Mark Peikert

Face it, Angeleno: It’s Chinatown. And the menus there are often worth the cross-city trek. If you’re still thinking of cash-only, lazy-Susan feasts, well, there are still plenty of those around. But these days, you’re just as likely to stumble on a great burger, a Filipino feast, a natural-wine bar or a cure-all cocktail lounge. That’s the fun of eating and drinking in this particular neighborhood: Despite its name, Chinatown refuses to stay in one culinary lane. The neighborhood’s three main plazas—Far East, Mandarin and Central—are packed with everything from decades-old institutions to newer spots that have made the area into a destination in its own right. Come hungry, bring cash and be willing to explore. We’ve rounded up the Chinatown restaurants and bars worth a visit, whether you want a bowl of beefy pho, a double-dipped French dip, Nashville hot chicken or a great glass of wine.  RECOMMENDED: See more in our full guide to things to do in Chinatown

Getting seats to the best Broadway shows usually requires quite a bit of advance planning. But what if you haven't planned, and you urgently need to see a show tomorrow or even tonight? Don't panic: There are plenty of options for last-minute tickets, especially if you’re willing to put in some legwork. It partly depends on what you're willing to pay and how much risk you're willing to take—and, of course, on plain old luck. If everything goes your way, you might even luck into cheap Broadway tickets, great seats or a chance to see hit shows that you would never have been able to get into earlier. Here is our insider guide to buying last-minute Broadway tickets. The day before the show: Enter the digital lottery Many Broadway shows—including Aladdin, The Book of Mormon and Hadestown—conduct digital lotteries for cheap tickets on the day before each performance. In most cases, you enter the lottery online, then wait until later the same day to find out by email if you've won; if you do, you'll need to reply to the ticket offer within an hour or you'll lose your chance. A few shows, such as Wicked, do their drawings on the morning of the show itself; others have drawings once a week, notably the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child $40 ticket lottery and the $10 Hamilton lottery, both of which happen on Fridays and cover the week ahead. For a full list of shows that offer lotteries, consult Broadway on a Budget or Playbill's Broadway and Off Broadway listings. The morning of the s

The Hollywood Bowl is getting a serious dose of South Central L.A. For emajendat, visual artist Lauren Halsey will turn the amphitheater into a technicolor fever dream, complete with a custom stage set and a lineup that’s basically a who’s who of adventurous music. Erykah Badu and the Alchemist headline, bringing their soulful R&B and dusty hip-hop production to the Bowl ahead of their forthcoming collaborative album, while Anderson .Paak spins as DJ Pee .Wee, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea joins in, and Charles Gaines Collective teams up with L.A. jazz outfit Black Nile and Devin Daniels. Catch the maximalist spectacle on September 29; talk about it for weeks afterward.

Attention proud nerds: Anime After Dark is about to tip nerd culture into a deliriously playful burlesque fantasia at The Slipper Room. Expect a high-gloss collision of cosplay and cabaret as performers bring JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Spy x Family, Pokémon, Cowboy Bebop, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Ghost in the Shell and Sailor Moon to life with wit, heat, and precision. Featuring Lychee Mynx, Happy Bun Bun, Storm Psycho 6, Mae B. Koi and more. 

Tap your toes and enjoy the music at the 15th Annual Blue Note Jazz Festival, with performances running from June 1 through July 1. The festival pops up at major venues across NYC, including Sony Hall, Blue Note Jazz Club and SummerStage in Central Park. This year's performances include Ledisi, Durand Bernarr, Big Freedia, UMI, Bestin Conrad, Shabaka Hutchins, Kokoroko, Cymande, Take 6, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Jose James, BLK ODYSSY Louie Vega: Elements of Life and more. Here's the full lineup with ticketing info. 

The Sierra Club has organized this inaugural Earth Day concert, dubbed Sierra Sessions. Hosted by KCRW DJ Novena Carmel, the night will feature performances by eco-conscious songwriters and storytellers, including Hurray for the Riff Raff, Irene Diaz, Dr. Lyla June, Rising Appalachia, Rozzi and more. Each artist will perform a few songs in the intimacy of Village Studios and share reflections on nature and life on Earth. If you can’t make it in person, the concert will be streamed on YouTube on Earth Day, when the various chapters of the Sierra Club will also host watch parties. If you can make it to the show, stick around afterward for an after-party.

