Ian Kumamoto

Finding the best hotel in NYC to stay at, whether on a trip here or a staycation, is paramount. Yes, you’ll likely be out and about and the hotel simply serves as a place to lay your head, but a good hotel can make or break your time in the city. New York prides itself on its hospitality and that is pretty clearly evidenced by its best hotels. Every kind of traveler can find their perfect holiday haven in this glorious city, from sleek boutique hotels in the city’s trendiest neighborhoods to opulent luxury stays near the top NYC attractions. You’ll even find some of the best spas and restaurants tucked inside their lobbies. Whether you’re a first-time visitor to the Big Apple or a local craving an inner-city staycation, these properties take the cake when it comes to hospitality and hotel perks. Cue room service. February 2025 update: We have completely revamped our list by visiting dozens of hotels across NYC, most recently, the Carlyle. So know that when you’re reading this list, you’re getting the most up-to-date information. 🇺🇸 Click here to view our full guide to the best things to do in NYC🏨 Discover the best cheap 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 best stays.

There's more than one kind of New York City music festival—in fact, there's probably one for every type of music lover you could think of. The first events that come to mind might be the big-tent fests like Governors Ball, but just as important are staple series like the queer-centered All Things Go, Afropunk and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, which keep crowds coming out to our beloved green spaces and stadiums all season long. Overwhelmed by all the choices? Check out our hand-picked this guide to the very best summer music festivals hitting town this year. We'll keep updating this as summer approaches, so stay tuned. RECOMMENDED: The best concerts in NYC

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

June is Pride Month, which means New York’s queer community is ready to party and—more than ever this year—stand up for their rights. At a time when the trans community is under attack across the country and even in our forward-looking city, displays of joy, resistance and community are more essential than ever this year. Whether you're looking to show your support by joining the NYC Pride March or looking for a place to dance your worries away, Pride celebrations continue all month long. We’ve assembled the best performances, comedy shows, parties, gay bars and events that'll have you dancing, singing, learning and feeling heard. And while there’s no official census or index, it’s believed that New York City has the largest LGBTQ+ population in America—and that’s something to celebrate all year long! RECOMMENDED: A guide to Pride NYC

This year, 4/20 falls on the same day as Easter Sunday, so you'll be able to ascend in more ways than one. For years, cannabis was driven underground, but in the past few years since weed was legalized in New York state, 4/20 has become a proper celebratory event. From large outdoor gatherings hosted by some of the coolest new weed brands out there, to a luxurious cannabis lifestyle store that just opened in Chelsea, there's no better time to light up than now. Additionally, here's the rundown on everything you need to know about marijuana legalization in NYC. You may gain some extra inspiration from watching the best stoner movies and best weed songs. Just remember to mind your manners with these weed etiquette tips from the Emily Post Institute. To keep the buzz going, check out the following 4/20 events in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to NYC events in April

April arrives with a batch of killer new concerts, and tickets for the choicest events are already on sale or will be soon. You can catch unmissable acts playing at the city's best live music venues, from next year's biggest popstars on the rise to veteran fringe experimentalists. And if you're looking for some late-night music, be sure to consult our monthly list of New York's best parties as well. RECOMMENDED: See our guide to concerts in NYC

Where you buy your weed in New York City is important—it changes how you partake and whether you enjoy your high or feel your mellow. Luckily, New York City is rife with state-licensed cannabis shops that redefine the experience of buying cannabis, some offering a high-end atmosphere next to luxury brands while others offer a sterile experience akin to going to a medical office. Others are rooted in the community and bring in local artists and business owners to collaborate with. We've seen it all. Because there are just too many (over 200, actually) to include here on this list, we've pulled out our top 11 NYC dispensaries we think it's worth buying at. RECOMMENDED: New Yorkers will benefit from higher quality weed and more places to buy from this year, experts say

Whether or not you realize it, New York is undergoing a nightlife renaissance. Communities that were once driven underground and considered "niche" have blossomed and claimed their rightful spot in the city's entertainment ecosystem—Note the whirlwind success of Charli xcx's BRAT last year.  Whether it's a new Latin party about to take over one of the biggest club venues in the Lower East Side, a Black-centered festival in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, or a party celebrating 2001 downtown NYC club culture, there's no shortage of exciting parties going on this month. Here are some of our top picks. RECOMMENDED: Out Late: Empanada Mama's flagship restaurant is the hottest gay bar in the city

