Christina Izzo

Get excited, Chicagoans, because spring in Chicago is officially here. (Bye-bye snow!) The warmer temps are perfect for hiking near Chicago or taking a day trip to enjoy a quick getaway but there’ll be plenty of fun in the city, too. For sports lovers there’s, of course, the Chicago Cubs’ home opener, with Wrigley Field coming alive for the start of baseball season. Diehard fans of comic books and video games will descend upon C2E2, the biggest pop culture convention in the Midwest. Artsy folks can head to Navy Pier for the return of the big EXPO Chicago Contemporary Art Fair, and booze buffs have beverage-focused fests like the Chicago Rum Festival for their swilling and minging pleasure. So celebrate the beginning of the spring season—and all the new beginnings that go along with it—with our list of the best things to do in Chicago this April. RECOMMENDED: Events calendar for Chicago in 2025

We’re huge fans of all things NYC, but sometimes even we need a break from the city and all it entails. Fortunately, New York City provides one of the best bases in the country to use as a jumping-off point for some incredible day trips or even longer road trips. Whether you're taking someone special on a romantic getaway, or are looking to disconnect from your devices with a serious dose of nature, these road trips from NYC serve as an ideal weekend getaway. Maybe you’re looking to escape the heat of NYC in the summer, or you’re just wanting to discover a nearby destination you’ve never been to before. Here are the best road trips from New York City, from the most scenic corners of New England to charming Catskills enclaves. RECOMMENDED: 🚕 See our full guide to weekend getaways from NYC⛰️ The coziest Airbnb cabins near NYC🌳 The best treehouse Airbnbs near NYC🏖️ The best beach houses near NYC🍂 The coziest Airbnbs near NYC

New York’s one of the most literary cities in the world, and that’s never more evident than when wandering through its brilliant independent bookstores and specialty bookshops. And because Amazon’s recommendations have got nothing on a face-to-face chat with a professional bookseller, find the best bookstore NYC has to offer for browsing new fiction or picking up the year’s best books. Here's a list of our favorites—listed alphabetically, of course. RECOMMENDED: The best bookstore cafés in NYC

Brunch is competitive in New York City any time of year, and interest ticks up even higher on especially brunch-y holidays. On Easter Sunday in particular—which helpfully falls late this year on April 20, giving you even more time to plan your spring festivities—demand for mimosas, bloody Marys, eggs Benedict and all manner of pancakes soars higher than the city’s rooftop bars. These are our picks for tthe best Easter brunch offerings in NYC for 2025.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Easter in NYC

Not sure what's happening around the city today? Help is here! Chicago's best attractions, which include beautiful parks, neighborhoods and a free zoo, are always a good place to start. So are Chicago's best museums, from the Art Institute of Chicago to the Shedd Aquarium. Plus—as always—we're keeping track of the top parties, live concerts, museum exhibitions, community events and more interesting stuff blowing into the Windy City day-by-day. Grab your calendar and check out all the best things to do in Chicago today. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Chicago right now 

Is there anything better than a spring weekend? Yes, springtime is officially here, which means a spirited start to baseball season over at Wrigley Field, bloom-filled flower shows at the Garfield Park Conservatory and other returning seasonal events that serve as much-welcome harbingers of warm weather. However, if you'd rather avoid the sun, there are plenty of cool museum exhibitions, film festivals and theater performances to take advantage of, too. So ready to make the most of your time off? Check out the rest of the best things to do in Chicago this weekend. RECOMMENDED: Discover the best things to do in Chicago in April 2025

Looking for fun activities to do this week? You've come to the right place! Spring is officially here (finally!) and with the arrival of warmer temps, it's time to embrace the season. Get your fill of fresh blooms at the annual spring flower show at the Garfield Park Conservatory, celebrate the start of baseball season with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, and check out the final days of a James Bond-themed exhibit at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. There’s even more on our list below, so scroll through the roundup of the best things to do in Chicago this week and start planning your calendar. RECOMMENDED: Discover the best things to do in Chicago in April 2025

Time Out Market Chicago, the culinary and cultural destination in the heart of Fulton Market, is your one-stop destination for the city's best bites, drinks and programming. The 50,000-square-foot space houses more than 15 kitchens, three bars and one drop-dead gorgeous rooftop terrace—all spread across three floors. You can enjoy delicious dumplings from Qing Xiang Yuan, creative burgers at Gutenburg, fried chicken from Art Smith's Sporty Bird, irresistible desserts from Molly's Cupcakes and much more under one roof. But the fun doesn't stop there: The Market hosts a variety of events each week, from concerts to art showcases to comedy nights. We're always keeping the calendar packed with exciting things to do, and here's what you can expect in the coming weeks.

