Laura Ratliff

Faena has finally landed in New York—and true to form, the brand didn’t just open a hotel, it staged a spectacle. After reshaping hospitality in Buenos Aires and Miami Beach, founder Alan Faena has brought his gilded, surreal and unapologetically theatrical vision to Manhattan’s west side. The new Faena New York, perched at 500 West 18th Street in a Bjarke Ingels Group tower overlooking the High Line, is less hotel and more cultural fantasia. “New York City has historically been the center of innovation, creativity, and pushing boundaries. Faena embraces and amplifies that spirit, offering a touch of magic that honors and contributes to the vibrant legacy of New York,” Alan Faena said at the debut. That ethos plays out across 120 rooms and suites that shimmer with symbology, bold patterns and sweeping Hudson River views. At the top, the two-story Faena Suite flexes a landscaped terrace, baby grand piano and party-ready entertaining spaces. Photograph: Courtesy of Faena The theatrics begin in The Cathedral lobby, where Argentine artist Diego Gravinese unfurls a monumental mural, The Sefirotic Journey. From there, guests flow into a circuit of immersive spaces: The Living Room, with twin Deco-inspired bars and a terrace over the High Line; La Cava wine cellar, showcasing a Chris Levine piece; and El Secreto, a nightlife den complete with a deconstructed disco ball by Sebastian Errazuriz. A Keith Haring original even hangs along the gallery that connects the spaces, a wink to

Move over, water lilies—this fall it’s Renoir’s sketchbook that’s stepping into the spotlight. The Morgan Library & Museum is about to do something no New York institution has attempted in more than a century: dedicate an entire exhibition to Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s works on paper. “Renoir’s drawings reveal an artist of tremendous sensitivity and range,” said Colin B. Bailey, the Morgan’s director and curator of the show. And he’s not exaggerating. Opening October 17, Renoir Drawings will bring together more than 100 works—pastels, watercolors, prints and even a plaster sculpture—offering a rare chance to see the Impressionist master beyond his sun-dappled oils. The last time anyone staged a show like this was in Paris in 1921, which makes the Morgan’s exhibition a bona fide art-world event. The presentation is organized with the Musée d’Orsay, where it will travel next summer, and it spans the artist’s full career. Expect everything from the academic figure studies of his student years to quick on-the-spot impressions of city life, intimate sketches of his wife and children and preparatory studies for some of his most ambitious canvases. One highlight: the Morgan’s own large-scale sketch for The Great Bathers (1886–87), acquired in 2018, which will be shown alongside the finished painting, on loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, plus seven other related drawings. Another crowd-pleaser, Dance in the Country (1883), gets the same treatment with its own suite of preparator

Broadway’s brightest lights just dimmed the prices. The New York Theatre Sale has officially opened, offering savings of up to 40 percent on more than 70 shows across the city. Running through October 8, the limited-time event puts everything from megahit musicals to experimental plays and comedy specials within easier reach. Tickets are advertised from $50, with some shows dipping even lower, making this one of the cheapest ways to pack your calendar with curtain calls this fall. The discounts aren’t limited to a handful of shows: You’ll find major Broadway titles and plenty of off-Broadway and downtown favorites in the mix. If you’re a Netflix devotee, Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Marquis Theatre is stepping straight out of Hawkins with tickets from $53 (a 49% discount). Want something glitzy and full of high notes? Moulin Rouge! is ready to sweep you into its kaleidoscope of sequins, while The Queen of Versailles brings excess and drama to the St. James Theatre from just $83. Musical diehards will also find fresh takes on the classics. Puccini’s Turandot and Mozart’s Don Giovanni are both included, alongside quirkier productions like Singfeld: A Musical About Nothing. And if your tastes lean spookier, Drunk Dracula at the Ruby Theatre slashes its prices nearly in half, with tickets now starting at $38. Theatre fans who like their stages a little less scripted have plenty to choose from, too. Comedian Judd Apatow takes the mic with Comedy Nerd, Michael Lewis ref

