Mark Peikert

While we dream of cooler nights, we can at least take some spooky-season comfort in looking at pumpkins and skeletons as we sweat through October in the days leading up to Halloween. Dating back about 2,000 years, All Hallows’ Eve originated in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a pagan celebration beginning on the evening of October 31 that marked the end of the harvest season and the start of the “darker half” of the year. During that time, people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off spirits, as it was believed the barrier between the living and spirit worlds was weakened. L.A.’s heritage might not stretch that far back, but we still have over a century of Old Hollywood history to draw from—and some of the city’s most popular drinking destinations have a dark past hidden behind the glamour. Read on for a list of haunted L.A. bars, hotels and restaurants where you can sip spirits alongside actual spirits. The spots have been frequented by both stars and specters. Which will you encounter when you visit? RECOMMENDED: Halloween in L.A. 2026

Dine LA Restaurant Week: Summertime Edition is back with another dream slate of destination eateries to try. Running August 14–28, even that generous two-week span isn't enough to try all of the "Oooh I've always wanted to eat there!" places on tap. So why not focus on the best bang for your buck when it comes to the prix fixe lunch and dinner menus on offer? RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Los Angeles We’ve scrolled through the lineup and chosen our favorite places, from Indian food to steakhouses. As usual, the participating restaurants are an eclectic mix of classic L.A. and newer, buzzier spots, so think of this as a combo platter for your dining pleasure.

Los Angeles added another crop of Michelin stars this year, and the results were, in many ways, entirely predictable. The guide once again showered love on lavish tasting menus and meticulously choreographed omakase counters, aka meals that can routinely run diners hundreds of dollars before wine pairings, service charges and tax. There's nothing inherently wrong with celebrating ambition or luxury. But Michelin's Los Angeles selections continue to reveal the guide's longstanding blind spot regarding a city whose culinary identity was built in strip malls, taco stands, family-run restaurants and immigrant communities.  Michelin's relationship with Los Angeles has always been complicated. After publishing Southern California guides from 2008 to 2009, the company abruptly withdrew from the market, citing economic reasons and leaving L.A. without Michelin coverage for nearly a decade. The guide didn't return until 2019 (then sitting out 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19). For many local diners and chefs, the long absence reinforced the notion that Michelin never quite knew what to make of a sprawling, immigrant-driven dining scene that has never fit neatly into traditional fine-dining conventions. And as this year's new stars demonstrate, Michelin still appears more comfortable rewarding a certain kind of luxury than capturing what actually makes eating in Los Angeles unlike anywhere else in the world. Kato ($325 a person) bumped up to two stars, while the guide added five new one-s

Break out your early aughts playlists, because Michelle Branch is heading to the Upper West Side's Beacon Theatre. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter brings her Everywhere and Back Again Tour to the Beacon on November 5, 2026, and then March 25, 2027, celebrating millennial nostalgia as well as her enduring catalog of bops. She’ll be joined by opening act Josie Edwards. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. Tickets are still available for purchase via resellers, and prices vary.

Close out Halloween weekend with anime, gaming and cosplay at the first-ever Astoria Anime Fest. The free, family-friendly festival is taking over 31st Avenue Open Streets (between 34th and 35th St) on November 1 from 1 to 5pm. The Queens gathering will feature local artists and vendors, games, crafts, community activities and special guests, including Queens Public Library and NYC-based Japanese abstract calligrapher Taisan Tanaka, who will lead an interactive calligraphy experience. Costumes are encouraged, so come dressed as your favorite anime character or just be ready to geek out. RSVPs are encouraged.

La Catrina and a troupe of larger-than-life skeleton puppets are descending upon the New York Botanical Garden for Día de los Muertos. Created by artists Lucrecia Novoa and Mascara Viva, the elaborate puppets will wander the Garden October 31 through November 2, from 1pm to 5pm, bringing one of Mexico’s most recognizable cultural symbols to life through movement and storytelling. La Catrina originated as a satirical illustration by Mexican printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada before becoming an enduring symbol of Día de los Muertos. Catch the colorful artwork as part of NYBG’s fall celebration in the Bronx. Good news: There's no added ticket needed to view the puppets, they can be found around the garden for all who paid admission.