Some the best NYC events in April celebrate Earth Day. NYC isn't the greenest city, but we sure know how to give Mother Nature a proper party and some much-needed recognition all Earth Month long. The best Earth Month events in NYC including volunteering to clean up parks in NYC or beaches to ensure they stay litter-free. There are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy themed music, sustainable art and natural beauty. Get ready to do some tree hugging and check out fun things to do outside and inside. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Earth Day in NYC

Nowhere does luxury quite like New York City. From swanky lounges with views over the entire city to deluxe spas, high-thread-count linens and sumptuous five-star restaurants, the Big Apple’s R&R is totally world-class. It’s decadent, debauched and indulgent—in all the best ways. And who says that NYC’s most luxurious digs are only for visitors? If you’re a New Yorker craving that stay-cay, the city offers plenty of opportunities for escaping for a night (or two) to a well-earned retreat. And it caters to tastes of all kinds, from sleek, contemporary boudoirs to classic, antique getaways. Read on to find some welcome breaks from the city that never sleeps, right in the heart of it all. Updated October 2024: We're always on the hunt for the very best stays in this dazzling concrete jungle. To prove it, we've recently added two new hotels that have been on our radar for some time. One is a minimalist oasis bang in the middle of Times Square, while the other has been doing upscale luxury since 1904.  RECOMMENDED:🇺🇸 Click here to view our full guide to the best things to do in NYC🏨 Discover the best cheap hotels in NYC🗽 Check out the best hotels in NYC🌉 Explore the coolest Airbnbs in Brooklyn💗 Book one of the best boutique hotels in NYC Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities, and in-depth research to find you the

New York City has tons of things going for it, from incredible buildings to breathtaking parks. But surely, the top of the list includes NYC’s vast array of museums and galleries, covering every field of culture and knowledge: There are quirky museums and interactive museums, free museums and world renowned art institutions like the Met. Between them, they offer so many exhibitions of every variety and taste that it's hard to keep track of them. But if you’ve starting to suffer a sudden attack of FOMA (that's fear of missing art ;)), don't worry! We've got you covered with our select list of the best museum exhibitions in NYC. Don't waste any time—head to NYC's best museum exhibits now! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to museums 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

At this point, it’s unclear just how many “moments” Vietnamese food has had in New York’s gastro timeline. The city’s last pho wave hit in 2013, when buzzy outlets like Rob Newton’s Nightingale 9 and the ramshackle Bunker in Ridgewood, Queens, came onto the scene to unpack and update Far East flavors with farm-to-table finesse and refined techniques. And now Gotham’s in the midst of yet another influx, with high-profile openings such as Chao Chao, a Brooklyn reboot of Bunker, and two East Village additions, Madame Vo and Hanoi House. It’s Hanoi House from Stephen Starr alums Ben Lowell and Sara Leveen—a Vietnamese comfort-food canteen situated at the less-grungy end of St. Mark’s Place—that has stirred the blogosphere’s fresh hopes of pho grandeur. Traditional Vietnamese this emphatically is not: The restaurant’s chef and fellow Starr vet John Nguyen (Storico, Lincoln Ristorante) taps more into the freewheeling Southeast Asian cooking you’d find in his native Orange County, California, which is home to the oldest and largest Little Saigon in the country. Tangles of morning glory come dressed with savory capers and fish sauce spiked with brown butter ($8); nubs of coconut-braised octopus are dotted with perfect little hard-boiled quail eggs ($16); and banh mi is deconstructed as dainty pâté-slathered toasts crowned with sea urchin and pickled vegetables ($18). Not every doctored recipe works: For instance, roasted bone marrow adds little to a plate of shaking beef ($28), and

Made some room in your closets and cupboards during spring cleaning? Then it's time for some spring shopping! Join Time Out Market Chicago for a pop-up marketplace filled with shopping, food and fun on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13. A variety of unique vendors and artisans will be selling their wares, including home decor, candles, jewelry, clothing, skincare, accessories, and much more, perfect if you're looking for gifts or simply want to treat yourself with something new and cool. In between shopping, you can indulge in delicious bites from the market's eateries and soak up the venue's vibrant atmosphere.