Sure, you can shop til you drop at New York’s iconic department stores and trendy boutiques, but who wants to go through the process of wearing in a crunchy brand new leather jacket when you can find a soft one with much cooler patches on it? Like the city’s flea markets, vintage stores and consignment shops, the best thrift stores in New York offer great deals and the potential for amazing, unexpected discoveries. Plus, shopping at a thrift store avoids the fast fashion pipeline, because it's always better to reduce, reuse and recycle!  You never know what you’ll find when you browse the aisles at these NYC thrift stores. You might score some gently-used Manolo Blahniks for a tenner, stumble on the perfect mid-mod coffee table or find the old band T-shirt you didn’t know you needed. We've all spent a few washes trying to get a shirt to soften up, and thrifting almost always ensures well worn in fabrics. Some thrift stores focus on a limited range of items, while anything goes at others. Many also offer buy-sell-trade options. Whatever you find, you know you’ll be giving new life to someone else’s castoffs. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to shopping in NYC

It's well documented that New York City goes through major vibe shifts every five years or so, which means we're likely at the cusp of one right now. It makes sense if you think about it: We're at the heels of a recession, we're past COVID-19 but not exactly over it, and we're living in a strange new political reality that's turning every major American institution on its head. Through it all, New Yorkers will keep partying, albeit a bit differently. With less money to spend, even some of the most iconic nightlife venues are shutting their doors, and in their place are a new generation of DIY parties taking place in tattoo studios, Bronx bodegas, and other strange locations like we saw after the 2008 financial crisis. Remember The Night Heron, the party that took place in a Chelsea water tower? That energy is back. In honor of Stranger Things making its Broadway debut, we wanted to highlight other "strange things" around town, so here are five strange places New Yorkers are dancing at right now.

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

NYC currently is, and we’re confident always will be, one of the best cities in the world for clubbing and nightlife. While trends and tastes have changed over the decades, the best clubs in NYC are always in-demand. Maybe you’re needing to blow off some serious steam with an all-night party, or wanting to impress someone special with a venue that’s a little more discreet and sophisticated. Either way, if you’re looking to dance the night away, check out one of the lively music venues, dance halls, and raucous haunts that populate this list. Back in the day, the majority of the most popular clubs were concentrated in just a few neighborhoods, but now the best clubs can be found from Ridgewood to the Financial District. For more places to get down in venues other than clubs, check out the best places to dance in NYC. If you’re concerned about cover charges and bottle service, remember to pre-party at one of the best dive bars in NYC. So get out there and bust a move, and if you do it right, you can keep the party going by heading straight to one of the best brunch spots in NYC. RECOMMENDED: The best places to dance in NYC

Celebrate all things design at this annual festival that brings in the city’s top designers, makers, and manufacturers, along with cutting-edge design businesses and districts, and leading cultural and academic institutions. The festival covers all areas of design, from architecture and urban design to product design and entertainment design. The week-long festival from May 15-21 will take place at different venues across the five boroughs, so make sure to check out their website for updates on programming.  For the first time in years, Design Pavilion — New York’s premier public design exhibition — will coincide with NYCxDESIGN, presenting an immersive, interactive experience in partnership with luxury automotive brand Lexus. "Lexus Ambiance" will offer visitors a glimpse into the future of design and interactivity, allowing them to create their own personalized environments using light as their medium.

Returning for its sixth year, the largest and longest running AAPI comedy festival is back with a star-studded lineup that includes Youngmi Mayer, Usama Siddiquee, Charlene Kaye, Sam Oh, Kathleen Kim, Charlene Kaye, Michael Cruzy Kayne, Mic Nguyen, and Peng Dang. It's not just stand-up, either. Comedians will perform improv comedy and even musical comedy. This year's festival will be held at the Asian-owned Sugar Mouse lounge in the St. Mark's neighborhood (47 3rd Ave.) on May 6, 7 and 8. The charity partner for for this year’s event is the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.       

Harlem-based and Black-owned dispensary Gotham Buds is spending 4/20 with a community-forward block party that's going to be one for the books. The event will be hosted by comedians Mr. Commodore and Rayyy Rayyy and this will be a full-on celebration: Expect DJ sets, giveaways every hour, and a grand prize that's going to be announced at—when else?—4:20pm on the dot.  If you'd like, come empty-handed: Brands like TICAL, ROVE, To The Moon, and more will be on-site selling their product. The party will end at 6pm, so make sure to show up with plenty of time to enjoy what's sure to be the best 4/20 event uptown. 

