Michael Stickle

Marilyn Monroe would have turned 100 this year — a milestone that feels almost impossible for someone whose image has remained permanently embedded in global culture. A century later, the world still instantly recognizes the platinum hair, the camera flashes, the glamour, the mythology. But Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon asks a more interesting question: who was the woman behind the image, and how intentionally did she create it? Opening June 2 through August 2 at Genesis House in the Meatpacking District, the immersive exhibition reframes Monroe not simply as a Hollywood icon, but as a woman of intelligence, ambition, discipline and continual reinvention. Through rewritten headlines, immersive cinematic environments, and archival storytelling and the experience reveals Marilyn as a strategist, reader, businesswoman and architect of her own becoming. Rather than treating Monroe as a figure frozen in nostalgia, the installation connects her story to broader themes of self-creation, transformation, authorship and new beginnings.  For decades, Monroe’s public narrative was often reduced to surface-level shorthand: the blonde bombshell, the movie star. Manifesting Marilyn intentionally moves beyond those familiar interpretations. The exhibition explores the discipline behind the glamour, the intellect behind the fame and the woman who deliberately shaped her own identity within a culture determined to define her for her. Visitors move through a series of immersive spa

We New Yorkers have our routines. Same daily route, same bodega, same train, same shoes you keep meaning to replace. For the city’s marathoners, though, the routine just adds a few more miles (a lot more, honestly) and a deeper relationship with whatever stretch of pavement they’ve claimed as their own. Ahead of race day in November, we caught up with three New Yorkers training in the Skechers AERO Series: two in the AERO Razor and one in the AERO Burst. They live in different neighborhoods, run at different paces and arrived at 26.2 by very different paths. What they share is a clear-eyed take on what the work needs to include to cross the finish line. Marathon training comes with a lot of variables: pace, mileage, fuel, sleep, weather, the route… The shoe, however, is the one most runners stop being casual about. It does the work for hundreds of miles before it ever reaches a start line. While their training styles differ, all three runners found a perfect fit within the Skechers AERO Series. Photograph: Paul QuitorianoJerry Francois in Skechers AERO Razor Jerry Francois, Brooklyn — Skechers AERO Razor Jerry Francois has run thirteen marathons. Or fourteen. He keeps losing track. “I always forget the count,” he says. “It feels like my life is a marathon. Physically, mentally, spiritually.” Photograph: Paul QuitorianoJerry Francois in Skechers AERO Razor A Brooklyn native, full-time running coach and father to a nearly six-year-old who has already logged his first three

The 4th of July is almost here, and on America’s 250th birthday, the city will feel bigger, louder and more alive than ever. As crowds from every corner of the country fill the streets and line the waterfronts, the best way to take it all in is 1,100 feet in the air. At SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the cityscape, plus an incredible view of the massive fireworks show if you visit for the celebration on July 4 for “Red, White and Views.” SUMMIT will be hosting a special 4th of July event with a festive live band, specialty food and beverages, and an unforgettable experience for all ages.    Photograph: Courtesy of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt With three floors of mirrored rooms, glass sky boxes and open-air terraces, SUMMIT is your must-visit summer destination. Rise 12 stories above the 93rd floor on Ascent, the world's largest all-glass exterior elevator, for a 180-degree view that feels closer to flying than standing still. You can also step into Levitation, the transparent sky boxes that hover over Madison Avenue for a jaw-dropping view. If you're looking for the place to be in New York City before, during or after the fireworks, we’ll see you 1,100 feet up at SUMMIT. Explore infinite reflections in Transcendence Photo courtesy of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt After you ride 91 floors to the top floor of SUMMIT in less than 43 seconds, you will enter Transcendence, a two-story room covered in thirty thousand square feet of mirrors. Standing in the room i

