Christina Izzo

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 new exhibits on The Sopranos and modern ballet, a London-imported pie pop-up, Daniel Radcliffe's return to Broadway, Black History chef's dinners and much more, plus awesome free events in NYC. Oh, and the circus is back in town! 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. 

Lunar New Year (or Chinese New Year) is here to lift us up with new beginnings, beautiful art and delicious food. The celebration includes bursting firecrackers, lion dances, and delicious cuisine, including at Chinatown's Chinese New Year Parade, one of the best events in January and February. Don't miss filling your belly with amazing cuisine from one of the best Chinese restaurants in NYC either! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Lunar New Year in NYC

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: plenty of Valentine's-themed events, whether you're loved up (romantic concerts, comedy shows) or not (hello, voodoo doll workshop!), as well as Black History Month festivities, seasonal favorites (like free ice curling in Bryant Park) and more, plus free events around town. All you have to do is scroll down to plan your weekend! Finish off a great month with our round-up of the best things to do in February.  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. 

Between its stunning architectural works, passionate sports culture, sunny Mediterranean climate and Michelin-starred restaurant scene, Barcelona is a feast for the senses. BCN is one of the world’s foremost travel destinations and a renowned gastronomical hub, whether you’re craving traditional tapas, a piping-hot pan of paella or a mid-sightseeing snack. And by booking your Barcelona food-and-drink experiences through GetYourGuide, you can have a taste of it all. GetYourGuide is a travel experiences platform where you can book a wide variety of locally-vetted, expertly-curated experiences, including intimate and interactive cooking classes, immersive market tours, unforgettable excursions and access to otherwise hard-to-book attractions in destinations around the world, including major international cities like Barcelona. Next time you want to experience the energy and flavor of Catalonia’s capital, use GetYourGuide to fill out your travel itinerary with foodie recreations all across Barcelona, such as chef-led visits to the city’s famed Boqueria market, sangria-fueled paella-making workshops and cava tastings at a 2,000-year-old vineyard. After looking through all of the delicious options available on GetYourGuide, here are five must-do experiences you should add to your Barcelona travel plans. Discover your next unforgettable experience at getyourguide.com, and ¡buen provecho!

Don't leave Valentine's Day up to fate. NYC has awesome amorous events, from concerts to dance classes and more, to attend with your date, your friends or even solo. Whether you love or hate Cupid's holiday, we’ve put together a list of the best things to do on Valentine’s day, including romantic restaurants, decadent chocolate shops and the most romantic things to do to get you in the mood—or not!  Without further ado, our list of Valentine's things to do, so you can keep the fun going all month long. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Valentine’s Day in NYCRECOMMENDED: The most romantic hotels to book in NYC  

This year, it feels especially important to celebrate the massive contributions Black Americans have made historically, but it's equally important to celebrate the contributions they continue to make everyday across culture, cuisine, nightlife, and all areas of life. Luckily, we live in a city that has plenty to offer if you're looking to go all out this Black History Month. Here's where and how to celebrate the month-long event. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to things to do in winter

In a city where faded Old Style signs swing outside of beloved dive bars and lines snake around the block at trendy cocktail lounges, the best bars in Chicago act as meeting places, date locales and venues for celebrations. With so many great places to grab a beverage, the list of our all-time favorite bars around town is expansive—and inclusive of taprooms at Chicago breweries, sultry wine bars uncorking bottles of reds and whites, and the finest cocktail bars Chicago has to offer. In a metropolis packed with places to sip and swirl, these watering holes shine extra bright and boozy. Take a look at the best bars in Chicago and find the perfect destination for your next night out. Best Chicago bars at a glance: 🎶 For live music: Green Mill – Historic jazz lounge with nightly performances (Uptown) 🍹 For extravagant cocktails: The Aviary – Theatrical cocktail experience (West Loop) 😘 For date night: Lazy Bird – Basement bar with intimate vibes and live sets (West Loop) 🎉 For group celebrations: Three Dots and a Dash – Tiki cocktails with extravagant garnishes (River North) 🍸 For rare spirits: Billy Sunday – Amaro-focused drinks with unusual ingredients (Logan Square)   January 30, 2026: On a night out in Chicago, choosing which bar to go to can be daunting. With so many options for drinks of all kinds, this list breaks down everything you need to know to make the most of your night out on the town.  Our revised ranking of the best bars in Chicago spotlights the m