Cannabis edibles brand Kiva is partnering up with Gotham to offer free bagels at all four Gotham locations (Bowery, Chelsea, Williamsburg and Hudson) on April 19 from 11am until 1pm. In addition to this iconic collab, Kiva is dropping a limited-edition Everything Bagel Seasoning Dark Chocolate Bar, which contains rich dark chocolate, cold water hash, and is sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning for a sweet-and-savory kick.  After you get your bagel fix, make sure to stick around to party—Gotham has a robust slate of 4/20 events all weekend long, from DJ sets to plenty of giveaways. 

For The Travel Agency, just one day of 4/20 celebrations isn't enough, so it's celebrating cannabis and the culture around it all week long. Check out any of the dispensary's five locations across New York City, each of which will be transformed into playful "backyard" spaces with with curated brand experiences, parties and pop-ups.  Some examples of the events it has coming up? Head over to the Union Square location on Wednesday, April 16, from 4:20pm to 7pm to get a personalized wire sculpture made in your image. If you're in a dancing mood, head over to the Downtown Brooklyn location on Thursday, April 17, for DJ sets from 4pm till 8pm. Hold out for Sunday if you want to enjoy its biggest event—an all-day celebration that will include free food throughout the day, social giveaways and a "munchie mobile" parked outside the store's Downtown Brooklyn location. For a full slate of its 4/20 events, check out this link. 

The Standard Hotels partnered up with Gotham to curate cannabis-centered events and treats from April 17 until April 20, including a Special Munchies menu at The Standard, East Village that includes a doughnut served with bacon and ice cream. The Highline location will also host plenty of weed-themed events, including a special 4/20 spin on Not Your Standard Bingo with Gotham, where you can play to win Gotham goods. If you decide you want to stay at the hotel (or have visitors), you'll get a Gotham Welcome Kit, which includes a curated selection of lifestyle items including Gotham Goods candles and exclusive Gotham-branded 420 accessories, as well as the game of Not Your Standard Bingo: 4/20 with Gotham and at The Living Room.

When Misha's Flower Shop opened in May 2024, it was one of the biggest cannabis dispensaries in Brooklyn. At a staggering 2,500 square feet and with more than 600 products to choose from, this dispensary is conveniently located in the youth culture-forward neighborhood of Bushwick. This dispensary is a reflection of the neighborhood its located in, meaning that it tends to be pretty creative and social. They host fun events year-round like high yoga and sell cool custom merch.   

This family-run dispensary is owned by cousins Extasy James and Michael James Jr., who grew up in Jamaica, Queens and are committed to having a positive impact on their community by providing great weed as well as providing education and financial support. With a unique grading system, Good Grades prides itself on sourcing high quality and locally grown cannabis and its namesake comes from the weekly “report cards” they use to vet the highest quality weed. These grades are developed by the dispensary based on whether the cannabis is locally grown, organic, and of good quality. It also looks at industry-wide standards that are based on a 5A grading system that divides weed into five main categories: AAA, AA, A, and B, per its website. 5A is the highest grade and usually involves pure buds with few leaves and stems. The dispensary only sells weed that they give an "A" and don't consider selling anything that's a "B" or below. 

Named after the ancient Egyptian god of knowledge and wisdom, Sesh-at, Sesh NYC is one of the best loved dispensaries in the Bronx, offering a wide selection of cannabis products for pickup or delivery. Like its namesake suggests, this dispensary is all about playfulness and creativity. If you're a weed novice, the friendly staff will help you through their extensive selection of products, whether you're looking for cannabis that will relax you, keep you energized throughout the day, or open your third eye.  The Bronx's dispensaries don't tend to get as much love as the better-known joints in Brooklyn and Manhattan, which is a shame considering that they genuinely do have top-tier shops. She's wide open space with anciet Egyptian-themed decor and i-pads with information about the store's products encourages you to stay, puruse and enjoy yourself. 

