Christina Izzo

There’s a long (and we mean really long) list of reasons why one might choose to visit old New York—the food, the theatre, the bars and the art galleries, to name a few—but up there with the best things about this city is, without a doubt, its skyline. And while heading up to Top of the Rock or the One World Observatory are worthy ways to soak it up, your hotel room could be, too. So, that’s why we’ve compiled a round up of the best hotels in NYC with proper, show-stopping views. Sit back and enjoy. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in New York City

Contrary to its moniker, Oktoberfest—the annual autumnal celebration anchored in Munich, Germany, with satellite festivities all over the globe—kicks off in September. Lucky for you, New York City hosts some of the best boozy, musical sausage fests in the world. This year’s events include weeks-long waterside parties, brewery bashes and even lobster-fueled feasts—all with plenty of German (and local!) beer to start your fall eating and drinking plans out right. Here's where to keep the party going all season long.

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. RECOMMENDED: The best whiskey bars in Chicago  September 2025: This month, we've refined the list to an exclusive ranking of the top 21 absolute best bars in Chicago. One new addition to the list this month is Three Dots and a Dash at number 19. Although it's not a new bar, we thought it deserved a spot on this list of Chicago's best bars. No matter how many times you visit, their over-the-top, tiki-style drinks never cease to impress. There's a bevy of hotspots to grab a bev in this town, so sip your way through these top spots (not all in one night, please), and discover the libations that have put Chicago on the map as a world-class mixology hub. Time Out has also instituted a sitewide change in review policies. Our food and drink venues included in guides now have star ratings, with five stars

Once May rolls around, we know summer in Chicago is just around the corner. Need evidence? Look no further than the slate of summer festivals coming up this month—including returning favorites like Mole de Mexico in Pilsen and Sueños Music Festival in Grant Park—or the throngs of people hanging out at Chicago rooftop bars and outdoor restaurants every weekend. Plus, don't forget to plan out holidays like Mother's Day (we bet your mom would love brunch reservations) and Memorial Day weekend in Chicago this month. So enjoy spring to the fullest and start getting ready for another glorious summer with our May 2026 events calendar for Chicago. RECOMMENDED: Events calendar for Chicago in 2026

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 movie lovers, there's the return of Doc10 Fest and MUBI Fest Chicago. Art buffs can get their fill at the annual EXPO Chicago and ART on the MART. There's also plenty to do outside, including the city's much-anticipated cherry blossom viewing and the spring flower show at the Garfield Park Conservatory. So celebrate 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 2026

Visiting New York is a frantic experience, and when you’ve only got a number of days to get through shedloads of dining, cocktail-drinking, sightseeing and museum-hopping, that oh-so-precious shut-eye becomes all the more important. Thankfully, even though New York’s famous moniker is the ‘city that never sleeps’, the Big Apple is brimming with stylish, innovative, and world-renowned hotels. So, we’ve combed through all the neighborhoods and avenues to bring you this hand-picked roundup of the very best, from swish new-openings in Brooklyn to opulent institutions in Manhattan.  New additions for fall 2025 include Brooklyn’s gleaming William Vale, Manhattan’s iconic Knickerbocker, the elegant, Park Avenue-adjacent Loews Regency and the beachy Rockaway Hotel. But that’s only the beginning—scroll on for Time Out’s fresh roundup of the best places to stay in New York City.  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best budget and Midtown hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content.

At the end of summer every year, the tennis world’s eyes turn to NYC, home to the U.S. Open, which is one of four major annual tennis tournaments. You might be hankering to get courtside to see the matches live, but find yourself having to settle for the next best thing—watching topspins and backhands while sipping something cold from the comfort of the city’s best neighborhood sports bars. But where should you go to watch them? In some places, you can watch for free and first-come, first-served, while others suggest reservations or require minimum spending. Here are nine great options for local sports bars, patios, restaurants and more that are offering a chance to catch the 2024 U.S. Open, which is happening from August 26 to September 8. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the U.S. Open in NYC