Yeehaw, make way for Brooklyn’s rowdiest outlaws. Friends From New York rides into The Stand West (407 W 15th St) on Friday, October 30, for Most Wanted Halloween: A Wild West Costume Ball. THe event features DJs Scram Jones and GOLDFINGER spinning hip-hop, R&B, disco, funk and whatever else gets your boots moving. Expect Bandido Tequila, costume prizes, saloon mischief and dancing late into the night. Western wear is encouraged, so saddle up, dress like a desperado and come wanted, dead or alive. The party starts at 9pm and runs until 4am on Halloween. Partner listing: This event is listed on Time Out as part of our partnership with Clyx.

Art history gets a shake-up in Roméo Mivekannin’s first New York solo exhibition, Porteurs de feu (Bearers of Fire). At Southern Guild in Tribeca (75 Leonard St), the artist reimagines iconic works by the likes of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Winslow Homer, inserting his own likeness into paintings on black velvet to challenge how Black histories, migration and cultural identity are represented. An expansive portrait installation inspired by W.E.B. Du Bois’s The Souls of Black Folk rounds out this thought-provoking show. Catch it through October 29.

Get spooky under the sea at the American Museum of Natural History on October 31, when the annual Halloween Celebration takes over the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life under the iconic Blue Whale. The family-friendly festivities include themed arts and crafts, face painting, balloon animals and a live marine biology experience with Island Fish and Scale. Kids can also trick-or-treat throughout the first floor and join a costume parade, showing off this year's trendiest character costumes. The celebration runs from 11am until 4pm, and while costumes are encouraged, organizers kindly ask you leave the Halloween masks at home. The spooktacular festivities cost $25 per person, or $15 for member—that's on top of regular admission fare for the day (pay-what-you-wish for NY state residents, non-residents: $37 per adult, $22 per child, $30 students and seniors).

Your fridge is about to get a personality upgrade, your hands are about to get dirty, and for once, it's not because you're cleaning the vegetable drawer. At this hands-on craft night hosted by Joie Room at T.O.L.K. (286 Stanhope St in Brooklyn) on October 21, you’ll design and create your own clay magnets. All art supplies and venue rentals are included in the $25 ticket price. Drinks will be available for purchase, so feel free to indulge in a few and let your creativity flow—your fridge deserves it. Partner listing: This event is listed on Time Out as part of our partnership with Clyx.

Halloween, but make it classy with Suite Mysterioso: A Halloween Ballet. The new production is premiering Thursday, October 29, at Tarrytown Music Hall (13 Main St.). Performed by NYC-based Continuum Contemporary Ballet, the family-friendly show uses expressive choreography to whisk audiences from a shadowy forest to a vintage ballroom and other mysterious settings. As for the music, think melodies of ragtime and suspenseful silent movies. It’s designed to enchant younger audience members without leaving adults bored to tears. And since costumes are welcome, you can make an evening of it by dressing up for the occasion. Consider it a Halloween treat for anyone who prefers their frights with a little finesse. The show starts at 7pm, and tickets range from $38 to $43, inclusive of fees.

Five concert pianists, three Steinway Spirio | r concert grands and a whole lot of electronic experimentation come together at Red Hook's Pioneer Works (159 Pioneer St.) for "False Harmonics #28: Currawong Project" on October 26. The performance features the world premiere of composer Matthias Kriesberg’s “get used to it man thats the way we live now,” with live electronics by Kevin Larke and video art by Huei Lin. Pianists Han Chen, Arseniy Gusev, Asiya Korepanova, Nicolas Namoradze and Élisabeth Pion will perform, alongside works by Alexander Scriabin. Doors open at 7pm, with the show starting at 8pm. General admission tickets cost $24.30, inclusive of fees.

It may be third in the Olympics, but bronze is No. 1 at The Frick Collection. "Siena: The Art of Bronze, 1450–1500" brings together roughly 40 works exploring how Sienese sculptors turned the metal into objects of extraordinary beauty and technical sophistication. The exhibition features masters including Donatello, Vecchietta and Francesco di Giorgio, with many works that are rarely seen outside of Tuscany. Beyond the artistry, the show examines the technical hurdles and political complications that shaped bronze production in 15th-century Siena, revealing the ingenuity behind these intricate creations. It’s a chance to see Renaissance sculpture through a fresh lens and appreciate just how much craftsmanship goes into making something look effortless. Tickets for The Frick Collection run between $17 (student) and $30 (adult) depending on the ticket you qualify for.

