Mark Peikert

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

Do these divers know that Red Bull only gives out metaphorical wings? Because this weekend, 24 athletes will take a dive off the Institute of Contemporary Art's rooftop into Boston Harbor. That's right, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is back in the Seaport for its only U.S. appearance of the year, which also happens to be the season finale. On Friday, September 19, and Saturday, September 20, the Institute of Contemporary Art’s rooftop will transform into one of the most dramatic diving stages on the planet, where the world’s best will hurl themselves into the harbor like bags of colonial-era tea at speeds topping 50 miles per hour. Even better? It’s totally free to attend. RECOMMENDED: 10 Massachusetts cities are among the 'safest, richest' places to live in the U.S. If you’ve never seen cliff diving in person, prepare to have your jaw permanently dropped. Twenty-four elite athletes will launch from platforms as high as 90 feet, twist, somersault and slice into the water below while judges keep a watchful eye on every move. The women’s platform is 21 meters (69 feet) high, and the men’s is 27 meters (88.5 feet) in the air. Blink, and you’ll miss it, because divers hit the water in just three seconds, which is about as long as it takes most of us to process the fact that we’re watching someone voluntarily leap off a building. Friday kicks things off with warm-ups and the first two rounds of competition beginning at 9:30am, followed by athlete interviews around lunchti

Boston knows how to do Halloween, but this year, Rebel’s Guild is turning the camp meter all the way up. On Friday, October 31, the restaurant tucked inside the Revere Hotel is mashing up history and millennial nostalgia with Wicked Witches and Wigs: A Hocus Pocus Drag Dinner. Think: Paul Revere galloping across the cobblestone streets, screaming a warning that the Sanderson Sisters are back in town, sequins in tow. (And honestly? We'd watch that prequel.) RECOMMENDED: Two Boston restaurants made it on this best restaurants in America list The evening starts at 6:30pm, giving you just enough time to grab a cocktail, grab a selfie and grab your seat before the main attraction begins at 7:30pm. A prix-fixe Halloween menu keeps things festive and filling while Boston’s fiercest drag queens work the room with enough sparkle and sass to raise the dead. Expect big hair, bigger laughs and the kind of performances that will leave you humming “I Put a Spell on You” well into November. Housed in the Revere Hotel, Rebel's Guild is already steeped in Revolutionary spirit, so a drag-infused witchy takeover feels like the perfect collision of history and camp. The space’s dramatic interiors and playful nods to rebellion set the stage for an evening where mischief is mandatory. And if you’ve never experienced a drag dinner, let Winnie, Sarah and Mary initiate you. But audience participation is encouraged, so don’t sit too close to the stage if you’re shy. Tickets are $23.18, available on Ev

Human Chicagoans aren’t the only ones who get to celebrate Oktoberfest this fall. The Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk is once again teaming up with PUPS Pet Club to host Barktoberfest, the annual dog-friendly festival returning Saturday, September 20, from 10am to 2pm. The best part? Admission is free. Now in its fourth year, Barktoberfest has become a Riverwalk tradition for pet owners looking to toast the season while spoiling their pups. Expect a festive mix of vendors, themed photo ops and seasonal treats, all set against one of the city’s most scenic backdrops. RECOMMENDED: The best dog-friendly restaurants, bars and patios in Chicago The heart of the action takes place at Chicago Burger Company, at 301 E. North Water St., where the restaurant’s riverside patio transforms into a canine carnival. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the cash bar, and the kitchen is serving up a menu designed especially for furry guests. Dogs can dig into playful specials like the "Barkuterie Board," "Bark Burger," "Cookie Treats" and the ever-popular "Pup Cup," while their humans take in the fall atmosphere. A curated vendor market spotlights local pet businesses and will offer toys, treats, accessories and interactive experiences. It’s a chance to shop small while finding new ways to pamper your pup, whether you’re in the market for eco-friendly chews, cozy fall sweaters or a bag of locally baked dog biscuits. While the event is designed with dogs in mind, it’s also a celeb