What is it? Terp Bros is located in Astoria, a neighborhood that has become a leader in the city's blossoming cannabis ecosystem.  Why we love it: Walking into Astoria’s Terp Bros, giant, colorful murals depicting Hell Gate Bridge and the lush marijuana flower greet patrons as they make their way toward the back of the new shop. Unlike many licensed recreational cannabis dispensaries these days, Terp Bros doesn’t mimic the sterile vibes of a medical office, a jewelry store or frankly, an Apple store. If you're not into the bells and whistles of the higher-end cannabis lifestyle stores that have been popping up lately, Terp Bros offers a chill experience where you can just go in and out with whatever you need. It’s vibrant and full of friendly and knowledgeable budtenders ready to help you pick the best products for your high. Address: 36-10 Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria; a second location is coming to Ozone Park soon! Order online

Brandon Collins, the mastermind behind Drunk Black History—one of our favorite comedy shows out there—will be hosting a cannabis-inspired variety show called  "Hazy Eyes, Open Lungs, Can't Lose," on Sunday, April 20 at 4:30pm. Head to Caveat in the Lower East Side to experience performances by comedians, storytellers and actors sharing cool marijuanna facts and "weed-induced observations" about the crowd. Expect appearances by Asad Benbow (Wild 'n Out), Julia Schroeder (Screamboat), Gastor Almonte (Don't Tell Comedy), and others.  

TRENDS is one of NYC's best loved dispensaries, and the Long Island City institution is organizing a scavenger hunt this year that will take participants through six secret, weed-friendly local businesses. TRENDS is one of our favorite dispensaries to support, in part because of the people behind it: Founders Rodney “Hurricane” and Brandon Carter grew up in NYC and fought their way through the legal cannabis licensing process to open the first Black-owned dispensary in Long Island City.  Anyway, back to the game: Whoever completes the hours-long 4/20 scavenger hunt first will receive a goodie bag worth a whopping $5,000. With these tarriffs, we'll take it. 

Every summer, Hudson Yards hosts a slate of free community programs that undoubtedly turns even the biggest area skeptic into a curious wanderer—and for good reason: the lineup is usually great. This year, for example, Backyard at Hudson Yards presented by Wells Fargo is bringing outdoor fitness classes to the masses alongside Lululemon; hard-hitting concerts; kid-friendly activations; and even pet adoption days. Sure, the whole thing might be sponsored by a mega-bank, but your glutes won’t notice as you're getting that free workout in. Below, we highlight some of the most exciting offered programming: RECOMMENDED: NYC's best summer music festivals of 2025 For fitness-related programming, which will include pickleball and run clubs, you can check out Hudson Yard’s website. Here is a comprehensive list of this summer's programming. Concerts The free concerts will take place between June 25 and August 13 on the Wells Fargo Stage from 6pm until 8pm. June 25: Marc Scibilia July 2: The Knocks July 9: Cian Ducrot July 16: Paul Russell  July 23: Alex Sampson July 30: Brittney Spencer August 6: MXMTOON August 13: TBA Check for updates on concerts here.   Movies Movie nights will take place from 5pm to 7pm. May 9: Freaky Friday May 16: Wicked May 30: Ben and Jerry September 12: Grease September 19: Clueless September 26: Ferris Bueller's Day Off  October 3: Grown Ups October 10: Rent October 17: Legally Blonde October 24: Top Gun Maverick See the latest movie and sports schedule

For too long, many have accepted Cinco de Mayo—and by extension, Mexican culture—as an excuse to down a few tequila shots. But for Mexicans, the holiday is more complicated: In the homeland, it’s only celebrated in the state of Puebla to commemorate the 19th-century victory a Mexican battalion won against the French army. The Mexican-American community took the holiday and gave it new meaning, using Cinco de Mayo a defiant occasion to celebrate and assert their rightful place in the United States.  Growing up, I saw a holiday that was supposed to celebrate Mexican-American identity as one that turned our culture into an opportunity to sell discounted margaritas. Don’t get us wrong, we love a good party (and occasionally, a great drink), but Mexican-Americans have a lot more to offer. To me, the power in New York’s Mexican community is that we’ve managed to find pride and joy in our heritage in spite of messaging about our communities being filled with drug dealers and currently, a criminal presence to be purged from our borders.  What most don’t realize is that you can’t get rid of us because we’re everywhere, even when you don’t realize it. There are more than 330,000 Mexicans in New York, and we all have a different story to tell. We’ve managed to break out of every box we’ve been placed in—Now, we’re just waiting for everyone else to notice.  Last year, we highlighted prominent New York Mexicans through our Cinco to Celebrate editorial package, in which we asserted the imp