Does anywhere do luxury quite as well as New York City? Well, according to our round-up of high-end hotels, the answer is probably not. From sleek, glassy, towering stays which overlook Columbus Circle and Central Park to tiny little boutique hotels which feel more like ridiculously fancy private homes, luxury comes in all grandiose shapes and glitzy sizes here.  New inclusions are the Park Terrace Hotel and Loews Regency New York, but they’ve joined regal institutions The Knickerbocker, Mandarin Oriental, Thompson Central Park New York, and, of course, The Plaza. And we aren’t just talking about cloud-like bedding and pretty decor – luxury also means gorging on dishes crafted by world-class chefs, being in prime New York locations, and enjoying polished, attentive service. So, looking to splash out on an ultra-luxe stay in NYC? Here’s where we would recommend. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see

Looking for an outdoorsy experience that's a bit more adventurous than walking through your local Chicago park? Thankfully, you don't need to go too far to escape the urban jungle, because there's no shortage of great spots for hiking near Chicago. Cross state lines to visit the gorgeous Indiana Dunes along Lake Michigan, explore the ruins of a steel mill in Joliet or tackle the sprawling 30-mile Ice Age Trail at Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin. Plus, some of these paths double as great Chicago bike trails—you can even make a weekend of it and plan a camping adventure. If you're ready for a quick escape from the city, put on your best boots and hit the trails at some of the best places for hiking near Chicago. RECOMMENDED: Hit the road on more day trips from ChicagoDiscover these amazing treehouse Airbnbs near Chicago

Our definitive guide to the best New York attractions is a great place to start whether you're visiting, entertaining out-of-town guests or simply want to channel your inner tourist. How do we know? Because we've been to every single spot on the list, testing it out to see if it truly makes the cut.  The list is a compilation of our favorite sights and spots in the city, including everything from great parks and art museums, to food markets and historical venues. The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are obviously must-see attractions, but we’ve also highlighted a few of our favorite hidden gems, such as one of NYC's greatest flea markets, foodie haven Smorgasburg and some more obscure museums. Thirsty for more? 🗽 Discover the best things to do in NYC🏡 Take your pick of the coolest Airbnbs in NYC🛥 Stay in the best boat rentals in NYC ⛴ Or how about the best boat tours in NYC? At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Some cities have more sprawl, sure, but we’re partial to the ones that surge upward. And thankfully for all of us, New York City stretches sky-high, from elevated parks like the High Line, to rooftop bars that pair tasty drinks with dizzying views, to beautiful buildings that skim the clouds. But instead of just serving up some of the best views in NYC, the city’s best rooftop restaurants do all that as well as offering some of the finest food and drink options at any elevation. So ready your Instagram filters and get ready for your most scenic foodie snap yet—these spots are your ticket to the top.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC right now July 2025: It's still rooftop weather and there's more to do than drink in the views. For this update, we removed Electric Lemon, The Rooftop Restaurant RH New York, Serra by Birreria at Eataly Flatiron and Sushi Lab. In their place, we've added Saishin, a glam omakase den atop the Gansevoort Rooftop. 

In New York City, “underground” is good: think speakeasy-themed bars, hidden streets, secret gardens, you know, the actual underground. But sometimes you want to soar above it all, sipping effervescent libations among the clouds like some kind of fancy bird with an expense account. You want to be uplifted.  In the city that never stops sprawling, upward expansion has also reached great heights. Many incredible eating and drinking destinations are poised in the sky like treehouses with cover charges. Among these rooftop bars are old New York throwbacks, party destinations and seaside terraces practically fashioned for Instagram. They each offer booze, some kind of view and an invitation for you to get high.  August 2025: Just because August is here doesn't mean that rooftop season is anywhere near over. We've added another locale to our list: the enchanting terrace atop the Conrad New York Downtown, known as Leonessa, which transports guests to an Italian getaway. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in NYC

Want to get out of the city this fall? You're in luck: Classic Harbor Line offers scenic fall foliage sails aboard gorgeous vintage vessels with a front-row seat to the picturesque changing of the seasons stretching from the Hudson River to the Palisades. Cruises run daily from October 4 through November 16. Enjoy the chance to admire the spectactular fall foliage in a completely new way: By boat! Plus, these elegant 1920s-style yachts make the experience extra special. In addition to gawking at the leaves, you'll also get to see iconic landmarks such as the George Washington Bridge, the Cloisters, the Palisades and the Little Red Light House. Plus, Classic Habor Line offers several more unique options, including the Urban Naturalist Tour: Fall Foliage of the Grand Palisades, which offers a light lunch and narration from an expert on history and nature facts. There's also the Grand Palisades Fall Foliage Schooner Sail if you're looking to travel largely by wind alone, with more time to contemplate the beautiful surroundings.