Join us for a family-friendly day at the Market celebrating everything Easter! On Sunday, April 20, head to the Market's second floor to enjoy fun-filled activities for the kids, including Easter egg hunts, festive face painting, and photos with the Easter Bunny. But don't worry parents, we've got you covered as well—there will be a for-purchase beverage bar pouring Mimosas and Bloody Marys. 

Florals for spring? Groundbreaking! We kid, we kid, but working with fresh flowers sure is a gorgeous way to celebrate Earth Day. Join Blissful Blooms for an Ikebana-inspired design class where participants will explore the art of Japanese floral arrangement, emphasizing balance, harmony and simplicity. With guidance from experienced instructors, attendees will craft their own exquisite arrangements using seasonal blossoms, all while incorporating Ikebana principles. All materials needed will be provided by Blissful Blooms and your $95 ticket includes not only the workshop itself and your stunning flower arrangement to take home, but also a $25 Time Out Market gift card to use during your class for yummy food and drinks!

No offense to those classic dyed eggs, but we'll take yummy chocolate eggs any day! On Saturday, April 26, head to the Market to join chocolatier Jorge Kauam for a spirited, kid-friendly dessert class, where he'll guide the little chefs and show them how to jazz up their own chocolate eggs with edible paint and fill them with goodies like candies, cookies and gummies. All of the chocolate eggs will be handcrafted and molded by Kraum before the kiddos get free rein to let their creativity flow. Your ticket will include all materials needed to fill and decorate the treats, as well as fine chocolate eggs to take home.

Indulge in a charming afternoon filled with delicious teas and treats during Mother's Day Weekend at the Market. On Saturday, May 10, enjoy an elegant setting with your loved ones while savoring a delightful assortment of savory and sweet bites baked by Molly's Cupcakes, including classic finger sandwiches (cucumber and cream cheese, chicken salad) on house-made bread, mini fruit danishes (strawberry, blueberry), sweet scones, egg frittatas, mini truffles, pretty macarons, flaky croissants and more. Wash it all down with an assortment of teas, served in fine china teapots and matching tea cups. Mom will love it!

Time Out Market Chicago hosts a fabulous afternoon of glitz, glam and jaw-dropping performances! Hosted by Khloe Daniels and with bumping beats spun by DJ Geo Diamond, the drag show will feature performers—Aurora Gozmic, Vanda LaRose and Ari Blakk Diamond—who are ready to slay the stage in dazzling costumes. Tickets include a guaranteed seat to the show as well as bottomless mimosas for the duration of the event. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Bring the little ones to Time Out Market Chicago on Saturday, April 19 for a festive, Easter-themed donut decorating class. 2d Restaurant will teach young chefs how to unleash their creativity on special "Beary Easter" and "Mochi Bunny" donuts with a variety of toppings and sprinkles. All of the necessary ingredients will be provided, and kids will be able to take their delicious sweet treats home.

Eataly Chicago’s first all-access part of 2025 is here: on Friday, April 11, the Italian food emporium is hosting All You Can Eataly, a one-night-only celebration featuring unlimited food, drink and entertainment. The spread will include more than 40 Italian bites — think spring pea ravioli, lemon risotto, polenta fritta, seafood salad, assorted pizza and much more — and 30 different kinds of Italian wines, spirits and beers. When you’re not snacking and sipping, you can enjoy in-person chef demonstrations and activations, live music, tarot card reading, a glass etching station, a karaoke room, a photobooth and more set throughout the marketplace from 7pm through 11pm.