If there's one mariachi you need to know in New York right now, it’s probably Alvaro Paulino Jr., a fifth generation New Yorker who has performed at weddings, funerals, quinceñeras and even divorce parties (the art form is versatile like that). Paulino has redefined what mariachis can aspire to by performing at monumental venues from Radio City to Madison Square Garden and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  Now, as we enter an era in American history that has doubled down on its hostility towards immigrants, his mission has taken newfound importance: Not only to educate New Yorkers about the art form, but also to bring joy to New York’s Mexican community. RECOMMENDED: Here’s how we’re celebrating Mexican New Yorkers this week for Cinco de Mayo Paulino’s father migrated to the U.S. in the 1970s, where he became a mariachi pioneer on the East Coast at a time when you couldn’t so much as find jalapeños at a grocery store. When Paulino was growing up in Brooklyn, he was the only Mexican student at his school, and he’d attend picture days dressed in a full mariachi fit to represent the culture. Paulino wants people to understand that although mariachi is a form of entertainment, it’s also a creative outlet that blends indigenous, European and African musical traditions. Mariachi music often served as an emotional valve in Mexico’s smaller towns, where tradition prevented men from fully expressing their emotions. There’s a real weight to mariachi, and you don’t just wear a mariachi suit a

As we trudge our way out of one of the longest winters we’ve had in recent memory, a lot of us are desperately itching to get back to the outdoors. Luckily, there’s no shortage of open-air activities available to New Yorkers this coming summer, including a ton of summer music festivals. The latest entry on that list comes courtesy of the Rooftop at Pier 17: the destination just announced its summer season lineup, which will kick off on May 1 and 2 with a set by DJ Elderbrook. In addition to the stellar roster of performers, which you can find in full below, this year's extravaganza will feature a couple of enhanced experiences. First up: thew new Patrón Patio, a two-level platform boasting its own bar that rises above the crowd for an even more panoramic view than the already awesome regular view. RECOMMENDED: The best concerts in NYC   Rendering: Patrón Patio If you have a little extra cash to spend, you might also be inclined to join the Liberty Club, which gives you expedited entry into the venue, all-inclusive food options, access to a full-service cash bar and comfortable lounge seating throughout three exclusive areas. You can always hop back and forth between the crowd and the more private sections if you need a breather. This is going to be a huge year for The Rooftop—starting in the winter, the venue will host winter concerts after it builds a giant glass structure that will protect concertgoers from the cold.  Here is the lineup for the Rooftop at Pier 17 concert

Each year, SummerStage is one of the most anticipated free events of the summer, bringing dozens of free, outdoor concerts across different parks to sun-starved New Yorkers from June through October. To celebrate its 39th year, the festival is focusing on diversity and will showcase a mix of established and emerging artists and DJs playing an array of genres that include jazz, hip-hop, indie-rock, salsa, reggae, Afrobeats, soul, pop, global, contemporary dance and more. Here’s everything you need to know about SummerStage’s 2025 festival, including the full lineup.  RECOMMENDED: NYC's best summer music festivals of 2025 Where will SummerStage be? This year’s SummerFest will happen across a variety of parks, including Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, Herbert Von King Park and The Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, St. Mary’s Park and Crotona Park in the Bronx, Stapleton Waterfront Park on Staten Island and, of course, SummerStage’s flagship venue, Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.  What’s the theme this year? This year’s lineup focuses on diversity, women performers and artists from around the world. When does the season start? The 2025 season will open on Wednesday, June 4, in Central Park with a free show showcasing the best of New Orleans jazz with headliner Marcus Miller. On June 14, The Aussie BBQ is bringing Australian hip-hop duo Flewnt and Inkabee, indie-pop artist Gordi, singer-songwrit

