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

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

It would be nearly impossible (or at the very least, incredibly time-consuming) to visit all of the restaurants in the Lower East Side. Luckily, Taste of the Lower East Side brings all of our favorites together in one place, and they are doing it all for charity. On Wednesday, April 29, dozens of the neighborhood's best restaurants, bars and small businesses are coming together to serve the best food and drinks in town. Pile up a plate with bites and drinks from Beauty & Essex, Freemans, Mia's Cocina and more. It is all going down at the Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues). Tickets range from $300 for general admission and up, with proceeds going to  Grand St. Settlement.

Folks flock to this annual floral-filled exhibition at Macy’s Herald Square, where jaw-dropping arrangements are on display for two weeks. The theme for this year's installment is "Homegrown," part of the nationwide celebration of America's 250th birthday, "expressed through flowers, fiber and timeless handicrafts," per Macy's. From Thursday, April 23 through Sunday, May 10, explore greenhouse-inspired installations, breathtaking bloom-filled planters, decorative stained-glass garden panels, sculptural fabric birds, yarn-wrapped trees and more in the immersive spring spectacle. 

Immerse yourself in the cultural delights of the Jewish, Chinese and Puerto Rican communities of Chinatown and the Lower East Side at the 25th annual block party on June 21. While performers and klezmer bands take the outdoor stage, you can catch free language lessons, master your mah-jongg game, and, best of all, learn how to prepare empanadas, Chinese dumplings and kreplach and challah bread. Endless grub will be available for sale, and since this is the first time in 15 years the fest won't receive funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, your support means more than ever.

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.

A Current Affair returns to Brooklyn with 70 premier vintage retailers on April 11 and April 12, offering thrifters access to some of the best deals around, not to mention rare and collectible designer vintage. Come out to the Industry City location in Brooklyn at 51 34th St. on Saturday and Sunday, and browse clothes, bags, accessories, jewelry and more. General admission is $21.88, but early-bird and weekend passes are also available at higher price points.

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.

The inaugural Downtown NYC JazzFest brings five nights of live music to Lower Manhattan from April 22–26, taking over The Django, Roxy Bar and Club Room at Soho Grand. Expect a mix of rising talent and marquee acts, including Shayna Steele, Mark G. Meadows and Brian Newman, all celebrating downtown’s long-standing jazz legacy, where tradition meets experimentation in some of the city’s most atmospheric spaces. Tickets vary in price based on venue, from free Saturday and Sunday afternoon sets at Roxy Bar to $40 performances at The Django.

Ian Schrager's signature brand of impossibly chic hospitality is finally returning to Los Angeles with sprawling new hotel PUBLIC West Hollywood, which looks less like a place to stay and more like a fully realized fantasy of California luxury. Photograph: Courtesy Ian Schrager CompanyPUBLIC West Hollywood RECOMMENDED: New York staple PUBLIC Hotel to open in L.A. this spring—courtesy of Ian Schrager The property will feature 137 rooms, a rooftop “private park,” a theatrical nightclub space and enough custom marble, teak and velvet to make even longtime Angelenos do a double take. Photograph : Courtesy Ian Schrager CompanyPUBLIC West Hollywood Designed by architects John Pawson and Alan Bell, with interior design by François Champsaur, Aurore Rouillay and the ISC Design Studio, the hotel leans hard into Schrager’s trademark blend of cinematic glamour and residential comfort. Guests will enter through a dramatically lit ficus hedge and cypress-lined drive before stepping into a gleaming white lobby with reflective “gallery floors,” Venetian plaster walls and commissioned artwork by German artist Anselm Reyle. Elsewhere, the design references range from Yves Klein blue pools and Juan Miró-inspired color palettes to La Colombe d’Or in the South of France. Photograph: Courtesy Ian Schrager CompanyPUBLIC West Hollywood And yes, there’s a rooftop park. Spanning three-quarters of an acre, the roof will include fire pits, picnic tables, swing sets, a running track, outdoor gym,