Displaying a 25-story-tall video installation on the side of THE MART, ART on THE MART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, with programming that changes seasonally. ART on THE MART's array of 34 digital projectors show the creations after dusk every evening. Running Thursdays through Saturdays beginning at 7:30pm, it’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

As any single straight woman in New York City surely knows, the Big Apple is full of big fuckboys. To make that fact slightly less depressing, two NYC women—Val Bodurtha and Andrea Popova—have decided to stop trying to understand fuckboy behavior themselves and instead have created a panel of fuckboys to get answers from the source. During this show on August 30 at The Bell House in Brooklyn, three to five women will share a romantic experience that left them confused. Then, both the fuckboy panel and the audience will weigh in with their own dating insights.

You could stay at home watching yet another episode of the same sitcom you've been watching for years (guilty!), or you can watch a group of talented actors perform two never-before-seen comedy pilots live, written by some of New York's most hilarious storytellers. On Saturday, August 23 at 9:30pm, head to the Peoples Improv Theater to watch scripts byAlex Forstenhausler and Frederick Ehrdhart get interpreted during a live, staged reading by a cast of actors including Lindsay-Elizabeth Hand, Douglas Goodhart, George Nicolaidis, Meg MacCary, Sadithi De Zilva, Alex Iona, Mat Leonard, Hallie Eliza Friedman, Alana Jerins, Deborah Offner, PeterPaul Shaker, Mars Ramon, Lee Tyler, Jade Anderson, and Valerie David. The 90-minute, 18-and-over show will be presented by Peter Clark-Deutsch.

Co-hosted by Gastor Almonte (Comedy Central) and Jess Salomon (The Tonight Show), the Sandwich comedy show features New York's most talented and, ahem, tastiest comedians, who are invited to “sandwich” new material in the middle of their sets. (Get it?) On Saturday, August 23 at 5pm, head to Brooklyn’s Union Hall to see live sets from special guests including Caitlin Peluffo, Marito Lopez, Danish Maqbool, and Cansu Karabiyik.

This park is named after neither the Union of the Civil War nor the labor rallies that once took place here, but simply for the union of Broadway and Bowery Lane (now Fourth Avenue). Even so, it does have its radical roots: From the 1920s until the early ’60s, it was a favorite spot for tub-thumping political oratory. Following 9/11, the park became a focal point for the city’s outpouring of grief. These days you'll find the lively Greenmarket in warmer months, holiday shops in the winter and a summer concert series for kids. RECOMMENDED: 50 best New York attractions  

The Bombers’ current field opened in 2009 to much fanfare and stands opposite the now-flattened original. It may not be the House That Ruth Built, but many elements of the newer arena—the limestone exterior, the gatelike frieze around the top—mimic the old, while cup holders at every seat and a high-def scoreboard are noticeable improvements. A museum behind right field aims to hold signed baseballs from every living Yankees player, but the most potent relic wasn’t allowed to stay on site—in 2008 the construction staff jackhammered out a Red Sox jersey a rival fan tried to install in the structure’s foundation. RECOMMENDED: 50 best New York attractions

Visitors may think they know this venerable theater from TV’s Showtime at the Apollo. But you've got to see it to truly experience The Apollo. Known for launching the careers of Ella Fitzgerald, Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo, among others at its legendary Amateur Night competition, the Apollo continues to mix veteran talents like Dianne Reeves with more contemporary acts like the Roots and Lykke Li. 

Set in a lovely park overlooking the Hudson River, the Cloisters houses the Met’s medieval art and architecture collections. A path winds through the peaceful grounds to a castle that seems to have survived from the Middle Ages. (It was built less than 100 years ago, using material from five medieval French cloisters.) Be sure to check out the famous Unicorn Tapestries, the 12th-century Fuentidueña Chapel and the Annunciation Triptych by Robert Campin. RECOMMENDED: 50 best New York attractions  