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

Want a drink with a side of Donkey Kong, a beer-fueled Skee-ball session or a booze-addled break at one of the city’s best bowling alleys? Head to the best arcade bars in NYC. Sure, a night out at one of New York’s best beer gardens, dive bars or cocktail bars is a good time in and of itself, but add the city’s best bar games to it and you’ve got a recipe for one legendary evening! RECOMMENDED: More of the best bars in NYC

Last updated January 20, 2026: Outdoor movies are back (albeit with space heaters and cozy blankets), as is afternoon tea at the Waldorf. Make the most of the wintry season both indoors and out as city's iconic museums, big attractions and favorite restaurants host the coolest exhibits, shows and menus right now.  How we choose the best things to do in NYC: Time Out editors traverse New York City from end to end looking for the coolest things to do, the most delicious places to eat and the most impressive shows to see. We then pick the very best items to make it to this list each month.  From its art museums (The Met and MoMA) to its attractions (Broadway theaters and sunrises from the Empire State Building), we are certain that New York City is the best city in the world. Its dining and drinking scenes are still unbeatable with unrivaled bars, restaurants and creative culinary inventions. Every day, we’re discovering something new and wonderful about our city, whether it’s one of the best parks, incredible views, cool hotels, must-see art or quirky museums—and we’re highlighting the best of the best right here. Quick picks: The best things to do in NYC at a glance Central Park: The world's most famous green space, stop by to enjoy some peace and quiet. (Free entry) The Metropolitan Museum of Art: This massive museum spans 5,000 years of art history to get lost in. ($30/adult)  The High Line: This innovative reclaimed space turned railroad tracks into a cool urban park made

Want to jump-start your health and wellness? A good place to begin is by joining one of these top-notch NYC gyms. Finding the perfect fitness center that won’t cost you an arm and a leg can feel like a huge feat, but we prefer you save your precious energy for the gym, so we’ve sweated through the city’s best and most budget-friendly health clubs across all five boroughs to ease your search. Here’s our essential list of our favorite places to get our blood pumping, which offer daily passes and monthly memberships among other perks like high-end amenities (hello heated pools!) and new fitness classes (and some non-traditional, weird fitness classes, too). Good luck with all your wellness goals, and after you dive in, go treat yourself to the best bagels in the city. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to fitness in NYC

We’re gonna say it: 2025 might have been the most unhinged year yet since height-of-COVID 2020, which means we will very much be eating (and drinking) our feelings this New Year’s. Luckily for all of us, New York City’s best restaurants are hosting fabulously festive dinners and rollicking New Year’s Eve parties. These prix fixe and à la carte options make for a memorable last meal of the year, whether you want to feast on raw-bar delicacies at one of the city’s top seafood restaurants, meaty Korean favorites only a few minutes from the Times Square ball drop or go full-glam at a luxurious Jean-Georges property. Here are the best restaurants open on New Year’s Eve 2025 in NYC.      RECOMMENDED: Full guide to New Year’s Eve in NYC

Say a hearty hello to summer at Mayfest, the annual street party in Lincoln Park that's outfitted with the usual selection of local vendors, tasty food, cover bands and ice-cold beverages. Taking place from May 15 through 17, this year's event will feature the new Spring Fine Art Mart, featuring local and national fine artists.

Started in 2022, this two-day extravaganza returns to Grant Park over Memorial Day weekend. Taking place on a single stage in Grant Park's Hutchinson Field, Sueños will feature headlining sets from Kali Uchis, Fuerza Regida, J Balvin and more  In addition to two days of music, you can try food from some of Chicago's best Latin restaurants, a host of art installations and experiential activations, and a Ferris wheel in the park that you can ride between (or during) sets. It's one of the largest new festivals to come to launch in Chicago in years and a fitting addition to a summer festival calendar that's more crowded than ever.