Whether you’re excited about or terrified by artificial intelligence, it seems to be here to stay. Creatives can learn how to work with AI at RenderCon—which offers a deep dive into the future of media, art and technology as it relates to AI. Hosted by the Render Network, the conference hosts artists—including L.A.-based Refik Anadol, the mind behind soon-to-open Dataland—developers and industry leaders for two days of talks, panels and hands-on workshops focused on real-world AI production workflows. Expect practical insights, demos of cutting-edge new tools and networking opportunities.

Erstwhile podcast host and comic about town Marc Maron has been branching out into live music lately. He’ll bring both the laughs and the melodies with his Marc Maron Band for one night only this April 13 at Lodge Room. Joining him on the bill will be special guest comedians Blair Socci and Lara Beitz. 

Timed to the United States’ 250th anniversary, the American Folk Art Museum's Folk Nation: Crafting Patriotism in the United States exhibition explores how vernacular art has shaped national identity. Using the museum’s collection, the show delves into the meanings of “folk,” “nation” and “patriotism” at the 2 Lincoln Square gallery. It offers a thought-provoking look at who is represented in American stories and how those stories change. The show runs April 10–September 13, then reopens October 8 and runs through February 28, 2027.

Celebrate sustainability in action at the Earth Day 2026 Festival, a free gathering from noon to 6pm in Union Square. Expect a full afternoon of climate-focused, family-friendly programming, including interactive workshops, live performances, "climate art" and activities. Dozens of environmental nonprofits and green businesses will be on hand, alongside sustainable food vendors, to make it easy (and fun) to learn how to live a little greener. 

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of MoMA PS1 with a free Block Party on Saturday, April 18. Running from 10am until 6pm at the Queens location, the event will feature artists, musicians and local companies coming together to party across the plaza, courtyard, and galleries in honor of five decades of modern art. The event is free, but "A Mural Workshop with Lady Pink" and "Red Canary Song Presents Fly in Power" require additional RSVPs.

On April 18, 19, and 25 at the Broadway Comedy Club, veteran magicians Jim Vines and Carl Mercurio perform a comedic set of tricks and illusions that is especially tailored to delight young audiences—though the rest of the family is likely to enjoy it, too. And at just $25 a ticket, this is a surprisingly affordable Times Square outing for a larger group.

Step into the atmospheric Crypt of the Cathedral at St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Ave.) for Music in the Crypt, a hauntingly intimate concert from Grammy-winning Experiential Orchestra led by James Blachly. The program, shaped by the space’s resonant acoustics, features works by Franz Schreker, Caroline Shaw and Beethoven. Performances are scheduled for 7:30pm on April 10, and at 5pm and 7:30pm on April 11.

Discover new global perspectives at the inaugural CONDUCTOR Art Fair of the Global Majority, a boutique event spotlighting artists and galleries from historically underrepresented regions. Running April 30 to May 3 at Brooklyn's Powerhouse Arts (322 3rd Ave.), the fair brings together work from across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Oceania and Indigenous nations. Curated by Adriana Farietta in collaboration with Powerhouse Arts, expect a showcase that challenges traditional art market narratives while celebrating the richness and diversity of global contemporary art. 

Planning a beach weekend by train? You might want to rethink the timing. Amtrak has announced that The Pacific Surfliner will completely stop running between San Diego and San Luis Obispo on September 12 and 13, thanks to a coordinated round of track closures along the LOSSAN corridor. There will be no Pacific Surfliner trains operating between San Diego and San Luis Obispo that weekend, and—perhaps most importantly—there will be no bus bridges replacing the canceled train service. So if you were counting on the Surfliner to get you from Los Angeles to Orange County, San Diego or the Central Coast, you'll need to make alternate travel plans. RECOMMENDED: The best train trips from Los Angeles for an Amtrak adventure The shutdown is the result of simultaneous work by Union Pacific, Metrolink and North County Transit District on sections of track both north and south of Los Angeles. Rather than repeatedly disrupting service for individual projects, the rail agencies are tackling several infrastructure jobs at once, so potential travelers can be extremely annoyed for two days rather than mildly irritated multiple times. Crews will be working on the Orange Subdivision just south of Irvine Station, where the work will help extend Marine Way beneath the tracks and provide additional access to Orange County's Great Park. In the San Clemente area, crews will also reconfigure work zones for ongoing slope stabilization and trail reconstruction. North of Los Angeles, the Ventura Subdivis