After a seven-year hiatus, the famously chic Dîner en Blanc is returning to Los Angeles this summer, bringing thousands of guests dressed head-to-toe in white to a secret location for an elaborate, open-air dinner party. The French-inspired pop-up picnic will take place on Saturday, August 1, at an undisclosed L.A. landmark, where more than 1,500 attendees are expected to dine, drink and dance beneath the stars. Like every edition of the event, the exact location won’t be revealed until guests arrive. RECOMMENDED: Dîner en Blanc 2016 took over Downtown L.A. in a sea of white Founded in Paris and now held in more than 120 cities worldwide, Dîner en Blanc has evolved into one of the globe’s most recognizable culinary-social spectacles. Guests provide nearly everything themselves: folding tables, white chairs, white tablecloths, china, stemware and carefully packed gourmet meals. The visual payoff is part elegant banquet, part performance art installation. This year’s Los Angeles edition adopts the theme “Une Soirée Parisienne – La Belle Époque,” inspired by the lavish Parisian fashion, art and café culture at the turn of the 20th century. Organizers are encouraging attendees to lean into the drama with feathered hats, tailored white suits, elaborate headpieces and other theatrical flourishes. “Los Angeles is a city known for its creativity, style, and energy, and we are excited to bring Dîner en Blanc back in a way that feels both elegant and uniquely LA,” local hosts Monica Ca

Miami’s Michelin-starred sushi scene is getting a more casual sibling with the arrival of STAND., a Japanese cafe and daytime eatery opening June 4 in Coral Gables. RECOMMENDED: Shingo is an Understated Coral Gables Omakase Created by Chef Shingo Akikuni and partner Kenzie Motai—the duo behind Michelin-starred SHINGO—the 24-seat concept channels the quiet charm of Tokyo kissaten cafes while serving polished takes on Japanese convenience store staples. By day, expect matcha, specialty coffee, pastries, sandos and bento boxes; by night, the space will transform into an intimate izakaya with sake, small plates and moodier vibes. Photograph: Salar AbduazizSTAND. Located at 98 Miracle Mile, STAND.'s menu centers on house-baked milk bread prepared fresh daily by Chef de Cuisine Lania Andrade, formerly the pastry chef at SHINGO. The breads become the foundation for Japanese-style egg salad sandos, chicken katsu sandwiches layered with kewpie mayo and tonkatsu sauce, and thick-cut toast topped with everything from cheesy miso caramel and jammy eggs to brûléed sweet potato and honey. The breakfast lineup also includes rotating shio pan flavors—pillowy Japanese rolls filled with cream, chocolate, curry or sausage—while lunch bento options pair proteins like karaage, salmon and yakiniku beef with rice, miso soup and seasonal sides. Photograph: Salar AbduazizSTAND. “STAND. is really a reflection of how Shingo and I grew up and the places that stayed with us,” Motai said in a statemen

I love Los Angeles in the way only someone who spent 22 years living in New York City can. That is to say, wholeheartedly and unabashedly. So any excuse to see new corners of my adopted city is a welcome one—particularly when it comes with a side of chitchat about one of my favorite ongoing series, the Netflix hit Nobody Wants This.  Erin Foster’s semi-autobiographical rom-com, starring Kristen Bell as Joanne, an agnostic podcaster, and Adam Brody as hunky rabbi Noah, has wisely made L.A. into a supporting character, highlighting aspects of the city that locals have long loved but don’t typically get much screentime. And On Location Tours is now taking advantage of the series’ locations for super fans to explore the places where Joanne and Noah kiss, quarrel, make up and make us laugh. Photograph: Mark PeikertWilshire Boulevard Temple The tour begins outside of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown, the stand-in for Noah’s synagogue. Though participants aren't allowed in (security is tight these days, for obvious reasons), brilliant and hilarious tour guide Rachel, the creator of the experience, explains that the temple was built as part of a 1920s push to make Wilshire Boulevard into a major destination, one partially funded by Warner Brothers, which resulted in interior murals from L.A. muralist Hugo Ballin.  Next stop is a pocket park a mile or so away, which requires a brief pause for photos while Rachel explains where in the series it made an appearance. Being an

"The Black Mirror Experience," a new immersive attraction inspired by Charlie Brooker's hit dystopian anthology series, will make its U.S. debut at The Shed on June 20. Running through September 6, the limited-engagement experience promises to place visitors directly inside an original story set within the Black Mirror universe—complete with artificial intelligence, virtual reality and the creeping sense that something has gone terribly wrong. That is, of course, a universe distinct from the dystopian one in which we currently reside. RECOMMENDED: I tried NYC's new barefoot immersive theater show 'Viola's Room,' and it was unsettlingly awesome Unlike many TV-inspired attractions, this isn't a recreation of a favorite episode. Instead, producers have created an entirely new narrative designed specifically for the immersive format. Guests are invited to the grand opening of a showroom belonging to Phaethon, a powerful technology company preparing to unveil LifeAgent, a humanoid robot built to streamline your life, anticipate your needs and help you become your "best self." Naturally, things don't stay perfect for long. Photograph: Courtesy The Black Mirror ExperienceThe Black Mirror Experience The 60-minute experience combines physical sets with free-roaming virtual reality technology, allowing groups of up to six participants to move through the story together as its central characters. No prior knowledge of Black Mirror is required, though longtime fans will recognize the s

