placement of any of Eversley’s large-scale polyurethane resin works. “Parabolic Light” marks a continuation of the sculptor’s “Cylindrical Lens” series, a collection of free-standing, floor-based sculptures that debuted at David Kordansky Gallery this past May and harken back to the pieces Eversley first presented at the Whitney Museum of American Art all the way back in 1970. It’s also the largest addition to the series.  “My parabolic forms are all about energy. They are made to reflect all the infinite combinations of internal reflections, refractions, color changes, and other optical phenomena that one can ex

Harlem's beloved Seasoned Vegan finds a second life downtown

Harlem's beloved Seasoned Vegan finds a second life downtown

There's a premium on great vegan restaurants in New York City, so when we lose one, we feel it deeply. Thankfully, one of the most beloved veg-focused spots is making a comeback: after shuttering its original Harlem location after nine years on April 1, Seasoned Vegan has reopened with a brand-new concept down in the East Village. Occupying a smaller space at 128 Second Avenue near St. Marks Place, mother-and-son restaurateurs Brenda “Chef B” Beener and Aaron Beener relaunched the restaurant as Seasoned Vegan Real Quick in late August, a quick service takeout and delivery spot that retools some of their most popular dishes as sandwiches. RECOMMENDED: The best veggie burgers in NYC, from Superiority to Shake Shack  On the newfangled, New Orleans-inspired menu, find former Seasoned Vegan favorites like the signature burdock root "crawfish," here serving as the fried "protein" in a pretzel-bun po-boy with remoulade sauce and grilled in a barbecue "craw" sandwich smothered in "bayou BBQ" sauce. Vegan soy nuggets will be available a la carte or piled high on a burger bun. Rounding out the menu are sides like shoestring fries tossed with Cajun seasoning, sodas such as fair-trade Maine Root options, and housemade organic desserts, including salted-pecan cookies, beet-root cupcakes and a raw cheesecake made from cashews, walnuts and dates. There are several combo options available, in case you want to create a bespoke Happy Meal of sorts for yourself, such as the "Ol' Hungry Self," w

NYC is one of the most expensive cities to be happy in the U.S.

NYC is one of the most expensive cities to be happy in the U.S.

Those who say “money can’t buy happiness” has clearly never lived in a rent-controlled apartment with a clear view of the park. (After all, that recently approved 6% increase for rent-stabilized apartments isn't making anybody happy.) We already know well and good that New York City is a pricey city to live in—Manhattan is, of course, the most expensive place to live in the U.S.—but is it a pricey city to be happy in? The researchers over at S Money, Melbourne-based money exchange service, converted data from a 2018 "happiness premium" study from Purdue University, which identified a global average "satiation point," or income level, at which a person "becomes happy" based on Gallup World Poll figures from over 1.7 million people in 164 countries. The S Money team exchanged the Purdue study's figures back into local currencies, "allowing for purchasing power and the local cost of living" to conjure up "a more practical, day-to-day look at how money might affect happiness." Surprisingly, despite its money-guzzling reputation, New York City didn't come out at number one in S Money's findings. Instead, Gotham ended up in third, with $145,028 annually being the high price for happiness throughout the city. Beating the Big Apple was Santa Barbara, California, where a happy existence costs a cool $162,721 per year, and Honolulu, Hawaii at $148,943 annually. Other costly coastal cities including San Francisco, California ($144,448) and Seattle, Washington ($134,721) round out the to