Miley Cyrus is entering her mononymous era, and she's doing it at the Hollywood Bowl. The pop star announced two shows at the iconic Los Angeles venue on October 16 and 18, marking her first-ever performances at the Bowl. The concerts, billed as “Miley: Bass Persuades – Live at the Hollywood Bowl,” are set to celebrate the release of her upcoming 10th studio album, Bass Persuades, out September 18. RECOMMENDED: Your ultimate guide to summer concerts in L.A., including free shows "This album is a love story, but love stories are never one-dimensional. They're always layered," she told Wonderland magazine about Bass Persuades. "There is definitely a romantic thread weaving through it because, like all my records, it's a reflection of where I am in my life. But this one feels especially meaningful because this feeling has stayed with me through multiple eras." And yes, "Cyrus" is apparently gone. To quote the singer's own "See You Again": "She's just being Miley." The Grammy winner has begun professionally referring to herself simply as “Miley,” dropping her last name from her social media accounts and promotional materials surrounding the new album. No word on whether the change is permanent. Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, approved the change on X, writing: "I told Miley yesterday I felt good about her going with her first name. I mentioned Dolly and Cher. Thinking about it more and more … Elvis .. Prince … and so on. It’s a natural progression for an iconic superstar legend."

Chicago’s biggest celebration of Mexican culture returns to Grant Park, and it’s bringing a seriously stacked lineup with it. After taking off 2025 due to then-impending immigration enforcement actions, El Grito Chicago returns September 12 and 13 with two days of music, food, dancing, family activities and enough tacos to make you finally understand the concept of eating enough tacos. The festival’s 2026 headliner is Sinaloa-born singer-songwriter Adriel Favela, one of the major names in the new wave of regional Mexican music. He’ll be joined by Código FN, the legendary technobanda group Mi Banda El Mexicano, rising singer Emmanuel Cortés and Chicago’s own Latin Grammy-nominated Mariachi Herencia de México. The lineup also includes Selena The Show, a tribute to the late Tejano superstar; Chicago group Los de La Homan; a live Juan Gabriel tribute; band Sin Anestesia; sierreño group El Ejercito Sierreño; and the Kombi Bus Dancefloor, a DJ-and-dance experience. RECOMMENDED: The 38 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago, whether you're craving tacos or a steaming bowl of pozole Photograph: Courtesy El Grito ChicagoEl Grito Chicago And because no Mexican party worth its salsa should be expected to survive on music alone, El Grito is bringing along a formidable roster of Chicago food vendors. Cafe TOLA, Prime Tacos, Xurro, Fernando’s Blue Agave, Bust Outs, Banges, J’s Bacon Hot Dogs, Tacos El Rey, Carnitas Roldan, La Cebollita Grill, El Taconazo Express, Paleteria Los Magos, Windy

Ah, autumn in New York—it's so inviting! Particularly at the Museum of Modern Art, where the cooler months bring a spectacular lineup of new exhibits, from surrealist books and pioneering photographers to environmental art. Here's a look at the show we're most excited about at MoMA in the next coming weeks and month. September: The fall exhibition season begins September 15 with Sarah Michelson: nowhere, a performance exhibition that takes over the Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Atrium. The acclaimed choreographer and dancer will perform during regular museum hours alongside a rotating cast of dancers, essentially turning a trip to MoMA into an ongoing piece of live art. The exhibition runs through October 11. On September 20, Taking Back Our Space: Photographic Perspectives opens, bringing together Marianne Wex's photographic examination of the ways in which women take up space in public with contemporary artists' works. It runs through May 2, 2027. September 27 is a particularly busy day at MoMA. Full Disclosure: The Edge of Information Design explores the ways designers turn enormous amounts of data into something humans can actually understand, from maps and charts to the increasingly complicated visual language of algorithms, machine learning and AI. It runs through June 13, 2027. That same day brings Nilima Sheikh: Fractured Skies, a major presentation of the Indian artist's work, also running through June 13, 2027. Sheikh is known for paintings that weave together

Broadway just said goodbye to Moulin Rouge, but it's about to say hello to a whole slew of new productions as the 2026–2027 season gets officially underway. The coming months are bringing movie stars, musical theater royalty, major revivals and some seriously intriguing new productions to Broadway, meaning you'll have plenty of reasons to figure out where the hell to get a good meal in the Theatre District. RECOMMENDED: Broadway marquees will dim for Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Glen Hansard and more next week Here's a quick breakdown of the shows that we're already looking forward to in the coming weeks and months ahead. Photograph: Manuel HarlanSchool Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play September:  The fall season officially kicks off with School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play, Jocelyn Bioh’s acclaimed comedy about students at a Ghanaian boarding school competing in a beauty contest. The new production, directed by Whitney White and starring Patina Miller alongside Denée Benton, begins previews September 8 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre and opens September 28. Then comes The Imaginary Invalid, a new adaptation of Molière’s classic comedy by and starring Bill Irwin, with Brooks Ashmanskas, Dylan Baker and Rachel Bloom (in her Broadway debut) among the cast. It begins previews September 25 at the Todd Haimes Theatre and opens October 22. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is making her Broadway debut in Other Desert Cities, joining Ed Harris, Allison Janney, Joe Keery and Lily R