Chicagoans looking for a new kind of cultural escape won’t have to go far this fall. On Friday, September 26, Rosemont’s Pearl District debuts EXP, a 26,000-square-foot venue designed to make history, science and imagination collide in stunningly immersive ways. Created in partnership with Montreal-based PHI Studio, a global leader in immersive arts, EXP launches with two massive VR adventures: "Horizon of Khufu" and "Life Chronicles." Together, they promise to transport visitors thousands of years back in time and millions of years across Earth’s history. RECOMMENDED: The best free museum days in Chicago The headliner, "Horizon of Khufu," takes participants inside Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Khufu, the 4,500-year-old wonder of the world. Armed with a VR headset, you’ll move freely through chambers usually restricted to archaeologists, ascend to the summit of the 146-meter pyramid and even sail down the Nile during King Khufu’s funerary rites.   The second offering, "Life Chronicles," zooms out to tell the grand story of Earth itself. Over the course of 45 minutes, guests trace 3.5 billion years of evolution, beginning with single-celled microbes before plunging into ancient seas teeming with life. It’s a visually dazzling, scientifically grounded trip through deep time. Photograph: Michael GrondinEXP experience in Calgary Both experiences are designed as “free-roaming” expeditions, which means no sitting still or staying tethered to one spot. Visitors can wander through the d

Few places are as dramatic or revealing (or, unfortunately, filthy) as a New York City hotel room. But this fall, you can rest assured that the filthy part won't be part of a new immersive play that will unfold in very close confines behind a hotel room door. ROOM 204, premiering Thursday, September 18 inside a Walker Hotel guest room in Greenwich Village, reimagines what immersive theater can be. Think Scenes from a Marriage spliced with the voyeuristic intimacy of Sleep No More: a bruising portrait of a love affair in all its turbulence, performed not from a stage but almost in the audience's laps. RECOMMENDED: The 40 best Off-Broadway shows to see in fall 2025 ROOM 204 stars Anjelica Fellini (Teenage Bounty Hunters, The French Dispatch) and Dennis Flanagan (Ozark, American Rust) in a loose adaptation of William Gibson's classic romantic dramedy Two for the Seesaw (previously adapted into the Broadway musical Seesaw) for an audience of just 10. The piece is directed by Ovation Award Winner Becca Mozo, with associate and movement direction by Sleep No More alum Taylor Massa. The production marks the debut outing for Zusammen Theatre Project, a new, female-led collective dedicated to transforming unexpected spaces into stages while collaborating with small businesses and offering intimate, affordable productions. For ROOM 204, that means seating just 10 people a night every Thursday through November 13. Each performance is a front-row seat, because there’s no such thing as th

When in doubt, a new set of dishes can really turn things around. Okay, sure, this is likely not as widely recommended as therapy or touching grass, but it's nevertheless true. And for those who find peace and mental clarity in the aisles of quirky dishware icon Fishs Eddy in Union Square, things are about to get twice as good when the cult-favorite home goods haven opens a Brooklyn outpost this fall in Dumbo.  Don't expect this to be a tiny satellite bordering on a pop-up situation. The new 3,800-square-foot store at 81 Front Street is about the size of the Broadway flagship. That means ample space for all the signature Fishs Eddy pieces, the mugs with attitude, plates that double as conversation starters (or, better, bowls), butter dishes shaped like landmarks, enamelware that looks like it jumped out of a retro diner and more of those perfectly imperfect vintage finds. RECOMMENDED: Where to go shopping in NYC Established in 1986 and weathering recessions, 9/11, COVID closures and more, Fishs Eddy has served more than 1.2 million customers and sold more than 1.3 million of its beloved "212 Skyline" dishes since then, according to the company.  “Brooklyn’s been in our DNA forever. Some of our most iconic patterns have Brooklyn brownstones and the bridge," Fishs Eddy founder Julie Gaines said in a statement. “So moving to Brooklyn was just a matter of time. Of course, we’re fashionably late, but that’s how New Yorkers roll!” Once a gritty industrial hub, Dumbo has evolved i