This 21-story Beaux Arts edifice once dominated midtown. Although it’s now dwarfed by other structures, when it debuted in 1902, the triangle-shaped monolith represented the threat and the thrill of modernity: Naysayers claimed it would never withstand the high winds plaguing 23rd Street, while revered photographer Alfred Stieglitz—who captured it in an iconic shot in 1903—wrote that it was “a picture of a new America still in the making.” Today, it’s possibly the least tourist-friendly New York landmark, but it sure is pretty from the outside (when it's not under scaffolding, that is). RECOMMENDED: 50 best New York attractions

This legendary house of worship counts Presidents, movie stars and business moguls among past and present attendees. While its intricate marble towers are a marvel of Gothic Revival architecture, St. Pat’s interior—including the Louis Tiffany–designed altar and spectacular rose window—is tremendous as both a feat of master craftsmanship and a source of spiritual inspiration. RECOMMENDED: 50 best New York attractions

It’s the Sunshine State by way of Gowanus at this pastel-streaked Floridian playground, where shuffleboard revivalists Jonathan Schnapp and Ashley Albert have retooled lido-deck kitsch for beer-fisted millennials. At the 17,000-square-foot game hall, neck-tattooed skaters and fly girls dressed like Miley Cyrus gather over $40-an-hour rounds of biscuit and tang (shufflespeak for pucks and poles), forming a scene that’s as flamboyantly Boca as it is staunchly Brooklyn. ORDER THIS: Outfitted like Margaritaville-bound Jimmy Buffetts, bartenders serve sunny umbrella drinks inspired by alligator-belt shuffleboard greats, like the rum-and-grapefruit Christine Page Punch ($11). Better, though, is the bar’s beer list, offering a who’s who of craft suds (Smuttynose, Captain Lawrence, Left Hand). Balancing the booze, a rotating roster of food trucks (Morris Grilled Cheese, Phil’s Steaks) hawk utensil-free bites from a corner docking bay. GOOD FOR: Both veteran shufflers and court virgins. The ten swimming-pool-blue lanes are regulation-size, and there’s league play for those who actually know their cherries (scoring in the ten-point box on the last shot) from their pepperonis (all four biscuits in scoring position). If you’re less skilled with a tang, the white-clad waitstaff is quick with tips (stay out of the “kitchen,” the negative-ten-point section), demonstrations (tang claws to the ceiling, stoppers down toward the floor) and ref calls when discs veer too close to the lines. THE C

Our idea of fancy is the "free" food you get at an airport lounge, but if your travel habits are a bit more refined than that, Priority Pass—the global membership program that provides access to a network of airport lounges and other quality travel amenities—has debuted an even more premium way of getting where you need to go. Meet: Priority Pass's new private service, "a new luxury airport experience for the most discerning of travellers," per parent company Collinson International. Announced last week, the new Priority Pass tier opens up access to "most exquisite private terminals and lounges, expedited security, and gourmet dining experiences" to customers. Launching first in the Middle East and Europe (across 70-plus airports and 30 countries, including key travel hubs like London, Dubai, Paris, Los Angeles and Singapore) with further global expansion planned, the new service will bring hallmarks of private aviation to commercial airline passengers.  We're talking stuff like a personal meet-and-greet at the airport to guide you through private check-in and security, access to a VIP lounge stocked with elevated dining options while you wait for your flight, and a chauffeured ride directly to the aircraft when it's time to board.  RECOMMENDED: Here's what to expect at Capital One Landing at DCA, the first of its kind lounge in the U.S. “Priority Pass redefined what premium travel looks like. Now, with Priority Pass Private, we’re once again raising the bar, delivering an ex

Taylor Swift and New York City have a close connection—she's written famous songs about the Big Apple, regularly causes a ruckus when she frequents the city's best restaurants, and even had locals recently recreating her engagement proposal in our parks. So it's not a shock that NYC would be included in the upcoming celebrations for the pop superstar's highly anticipated 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl, which is set to drop on Friday, October 3rd. And if new T. Swift tunes alone aren't exciting enough, the record comes complete with a big-screen component: Yes, there's an accompanying album-concept film that will feature a brand-new music video (for "The Fate of Ophelia,” one of the 12 tracks on the upcoming album), lyric videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the mega-star musician. Entitled Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, the 90-minute movie event will be released in theaters across North America for one weekend only, from Friday, October 3 until Sunday, October 5. And you'll be able to see it for yourself at some of New York's best movie theaters, including the AMC Lincoln Square 13 and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in both Manhattan and Brooklyn. RECOMMENDED: 7 surprising things we learned from the new Taylor Swift documentary View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) Where to watch Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” in NYC: Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of