There are plenty of reasons to escape New York City for a weekend getaway, but stylish hotelier Urban Cowboy has come up with one we've never heard before. The design-forward boutique hotel brand is launching a new River Dining Experience at Urban Cowboy Lodge & Resort in Big Indian, New York. The concept is simple: Pull on a pair of waterproof boots, then step into the Esopus Creek to dine in rushing water surrounded by the Catskills wilderness. Even phone addicts might think twice before pulling out their devices, with the danger of dropping them into running water omnipresent throughout the meal.  RECOMMENDED: Three standout NYC hotels just made the World’s 50 Best longlist, including this Fifth Avenue stunner The experience taps into the growing "silent travel" and analog-travel movements, which are jargon for saying that people want to get away from screens, notifications and the general psychic damage of being reachable at all times. Here, the soundtrack is considerably better: rushing water, rustling trees and the occasional reminder that you are, in fact, eating dinner in a river. Photograph: Courtesy Urban Cowboy LodgeRiver Dining Experience at Urban Cowboy Lodge & Resort Guests will be outfitted with waterproof boots from The Original Muck Boot Company before making their way into the creek, where an intimate dining table awaits in the flowing water. Once everyone is seated, the food comes courtesy of Chef Auggie Russo's Tiny Pizza Kitchen, with artisanal wood-fir

The days of begging and pleading the powers that be to dim Broadway marquees for the recently deceased are over, thanks to the Broadway in Memoriam initiative, which just announced the honorees of its upcoming dimming ceremony. All 41 Broadway theater marquees will dim simultaneously at 6:45pm on Tuesday, September 8, for one minute. Among those being honored are Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Josh Grisetti, Anna Louizos and Harold Wheeler, along with a dozen other artists and industry professionals whose work left its mark on Broadway. The list of honorees also includes music executive Clive Davis, actor Gina Ferrall, producer Jeff Hamlin, singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, actor Louise Lasser, Seth Marquette, Anne Russell and James Walsh. RECOMMENDED: One of NYC’s longest-running food festivals will shut down Times Square next week with 40+ vendors and live Broadway performances Parton, who died recently at age 80, is perhaps the most instantly recognizable name on this year's list. The country music icon also had a major Broadway connection through her music for the musical 9 to 5, based on her hit film and featuring her score and songs. Her upcoming bio-musical is still scheduled to open on Broadway later this season. Curry, meanwhile, was a Broadway favorite, earning three Tony nominations for his performances in Amadeus, My Favorite Year and Spamalot. Louizos was a celebrated scenic designer whose Broadway credits included In the Heights, Avenue Q and Irving Berlin's White Chri

Apparently, Americans are willing to travel for a good meal—and increasingly, they’re willing to do it before noon. A brand-new ranking from Yelp and Lyft has named the Top Foodie Cities of 2026 and, it turns out, breakfast has become a foodie's favorite meal.  The companies combined Yelp data (including restaurant searches, saves, ratings and photo uploads) with Lyft rideshare data to get a sense of where Americans are seeking out restaurants and, crucially, getting rides to them. That combination puts New Orleans at No. 1 on the nationwide ranking, which is pretty hard to argue with. Seafood is the city’s second-most-searched cuisine, while local restaurants including Commander’s Palace and Cochon are among the top destinations for Lyft riders. Charleston and San Diego round out the top three, so maybe seafood is a recurring theme for food lovers? More likely, it's a Southern thing, since eight of the 20 cities listed are located in the country's southern half. In other words, the food map of America is looking increasingly down home. There’s also a surprising development happening regarding when people are looking to travel for food. Breakfast and brunch are the No. 1 most-searched restaurant categories in every city on the list, and nearly one in five Lyft rides to restaurants happens before noon. Photograph: Courtesy YelpAmerica's top foodie cities Reservations are booming, too. Yelp searches for restaurants that accept reservations are up 233-percent year over year, m