Get ready to shake off your seasonal affective disorder with a spring bar crawl inspired by your favorite pop girl, Taylor Swift. There surely won’t be any bad blood as Chicago-area Swifties gather together to bop around the best bars in the Wrigleyville area on Saturday, April 12, enjoying themed drink specials, a brunch buffet, gift cards and giveaways, and, of course, all of the T-Swift tunes you can handle along the way. (Just be sure not to over-imbibe or else you’ll be sob-singing to that 10-minute version of “All Too Well” in no time.) The venues will be announced the night before, but get your sparkly fringe dresses and sweet friendship bracelets ready — this is about to be the bar crawl of your wildest dreams.

Whether you're a polyglot or just passionate about language, this symposium is for you: taking place at DePaul University’s Lincoln Park Campus on Saturday, April 12, the Chicago Language Symposium will bring together linguistics enthusiasts, educators, and professionals to explore the diverse world of languages, with a full day of workshops, panels, and networking opportunities. The theme for this year’s conference is "​​​Artificial Intelligence and World Language Teaching​​​​,” delving into the transformative impact of AI and adaptive learning tools on world language education.

Bingo Loco, an interactive rave show that takes place in cities around the world, comes to West Loop’s Morgan MFG this spring, with five dates in Chicago (March 28, April 11, April 25, May 10 and May 23.) The traditional game of bingo gets reimagined as a three-hour long immersive experience, complete with epic dance offs, rave rounds, lip sync battles, confetti showers, CO2 cannons, conga lines and prizes ranging from international trips to lawnmowers. One thing’s for sure—this ain’t bingo night at the senior center.

Great news, Chicago sweet tooths! Hotel Chocolat, the renowned UK-based cacao grower and chocolatier, is opening its first-ever U.S. locations after three decades in the business—and they're happening in Chicago. RECOMMENDED: The viral Dubai chocolate bar is now available at Time Out Market Chicago Hotel Chocolat will debut its pair of Chicago-based retail shops this month: one at 3334 North Southport in Lakewood and the other at 900 West Armitage in Lincoln Park. The Illinois outposts will join the brand's more than 150 locations, which span Ireland, Japan, St. Lucia, Gibraltar and its native United Kingdom.  "Bringing together the world of chocolate luxury and sustainable cocoa farming," the stores will feature a wide range of Hotel Chocolat offerings—from beverages like chocolate shakes, coffee and tea to bites including chocolatey pastries and confections—as well as the brand's famed hot chocolate machine: the Velvetiser, which makes chocolatier-crafted hot chocolate flakes at the touch of a button. The new shops will serve the brand’s signature drinkable chocolate in eighteen yummy-sounding flavors, like Black Forest Gateau and salted caramel.  Even more exciting for the truly chocolate obsessed: consumers get to add a drizzle of liquid chocolate—on tap, mind you!—to their ice cream or baked goods for an extra-indulgent dining experience. Other immersive touches include a "Wall of Chocolate,]" featuring 100 Hotel Chocolat recipes ranging from fruity lemon curd to nutty p

Yoko Ono might most famously be known as the widow of the late John Legend, but she's a trailblazing artist and formidable activist in her own right. This fall, a new solo exhibition dedicated to her nine decades of life and work is coming to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Chicago, the only U.S. venue to be mounting the remarkable retrospective. RECOMMENDED: The 27 best museums in Chicago for art, science, history and beyond From Saturday, October 18, 2025, through Sunday, February 22, 2026, the MCA will host "Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind" at the Griffin Galleries of Contemporary Art, fresh off a run at the Tate Modern in London, where the exhibition reportedly set attendance records, per The Chicago Tribune.  According to the MCA, "Music of the Mind" will be one of the most comprehensive exhibitions to date of the celebrated artist, musician and peacekeeper, celebrating key moments of Ono's career and showcasing art "driven by ideas and expressed in poetic, humorous and profound ways." Tracing Ono's career since the 1950s, the show will feature over 200 works across a variety of media and genres, including performance footage, music and sound recordings, scores, film, photography, installation and archival materials. "Participatory artworks—a key aspect of Ono’s practice—also feature in the exhibition, and visitors are invited to partake in several interactive, instruction-based artworks throughout 'Music of the Mind,'" reads an official description of the show.   