Say goodbye to garbage mountains and hello to the “Empire Bins.” Starting this fall, hundreds of parking spaces in Brooklyn’s Community Board 2—covering Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights and more—will be swapped out for massive on-street trash containers. The city says the move will mean cleaner sidewalks, fewer rats and less of that signature eau de New York. Mayor Eric Adams announced the rollout on Tuesday, calling it the next step in his so-called “trash revolution.” The idea is simple: Instead of leaving black bags piled on the sidewalk like a buffet for rodents, building supers will toss garbage into locked bins that can only be opened with special keys. Custom $500,000 garbage trucks will then swing by and scoop them up. If this sounds familiar, it’s because the pilot already exists uptown. About 1,100 containers were dropped across Harlem over the past two years and officials say rat sightings have since plummeted. “On my block on Lafayette Avenue, we were having a severe rodent problem until the containerization,” Adams said. “It’s a massive, massive success and we’re going to continue in the right direction.” The bins—shipped in from Spain—aren’t optional. Once installed, large apartment buildings with more than 30 units must use them. Landlords with 10 to 30 units get a choice: either request a curbside container or use smaller city-approved wheeled bins. Buildings with nine or fewer units already have to keep their trash in containers citywi

History buffs, political junkies and anyone who’s ever muttered “We the People” under their breath, take note: One of the rarest documents in American history will be making a cameo in Queens this weekend—and you can see it for free. From September 19 to 21, the King Manor Museum in Jamaica will host a public exhibition of an extraordinarily rare printed draft of the U.S. Constitution, on loan from Christie’s. This isn’t just any draft, either. It’s the very first version to use the now-iconic words “We the People of the United States” instead of a laundry list of individual states. Even more, this copy belonged to Rufus King, a Founding Father, U.S. senator and abolitionist whose former home is now the very museum staging the show. The draft bears King’s own handwritten edits—nerdy details that would eventually shape the final document ratified in 1787. Among them: swapping a clunky preposition in the preamble, adding “affirmation” for Quakers unwilling to swear oaths and lowering the bar for Congress to override a presidential veto from three-fourths to two-thirds. Not exactly casual margin notes. Photograph: Courtesy of Christie's “It’s fantastic to be able to show this document in the home of the man who wrote it,” said Kelsey Brow, executive director of the King Manor Museum. “A document of this caliber is incredibly rare, and even rarer to be on display in a small museum like King Manor.” How rare are we talking? Of the 60 copies printed for the Constitutional Convent

Grand Central Terminal has seen its fair share of spectacles, but next week, it’s swapping the daily commuter hustle for the high-octane glamour of Formula One—and yes, there will be whisky. On September 23 and 24, from 3 to 8 pm, Vanderbilt Hall will morph into a mash-up of racetrack energy and cocktail culture thanks to Glenfiddich and the Aston Martin Formula One Team. The immersive pop-up celebrates the launch of Glenfiddich’s limited-edition 16-Year-Old single malt Scotch, a bottle inspired by the precision and performance of Aston Martin.  “This release marks an exciting milestone in our journey with the Aston Martin Formula One Team,” said Claudia Falcone, the global brand director for Glenfiddich. “Through this collaboration we invite enthusiasts worldwide to engage with these iconic brands in bold new ways and create memorable moments that reach far beyond the racetrack.” Guests 21 and up can sample the new 16-Year-Old whisky neat or in cocktails, test their reflexes with a Formula One-style Batak challenge and ogle a full-scale Aston Martin F1 replica car right in the middle of Grand Central. Pop-up bars will be shaking up complimentary drinks and a customization station will send you home with branded swag. The fun doesn’t stop there: Grand Central’s Grand Brasserie and Campbell Bar will also be serving tastings and Central Cellars will offer complimentary bottle engraving with purchases of the new whisky. The Scotch itself is no slouch. Crafted from a mix of Ameri

