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

John Mulaney—our hometown boy—will make history this summer by headlining Wrigley Field as part of his Mister Whatever tour. This landmark performance marks the first comedy show ever hosted at the Friendly Confines. Given that Mulaney’s tour already includes venues with capacities ranging from a few hundred to nearly 20,000, announcing a 41,000-seat show in Chicago is a bold leap. But that ambition aligns with his reputation for smart comedy, making the moment feel like a kind of homecoming and a statement.

Ariana Grande will finally tour again next year, and fans in Los Angeles are in for something special: The Oscar-nominated Wicked star is bringing her Eternal Sunshine Tour to L.A. for five nights of arena magic—split between the Crypto.com Arena and Kia Forum—that promise to feel both intimate and gigantic.  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 five-night run that feels like a homecoming. Is it too early to call it the highlight of the summer?

The good news is that Monday, February 16, saw the heaviest expected rainfall in Los Angeles (RIP to your long weekend plans). But that doesn't mean we're set for clear skies just yet. Monday's storm was just the first of three expected to slam Southern California this week, with the second one rolling in Tuesday evening, bringing with it yet more threats of flooding, especially for communities still recovering from recent wildfires. RECOMMENDED: Wish you could’ve set sail on the Queen Mary? This ship is the closest thing According to local forecasts, expect a 100-percent chance of rain during the night of February 17, with half an inch expected. Additional rainfall is expected to follow through midweek, extending the risk window and potentially worsening travel conditions across major routes and mountain passes. A third storm is expected Wednesday night and continuing into Thursday morning. Evacuation warnings for properties near the burn areas were officially lifted at 9am, February 17.  The storms are part of a broader pattern of unusually hazardous winter weather hitting the region, with forecasters warning of flash flooding, strong winds and even isolated severe weather risks. Some areas have already seen significant flooding as the first systems moved in. Monday's storm flooded stretches of the 101 Freeway and forced water into storefronts along Melrose Avenue, per CBS News, leaving some Los Angeles businesses dealing with damaged merchandise and cleanup. Some business

Here's a surprisingly simple strategy for saving money on travel in 2026: wait until the end of the workweek to book. Fresh data shared by Expedia with Travel + Leisure highlights Friday as the most cost-effective day to purchase airline tickets. The shift is largely tied to changing business travel habits, with fewer corporate travelers booking at the end of the week, leaving more lower-priced inventory available. In a world where airfare pricing can feel unpredictable, that kind of pattern is both rare and useful. RECOMMENDED: Time Out editors on where you should travel in 2026 While Friday is currently the most strategic booking day, midweek departures remain the sweet spot for lower fares. Domestic flights departing on Tuesdays average about 14-percent cheaper than Sunday departures, while even Friday departures can be up to 8-percent cheaper than Sunday. There are also specific calendar dates where fares are expected to drop more aggressively because airlines anticipate lighter passenger loads. Among the lowest-demand travel dates flagged in the data are February 25, March 4 and November 18, when airlines historically lower prices to fill empty seats. (As for the busiest dates, try to avoid May 22, July 3 and August 29 if you can.) Industry analysts stress that these low-traffic travel windows can yield deeper discounts than focusing solely on booking-day patterns. Still, airfare strategy isn’t static, and travel experts consistently warn against relying on a single “bes

Luxury travel’s most influential rating system just gave five Miami-area hotels its highest, five-star honor, once more proving that the city is a top destination when it comes to luxe, high-end stays.RECOMMENDED: The 15 best hotels in Miami, from gorgeous boutique properties to luxurious resorts The newly released 2026 Star Awards from Forbes Travel Guide (a.k.a. the global gold standard for luxury hospitality rankings) awarded five-star hotel status to five properties across Miami and Miami Beach. Undercover inspectors evaluate hotels using hundreds of criteria, with a heavy focus on service, experience and consistency. Five-star ratings are reserved only for properties delivering what the guide calls outstanding, customizable and consistently exceptional service across every touchpoint of the guest experience, from arrival through departure.This year’s Miami-area five-star hotel winners are: Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach, Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, The Setai Miami Beach and The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. Together, they represent a cross-section of the region’s ultra-luxury offerings, from historic oceanfront glamour to modern high-rise sophistication.The concentration of top-tier properties reflects Miami’s evolution into a global luxury hub, where hospitality brands compete not just on design and amenities, but increasingly on deeply personalized guest experiences that prompt repeat returns. High-touch service, curated di

For years, cities like Austin, Atlanta and Las Vegas have been seen as must-visit hubs for live music lovers. But new data suggests that some of America’s loudest “music capitals” may be the worst places to book an event ticket. RECOMMENDED: Ariana Grande 2026 tour sold out in minutes—here’s how to still get tickets According to Wiingy's analysis of average concert ticket prices across 20 major U.S. cities, there's a surprising twist: Midwestern cities now offer the best value for music travelers, while several Southern and Sun Belt destinations come with significantly higher price tags.  At the top of the affordability ranking is Cleveland, which emerges as the cheapest city for concertgoers, with an average ticket price of $68. That figure is nearly half the cost of attending a show in Las Vegas, where average ticket prices climb to $140, making it the most expensive city in the study. For travelers who plan trips around tours rather than tourist attractions, that difference can quickly add up, especially after factoring in hotels, flights and food. The Midwest ranks as the most affordable region overall, with an average ticket price of $88. Cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh outperform more traditional music destinations, offering access to major tours at prices that make weekend trips far more feasible. By contrast, the South ranks as the priciest region, averaging $113 per ticket. One of the most unexpected findings is New York City’s ranking as the fifth-cheapest city