For anyone who has had to navigate lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivities or any other limiting food-related allergies, a new NYC bakery is here to help, in delicious pastry form: Bub's Bakery is the latest from the team behind local hotspots Fish Cheeks and Bangkok Supper Club, and it's bringing all of your usual bakery favorites—flaky croissants, gooey cookies and the like—all without nine of the most common allergens, including gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, and all animal products. Inspired by co-founder Jenn Saesue’s experience navigating her husband’s food intolerances and developed in partnership with James Beard–nominated baking pro Melissa Weller (Roberta’s, Sadelle’s), Bub's doesn't "focus isn’t on what’s missing," per the team, but rather "on everything that’s possible." RECOMMENDED: NYC's 30 best bakeries including pie pros, famous cupcake destinations and more That means a wide array of both savory and sweet items: kouign amanns with raspberry-rose jam and yuzu lemon curd, oversized cinnamon rolls, savory Danishes with roasted mushroom bechamel, buttery "egg-and-cheese" biscuit sandwiches, rice crispy bars and pumpkin pie cups with cheesecake swirls, among others. Photograph: Courtesy Bub's BakeryBub's Bakery Photograph: Courtesy Bub's BakeryBub's Bakery "What makes Bub’s different is the level of culinary innovation at its core," per the team. "Every recipe was developed from the ground up, not just swapping ingredients, but inventing new techniques that deliv

There's always a lot going on in Miami and for years, Time Out Miami has been sifting through all of those happening happenings to keep you in-the-know about the best things to do in the Magic City, the best restaurants to eat at and so much more. But now, we’re reversing the roles—it’s your turn to tell us what life in the 305 is like for you.  We want to know if you really think those white-sand beaches and public parks are all they're cracked up to be. How about that public transport system? Is it easy walking, cycling and driving around the Floridian city? How has it been navigating the local dating scene or trying to make new friends here? Do you like your local neighborhood? And what about everything else: Miami's nightlife and live music, art, theater and shopping scenes? Are those actually cool and, more importantly, how affordable is it to enjoy all of those things? The survey comes with some logistical stuff: You’ll be asked to rate things from one to five—one being "awful," five being "amazing"—and which parts of Miami life bring you the most joy. Ultimately, we want to what life in your city feels like right now.  But the whole thing will only take 10 minutes max. And, as a thank you, we’ll give you the chance to enter into a prize draw for a $500 Amazon voucher. The prize draw closes October 12 at 11:59pm ET. You’ll need to be 18 years or above to take part in the survey. Find the terms and conditions here.  Take the survey here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for ou

In the quarter-century since it first opened its doors on 116 Suffolk Street, Bluestockings has been more than just a bookstore, though it's undoubtedly been one of New York's best. The Lower East Side shop's full name, Bluestockings Cooperative, is more indicative of the community gathering space the venue has served as for women, queer and transgender folks, sex workers and more since 1999. It's part social justice clearinghouse, with stacks upon stacks of radical reads and feminist titles; part fair-trade cafe, fueled with tasty organic and vegan options; and part activist center, with a schedule busy with open mic nights, sewing circles and de-escalation training sessions.  But, sadly, it's now time to say goodbye to Bluestockings, as owners have announced that the store will be closing its doors and ceasing all operations by the end of the year, per a statement posted to its website and social media handles on September 22. "The current, former worker-owners, and staff part of the sunsetting crew are gutted to be delivering this news," began the notice. "After 26+ years of serving marginalized communities as an independent feminist bookstore, event hub, and all-around radical community space, the daily operations are unfortunately no longer sustainable on multiple fronts." RECOMMENDED: One of the world’s most beautiful bookshops is in Manhattan—it's French, of course After thanking longtime patrons for the support and contributions that "have sustained the spirit of this