Renter up! If you’ve ever wanted to step into the shoes of a Yankee legend (minus the cleats), Derek Jeter’s former guesthouse is now available for overnights. Part of the Greenwood Lake estate known as Tiedemann Castle, the lakeside retreat is listed on Airbnb for the jaw-dropping price of $1,300 a night. RECOMMENDED: The 19 best Hudson Valley Airbnbs for a romantic getaway, a weekend with your pals, or a family vacation right here The one-bedroom, one-bath guesthouse sits on a four-acre historic property with 700 feet of private shoreline. Once owned by Jeter’s grandfather and later the Yankee captain himself, the compact hideaway packs in more than a few luxuries. There’s a private sauna, a yoga studio tucked inside a medieval-style turret and expansive views of Greenwood Lake from nearly every angle. The larger estate dates back to the early 1900s, when a New York doctor built it as a whimsical castle getaway boasting stone façades, battlements and timbered details—plus, for good measure, a replica of the Statue of Liberty presiding over the grounds. Jeter bought the property in the early 2000s and invested about $3 million in renovations before eventually selling it in 2024 for $5.1 million. The main residence, which sprawls more than 9,000 square feet, isn’t yet open to the public, but the new owners have decided to share the guesthouse with travelers looking for something more memorable than a standard hotel room. Though small in scale, the guesthouse doesn’t skimp on

Are you ready to next-level your annual Gilmore Girls rewatch? If you’ve ever wished you could stroll Stars Hollow’s sidewalks, munch on diner-style treats or greet Luke at the counter, now’s your chance. A Weekend in the Life: Small Town Convention is rolling into New Milford, Connecticut—about an hour and 40 minutes from NYC—from Friday, September 12, through Sunday, September 14, and this Gilmore Girls event is more than just a convention. It’s a full-on, small-town immersion into what makes the show one of TV’s most beloved cozy universes. RECOMMENDED: The Dawson’s Creek cast is having a big NYC reunion next month and we are not okay Hosted by Decade Days, this fan festival brings the series' beloved characters, coffees and quirks to life. Notable cast members appearing include Scott Patterson (Luke Danes), Scott Cohen (Max Medina), Matt Czuchry (Logan Huntzberger), Yanic Truesdale (Michel), Todd Lowe (Zack Van Gerbig), John Cabrera (Brian Fuller), Sherilyn Fenn (Anna Nardini) and more. (Alas, none of the titular Gilmore Girls—a.k.a. Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel or Kelly Bishop—seem to be participating.) Look for a lot of fan-friendly moments, including autograph and photo ops, Q&As, themed bingo and trivia, craft areas and a vendor marketplace full of merch, homemade goods and nostalgic delights. VIP ticket holders get extra perks like private meet-and-greets, special parties and chances to connect more personally with cast members. Just like Lorelai and Rory, this event

This Thanksgiving, give yourself the gift of stress-free holiday travel to paradise thanks to a new semi-private flight experience from Los Angeles to Maui. Aero, the boutique “book-by-the-seat” jet service, has teamed up with the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea to debut the first-ever weekly semi-private route open to all from the mainland to Hawaii. No membership required, just an appetite for quiet luxury and Erewhon-catered in-flight offerings. RECOMMENDED: We tried every single Erewhon smoothie—here’s how we ranked them Departures begin over Thanksgiving weekend, which is perfect timing for the L.A. locals who love to head to Hawaii for the holidays. Each flight, limited to just 12 passengers, takes off from Van Nuys on Saturdays at 10:20am, landing in Maui by 2:05pm. The Sunday returns leave at noon, landing in L.A. by 6:55pm. Here’s where things get indulgent. Passengers breeze through check-in at a private terminal in under 20 minutes. Once aboard the pet-friendly flight (!), you’ll indulge in Hawaii-inspired breakfast and lunch from Erewhon and sip from a top-shelf open bar. And before you can say “amenity kit,” theirs comes co-branded with spa-curated essentials and surprise touches.  But the experience doesn’t end when you land. Book this flight alongside a stay at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and unlock an arsenal of VIP upgrades like luxury tarmac-to-resort transfers, valet parking and car wash back in L.A., in-room upgrades (subject to availability)