Presenting carefully selected short films created by Asian American and Asian filmmakers from across the globe, the "Crazy Talented Asians & Friends' 6th Animated Shorts Festival" will take over Flushing Town Hall at February 21 (starting at 5pm) for a fun-filled night spotlighting short films that span genre and embody the multi-faceted creativity of the Asian diaspora. Among the selected films this year are Bride of the Wind by Lupin Kim, ADHDesigner by Zepei Zhang, Brocolopolis by Rehan Khan and Charlotte Foster, and Pond Kings by Shijin Wang, among others. Attendees are invited to join the post-festival mixer that follows at 6:30pm to meet with the artists, jurors, and professionals from the animation industry. 

Co-hosted by Brooklyn Bridge Parents and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, City Point's annual Lunar New Year celebrations will transform the retail space into a festive hub of family-friendly activities, live cultural performances, themed crafts, and special food offerings, all free to the public. On Saturday, February 21 from 11am to 1pm, visitors can enjoy up-close performances by New York’s premier Choy Lay Fut Lion Dance Team. And from noon on, don't miss out on $1 dumplings from select vendors inside DeKalb Market Hall. 

Genesis House, the multi-use MePa venue that's part contemporary restaurant, part cultural showroom and part event space, is serving up special Korean delicacies to celebrate Lunar New Year and Asian heritage. From February 17 through 22, enjoy a festive menu inspired by renewal and prosperity and rooted in traditional Korean flavors, with offerings like a Year of the Horse cocktail (made with clementine, mint, apple liqueur and demerara) and tteokmanduguk, a traditional Korean New Year’s soup made with a rich beef bone broth, beef dumplings and scallions.

If you want to extend your Lunar New Year celebrations into the evening hours, head up to the rooftop bar UNLISTED on the top floor of UNTITLED Hotel for LES After Dark: Year of the Horse. Taking place on Saturday, February 21 from 8pm to 11pm, the festive evening will feature music by resident DJ Ezzek, Year of the Horse themed cocktails (like a sherry-splashed Bamboo Horse Spritz, a Golden Hoof Old Fashioned  and a Fire House Highball made with your choice of Japanese whiskey or blended Scotch), and special Water Magic Fortune Telling—just drop the paper in water to reveal your 2026 fortune!

On June 30, 2015, Misty Copeland made history as the first Black American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre's 75-year history. That historic decade-long run came to an end when Copeland retired in 2025, and a new photography exhibit at the Leica Gallery New York — fittingly entitled "Ballet" — will feature never-before-seen photographs of the dancer in her final ABT performance. Running through March 29, the group show will display stunning snaps from photographers Henry Leutwyler, Diana Markosian and Kylie Shea and explore "the discipline, vulnerability, and transcendence of dance through three distinct photographic practices, united by a shared devotion to movement," per the gallery. A free opening reception will be held on February 19, followed by a moderated panel discussion with the artists on February 21 with special guest Misty Copeland.

Okay, sure, in a pet-loving city like New York, it seems like every day is National Walk Your Dog Dag but this Saturday, February 22 is the official calendar holiday. And to celebrate, the smart dog-collar company Fi is hosting a free weekend event for you and your furry BFF at Washington Square Park. From 9am to 11am, join fellow NYC dog lovers for a free breakfast in the park followed by a community dog walk, some fun giveaways and feel-good morning mingling with other pet parents. 

Nearly two decades after The Sopranos ended with that excellent and polarizing series finale, the HBO series remains an enduring television masterpiece. And the Museum of Modern Image will celebrate the groundbreaking drama with a new exhibition, Stories and Set Designs for The Sopranos, drawing from showrunner and series creator David Chase's personal archive. From February 14 through May 31, 2026, fans of the show will get to peruse scripts, notes and research material chronicling the series' story arcs and character trajectories, as well as delve into the designs of four principal sites from the show, including Dr. Melfi’s office, the Soprano home, the Bada Bing strip club, and Satriale’s Pork Store via concept art, ground plans and more. MoMI will also present three special screenings featuring David Chase and cast members from The Sopranos, February 26–28; find more info here. 