Bostonians aren't ones to shy away from giving their opinion, a fact that Time Out is very much looking to take advantage of. For years, Time Out Boston has been keeping you in-the-know about the best things to do in Beantown, the best restaurants to eat at and so much more. But now, we’re reversing the roles—it’s your turn to tell us what life in the Hub is like for you.  We want to know what you really think about Boston's public transport system and how easy it is to walk or cycle around the city. How has it been navigating the local dating scene or trying to make new friends here? Boston has previously been praised for its green spaces—we want to hear your thoughts about those public parks. And your local neighborhood. And everything else related to nightlife and live music, art, theater and shopping in the city, including how affordable it is to actually enjoy all of those things in Boston.  Now here's the logistical stuff: You’ll be asked to rate things from one to five—one being "awful," five being "amazing"—and which parts of Boston life bring you the most joy. Ultimately, we want to what life in your city feels like right now.  The whole thing will take 10 minutes max, and, as a thank you, we’ll give you the chance to enter into a prize draw for a $500 Amazon voucher. The prize draw closes October 12 at 11:59pm ET. You’ll need to be 18 years or above to take part in the survey. Find the terms and conditions here.  Take the survey here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for

Time Out New York has been keeping you in-the-know about the biggest, buzziest, bougiest and all-around best things going on in New York City for three whole decades. But now, we’re reversing the roles—it’s your turn to tell us what life in the Big Apple is like for you.  We want to know what you think of the city's subway and public transport, and how easy it is to walk or cycle around the five boroughs. We want to know about how you find the local dating scene or how you make new friends in the city. We want to hear your thoughts on New York's green spaces and your local neighborhood. We want to know your opinion on all things nightlife, live music, art, theater, restaurants and bars, and shopping in the city, including how satisfied you are with those respective scenes and how affordable it is to enjoy them.  So, the logistical stuff: You’ll be asked to rate things from one to five—one being "awful," five being "amazing"—and which parts of NYC life bring you the most joy. Ultimately, we want to what life in your city feels like right now.  The whole thing will take just 10 minutes, and, as a thank you, we’ll give you the chance to enter into a prize draw for a $500 Amazon voucher. The prize draw closes October 12 at 11:59pm ET. You’ll need to be 18 years or above to take part in the survey. Find the terms and conditions here.  Take the survey here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out New York newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

It's been the year of new travel restrictions and regulations, both for potential visitors to the United States and for Americans eager to expand their wings and venture abroad. We already know that the days of passport stamps—those darling, analog reminders of destinations visited—are numbered, with 29 countries set to begin phasing the stamps out next month. And as part of that new travel development, one member of the European Union is getting a head start on implementing the techy new verification process for those entering or exiting the country.  RECOMMENDED: New rule: Don’t pack this gadget in your checked baggage Starting on Sunday, October 12, Croatia—a popular destination for Americans seeking stunning beach landscapes, delicious gastronomic experiences and beautiful medieval towns (the country frequently stood in for the fantastical locations in Game of Thrones)—will be the first nation to implement the Entry/Exit System, or EES, in the European Union. Designed to replace those traditional passport stamps, the EES border system will use digital tracking and biometric data to enhance security and speed up border crossings into the 29 countries in the Schengen Area. In layman terms, it means that, upon your first arrival at one of the nine international airports located in Croatia, travelers will use self-service kiosks to scan their passport, provide four fingerprints and snap a photograph at border control. Once you receive digital verification of your entry and ex

I’m a born and bred New Yorker (BK all day!) and yet my knowledge of the Erie Canal was admittedly limited to the Wikipedia-level basics. However, a nearly weeklong jaunt through Western New York this summer—from Buffalo through Rochester through Syracuse, with a side of Niagara Falls and several Stars Hollow-esque small towns in between—gave me not only a deep historical rundown on “The Nation’s First Superhighway” and how it impacted both the growth of New York State and the U.S. as an economic and cultural powerhouse, but also a keen, lively sense of how that past still plays out in the region’s present. RECOMMENDED: These are the 5 most fascinating secrets about the Erie Canal If you, too, seemingly dozed off during U.S history, here’s a quick little 101 course: The Erie Canal was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, making things way cheaper, faster and easier to transport both people and goods across the mighty Appalachian Mountains. The canal’s completion in October 1825 transformed New York City into the nation’s principal seaport and vastly accelerated its presence in the global economy—literally putting the “empire” in Empire State—and also opened up the interior of North America to settlement. Those are some pretty hefty bonafides for one artificial water channel.  If you already did the math, you’ll note that the Erie Canal is celebrating its big 200th anniversary next month, a bicentennial packed with boat parades, river