Networking events are usually an exercise in quiet humiliation with a side of LinkedIn, but a new comedy series in Astoria is betting that a few punchlines can make professional mingling less painful. Laugh It Up launches at QED Astoria on October 15 with its Creative Professionals edition, bringing together artists, performers and producers for an evening of schmoozing followed by live comedy. The quarterly series is organized by performer and producer Alexis Munday, local event organizer Jen Sellers of Civic Noise and the Simicich Limberis Law Group. General admission is $25, while a $40 Wingman Package gets you two tickets so you can bring a friend for moral support. The first 10 people to arrive score a free drink. Future editions will cater to lawyers (Jan. 28), wellness practitioners (sometime in April) and real estate professionals (simetime in July).

Get a rare glimpse inside a quintessential Brooklyn Heights 1839 Greek Revival townhouse, just steps from the world-famous Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The townhouse (1 Monroe Pl.) features a grand double parlor with soaring 13-foot ceilings and preserved period details, a spacious full-floor primary bedroom suite and five beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces. A fifth floor features floating stairs to the roof deck with both city and water views. Marvel at each room decked out by talented interior designers from New York and Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse is open through November 1. It's closed Monday through Wednesday, operating from 11am to 7pm Thursdays and Fridays, and 10am to 6pm Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost $50 per person or $450 for a group of 10. Brooklyn Heights Association members can get in for $40.

Child-free Americans, here is a reward for dodging all those double strollers on the sidewalk every weekend: JetBlue has teamed up with Virgin Voyages for its first-ever adults-only flight, taking off from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in March 2027 as part of a four-night Caribbean getaway. RECOMMENDED: This major cruise line is turning one of its ships into an adults-only affair Dubbed “Do Not Disturb: A Getaway Reserved for Grown-Ups,” the vacation package bundles round-trip flights from JFK to Fort Lauderdale with private transportation to Miami, where passengers will board Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady for a four-night cruise from March 4 to 8, 2027. The itinerary includes stops in Key West and the cruise line’s private Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas. In other words, you can trade the gray slush of New York winter for turquoise water and tropical cocktails without feeling the violent kicks of a child in the row behind you.  Photograph: Courtesy Virgin VoyagesVirgin Voyages' Beach Club at Bimini The grown-up treatment begins before boarding. Travelers will have first-come, first-served access to JetBlue’s BlueHouse lounge at JFK, plus a complimentary alcoholic drink on the flight. Once in Florida, private round-trip transfers will take guests to PortMiami, with luggage handling and priority cruise check-in helping smooth the transition from plane to ship. On board, the ship offers more than 20 eateries, entertainment and thermal spa facilities.

It’s official: World Cup fever has taken over L.A. The global soccer tournament takes place only every four years, and this time around, it’s back in the U.S. for the first time in over three decades—and Los Angeles is hosting eight of the matches at SoFi Stadium. (The freeways are already warning of more traffic—advising people to “use transit” on June 12.) To celebrate, seemingly every local business is getting in on the action, hosting special promotions, soccer-themed activations and World Cup viewing parties. You can expect every sports bar and lots of restaurants to be tuned in—Clifton’s Republic is even temporarily reopening just for the occasion—but major museums, shopping centers and local attractions are also hosting their own events. It’s a bit overwhelming, to be honest, but to help you out, we’ve rounded up 20 ways to catch a match surrounded by a community of fellow football fans. In fact, even if you’re not a sports fan, some of these parties should still appeal to you. 1. FIFA World Cup 2026June 11–July 19 The first way to see a match is, well, to brave the traffic (or go Metro) and watch a match in person. L.A. is just one of 11 host cities in the U.S., but all of the local matches will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (FIFA’s official schedule calls it “Los Angeles Stadium,” but that’s simply the un-branded name for SoFi). Things kick off June 12 with USA vs. Paraguay and lead up to a quarterfinal match on July 10. Photograph: Michael Juliano for Tim