Fashion has been explored as an expressive tool by numerous artists, from Salvador Dalí to Sonia Delaunay to Scott Barrie, a fact beautifully portrayed in the new exhibition Art X Fashion at the Museum of FIT. Running from February 18 through April 19, the stylish display will feature more than 140 objects, including garments, accessories, textiles, photographs, and original artworks drawn from MFIT's permanent collection. "This exhibition will garner strong opinions and spark lively dialogue, but whether you decide that fashion is art or not, fashion's strong and mutual relationship with fine art is undeniable," says Dr. Elizabeth Way, curator of costume and accessories at MFIT.

The Chicago Latino Film Fest returns for its 42nd year from Thursday, April 16, through Tuesday, April 27, showing films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, the United States and more via screenings at the Davis Theatre and Cervantes Institute. For a complete schedule of screenings, check out the Chicago Latino Film Festival website.

They call this three-day market One of a Kind for a reason. A whopping 350 artists from around the country will fill out one floor in the Merchandise Mart for the spring edition of this seasonal bazaar. Take a look at the show's website for a full list of vendors making everything from handpainted ceramic mugs and cool textured pillows to carved wooden bottlestoppers. Come for the shopping and stick around for daily fashion shows and a gourmet market stocked with lots of tasty treats.

In case you missed it, it's been pretty freakin' brick outside this week, which very much has us scouring the city's best spas for bubbling hot tubs and boiling steam rooms to offset that awful chill. Helpfully, an entire large-scale sauna festival is soon coming to New York City next month to bring much-needed relaxation and warmth to our frigid city.  Beginning February 12 and running through March 1, Culture of Bathe-ing will transform Domino Park on the Williamsburg waterfront into an immersive and "unprecedented bathing experiment," with the aims of being the largest sauna village ever staged in the United States. Led by Robert Hammond, co-founder of the High Line, the fest will be equal parts wellness experience and cultural event, with both ticketed spa sessions — more than 1,000 guided experiences led by internationally renowned Aufguss World Champions and bathing practitioners from New York favorites including Bathhouse, Othership, and the Russian & Turkish Baths — as well as free public programming and workshops scheduled throughout the run, including live performance, sound, ritual, and immersive art curated in partnership with Pioneer Works. Related: A new Nordic-inspired bathing club opened in Noho this past fall “We are excited to partner with Therme’s sauna festival at Domino Park to bring talks, rituals, workshops and performances into the bathhouse,” says Gabriel Florenz, Founding Artistic & Executive Director at Pioneer Works. “Our joint program, Hot Bodies,

Heated Rivalry has taken over New York—well, the world really—with themed raves, trivia nights, watch parties and more. It's not looking like the horny obsession over the queer hockey romance is ending any time soon. In NYC, you can ice skate like Hollanov, hit the clubs like Hollanov and, yes, even scarf down tuna melts like Hollanov. From burgers to blueberry smoothies, here's where you can dine like the Heated Rivalry fellas in New York City.  RECOMMENDED: See the new ice skating rink that just opened on the north end of Central Park Where to eat like the 'Heated Rivalry' boys around NYC Tuna melts In one memorable scene of episode four, hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) bond over tuna melts and Grillo's pickles. You can copy their romantic lunch at nostalgic NYC luncheonettes like B&H Dairy (which arrives on homemade challah with your choice of cheese—American, Swiss, cheddar or mozzarella—for $13) and S&P Lunch (piled atop griddle rye with American cheese for $17), each served with a sour cuke on the side.  Blueberry smoothies The romance between Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and Kip Grady (Robbie G.K.) kicks off at New York's fictional smoothie shop Straw + Berry, where they flirt over the former's blueberry-and-banana drink order. If you want to start your day like the captain of the New York Admirals, you can order a similarly fruity blend at local spots such as Baya Bar and Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe.  Ginge