Brooklyn’s controversial $11 million skate park has cleared a major hurdle. After two years of heated debate, packed public meetings and competing petitions, the proposed Brooklyn Skate Garden at Mount Prospect Park received a major green light when the Brooklyn Community Board 8 voted to approve the $11 million project, moving forward plans for a new skate-focused recreation space between Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Museum. The vote marks one of the biggest milestones yet for a proposal that has divided neighbors while energizing the borough's skateboarding community. The project, backed by The Skatepark Project—the nonprofit founded by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk—was originally envisioned as a roughly 40,000-square-foot facility. Following community feedback and opposition from some local residents, the design was cut by more than half and now calls for a 19,500-square-foot skate garden integrated into the existing park landscape. Supporters say the project will fill a longstanding gap in Central Brooklyn's recreational infrastructure. Plans include spaces for skateboarding, BMX riding, roller skating and inline skating, alongside new landscaping, pathways and seating areas designed for non-skaters as well. The city says the project will add 19 new trees, native plantings, upgraded walkways, drainage improvements, drinking fountains and benches. “This is a defining moment,” Brooklyn Skate Garden executive director Loren Michelle told BKReader following the vote, de

It’s hard to believe, but despite decades of TV dominance, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has never appeared on Broadway. That changes this fall. The Veep and Seinfeld Emmy winner will make her Broadway debut in the first Broadway revival of Jon Robin Baitz’s acclaimed family drama Other Desert Cities, boasting a cast that already looks like an awards-season fantasy draft: Ed Harris, Allison Janney, Lily Rabe and Joe Keery. The production will begin previews on September 29 at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre ahead of an October 18 opening night. The limited engagement is currently scheduled to run through January 17, 2027. Tony winner John Benjamin Hickey will direct. RECOMMENDED: Time Out's review of the original Broadway production of Other Desert Cities Originally premiering Off Broadway in 2011 before transferring to Broadway later that year, Other Desert Cities centers on a politically connected Palm Springs family whose carefully maintained façade begins to crack when a daughter returns home with a memoir that threatens to expose long-buried family secrets. The original production earned five Tony Award nominations and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama; Judith Light took home the Tony for her performance. Louis-Dreyfus will play Polly, the family's matriarch, married to Lyman (Harris). Janney will play Polly’s sister Silda, the role that won Light a Tony Award, while Rabe portrays Polly and Lyman's daughter, Brooke, and Stranger Things star Keery will make his own Broadway

For nearly four decades, theatergoers have flocked to the Hudson Valley for open-air Shakespeare performances with sweeping views of the Hudson River. Now, that beloved summer tradition has a permanent new home—and it's an architectural showpiece. RECOMMENDED: This gorgeous new theater will soon open in the Hudson Valley Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center, the new headquarters for Hudson Valley Shakespeare, has officially completed construction and is welcoming audiences for its inaugural season in Garrison, about 60 miles north of New York City. The six-year project gives the acclaimed company its first permanent home after years of operating from seasonal tents and temporary structures. Photograph: Jason O'RearSamuel H. Scripps Theater Center at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Designed by renowned architecture firm Studio Gang, the 14,850-square-foot venue sits on a 98-acre campus overlooking the Hudson Highlands. The theater's curved mass-timber structure was designed to blend into the surrounding landscape while preserving the company's signature connection between performance and nature. The project comes with a notable distinction: Hudson Valley Shakespeare says the building is the first public purpose-built LEED Platinum theater in the United States, setting a new benchmark for sustainable performing arts venues. The broader campus includes restored meadows, walking paths and ecological conservation efforts developed alongside landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz. Photogr