At least we'll have those May flowers to look forward to, but first we need to get through the April showers that will sadly be mucking up your springtime plans this week. (Speaking of, here's our guide to the best things to do in April 2025 in Chicago for when things are, you know, drier.)  This past Sunday was quite an eventful one weather-wise, with severe thunderstorms raking the greater Chicago area and prompting downed trees, damaged buildings, delayed baseball games (sorry, White Sox fans) and a downpour of rain. Not to mention the subsequent tornado warnings and watches throughout the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana, leading to a brief ground stop issued at O'Hare International Airport. According to NBC Chicago, the rough weather isn't over just yet, despite what this chilly but relatively dry Monday might have you thinking. Another set of strong-to-severe storms are expected to hit Illinois and Indiana Tuesday and Wednesday, with showers reportedly starting around 6pm tomorrow evening. As the severe weather ramps up going into the workday on Wednesday, local meteorologists are reporting that Chicagoans may be seeing a repeat of Sunday's showers, storms and, yes, even tornadoes.  The Chicago branch of the National Weather Service tweeted out: "The potential for severe weather returns as early as Tuesday night (threat level 1 and 2 of 5) as multiple waves of storms life across the area, mainly after midnight. Large hail, gusty winds and lightning are the main hazard

Pop Mart, the Chinese toy company that's world-famous for its collectible "designer" toys and "blind box" format, is officially expanding in Chicagoland. After running a pop-up store at The Shops at North Bridge on Michigan Avenue, the brand debuted its first permanent location in the greater Chicago area this past January, at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont. Now, two more brick-and-mortar outposts are scheduled to blow into the Windy City this spring: one at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg and one at Oakbrook Center Mall in Oak Brook.  Related: The best toy stores in Chicago for rewarding the little ones or just geeking out on your own On January 26, the Woodfield Mall gave Pop Mart devotees a sneak peek of the new digs and some of the location's cute items with a post on their Instagram, writing: "Pop Mart is COMING SOON to Woodfield Mall! @PopMart_US brings imagination to life one figure at a time! From stunning designs to iconic characters, each figure tells a unique story. ✨" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Woodfield Mall (@woodfieldmall) Official opening dates for the Woodfield Mall and the Oakbrook Center Mall have not been announced just yet, but Pop Mart U.S. will no doubt post information on those grand openings on their Instagram account, so we'll be keeping our eyes peeled. The new Chicago locations will join 22 full-staff Pop Mart outlets and 39 "roboshops"—a.k.a. smaller, automated kiosks—throughout the United State

Good news for Chicago's curious youngsters: the One Lawndale Children’s Discovery Center is an in-the-works children's museum that will offer kiddos ages 5 and younger a whopping 25,000-square-feet of space to explore, play in and learn through interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits.  RELATED: The best children's museums in Chicago that kids and adults will love Located at 3140 W. Ogden Avenue in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, the entertaining yet educational venue will promote early childhood learning subjects, particularly focusing on STEAM (that's science, technology, engineering, art and math) education, as well as social-emotional learning, environmental awareness and healthcare topics, reports Block Club Chicago.  Per the center's website, the museum's mission is "to serve as a vibrant catalyst for positive generational change, fostering early childhood health and development through the transformative power of play." The space will feature a number of different exhibits, including a "Baby Blooms" area dedicated to infants and toddlers, complete with sensory walls and a bird-song soundtrack; a mock "Rainbow Market" grocery store and pretend "Happy Hearts" doctor's office; and a play planting station that will allow young visitors to explore gardening by tending to Velcro fruits and vegetables.  The center will also feature 10,000 square feet of outdoor exhibit space where visitors can further learn about the environment and how best to care for it. A standout

Get your claws up! Mother Monster is officially coming to Chicago: yes, Lady Gaga announced the tour dates for her hotly anticipated Mayhem Ball Tour today in support of her sixth studio album, the synth-happy Mayhem, which dropped on March 7. Luckily for Chicago-area fans, the Grammy-winning singer will be making several stops in the Windy City, one of only five U.S. destinations listed for the forthcoming tour. The North American leg of the tour will kick off in Las Vegas, with shows on Monday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 18. It will then stop all over the U.S., from Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena to New York City's Madison Square Garden to Miami's Kaseya Center, before concluding the America run with a pair of dates in Chicago this September. Europe and UK-based fans will get to see Ms. Germanotta throughout the fall, when she will take on stages in London, Paris, Milan, Stockholm and more.  When does Lady Gaga come to Chicago for her Mayhem Ball Tour? Gaga's first Chicago show will be on Monday, September 15 at 8pm, with a second concert scheduled for Wednesday, September 17 at the same time. Where will Lady Gaga perform in Chicago for The Mayhem Ball Tour? The Mayhem Ball Tour marks the pop icon's first arena tour since 2018, which means she's eschewing larger sports stadiums like Soldier Field for indoor arenas. As such, her Chicago dates will take place at United Center in the city's Near West Side neighborhood. Home to the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks, the