Fashion fans, mark this one on your calendar: May 2026 won't just bring the return of the Met Gala, one of style's biggest nights, but also the debut of a high-profile new fashion exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. Opening its doors (or, rather, spreading its kinetic, three-dimensional wings) on Saturday, May 16 and running through Sunday, December 6 at the arts institution, "Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses" will celebrate one of the most forward-thinking designers in the industry, with 140 extraordinary haute-couture creations from the iconic Dutch designer on view alongside contemporary artworks, objets d’art and scientific artifacts. RECOMMENDED: The best museum exhibitions in NYC right now The latest fashion exhibit taking over a major NYC cultural institution (with recent style-focused shows at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, at the New-York Historical Society and at the Brooklyn Museum itself, which hosted a popular Dior retrospective back in 2021), the Van Herpen exhibit will serve as first major New York presentation of the designer's work, after premiering at Paris's Musée des Arts Décoratifs in November 2023 and moving onward to Brisbane, Singapore and Rotterdam.  Photograph: David UzochukwuIris van Herpen, Morphogenesis Dress, from the Sensory Seas collection, 2020 The designs on view will include the avant-garde, highly sculptural garments that have made Van Herpen a runway pioneer—her ethereal, futuristic pieces celebrate both classic craftsmanship and ne

The last time Harry Styles was onstage in New York City—as part of his Love On Tour shows, which spanned nearly two years from September 2021 (kicking off in Las Vegas) to July 2023 (ending in Reggio Emilia, Italy)—he broke some pretty major concert records. We're talking a sold-out 15-night run at NYC's own Madison Square Garden, kind of records. And in support of his latest project, his fourth studio album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, the British-born pop star is set to shatter his own records with yet another historic Manhattan residency, this time with a whopping 30 shows in the Big Apple beginning this August through Halloween 2026 as part of his Together, Together Tour. And even more than that, New York will be his sole U.S. stop for the tour, with fellow residencies set for Amsterdam, London, São Paulo, Mexico City, Melbourne and Sydney. It's yet another treat for NYC-area fans, who got to get an early listen of his new single "Aperture" last week.  RECOMMENDED: The 8 best concerts and music events worth travelling for in 2026 Given that pretty much all of America will be now trying to compete for a seat at his Manhattan gigs, here's everything you need to know about getting tickets to Harry Styles' NYC residency.  When does Harry Styles come to NYC for his Together, Together Tour? As part of his upcoming Together, Together Tour, Harry Styles will perform 30 shows in New York City from August 26, 2026, through October 31, 2026, before the singer moves on to

If you haven't heard, the entire world is currently enveloped in the horny mass psychosis that is Heated Rivalry. Since debuting on Crave in its native Canada and on HBO Max here stateside last November, the queer hockey romance has been a veritable pop-culture phenomenon, titillating TV fans with its secret love affair between two rival professional hockey players and making stars out of its leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie (who play Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, respectively).  And that #Hollanov thirst has officially hit New York, with a slew of lookalike contests, trivia nights, themed raves and dance parties taking over the city's social calendar for the next few weeks. If you're still spiritually at the cottage (guilty!), these Heated Rivalry-inspired events in NYC should keep you distracted while you're waiting to reunite with Ilya and Shane in season two.  Where to horn out over Heated Rivalry in NYC Photograph: Courtesy CraveHeated Rivalry Heated Rivalry: A Jockstar Rave at (Le) Poisson RougeJan. 24 at 11pm Get those hockey stretches in for a hot night of queer party-boy anthems, show edits and lusty remixes (and, yes, we're very much expecting some t.A.T.u.) courtesy of DJs Michael Medrano and Gregory Dillon at this LPR dance night. Get early-bird tickets here or pay $20 at the door.  Heated Rivalry Lookalike Contest at Washington Square ParkJan. 25 at 2pm This Saturday, the gentlemen who think they look like brooding Russian Ilya Rozanov or shy Shane

Sure, those festive holiday lights have officially burnt out, but that doesn't mean things have to be dark and dreary this winter: the Union Square Partnership (USP) is graciously adding some light and liveliness to the darkest time of the year with its new interactive art installation, "Patterned Behavior" by MASARY Studios, on view every evening (dusk to 10pm) from now through Tuesday, February 17.  RECOMMENDED: Rooftop Cinema Club unveils brand-new winter concept and fresh slate of seasonal screenings Located at Union Square Park’s North Plaza and Pavilion on 17th Street between Broadway and Park Avenue South, “Patterned Behavior” acts like an urban musical instrument, using architecture as a structure to “play” with sound production. Each evening’s illumination is shaped by the thousands of pedestrians that pass through Union Square every day, turning the footsteps and rhythms of passersby into a dynamic audio-visual composition with infrared sensors triggering synchronized light displays that depict how people come together in the area. For the vibrant concept, MASARY co-founder Ryan Edwards worked with "musical architecture" luminary Christopher Janney, whose piece "Reach New York” is at the 34th-Herald Sq Platform. “We’re fascinated by how people move through familiar public spaces and architecture and how those movements become part of our social rhythm,” said Edwards “With ‘Patterned Behavior,’ we’re inviting the public to see and hear how their presence shapes the s