Chicago's dining scene has scored another big bragging right to add to the city's ever-growing list. John’s Food & Wine, the intimate Lincoln Park restaurant from chef-owners Tom Rogers and Adam McFarland, has officially been named the 2026 Restaurant of the Year by Food & Wine.  The honor, announced on September 1, recognizes restaurants that are helping shape the future of American dining through exceptional food, hospitality and impact. And while John’s certainly has the cooking chops, it’s the way Rogers and McFarland have structured their business that makes the restaurant especially notable. RECOMMENDED: This West Loop bistro was just named one of America’s best new restaurants by Bon Appétit, and their roast chicken is perfection View this post on Instagram A post shared by Food & Wine (@foodandwine) Rogers and McFarland met in Chicago almost 20 years ago, eventually working together at New York’s Gramercy Tavern under chef Michael Anthony before returning to Chicago and opening John’s Food & Wine (named after their fathers) in 2024. In addition to building a business together, they also literally built much of the restaurant, including the bar. But the most radical feature of John’s Food & Wine isn't on the plate. Every guest pays a flat 20-percent hospitality charge, which is pooled among the front- and back-of-house staff, while employees earn at least $25 an hour. Workers can also boost their earnings by taking on additional responsib

Forget Harvard. TIME has just released its inaugural ranking of America’s Best Colleges, and a different Cambridge university landed at No. 2. Yes, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) came in second on TIME’s 2026–2027 list, putting it just behind Stanford University and ahead of Princeton. So, yes, Cambridge may be home to two of the country’s most highly ranked universities, but world-famous Harvard University isn’t the one TIME is putting on the silver-medal podium this time around. RECOMMENDED: 14 best restaurants in Cambridge, Massachusetts TIME partnered with data research firm Statista to create the ranking, which looks at colleges based on student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness to students. The methodology puts a major emphasis on the value students get from their education at a moment when tuition costs are soaring and prospective students are increasingly concerned about whether a degree will actually pay off.  In other words, these are the colleges that pump out grads who go on to make a lot of money, among other factors. MIT’s No. 2 placement reflects the growing importance of STEM education and the career opportunities that come with it. TIME notes that the STEM workforce grew 26 percent between 2013 and 2023, compared with 9 percent growth for the non-STEM workforce. MIT is also described as a “patent powerhouse,” with its strong research programs and pipeline into high-paying technology careers helping propel it toward the top of

Sure, everyone knows that death and taxes are unavoidable. But so, too, is Labor Day traffic. But at least this year, eager Labor Day travelers looking for one last long summer weekend have a fighting chance of minimizing the amount of time spent staring at brake lights while on the road thanks to some expert advice about when not to drive over the holiday weekend. RECOMMENDED: These are the 10 best Labor Day Weekend getaways of 2026, according to Lonely Planet According to a report from AAA and transportation data provider INRIX, the worst time to drive during Labor Day weekend is, well, any time in the afternoons of Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4. That’s when holiday travelers will pile onto roads already clogged with regular commuters, creating a particularly unpleasant snarl. The official traffic danger zones are 2pm to 7pm on Thursday and noon to 8pm on Friday. Saturday’s drivers should try to avoid getting on the road between 1pm and 5pm on September 5, while Monday's return traffic is expected to be heaviest between 2pm and 5pm on September 6.  The traffic headaches are part of a broader, expensive Labor Day travel picture. AAA says domestic flights are averaging about $750 round trip, while flights to the most popular domestic destinations are nearly 20-percent more expensive than last year. Hotel prices are also up, with U.S. hotels 9-percent more expensive than in 2025 and international hotels about 12-percent more than last year. One bright note: Cru

Everything really is bigger in Texas. And according to a new report, that includes the noise. The Lone Star State has been crowned the loudest in America, according to a new analysis from Alpine Hearing Protection. Texas topped the list with an average noise level of 80.65 decibels, beating out Nevada and California for the dubious honor.  RECOMMENDED: Why Levitation in Austin is one of America’s best music festivals Before Texans start taking this personally, the ranking isn't about the loudest voices. The study actually measures noise from roads, railways and aviation, using data from 2022 and 2023.  So why is Texas making so much noise? For starters, it's just bigger, so it has more room for noise. Not to mention the state is heavily car-dependent and home to several major urban areas prone to continuous construction. So thank the sprawling freeways and need for new buildings in fast-growing cities like Houston and Dallas for their major contributions to the state's overall transportation noise. And don't forget about Austin, the “Live Music Capital of the World,” with more than 100 venues contributing.  Nevada came in second, followed by California. Illinois and Florida rounded out the top five noisiest states, all of them potent combinations of big cities, bustling highways, busy airports and plenty of tourism. Interestingly, New York clocked in at No. 7, likely thanks to the huge swathe of quiet upstate compared to the urban noise pollution that has become the soundtrac