There are few sights in South Florida that feel as enduring as neon-lit carnival rides spinning beside spaghetti stands or as comforting as sticky-sweet zeppole melting on your tongue. For 41 years, the St. Coleman Italian Festival was precisely that sort of tradition: a mid-February ritual that brought together families, friends and generations. Now, that chapter has come to a close. RECOMMENDED: The best Italian restaurants in Miami, the new Little Italy of America Since 1984, the Pompano Beach festival has been a fixture, evolving from a modest pasta dinner into one of Broward County’s most beloved family events, noted fest organizers in a farewell post on Facebook. Each year, it drew thousands of attendees for rides, raffles, live music and food, serving as both a fundraiser and cultural touchstone. The reason for the curtain call is pragmatic, if bittersweet. Rising costs for everything from rides to insurance, paired with dwindling numbers of volunteers, made it harder to deliver the festival at the scale and quality parishioners had come to expect. “Rather than raise prices or reduce the experience, we have chosen to close this chapter on a high note,” the statement explained. The note, while final, wasn’t devoid of optimism: “Though this tradition ends, the spirit of St. Coleman is alive and strong. Stay tuned for new events that will continue to bring us together.” For many, the news hit hard. Generations of locals grew up with the festival, and social media quick

Boston’s suburbs just had their big (but still subtle and tasteful!) moment in the spotlight. A new ranking from GOBankingRates of the “Safest and Richest U.S. Cities to Live in 2025” puts a full 10 Massachusetts towns on the list. And if Lexington and Winchester immediately came to mind, you're not alone: Those leafy enclaves landed at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. That's out of the entire country. (Western Springs, Illinois, took the top slot.) Filling out the rest of the top five spots are Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and Huntington Woods, Michigan. RECOMMENDED: These are the best places to live in Greater Boston, says new study Still, the Bay State’s showing is impressive. Along with Lexington, Winchester and Boston, other Massachusetts towns that made the cut include Wellesley (No. 19), Belmont (No. 26), Reading (No. 29), Sharon (No. 37), Hopkinton (No. 39), Newton (No. 40), Needham (No. 41) and Brookline (No. 48). Collectively, they underscore what locals already know: the Boston metro area is packed with communities that balance prosperity with livability, whether that looks like quiet, manicured streets or a short walk to the T. Boston can pat itself on the back for its suburbs' rankings; no New York City or Los Angeles communities made the top 50. (Actually, no cities in New York made the list at all; same with Florida.) So its presence is a testament to city life here. Sure, Boston's not as serenely safe as Lexington, but you’re not going to catch Lexington hosting th

When President Donald Trump recently labeled Chicago “the most dangerous city in the world,” complete with promises of deploying the National Guard, it felt less like the voice of a president and more like a storyline for cable news ratings. But behind the overheated headlines lies a more nuanced narrative, one where Chicago’s ravaged South and West sides stubbornly wrestle with gun violence, even as the broader city experiences one of its sharpest crime declines in years. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best things to do in Chicago right now Trump’s theatrics (calling the city a “murder capital” and threatening military intervention) paint Chicago as a spectacle of chaos. Yet the data tells a different story. In 2024, Chicago’s homicide rate of 17.5 per 100,000 lagged far behind several Republican-led cities, including Jackson, Memphis, St. Louis and Birmingham, according to an in-depth analysis by The Guardian. Fact-checking outfits and experts point out that violent crime has dropped significantly: Shootings are down about 38-percent, and homicides are down 32- percent in early 2025 compared to last year. It’s not that Chicago is without problems. The carnage of Labor Day weekend was a grim reminder, with eight killed and 50 wounded across 37 shootings. But Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson bristle at the notion of a militarized solution. Pritzker has been showing off South Side revitalization projects, including art studios, wine bars and other small bus