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is held every year—in 2026's case, on Monday, January 19—not only as a reflective observance honoring the life and legacy of the American civil right leader, but also as a rousing remind that the work is far from over. With racial equality, nonviolent resistance and freedom for all very much at the forefront of our minds (and in our headlines), we're taking MLK Weekend as a time to gather with our respective communities for volunteerism, education, activism and, of course, plenty of celebration. Whether you're looking to personally lend a helping hand or simply want to take in a vibrant cultural performance, here are five things to do this Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend to honor Dr. King's enduring legacy of civil service and universal love. (To find even more ways to give back to your local community, you can browse volunteer opportunities through New York Cares or the NYC Service hub.) RECOMMENDED: The best January 2026 events in NYC The best Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend programming MLK Jr. Day of Service Shoreline Cleanup Shirley Chisholm State Park (950 Fountain Ave)Jan 17, 1-3pmMake like Martin and give back to the community around you with a local shoreline cleanup at Shirley Chisholm State Park (a very fitting setting, given Chisholm's own pivotal role in our country's civil rights movement, as the first Black woman in Congress). All materials, including hand sanitizer, gloves, and garbage pickers, will be provided as you help clean debris

We're still a solid half-year out before New Yorkers can once again enjoy the warm, sunny charms of an outdoor movie, but Rooftop Cinema Club—the open-air social cinema that started in London back in 2011 before expanding internationally to cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Miami and, yes, the Big Apple—is bringing all of the appeal of an al fresco screening with the cold-weather comforts of an indoor viewing experience with its first-ever winterized outdoor cinema experience in NYC. Related: 26 massive movies you need to see in 2026 Dubbed the Winter Realm Cinema, the new screening series is a (graciously) fully enclosed and heated rooftop experience made for family movie night, a sweet winter date or simply a novel alternative to your local AMC theater. (Don't come for us, Nicole Kidman.) The wintry concept opens to the public today, January 13, with tickets available now for crowd-pleasing favorites like Edward Scissorhands and When Harry Met Sally... and more recent releases including Sinners and Materialists. Check out the full lineup here. "People crave community and warmth in the winter and we decided that we wanted to jump in and bring the winterization idea to life with Rooftop Cinema Club," the club's founder and CEO Gerry Cottle told Time Out. "Rooftop Cinema Club is all about bringing the fun and celebration to movie watching so we are excited to introduce our fans to an exciting new winter concept and immerse them when they walk through the wardrobe into

We don't want to be complete Grinches, but the days following Christmas in New York are usually riddled with the thoughts "Exactly how days in a row can I eat nothing but cookies? and also "What the hell am I going to do with this old tree?" Now, we can't help you with the cookie craze — if anything, we're only going to point you to even more of the city's best cookies — but we can help you with that admittedly unjolly tree removal. Whether you want to get rid of that spruce right on December 26 or are looking to part ways the Feast of the Epiphany-style on January 6, here's everything you need to know about safely and sustainably disposing of your Christmas tree in NYC this year.  How to recycle your Christmas tree in NYC 1. Participate in Mulchfest at an NYC park One of our favorite yuletide traditions, Mulchfest allows New Yorkers to bring (okay, drag) those Christmas trees down to their nearby participating NYC Park (check Mulchfest locations here), where the parks department will chop it up into wood chips that will be repurposed to nourish trees and make NYC even greener. (A whopping 52,569 trees were recycled last year.  Tree drop-offs are available during park hours between December 26 and January 11 — just remember to remove all ornaments, garlands, tinsel and other holiday paraphernalia before dropping it off.  2. Compost it curbside If you don't want to offload your Christmas tree manually, you can have the NYC Department of Sanitation collect it curbside. DSNY wil