Ariana Grande will finally tour again next year, and fans in Los Angeles are in for something special: She’s bringing the Eternal Sunshine Tour to L.A. for four nights of arena magic that promise to feel both intimate and gigantic. The announcement dropped like a bolt of pop lightning on August 26. This is her first tour since the 2019 Sweetener World Tour, and it’s in support of her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, and its deluxe edition, Brighter Days Ahead. The tour kicks off June 6, 2026, in Oakland before Los Angeles gets a four-night residency that feels like a homecoming. Is it too early to call it the highlight of the summer? Grande teased the announcement with a casual “See you next year ♡ 🧸” on Instagram, but fans know this is a big deal. In the years since her last tour, she’s racked up an Oscar nomination for Wicked, joined the cast of the next Meet the Parents film and reassured fans that music will always be her “lifeline.” Consider the Eternal Sunshine Tour proof she’s not going anywhere. When is Ariana Grande playing in L.A.? The "Yes, And?" singer will perform two shows at the Crypto.com Arena June 13 and June 14, and two shows at the Kia Forum June 17 and June 19, 2026. When do tickets go on sale? General sale for the U.S. dates begins at 10am local time on Wednesday, September 10, on Ticketmaster. Presale details An artist presale opens at 10am on Tuesday, September 9. You’ll need to sign up by September 7 to gain access. Additional venue or credit-card-li

If you’re in New York City, you probably have a pretty strong (and likely complicated) relationship with adrenaline. But if you need an even bigger rush than trying to cross Eighth Avenue at rush hour, you’re in luck, because the Manhattan skyline is about to get a whole lot wilder.  In 2026, adrenaline junkies will get to experience the city from a heart-stopping new perspective: Plummeting 300 feet in transparent tubes. That’s courtesy of the 52-story, 1,067-foot-tall skyscraper called The Torch, at 740 Eighth Avenue, which just resumed construction a year after halting. Forget fancy observation decks or high-end, high-rise restaurants. The Torch wants to offer both panoramic views and the kind of free fall that usually ends with you jerking awake.  RECOMMENDED: The 100 best things to do in NYC for locals and tourists A combination of observation deck and theme park ride, the attraction will be housed inside a spire lit to resemble a literal torch, taking riders to the top before dropping them straight down at speeds approaching 60 mph. The experience will reportedly also include enveloping lighting and sound effects; in case you Need a side of immersive theater with your terror. But even those who don’t want to look down as the streets of NYC hurtle ever closer can enjoy the top of The Torch. There will also be a more traditional observation deck and a glass-bottomed elevator that promises to take visitors up all 1,000 or so feet in under 60 seconds.  The project was desig

There are outdoor screenings in NYC parks, on waterfronts, and even in cemeteries. But Long Island’s Long Beach may beat them all with an alfresco screening set right on the beach, under the stars, with the sound of waves as a soundtrack. The annual "Shorts on the Beach" series returns to the Allegria Hotel beachfront as part of the Long Beach International Film Festival. Tickets are free—you can reserve tickets here—and the screening will begin shortly after sunset, around 8:45pm on Saturday, July 26. It’s a rare chance to watch award-winning films in a completely relaxed setting, where flip-flops and beach blankets are encouraged. “Bring a blanket, a beach chair, and your crew—this is cinema like you’ve never experienced it before. From award-winning shorts to hidden indie gems, you’ll laugh, cry, and fall in love with film all over again,” the festival wrote in an Instagram post. No word yet on what shorts will be part of the program or who the filmmakers are, so perhaps pack that blanket but leave your expectations behind. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Long Beach Intl. Film Festival (@lbiffny) Originally founded in 2012, the 2025 Long Beach International Film Festival runs through July 26. In addition to Shorts on the Beach, the festival will also host another shorts-inspired event, "Chefs & Shorts: A Unique Pairing of Gastronomy, Wine and Short Films." Held at the Allegria Hotel at 6pm on Thursday, July 24, the evening will see five che