A dearly departed piece of New York’s punk past is being resurrected for one night only this fall. CBGB—the iconic East Village music club that helped kickstart the careers of many notable punk rock and new wave bands, including Ramones, Blondie, Television, Talking Heads, Dead Boys and Patti Smith Group, among others—has announced that it will be popping up once again as CBGB Festival on September 27 at Under the K Bridge Park in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. (The original CBGB shuttered for good in 2006 at 315 Bowery.) RECOMMENDED: See vintage photos of the legendary CBGB in its heyday Presented with The Bowery Presents, the one-day gig—a “festival for uplifting gormandizers,” per organizers, nodding to the old club’s full name—will kick off the tunes at 3pm and feature 21 bands, many of whom previously rattled and rocked that historic music hall during its heyday in the 1970s and ‘80. Along with high-profile headliners Iggy Pop and Jack White, the lineup will span three stages with performers such as Sex Pistols, Johnny Marr, Lunachicks, Marky Ramone, The Damned, Melvins. But it’s not just old favorites on the docket: “The CBGB Festival celebrates New York City’s gritty, sticker-covered past through the lens of the modern punk era, with a lineup bridging punk’s origins to its future torchbearers,” proclaims the festival website. That means fresh-faced rockers like The Linda Lindas, Destroy Boys, Angel Du$t, Scowl, Pinkshift, Teen Mortgage, YHWH Nailgun and Lip Critic, among other

When it comes to food, I'm not a line-waiter. Sorry to whatever viral matcha concoction, buzzy birria taco or Dubai chocolate Franken-doughnut might await me at the end of that hours-long queue, but I just ain’t waiting to eat. I will, however, travel for food, especially when it comes to great food—hidden-gem cold noodles in South Korea, a perfect simmering tagine in Morocco, swoon-worthy ceviche in Peru, and the like. So when a colleague asked if I would fly in her stead to Toronto for a lightning-fast 24-hour sojourn to try one of the city’s best restaurants, I definitely wasn’t saying no. That’s how I found myself zooming from LaGuardia to Toronto Pearson—an easy, breezy 90-minute flight, long enough for three episodes of Hacks and two Biscoff cookies—on the Friday afternoon of Labor Day Weekend, with plans to dine at a restaurant called Enigma at 7pm that evening. Located in the well-to-do neighborhood of Yorkville—which, if we’re looking for a New York equivalent, has strong Soho vibes, with high-end boutiques, design studios, chic cafes and frequent celebrity sightings—Enigma is a fine-dining concept from Johannesburg-born chef Quinton Bennett and Austin Chen, nestled on picturesque St. Thomas Street since 2020. When Enigma was awarded a Michelin star in 2022, it was among the first restaurants in all of Canada to receive the coveted rating. So expectations were reasonably high when I entered the recently renovated and lavishly designed space, which is split into two d

Listen, we like a drink or two here in New York. (What with everything going on, gestures, everywhere, who doesn't?) But exactly which tempting tipple do New Yorkers most often sidle up to the bar and order? If you guessed the classic martini—that time-honored cocktail sloshed with gin or vodka, vermouth and your choice of garnish (we're partial to fat, juicy stuffed olives, but if you like yours with a lemon twist or pickled onion, we won't judge)—you'd be surprisingly mistaken. RECOMMENDED: The 23 best cocktail bars in NYC No, in a new study by The Ice Maker Hub—which culled together research from Google Keyword Planner to analyze the number of monthly searches on both a state and national level between August 2024 and July 2025 for specific cocktails—the martini didn't even crack the top 3 of NYC cocktail consumption. So, what could have possibly taken the top tumbler-shaking spot? Is it the Manhattan, that chest-puffing mix of rye whiskey, vermouth and bitters named after the city itself (and, potentially, invented here)? How about the Cosmopolitan, the pink-hued signature of everyone's favorite fictional New Yorker, Carrie Bradshaw?  Nope, it's actually the margarita, that fiesta-inducing tequila favorite, that claimed the No. 1 spot, with 30,073 monthly Google searches on average. (In terms of methodology, the study used search combinations including "[cocktail] recipe," "how to make [cocktail]," "what’s in a [cocktail]," "homemade [cocktail]" and “[cocktail] ingredient