Art lovers in Boston have a fresh reason to look up. "Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition," a touring show recreating the Renaissance master’s most famous frescoes at full scale, is now open at CambridgeSide, offering visitors a chance to experience the iconic works without boarding a flight to Rome. RECOMMENDED: Boston officially named a must-visit food destination for 2026 A global sensation, the exhibition's Boston stop is a limited run expected to draw both art devotees and casual culture seekers. Organizers say the experience is designed to bring viewers closer to the artwork than is possible inside the Vatican, where crowds and strict viewing rules limit how long guests spend with the paintings. Photograph: Courtesy of Sistine Chapel Exhibit Using licensed, high-resolution photography and advanced printing techniques, the exhibition reproduces all 34 of Michelangelo’s ceiling and altar masterpieces in vivid detail, including "The Creation of Adam" and "The Last Judgment." Even better: These are all at eye level, letting you more closely zero in on the brushwork, color and composition. The exhibit also removes traditional museum barriers, letting guests photograph the artwork and move through the space at their own pace, creating a more accessible experience. Touring exhibitions like this have surged in popularity in recent years, offering museum-style experiences in more casual, accessible environments. For Boston’s winter arts calendar, the show adds a blo

The spectacular, decadent world of Moulin Rouge! is heading to Miami, bringing one of Broadway’s most lavish modern musicals to the Adrienne Arsht Center for a limited spring run. The touring production will play the Ziff Ballet Opera House from March 17 through March 22 as part of the Broadway in Miami season. If you like your theater big, bold and dripping in sex and powerhouse vocals, this is as maximalist as it gets. Adapted from Baz Luhrmann’s beloved 2001 film by John Logan and originally directed by Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical transforms the theater into a Parisian nightclub fueled by pop music mashups, high-voltage dance and pure visual overload. The Miami stop marks the city’s official premiere of the musical, which first opened on Broadway in 2019 and won 10 Tony Awards. And audiences also get a hometown connection: The touring cast includes South Florida–raised performer Danny Burgos, who appears as Santiago. RECOMMENDED: Broadway hit 'Moulin Rouge!' is officially closing for good after 7 years on stage As Adam Feldman wrote in his 2019 review of the Broadway premiere, "It’s a very fancy heart-shaped box of Valentine’s Day chocolates, and though you know exactly what you’re going to get, each bite is still a little surprise: sometimes gooey, sometimes nutty, sometimes fruity, sometimes sweet, sometimes stale but mostly delicious. And if it’s any consolation to the haters, Moulin Rouge! may turn out to be the jukebox musical to end all jukebox musicals—

Miami-Dade is currently under a water shortage warning, part of a wider drought situation affecting much of South Florida. Officials say lower rainfall combined with higher-than-normal water use (you know who you are) has put pressure on the region’s main drinking water source, prompting authorities to urge residents to voluntarily cut back before stricter measures become necessary. The warning is meant as an early signal and not a crisis, but it does indicate real stress on the system as the dry season continues. RECOMMENDED: The best cheap eats in Miami for a budget-friendly meal out What is a water shortage warning? A water shortage warning is essentially a heads-up that water supplies are under strain and conservation is needed to avoid mandatory restrictions later. The South Florida Water Management District issued it in Miami-Dade due to drought conditions and increased demand, which have lowered water levels in the Biscayne Aquifer, the main drinking water source for millions of people in the region. Right now, there are no mandatory restrictions, but officials say those could happen if conditions worsen. When is it in effect until? There isn’t a fixed end date. The warning stays in place until rainfall and water levels recover enough to stabilize supply. South Florida’s dry season typically runs from winter through late spring, meaning conservation could be encouraged for months if rainfall stays low. Are we running out of water? No, but supplies are under pressure. O

Chicago’s hotel scene just scored another major bragging right. According to the newly released U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Hotels rankings, one of the city’s most luxurious local properties has officially been named the third best hotel in the United States, placing Chicago alongside perennial luxury heavyweights in Hawaii and New York. RECOMMENDED: Chicago travel guide: 27 tips every first-time visitor needs to know The Langham, Chicago, now sits just behind the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii, which took the top spot for the second year in a row, and Four Seasons Resort Lanai, which ranked number two. The Langham outranked major coastal competitors, including Mandarin Oriental, New York (number four) and Mandarin Oriental, Boston (number five), underscoring Chicago’s growing reputation as a luxury travel destination.  The annual rankings are no small undertaking. U.S. News evaluated more than 31,000 hotels across more than 400 destinations worldwide, combining expert travel reviews, hotel star ratings, and aggregated guest satisfaction scores to determine its results. The goal, according to the publication, is to help travelers identify standout properties delivering consistently exceptional experiences.  The Langham’s ranking reflects strong traveler feedback and continued demand for luxury stays in Chicago's downtown core, particularly along the Chicago River. The recognition also signals that Chicago can compete with resort-driven destinations typically do