There she goes, boys! The Audra McDonald-led revival of Gypsy, directed by George C. Wolfe, abruptly announced that it will be ending its Broadway run sooner than expected. The musical will play its final performance at the Majestic Theatre on Sunday, August 17; tickets had been on sale through October 3. The run itself was open-ended, with no closing date announced. When the show closes, it will have played 28 previews and 269 performances. This marks the sixth Broadway show to announce a closing date since the Tony Awards. RECOMMENDED: The best shows on Broadway The fifth revival of the classic musical, with a book by Arthur Laurents and a score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, opened at the Majestic on December 19, 2024, co-starring Danny Burstein as Herbie and Joy Woods as Louise. As previously announced, Tony winner Montego Glover will play Rose at Sunday matinees for the rest of the run.  McDonald’s turn as Rose (a role played by Broadway legends from Ethel Merman to Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone) earned her a record-setting 11th Tony Award nomination, making her the most-nominated performer in Tony Awards history. (With six wins, she is also the most awarded performer in Tony Awards history.) The show itself earned five Tony nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical, and one for Burstein, which made him the most-nominated male performer in Tony Award history. The significance of this Gypsy is not just in its record-setting nominations, however. As staged

We may never see Richard Linklater’s film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along—starring Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein and Paul Mescal, the movie, shot in real time to mirror the passing of 30 years in the story, isn’t set to finish shooting until 2039. But luckily, another, equally star-studded version of the classic musical is coming to theaters later this year. A live capture of the Tony-winning Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along will premiere in movie theaters on December 5, an early holiday gift for theater lovers and Sondheim fans courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics and Fathom Entertainment. Directed by Maria Friedman and starring Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez, the production follows three best friends from the end of their decades-long friendship to its very beginnings, as they grapple with fame, success and thwarted romance. George Furth wrote the musical’s book, an adaptation of a Moss Hart-George S. Kaufman play. Merrily We Roll Along opened on Broadway on October 10, 2023, and closed July 7, 2024, after extending its run.   RECOMMENDED: The best Broadway shows to see right now “This is a show that makes demands of its audience, perhaps sometimes unreasonable ones,” Time Out New York’s Adam Feldman wrote in his five-star review. “But as Charley sings during a loving argument with his friends: “What’s the point of demands you can meet?” Friedman’s production meets the audience halfway, and a Broadway audience today

Five years after shutting down for the COVID-19 pandemic, East Williamsburg music venue Our Wicked Lady will close down permanently on Monday, July 21, almost 10 years to the day since it first opened. Located at 153 Morgan Avenue, Our Wicked Lady was the brainchild of co-owners Zach Glass and Keith Hamilton, who met as managers at Brooklyn Bowl. When they took over the space, it boasted a dirt floor, no staircase to the roof, and barely any plumbing. The duo transformed it into a neighborhood staple that played host to up-and-coming bands and indie faves alike.  RECOMMENDED: A massive dance music festival returns to NYC this fall, and it’s expanding to Brooklyn But like so many businesses, Our Wicked Lady struggled to bounce back after the pandemic in the face of rising costs and patrons who’d rather leave early or stay at home altogether. Glass and Hamilton went public with their struggles last winter, and a GoFundMe raised $42,000 amid a flood of community support. But their landlord nixed a last-minute purchase deal, leaving them no option but to shut down permanently.  “We were extremely close to locking in an ownership transfer for Our Wicked Lady when we were thrown a massive curve ball. Our landlord decided he does not want a music venue to continue on his property and refused a near sale,” Glass and Keith wrote in an Instagram caption. “This is heartbreaking news for us. After all our work and all the support from our community, we are devastated to share that OWL wi

New York City has a glorious history of offering high-quality art and culture for rock-bottom prices. “Rock bottom” may not be what it once was, but at least the culture remains at the same high standard. And this summer, you can confirm that for yourself when Lincoln Center hosts concerts for as little as $5 from Saturday, July 19 through Saturday, August 9. Or rather, $5 is the minimum amount for the “Choose-What-You-Pay” fee structure — perhaps a better name would be “Choose-what-You-Pay-Within-These-Parameters”. The concerts comprise the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center series, part of Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City. Highlighting musicians from across the world who routinely perform with Lincoln Center, you might better know the Festival Orchestra from its previous iteration as the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra.  RECOMMENDED: Check out renderings of Lincoln Center's new performance venue and community park Among those scheduled to perform this year are Lincoln Center’s Renée and Robert Belfer Music Director Jonathon Heyward (responsible for the series’ programming) conducting Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, Karen Kamensek conducting Bizet’s Symphony in C, Joana Carneiro conducting Ravel and Prokofiev, and Dame Jane Glover conducting Michael Abels's "More Seasons," Tchaikovsky, and Mozart. Even better, that low entrance fee also provides you access to the theaters in David Geffen Hall, where most of the concerts will be held. A concert and powerful AC for under