In case you, strangely, hadn't heard: New York City is getting a new mayor in 2026. Yes, this past November, Zohran Mamdani—a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist and State Assemblymember—won the NYC mayoral general election, defeating independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa with 50.4-percent of the total vote. On January 1, 2026, the mayor-elect will not only officially succeed the Big Apple's current head honcho, Eric Adams, but he will be doing so with a big street-party inauguration ceremony along Broadway. And you're all invited.   RECOMMENDED: Is the infamous Elizabeth Street Garden becoming an official NYC park? As reported by the New York Times, following a public swearing-in ceremony on the steps of City Hall held at 1pm on the first day of 2026, Mamdani will play host to a massive street party spanning seven blocks of Broadway in lower Manhattan between Murray and Liberty Streets.  And while capacity for the swearing-in portion of the proceedings will be a bit more limited (there will be 4,000 tickets for the event at City Hall), the outdoor shindig to follow will have space for another 40,000 spectators who will be able to watch the proceedings on large screens. There will also be musical performances and “interfaith elements,” as well as remarks from Mr. Mamdani; the incoming city comptroller, Mark Levine; and New York’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams. “This inauguration is a celebration of the movement we built, the mandate we won and the city we are

Surely 2026 has to be better than—waves around desperately—whatever the hell 2025 was, right? Right?! Despite the universe’s evidence to the contrary, we’re bringing a very hopeful energy into the new year and thankfully New York City is following suit, with a full slate of high-profile museum exhibitions, big-name Broadway shows, a pop superstar’s long-awaited concert tour and a major nationwide birthday. (Happy 250th, America!) We’ve combed through everything announced for 2026 so far—from a rare MoMA retrospective to a Mr. Rodgers–inspired takeover of the Bronx Zoo and loads in between—and narrowed things down to these eight standouts that we’re most looking forward to. Tribeca’s art scene will be getting a massive, tech-forward boost Onassis ONX—the Onassis Foundation’s lab serving artists working in XR, AI and immersive performance—is packing up its midtown digs and heading down to Tribeca, where it will double in size with an experimental, 6,000-square-foot studio at Broadway and Walker Street. We’re talking a motion-capture stage double the size of the old one, a three-wall seamless projection room intended for museum-grade installations and an expanded sound studio. The first show will be “TECHNE: Homecoming,” set to run January 9 to 18, 2026; it will bring together six artists (including Björk collaborator Andrew Thomas Huang and VR pioneer Tamiko Thiel) to explore identity and kinship via video environments and interactive “phygital” installations.  Photograph: By

Thanks to the talented, tortilla-loving likes of Greenpoint's Taqueria Ramirez (and their sister spot Carnitas Ramirez in the East Village), Jackson Height's Birria-Landia, Bushwick's Taqueria Al Pastor, the Los Tacos No. 1 crew and more, New York's taco scene has risen in formidability over the last decade or so. After years of second-rate status to San Diego, San Antonio, Santa Fe and the like, New York is nowadays awash in acclaimed fish tacos, deep-fried flautas and consommé-dipped fold-us. But what we're missing is floating tacos. That is, tacos that you can enjoy while wading in the middle of the ocean, Yeti full of rum punch being sent your way by pool float. Such are the immaculate vibes you'll find at Lime Out, a floating taco restaurant located in the U.S. Virgin Islands. And when yours truly heard that the team was debuting a St. Thomas sister to their viral St. John flagship this November, I knew I had to hightail down to the Caribbean to see exactly how the island's own taco scene was shaking up. RECOMMENDED: I flew from NYC to Canada for 24 hours just for dinner at this exclusive Toronto restaurant Photograph: Sarah SwanLime Out in St. Thomas Set directly in St. Thomas's Lindbergh Bay, the new Lime Out location is — like its sibling, which was birthed in St. John's Coral Bay by lifelong friends Richard Baranowski, Dylan Buchalter and Dane Tarr in 2019 and quickly gained global attention, being named one of TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places — accessible o