Save the rideshare money this Valentine's Day when you elope to Las Vegas, because you don't even have to leave the airport. Officials in the self-proclaimed Wedding Capital of the World have opened a pop-up marriage license bureau inside Harry Reid International Airport, timed to handle a surge of couples heading to Vegas for Valentine’s Day (and other numerically satisfying February wedding dates). RECOMMENDED: These are the best places to get married in the U.S. based on cost-effectiveness The temporary bureau runs through February 16, right through Presidents Day weekend, and is located in Terminal 1 baggage claim across from carousel 15. It’s open daily from 8am to 5pm and offers both marriage licenses and vow renewal certificates. Normally, couples need to make the roughly eight-mile trip from the airport to the downtown Clark County Marriage License Bureau before they can legally marry at a chapel, resort or drive-through venue. The airport pop-up essentially removes that step, letting couples handle paperwork before they even leave the terminal. Timing-wise, the initiative is no accident. Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, which officials expect will create a particularly busy wedding window. February has effectively been treated as “Wedding Month” in Las Vegas for years, with Valentine’s Day historically ranking among the most popular ceremony dates in the city.  And it’s not just Valentine’s Day driving interest. So-called “magic dates” like 2/6/26 and 2

Florida is basically synonymous with spring break, and now we have the data to back it up. According to a new study, South Florida isn’t just trending; it’s the reason for the season's travel across the country.  RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Miami for locals and tourists A new report from Spirit Airlines found that multiple South Florida destinations are topping the list of the most searched beach getaways for 2026 spring travel. No surprise, Fort Lauderdale ranks No. 1 overall among the airline’s most searched spring break beach destinations, while Miami came in at No. 3, putting South Florida firmly at the center of the warm-weather travel boom. The rankings are based on searches on Spirit’s website between early January and early February 2026 for trips planned between early March and late April.  The full top 10 list reads like a sun-chaser fantasy, and who can blame anyone when this winter has been so brutal? But while San Juan and Punta Cana make the list, it looks like travelers are prioritizing easy domestic beach access. There’s a pretty obvious reason why. As Spirit’s chief commercial officer put it, spring break is all about “soaking up the sun,” especially after a cold winter. And with budget carriers expanding routes and pricing competition staying fierce, Florida’s combination of warm weather, nightlife and relatively easy flight access is tough to beat. For Miami specifically, the ranking tracks with what locals already know. The city offers the rare s

California has officially cracked America’s dating elite, ranking among the top handful of states for singles in WalletHub’s latest Best States for Singles report—and if you’ve ever flirted in line at Erewhon or accidentally locked eyes with someone during sunset at Runyon, you probably won’t be shocked. RECOMMENDED: The best first date ideas in L.A. The study ranked California at number four, scoring especially high for dating opportunities and romance-and-fun factors. WalletHub looked at nearly 30 metrics, including how many single adults are in the state, how easy it is to meet people and—crucially—how many things there are to do once you actually land a date. In California’s case, the answer is basically: everything. For Los Angeles, that can be a choose-your-own-rom-com. First date coffee in Los Feliz? Sure. Second date dumplings in the SGV? Obviously. Third date hike that turns into tacos that turns into live music in Highland Park? You’re basically contractually obligated. The report specifically points to California’s massive number of restaurants, movie theaters, music festivals, amusement parks and nature parks per capita, all of which are serving main-character energy for anyone trying to meet someone.  There’s also a vibe component that feels very L.A. WalletHub notes California ranks relatively high in measures tied to emotional openness and relationship readiness. Translation: yes, ghosting exists, but so do therapy-informed communication skills and people who k

Nearly half of American adults are single. But as many singletons know, some cities are built better than others for being single and loving it. Turns out, the best shot at enjoying dating might be a move to Florida. (We were also surprised.) According to WalletHub’s latest Best States for Singles study, the Sunshine State ranks number one in the country, beating out New York, California, Texas and Illinois thanks to a potent mix of dating opportunities, entertainment options and economic momentum. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Miami to book right now The ranking is based on nearly 30 indicators of dating friendliness, from the number of single adults to restaurant density and entertainment options. Florida earned a total score of 68.21, landing near the top nationally in dating opportunities and “romance and fun,” even if it landed mid-pack for dating economics. WalletHub notes that Florida residents search for dating sites and terms like “online dating” more than most states, suggesting a population that’s actively looking for connection. Combine that with strong job growth, and you get a place where singles are both socially and economically positioned to date. So what does that mean for Miami? Pretty much exactly what you’d expect: If Florida is the best state for singles, Miami is one of its most dynamic playgrounds. And a big part of Florida’s appeal comes down to the sheer volume of things to do, from amusement parks and music festivals to fitness centers and p