You know what they say about New York: Once you’ve made it here, you can make it in… Brooklyn? Or something like that. Maybe in the old days (you know, before the internet), Brooklyn was looked down upon in terms of cool factor, but it’s definitely the goal in the 21st century. And even internationally beloved dance music festival We Belong Here isn’t immune to the lure of the borough. A year after making its NYC debut in Central Park’s Wollman Rink, We Belong Here announced that not only will it bring its 360-degree stage back to Manhattan, but it will bring the carefully curated experience to the Greenpoint waterfront, as well. RECOMMENDED: NYC's best summer music festivals of 2025 “New York City holds a special place in our story,” We Belong Here co-founder Justin Dauman said in a statement. “The response to our first year at Central Park exceeded all expectations, with the majority of tickets selling out in the first 24 hours. Expanding to two festivals allows us to welcome more people to enjoy the experience, highlight more unique locations, and maintain the same level of intimacy.” Last year’s first-ever NYC event featured multiple superstar DJs making their Central Park debuts, including Fisher, Kaskade and Monolink. The weekend was the culmination of a series of summer-long We Belong Here NYC pop-ups on Governors Island and Pier 16. First opened in the 1950s, Wollman Rink was a perfect choice of venue for the festival’s official NYC debut, given its history of unconve

We’re only halfway through 2025, but the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is already looking ahead. Way ahead. NYBG announced that it will bloom with a very special exhibition in 2027: a full, 250-acre takeover by Brooklyn-based artist KAWS, debuting May 22, 2027. Known for his pop culture-inspired sculptures, KAWS (aka Brian Donnelly) will present an outdoor installation of enormous proportions, turning the iconic Bronx gardens into a collision of nature and contemporary art. RECOMMENDED: The best outdoor art in NYC this summer, including sculptures KAWS’ work seems especially suited for NYBG, with his sly, gigantic takes on figures like The Simpsons and Snoopy, plus his famous Companions series, inspired by Mickey Mouse (and a year spent as a Disney animator) and threaded throughout his career as both paintings and three-dimensional sculptures. The melancholy of the figures, with their gloved hands and X’d out eyes, will no doubt feel even more powerful against the idyllic natural backdrop. NYBG has long held a reputation for creating opportunities for artists to engage in dialogue with its landscape, including landmark exhibitions by Yayoi Kusama and Ebony G. Patterson. Now KAWS will continue this tradition, inviting visitors to consider how human-made objects inhabit, disrupt, or enhance their environment.  The Garden also announced a 2026 exhibit, Flower Power, opening May 23, 2026, and channeling the ‘60s with a celebration of the flowers as symbols of peace and love. T

Every generation gets the toy craze it deserves, and no toy craze is any weirder than the last. From Pet Rocks to Cabbage Patch dolls to Troll Dolls and Tamagotchis, our collective past is littered with “I gotta have it or I’ll die!” status symbols. And Labubus have definitely taken their place among them. Not only have the plush toys with unsettling wide grins revealing serrated knife-like teeth become an instant grid-worthy addition to Instagram accounts, but they’re now beginning to revitalize nightlife. At least at the Brooklyn Monarch in Williamsburg, where raves featuring Labubus as the headliners attract up to 800 people. RECOMMENDED: Out Late: What insiders and partygoers are predicting for NYC nightlife in 2025 Labubus have become unavoidable, both on social media and on the subways, where the weirdly adorable little creatures with big eyes, sharp teeth, and full-on gremlin energy seem to be everywhere, most often dangling from purses, keychains, and waistbands. Created by artist Kasing Lung, Labubus are part of the Pop Mart universe, which means mystery boxes, limited editions, and serious collector hype. People line up or endlessly refresh websites, hoping to score a rare one. (How big have Labubus become? A human-sized Labubu recently sold for more than $170,000.) For collectors, the toy is almost secondary to the thrill of the unboxing, the trade culture, and the bragging rights of scoring a super rare variant. At these late-night parties in East Williamsburg (o