She's played such iconic characters as Millie Dillmount (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Reno Sweeney (Anything Goes), Jo March (Little Women) and Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd), but now Broadway favorite Sutton Foster is stepping into the shoes of a real-life legend for her next stage role: as country-music icon Loretta Lynn in the bio-musical Coal Miner's Daughter. The part will be Foster's first lead stage role since her Tony-nominated performance in 2022's The Music Man, opposite now-beau Hugh Jackman. < RECOMMENDED: Cuddle up with Sutton Foster and the cast of Broadway's Once Upon a Mattress With Tony-winning Fun Home director Sam Gold at the helm, the new production is a theatrical adaptation of Lynn's bestselling 1976  autobiography of the same name—which tracks the singer from her humble Butcher Hollow, Kentucky beginnings as a teen bride to her rise as one of the most influential figures in the country-music scene—as well as the acclaimed 1980 film, which earned lead Sissy Spacek an Oscar win for Best Actress for her turn as the "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" crooner.  The casting of two-time Tony winner Sutton Foster—who was seen on the Broadway stage earlier this year in Trisha Paytas’ Big Broadway Dream, alongside other high-profile theater figures like Ben Platt and Rachel Zegler—as the late, great country singer reportedly got Lynn's stamp of approval before her death in 2022 at the age of 90, per Deadline. The musician's daughter-slash-manager, Patsy Lynn, wi

From Governors Ball and Afropunk to SummerStage, New York City is chockfull of top-notch local music fests. And one Big Apple favorite is happily making its return next month: the annual New Colossus festival and conference is back for its sixth edition to celebrate independent music communities from both NYC and around the world. RECOMMENDED: The Governors Ball 2025 lineup is here, with Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier and more From Tuesday, March 4 through Sunday, March 9, the six-day music showcase—which was co-founded back in 2018 by a trio of New York music industry vets, including former Lorimer Beacon founder Mike Bell, Kanine Records' label head Lio Kanine and Dedstrange Records co-founder Steven Matrick—will take over eight downtown indie music venues across the Lower East Side, including Arlene's Grocery, Bowery Electric, Parkside Lounge, Sour Mouse, Baker Falls and Nublu Classic. Along with stellar live performances, the festival will be held in tandem with the Colossal Conversations music conference and networking events. As has become tradition, this year's lineup features a handpicked mix of emerging indie bands and artists from the states, Canada, the UK, Europe and Asia. The 2025 batch will see more than 180 acts take the stages all across the LES, including homegrown outfits like NYC grunge band Das Damen, Brooklyn-based indie rockers Big Girl and dream-pop collective Constant Smiles; Irish groups such as PEER Pleasure, Really Good Time and Basht; Mexican rock band Me

The current glacial weather and judgmental Punxsutawney Phil may have you thinking otherwise but spring actually is on the way. And if you need colorful proof, the annual Tulip Day is returning to Manhattan's Union Square next month for its second year.   RECOMMENDED: A guide to the Orchid Show, NYC’s incredible floral display at the New York Botanical Garden Get ready for a floral explosion as the warm-weather tradition returns to the downtown park on Sunday, March 30, with a whopping 170,000 stems of the spring-blooming perennial taking over the public plaza. Put on by Royal Anthos—a Dutch organization that promotes flower and tree agriculture worldwide—in collaboration with the Netherlands Consulate General of New York, Tulip Day won't just be a welcome sight for winter-sore eyes, but also an opportunity for floral-loving New Yorkers and visitors to stock up on the titular flowers and create their own bespoke bouquets to welcome the start of the season.  Open to the public from 11:30am to 4pm, the one-day-only tulip garden pop-up will welcome each attendee to visit the square and pick a maximum of 10 fresh blooms for their own personal bouquets for free. Access to the floral pop-up is free, but if you want to secure your spot, you'll be able to register for the event ahead of time—spots are set to open up in early March. Walk-ins may also be accepted the day of the event on a first-come, first-served basis. Tulip Day has become a springtime tradition not only in New York b