If you’ve ever wanted to peek inside a celebrity-designed New York apartment, here’s your chance. The eighth annual Real Simple Home has opened in Lower Manhattan and for the first time it spans not one but two units: a sprawling four-bedroom penthouse with a 1,500-square-foot terrace and a two-bedroom “DIY Annex.” Together, they showcase 14 distinct spaces created by a team of top designers, influencers and—headlining this year—Drew Barrymore. The actress, entrepreneur and lifestyle maven crafted what Real Simple calls a “feel-good room,” a sanctuary designed to coax frazzled New Yorkers into slowing down. “When I was thinking about this assignment, I had to decide what wellness means to me. It means remembering to even put yourself in the mix, let alone first,” Barrymore said in the October issue of Real Simple. “This room wants you to be mindful and present, which is almost as hard as putting yourself first!” Soft textures, calming tones and a flood of natural light make it the sort of space you might never want to leave—though the rest of the penthouse gives plenty of reason to wander. The living areas lean into relaxed entertaining, while even the laundry room manages to sneak in clever storage hacks. Step onto the terrace and you’ll find colorful accents against crisp neutrals, all framed by jaw-dropping city views. Photograph: Kelly Marshall / Prop Styling by Sophia Pappas / REAL SIMPLE The second unit, dubbed the “DIY Annex,” offers something different: resourceful

New York has long been home to burger legends, from JG Melon to Minetta Tavern. Now the city’s case as the world’s burger capital is officially backed up: Four of the top 25 spots on the new World’s Best Burgers list go to New York restaurants—more than any other city worldwide. Sip & Guzzle in the West Village earned the title of best burger in North America and the No. 13 spot overall. The bar only makes a dozen patties a day, grinding A5 Wagyu trimmings and binding them with cured Jidori egg yolk before searing them in a cast-iron pan and basting with beef tallow and butter. The meat is brushed with tare sauce, layered with a house-made Parmesan “Kraft single” and tucked into a potato bun from Bread’s Bakery. A shishito relish, smoked aioli and a samurai-skewered pickle finish the build. The result, according to the judges, is a burger that “feels both familiar and refined—approachable in style, yet executed with meticulous technique.” Nowon, chef Jae Lee’s buzzing East Village restaurant, follows at No. 15. Its double-patty dry-aged burger blends American cheese, kimchi and gochujang mayo for a fiery Korean-American twist that’s become a cult favorite. The room’s energy mirrors the burger: bold, loud and impossible to forget. Red Hook Tavern lands at No. 21 with the opposite approach: restraint. A thick dry-aged patty is topped with nothing more than American cheese and a slice of raw onion, nestled in a sesame bun. It’s minimalism that works. The tavern’s candlelit setti

Pack your bags and dust off that passport—Delta is adding not one but two Mediterranean gems to its route map and both are a straight shot from JFK. Starting summer 2026, the airline will launch nonstop flights to Sardinia and Malta, two islands that have long been high on travelers’ wish lists but tricky to reach without a connection. This is no ordinary route announcement. For the first time, Delta let its SkyMiles Members and its own employees vote on the next European destination in a five-day “Route Race.” Nearly 150,000 ballots were cast, with members backing Sardinia and employees rooting for Malta. In true crowd-pleaser fashion, Delta picked both. “We can now say that our network is not just built for our most loyal customers, but by them,” said Paul Baldoni, Delta’s senior vice president of network planning. So what awaits you once you land? Sardinia, Italy’s second-largest island, is basically a screensaver come to life: turquoise coves, rugged cliffs and villages where time seems to stand still. It’s also one of the world’s five official Blue Zones, meaning locals often live past 100 thanks to a life filled with good food, plenty of walking and strong community ties. Kristen N., a Delta marketing exec who visited last year, put it simply: “Sardinia is one of the most beautiful, relaxing places I’ve ever been. I can definitely see why it’s known as one of the rare Blue Zones.” Meanwhile, Malta is like stepping into a living museum that just happens to be surrounded