Recently, the All Things Go Festival, which highlights the queer-femme artists of the moment, announced that it would return to Forest Hills Stadium in Queens this September for three days, promising a gag-worthy lineup.  Well, it's time to get your credit cards and CVV numbers ready: organizers just announced that the superstar “it” girl Doechii is going to headline this year’s shenanigans on September 27. RECOMMENDED: SummerStage just announced its 2025 concert lineup Other major headlining acts include Lucy Dacus and DJO on Friday, September 26; Remi Wolf on Saturday, September 27 (the same day as Doechii); and Clairo and The Marias on Sunday, September 28. We've loved Doechii for years, but the megastar is just now getting her flowers: earlier this year, she became the third woman to ever win a Grammy for best rap album after Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. She also opened for DSQUARED2 during Milan Fashion Week at the beginning of the year and was recognized as Billboard's Woman of the Year.  Doechii seems like one of the few current artists with an instantly recognizable style: she incorporates and elevates suites into feminine silhouettes and has perfected the "office siren" look. Doechii is not just an artist, but also a cultural institution.  If she's done all of this in just the past few months, we can't imagine what she'll have accomplished by the time September rolls around.  We're grateful that Forest Hill's beef with its neighbors seems to be coming to a peaceful conc

It’s actually spring in New York now (you can tell by the park benches filled with office workers on their lunch breaks, for starters), which means that we’re keeping an extra eye out for all outdoor activities happening in the next few weeks. A great way to kick off the outdoor season will be right under the Brooklyn Bridge at Gotham Park’s free community block party on Saturday, May 3. Whether you're itching to watch a drum line performance or craving some local bites, there will be loads to do on site next weekend.  RECOMMENDED: SummerStage just announced its 2025 concert lineup The block party will take place on Park Row and Rose Street beneath the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side and it will be Gotham Park's third annual event of the sort. Expect over 3,500 visitors to stop by over the span of six hours: a fun-filled and people-filled happening indeed! You can read through the day's full lineup below but we'd be remiss not to mention some highlights, including live music performances by local drum line Fogo Azul and Church Street School for Music and Art, plus a slew of kid-friendly educational activities organized by the New York Public Library. Here's a full rundown of day: 12pm-1pm: Skateboarding lessons 12pm-12:30pm: Fogo Azul Opening Performance  12pm-6pm: Mural Painting 12:30pm-1pm: Brooklyn Banks Yoga 1pm-1:30pm: Teatro Grattacielo Opera 2pm-2:45pm: 72 Church St Bands 3pm-5:30pm: Skate Jam You can RSVP for your free tickets right here. 

Fifty Norman, the mini Japanese marketplace that opened in Greenpoint in 2022 to massive success, is physically expanding its store and adding a few new businesses and brands under its roof. Starting this week, you’ll find three additional shops on site. A French/Japanese inspired cafe-slash-bar is also scheduled to debut in June.  RECOMMENDED: One of Tokyo's most popular doughnut shops has landed in NYC Currently at 50 Norman, you’ll find Cibone, a Japanese home design store selling ceramics, kitchenware, zen meditation items and art pieces; Dashi Okume, where you can custom order your own blends of dashi packs; and House Brooklyn, a Japanese-French restaurant with a nine-course omakase tasting menu.  The new stores include Balmuda, a Japanese home appliance store; Kama-Asa, a kitchenware purveyor from Tokyo’s kitchen-street Kappabashi that will sell a range of Amane knives; and Cibone O’Te, an artisanal design retailer focusing on homeware and furnishings. The cozy café-resto-bar opening in June is Cafe O’te, which mixes the ambiance of a French wine bar with Japanese flavors. This is just the latest piece of news involving the resurgence of Japanese and Japanese-inspired stores across NYC. From a new food market curated by Muji that opened in Chelsea Market earlier this year to the new Bandai Namco store in Industry City and the resurgence of Japan-inspired claw machine arcades, we are squarely in the midst of a full-blown Japanese cultural renaissance in the city. Want to

If you're a film or camera buff and are looking for a throwback—we're talking early 2000s here—then you're going to want to head to Bushwick this Sunday, April 27 for a one-of-a-kind festival called the NYC Tape Fair, an event that's "dedicated to the revival of physical media in the form of all things VHS, cassettes and the restoration of rare and unique material." If you haven't noticed, camcorders and other forms of early recording devices are making a huge comeback, in part, we think, because of the nostalgia that the products evoke. An old-school video store even opened in Williamsburg earlier this month!  RECOMMENDED: Six places where you can find Dubai Chocolate in NYC right now The NYC Tape Fair will take place at Selva, a record store and cafe/bar in Bushwick, from noon until 6pm. Multiple vendors will be displaying and selling rare, vintage and new tapes throughout the space, including vendor Found Footage Festival, one of the most prestigious collectors of rare "found footage." One of the co-founders of the Tape Festival, Anthony Morton, tells Time Out that the event was born out of a desire to offer a highly curated selection of VHS tapes and cassettes to the public, since, most of the time, the items tend to be stuff that people find laying around in antique stores or family homes. Part of the resurgence of this form of media, Morton says, involves folks' craving to own tangible objects. "It's nice for people to own physical media," he says. You'll find more tha