When you're shelling out for admission tickets, battling crowds and spending hours getting somewhere, there's one question every traveler eventually asks (if they dare): was it worth it? According to a new analysis of nearly 3 million online travel reviews, there is only one American destination that received an affirmative answer: Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. RECOMMENDED: Remote land art masterpieces worth the journey across the U.S. The iconic tribal park, known for its towering sandstone buttes rising from the desert along the Arizona-Utah border, was the only U.S. attraction to crack the global top 20 in a new ranking from InsureandGo. Researchers analyzed review language for some of the world's most famous, expensive and difficult-to-reach destinations, tracking how often travelers explicitly described their visit as "worth it." Monument Valley landed at No. 20 worldwide, making it America's sole representative among the attractions visitors most frequently felt justified the effort, cost and travel time. The study found that 12 percent of reviews used the phrase "worth it" when describing a visit. The full methodology and rankings are available in the report. If you've ever driven through Monument Valley, the result probably won't come as a surprise. The landscape has served as the backdrop for countless Westerns, road-trip movies and advertising campaigns, yet visitors routinely describe being stunned by its scale in person. Operated by the Navajo Nation Parks a

For the first time ever, New Yorkers can step inside the workshop where some of the most beloved puppet characters in entertainment history are brought to life. The legendary Jim Henson’s Creature Shop in Long Island City has opened its doors for weekly public tours, giving fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at the studio responsible for characters from The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal and countless other productions. The 80-minute guided tours take place every Saturday and cost $150 per person. RECOMMENDED: Check out the design proposals for a new monument in Queens that will honor jazz icon Billie Holiday The experience goes far beyond a simple walk-through. Visitors can pose for photos with iconic characters and props, watch live puppetry demonstrations performed by Henson puppeteers, meet one of the shop’s professional puppet builders and explore portions of the working studio where artists continue to create characters for film, television and theater. Founded by the late puppetry pioneer Jim Henson in the 1960s, the Creature Shop has spent decades building some of the world's most recognizable puppets and creatures. Today, its artists still work on projects ranging from Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock to Five Nights at Freddy’s and even an all-puppet episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Recent visitors have described the experience as “magical,” with highlights including photo ops inside Oscar the Grouch’s trash can, a chance to sit on

Rachel Zegler’s reign as Eva Perón isn’t ending in London. The Olivier Award-winning star will reprise her performance in director Jamie Lloyd’s buzzy revival of Evita when the production transfers to Broadway in spring 2027, producers announced. And, this being a Lloyd revival, there will be blood at curtain call. The revival, which played a sold-out engagement at London’s Palladium, became one of the most talked-about theater events of the year thanks to its stripped-down staging and Zegler’s acclaimed turn as Argentina’s former first lady. The production earned multiple Olivier Awards, including Best Actress in a Musical for Zegler. RECOMMENDED: Ben Platt and Rachel Zegler will star in a special anniversary production of ‘The Last Five Years’ at Radio City Music Hall in April Broadway audiences will get to see Lloyd’s take on the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical—which features songs like “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” and “Rainbow High”—at the Winter Garden beginning February 27, 2027, with opening night scheduled for March 25.  One thing that likely won’t be making the trip across the Atlantic? The London production’s headline-grabbing balcony staging of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” which had Zegler performing outdoors to crowds gathered on the street while theatergoers watched from inside. Lloyd Webber has previously said that a Broadway run would not include that particular moment, as "something awful could happen" in New York City.  Written by Tim Rice and A

Forget a tiger in the sack. This year, you definitely want a Lion in the Bedroom. That's the package currently on offer for book lovers at Andaz Fifth Avenue. Located directly across the street from the New York Public Library, the midtown hotel has launched a literary-themed staycation package that gives guests special access to one of New York’s most beloved cultural institutions. The offer includes an overnight stay at the hotel, library-inspired amenities and a behind-the-scenes experience connected to the NYPL. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andaz 5th Avenue (@andaz5th) The pairing feels particularly apt. The hotel has long leaned into its proximity to the library, even maintaining a “Library Nook” in its lobby lounge stocked with books curated by the library’s staff. Some guestrooms look directly onto the Beaux-Arts landmark and its famous lion statues, Patience and Fortitude. RECOMMENDED: This NYC library was just ranked the most beautiful in all of America Now, Andaz Fifth Avenue is taking things a step further by offering guests who book the package a selection of three in-room titles culled from the library's Best Books list, as well as a NYPL tote bag in which to carry them around the city.  Located at 41st Street and Fifth Avenue, the hotel occupies the historic Rogers Peet Building and offers loft-like rooms with soaring ceilings, a rarity in Midtown Manhattan. The property is also steps from Grand Central, Times Square and Bryan