If you ever stumbled into Siberia in the ’90s—or heard Anthony Bourdain call it his favorite bar on Earth—you know this is no ordinary dive. For years, the Hell’s Kitchen haunt was equal parts clubhouse and chaos, tucked first inside the 50th Street subway and later reborn on Ninth Avenue. Then, like all great New York stories, it disappeared. Now, against all odds, Siberia is back. And fittingly, it has tunneled its way into yet another underground space: the Turnstyle Underground Market at Columbus Circle, hidden just steps from the 57th Street–Eighth Avenue subway entrance. It opened quietly last weekend, still labeled as “Gotham Taco” (the space’s former tenant), but regulars knew where to look. A red glow, a jukebox and the familiar grin of proprietor Tracy Westmoreland, Siberia’s self-proclaimed “minister of propaganda,” confirmed the resurrection. RECOMMENDED: The 19 best dive bars in NYC for cheap beer, shots and relaxed fun This new Siberia is compact but unmistakable: eight stools, a slim bar and a Lynchian wash of crimson light. Artist Dana Nehdaran splashed a wall with Warhol-meets-subway portraiture, while the playlist leans punk, outlaw country and rock. True to Siberia form, the drinks are cheap by Midtown standards—Westmoreland keeps them a dollar less than neighboring bars—and the rules are more social contract than signage: Don’t talk politics, don’t be creepy and never ask for fruit in your cocktail. It is missing a bathroom, though. Patrons will need to bo

New Yorkers are about to get a taste of Mexico City’s crown jewel. Pujol, chef Enrique Olvera’s iconic fine-dining temple, is leaving its Polanco home for a limited 12-night residency downtown this November—the restaurant’s first-ever appearance in New York. The pop-up, staged inside the slick Financial District venue WSA at 161 Water Street, will run November 11–22 with two nightly seatings (5pm and 8pm). Reservations go live October 1 through Resy and if you’ve ever tried snagging a table in Mexico City, you know this is one you’ll want to click fast. RECOMMENDED: The 16 best Mexican restaurants in NYC Pujol isn’t just another acclaimed restaurant—it’s a global bucket-list destination. Since opening in 2000, Olvera has redefined Mexican fine dining, weaving traditional ingredients and techniques into one of the world’s most inventive tasting menus. The restaurant currently holds two Michelin stars (a first for Mexico) and a perennial spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. For New York, Olvera is no stranger. He already runs Cosme, the Flatiron darling famous for duck carnitas, and Atla, the buzzy all-day café in NoHo. But Pujol is the mothership, the place that made him a culinary superstar. Its arrival in New York is as close as the city has ever come to dining inside Mexico’s most hallowed dining room. What can diners expect? The eight-course menu is still under wraps, but there are whispers of greatest hits: the legendary mole madre—aged for years and plated along

New York is loud—that’s the brand. But the city has decided there’s a difference between everyday din (sirens, subways, yelling at jaywalkers) and the souped-up muffler outside your window at 3 am Enter: noise cameras. These pole-mounted contraptions, equipped with microphones, fisheye lenses and license plate readers, are now quietly keeping tabs on New York’s rowdiest cars and motorcycles. Trigger the mic with anything over 85 decibels (think lawn mower, but angrier), and the system snaps your plate. The Department of Environmental Protection reviews the evidence and if you’re the culprit, expect a summons starting at $800 and climbing to $2,500 for repeat offenders. Now, new reporting from the New York Post shows DEP cameras have issued more than 1,600 summonses across the five boroughs and doled out nearly $2 million in fines. (Well, four boroughs—Staten Island is still camera-free.)  RECOMMENDED: Gridlock Alert Days are back next week to ruin your commute—what to know about all the street closures The hot spots include Midtown’s West 41st Street, which racked up the most violations, followed by East 36th Street in Murray Hill. In Queens, Long Island City’s Borden Avenue and Astoria’s 20th Avenue also saw plenty of action. The city’s pilot quietly grew from one rented camera in 2021 to nine city-owned devices today. Local Law 7 of 2024 now mandates at least five cameras per borough by September 2025, but DEP hasn’t yet secured the funding to make that happen. For now, con