The FIFA World Cup is descending on North America this summer, and for the next eight weeks, daily life will be subtly reorganized around kickoff times. Lunch breaks will stretch to accommodate group-stage matches. Calendars will be checked against tournament brackets. Otherwise reasonable people will become passionately invested in the fortunes of nations they couldn’t have placed on a map a month earlier. This is the gravitational pull of the World Cup. It doesn’t come cheap on the logistics front, either. Tickets are selling fast, travel is a puzzle and the watch-party economy of snacks, drinks and last-minute grocery runs has a way of adding up. That’s where DoorDash comes in. As an Official Tournament Supporter, they’re rolling out Summer of DashPass, an eight-week run of perks designed to drop DashPass members into the heart of the action, whether that’s the stadium tunnel or a couch in front of a large screen. One more thing worth knowing: before June 10, DashPass members can pick the team they think will lift the trophy. Place an order to lock it in, and if your team wins, you’ll split $5 million in DoorDash credits with everyone else who called it. The activation is sprawling, so we’ve done the work of distilling it. Here are five ways DashPass is making this tournament more rewarding for fans, casuals and the newly converted alike. Photograph by Dustin Satloff/Getty ImagesA general view of MetLife Stadium ahead of the 2026 World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium o

Rioja sits in northern Spain, tucked just below Bilbao and the Basque coast, where the Ebro River cuts through a patchwork of valleys, sierras and Mediterranean pockets that no other wine region quite replicates. Three subzones, Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental, span seven river valleys, each with its own microclimate. The result is a region that produces extraordinary range from a small footprint: vibrant whites, top quality aged reds, sparkling wines, rosés and the structured reds that built Rioja’s global name. What sets Rioja apart now is how seriously it takes the next chapter. Nearly 600 wineries operate in the region, and they’re moving fast on sustainability, with a sustainability council within the Consejo Regulador pushing organic certification, water and energy efficiency and lower emissions across the region. New classifications like single-vineyard and single-village wines have given winemakers sharper tools to express terroir. Younger winemakers are working with the region’s 14 official grape varieties in ways that would have been unthinkable a generation ago, including fresher styles, lighter extractions and whites that are starting to draw as much attention as the reds. Every bottle is grown, aged and sealed inside its home winery, traceable from vine to cork. That kind of rigor is why Rioja has long been a trusted pour, and why it keeps showing up on the lists of sommeliers who care about where a wine comes from. It's a region that earned its rep

There’s something about Portugal that is simply the very definition of magnificent—it’s full of majestic history, exquisite landscapes and truly outstanding food and wine. Whether it’s long been on your travel wish list, or you’ve been several times and can’t wait to go back, you’re in luck because TAP Air Portugal is making it possible to add free stops in Porto or Lisbon to your itinerary through Portugal Stopover, which now gives travelers to European destinations opportunities to spend up to 10 days in two of Europe’s most alluring and historic cities. Porto and Lisbon are ideally located among TAP’s 80+ destinations in Europe, Africa and the Americas, making for rich opportunities to break up a long trip between, say, Boston and Paris, or Miami and  Barcelona. Both Porto and Lisbon are beloved coastal outposts that offer unique encounters. In Porto, you’ll indulge in a paradise of food, wine and relaxed sightseeing in a town that feels small even though it’s Portugal’s second-biggest city. While in capital city Lisbon, you’ll have a more traditionally metropolitan experience – though its storied hills and lingering medieval history combine to give it a quaintness not typically found in modern urban centers. And if you can’t decide between the two (or want to visit another magnificent part of Portugal), TAP is offering travelers a second stopover in Portugal at a 25% discounted price. In addition to Lisbon and Porto, you can explore Portugal’s stunningly diverse culture