“Out Late” is Time Out’s nightlife and party column by DJ, Whorechata founder and Time Out New York Culture Editor Ian Kumamoto, and is published every other Tuesday. The previous edition was about the biggest challenges facing NYC nightlife right now. Word on the street is that nightclubs are closing, the drinks are no longer flowing and people don’t really dance anymore. The shadow of a changing country is also sending a chilling silence that can be felt through the night. Now, according to the New York Times, New York is turning into a city that sleeps. You’d never know that, though, if you met Elle Dee, a DJ, producer and artist who is overseeing the resurgence of The Chocolate Factory, an East Williamsburg warehouse venue I’d never heard of until last year. As you’d guess by its name, it’s located in an actual chocolate factory on 70 Scott Avenue, just steps from the Bushwick megaclub Elsewhere. One side of the building makes chocolate bars during the day and the other, separated from the factory by a wall, recently started hosting some of the most iconic parties in the city. In Elle’s world, the drinks are flowing, and the parties are going longer than ever—sometimes for 12 hours straight. To understand why The Chocolate Factory is booming, you have to know about Elle Dee’s nightlife career and trajectory as a New York City ‘it’ girl. Her career began in Brazil when she worked queer club called Pix and later Lov.e Club, a São Paulo electric music venue that shaped that

One our favorite summer time festivals has just announced its 2025 lineup—and it's looking stacked. Riverside Park Conservancy’s Summer on the Hudson will be the biggest one yet, with a staggering 400 free events as part of the roster, including wellness programming in West Harlem and Washington Heights.  RECOMMENDED: NYC's best summer music festivals of 2025 Summer on the Hudson will kick off on May 1 and will take place along the west side of Manhattan from 59th Street to 181st Streets through October.  There are two major additions to this year's festivities: Vinyl Nights on July 26 and August 23, featuring DJ acts, and a comedy show hosted by Nat Townsend that will inaugurate the Riverside Comedy Club on July 25 and August 29. In addition to the new programming, expect old-time favorites to make grand returns, including the silent disco events, game nights and more. Film screenings will abound as well: from Dirty Dancing to The Grand Budapest Hotel and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, among others.  In August, the "Movies on the Waterfront" series will bring classic films to the 145th Street Lawn every Thursdays, with a special screening of Coco in Spanish on August 14. More nature-driven activities will also be features this year. Riverside Park and Fort Washington Park will host Sweet Water Dance and yoga classes, for example, and, on May 31, those interested can join a birding walk in Fort Washington Park to celebrate Black Birders Week.  Here are some highlights f

If you find yourself strolling through Dumbo in the next month, make sure to stay until sundown. Starting this month and continuing until the end of May, the iconic neighborhood is bringing back its large-scale projection series, which will display huge works of art on the Manhattan Bridge and the BQE, all for free. The Dumbo Projection Project began displaying this season's artwork earlier this month and will continue on through May 25 from dusk til 11pm, Wednesdays through Sundays.  RECOMMENDED: There is a hanging garden inside the Guggenheim Museum’s rotunda If you're looking to find the perfect spot to see the art, make sure you have a clear line of vision towards the Manhattan Bridge on both the Pearl Street and Adams Street sides, as well as along the BQE at Susan Smith McKinney Seward Park.  From now until April 27, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of SPACE, an exhibition that explores space in its many manifestations, including what it means to be in space, to have space, and to be a part of space. If you want to know what you're looking at specifically, here it is: On the Manhattan Bridge, you'll see Runway: From the Mars Desert Research Station and Does it work on Mars? by Juan José Cielo. Then, on the BQE in Susan Smith McKinney Steward Park, you'll catch a glimpse of artwork called Letters to Home II by Leonardo Madriz.  Photo: Noemie Trusty | BQE If you plan to check out the projections from May 1 to May 25, the exhibition on display will be Unexpected Delight