Even if you haven't been to Chicago, you've likely heard of it: Alinea is one of the country's premier restaurants, a fine-dining institution that's won three Michelin stars, was dubbed the World's Best Restaurant by Elite Traveler—even beating New York's own fancy-plate powerhouses like Eleven Madison Park—and, yes, was featured on Hulu's The Bear. (That was head chef Grant Achatz hilariously giving Will Poulter's pastry chef Luca a hard time in the season three finale.)  And now, after two decades of molecular gastronomy greatness—we're talking helium-filled green-apple "balloons," slices of see-through pumpkin pie, fizzy lemon soda arriving in powered form inside a dissolving packet and that famous pop-in-your-mouth potato truffle "explosion"—Alinea is celebrating its big 20th anniversary by taking those avant-garde kitchen wonders on the road. And, yes, Achatz and co. will be spotting in New York.  This summer, the Alinea crew will be popping up at three restaurants in three different cities, "each holding a special place in our story," per the restaurant's website. First up on the list is Brooklyn's own Olmsted, which will reunite Achatz with Chef Greg Baxtrom, who was a member of Alinea's opening team. Serving up "a multi-sensory experience celebrating the imagination and innovation of the last 20 years and the future to come," the Alinea Brooklyn pop-up will take over the acclaimed Prospect Heights restaurant from Thursday, March 20 through Sunday, April 13. Reserva

Paul Simon helped kick off the big SNL50: The Anniversary Special this past Saturday night alongside Sabrina Carpenter for a special performance of "Homeward Bound," but, this summer, the legendary singer-songwriter will be stepping into the spotlight on his own with a brand-new tour. Fresh off that splashy Saturday Night Live appearance, Simon is coming back from retirement—he swore off live shows seven years ago following his supposed "farewell" tour—for this intimate "A Quiet Celebration Tour," which will hop around mid-sized theaters and concert halls around the country, starting from New Orleans in April and capping off in Seattle in August. The shows will highlight tracks from Simon's most recent record, his fifteenth studio album Seven Psalms, but will also pull from the 16-time Grammy winner's extensive, decade-spanning catalog. Here's when fans can expect Paul Simon to come to New York for not one, not two but five live shows.  When does Paul Simon come to NYC for his Quiet Celebration Tour? The first show of Paul Simon's mini NYC residency will be on Monday, June 16, followed by four other concerts on site: June 18, 20, 21 and 23. Where will Paul Simon perform in NYC for the A Quiet Celebration Tour Because this set of shows will be focused on an intimate, more acoustic-driven vibe, Simon is eschewing larger local venues like Madison Square Garden and MetLife Stadium for the Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side. The historic theater boasts 2,894 seats and a three-t

UPDATE: November 19, 2024 Over a year after Mayor Eric Adams announced the opening of The Arches, a public space beneath the Brooklyn Bridge that was left unused for a decade, officials celebrated the debut of an additional portion of the destination. Until now used as a contractor staging area, the new space is about one third of an acre in size, home to 16 park benches and a vast array of trees, including oaks, elms and Japanese pagoda varieties. "Public space in Manhattan is precious—every acre counts for the people who live, work in, and visit our bustling metropolis," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi in an official statement. "Where better to continue to deliver peaceful, elevated public space than a stone's throw from Chinatown, in the shade of one of our city's most iconic landmarks, the Brooklyn Bridge." But there's more to come: according to an official press release, the largest sections of The Arches have yet to re-open, so brace yourselves for even more exciting debuts in the near future. -- Word of any new outdoor space in New York City is always a reason to cheer, especially when the digs are as iconic as this: just in time for its 140th birthday, the Brooklyn Bridge will welcome The Arches, a recreational space and community gathering spot set right beneath the landmark in Chinatown, located at the intersection of Rose Street and Avenue of the Finest. RECOMMENDED: The 16 best parks in NYC, from Prospect to Pelham Bay Announced by Mayor Eric Adams as