Este verano, millones de viajeros están planeando aventuras transfronterizas que incluyen días de partidos, viajes por carretera y escapadas de fin de semana por Estados Unidos, México y Canadá. Ya sea que esté planeando ver un partido en vivo, explorar la naturaleza, probar la gastronomía local o pasar el verano de 2026 descubriendo su nueva ciudad favorita, mantenerse conectado es clave para aprovechar cada momento al máximo (y mantener informados a quienes se quedaron en casa). Aquí es donde la eSIM prepaga de T-Mobile para Estados Unidos entra en acción. Diseñado específicamente para visitantes internacionales, se adapta a tu manera de viajar, con opciones flexibles de 7, 10, 14 y 30 días desde solo $25. Con activación instantánea, sin cargos por roaming y sin compromisos a largo plazo, usted puede concentrarse en lo que realmente importa: como encontrar el mejor cóctel de Nueva York o descubrir el taco de birria más sabroso de Los Ángeles. Una eSIM es una tarjeta SIM digital integrada directamente en teléfonos inteligentes compatibles, lo que facilita activar el servicio inalámbrico sin tener que cambiar una tarjeta SIM física. Esto significa que los viajeros pueden conectarse rápidamente a una red local en solo unos pocos pasos. El proceso de activación completamente digital facilita conectarse en cuestión de minutos, para que pueda dedicar menos tiempo a cuestiones logísticas y más tiempo a disfrutar de su viaje. La eSIM prepaga para Estados Unidos ofrece conectividad

Here’s the thing about watching the matches at home this summer: someone always shows up late, the snacks run out by the second half and your couch was never designed to hold eight people screaming at a referee. There’s a better way to do this, and it doesn’t involve trying to turn your living room into a stadium. Five Iron Golf is running soccer watch parties from June 11 through July 19, covering the entire tournament window. The pitch is simple: every match, on big screens, in a place built for people who like to do something with their hands while they watch. That something happens to be golf, played on state-of-the-art Trackman simulators, though no one will check your handicap at the door. There’s no dress code and no country-club stuffiness, which feels correct for a sport that the rest of the planet watches in jerseys and face paint. Whether you are deeply invested in the group stage or just there for the food and the company, here are five reasons to make Five Iron your spot this summer. Photograph: Courtesy of Five Iron GolfFive Iron Golf Every match, every screen Five Iron is showing every match throughout the tournament on big screens at each location. Better yet, picture-in-picture is available right in the simulator, so you can line up a putt on Pebble Beach and still catch a counterattack developing in real time. It’s the rare setup that respects both your attention span and your competitive streak. No squinting at a phone propped against the ketchup, no miss

Time Out is giving you the chance to experience SailGP from the best seat on the water. Enter now for the opportunity to win a pair of single-day Platinum On Water tickets to the 2026 Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on Saturday, May 30. This premium experience puts you right in the heart of the action, with front-row views of the race as F50 catamarans fly across the Hudson River at over 60 miles per hour. With exclusive on-water access, you’ll feel every turn, every surge and every moment of the race up close. Plus, enjoy complimentary elevated dining, premium drinks, and live entertainment for the ultimate day out. This competition has ended, please see Terms and Conditions

This summer, millions of travelers are mapping out cross-border adventures that span match days, road trips and long weekends throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Whether you’re planning on catching a game live, exploring the great outdoors, sampling the local fare or spending your summer ‘26 seeking out your favorite new city, staying connected is key to making the most of every moment (and keeping everyone back home in the loop).  That’s where T-Mobile Prepaid’s U.S. Pass eSIM comes in. Designed specifically for international visitors, it’s built for the way you really want to travel, with flexible 7-, 10-, 14- and 30-day options starting at just $25. With instant activation, no roaming fees and no long-term commitments to slow you down, you can focus on what matters—like finding the best cocktail in NYC or tracking down L.A.’s tastiest birria taco. An eSIM is a digital SIM card built directly into compatible smartphones, making it easy to activate wireless service without swapping a physical SIM card. That means travelers can quickly connect to a local network in just a few taps. The digital-first activation process makes it easy to get connected within minutes so you can spend less time dealing with logistics and more time enjoying your trip. The U.S. Pass eSIM delivers connectivity across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, giving travelers all the talk, text and 5G data they need to navigate brand-new cities, livestream your travels and share every can’t-miss moment of your

New York City is one of the greatest places in the world to pursue wellness, with world-class studios, parks, gardens and gyms around every corner. With days as packed as the subway at rush hour, though, scheduling can often be a choice between doing something good for yourself and doing something fun. Or maybe not. There are so many good things to do in the city—a walk through a botanical garden, a visit to a farmers market, an evening yoga class before bed—that are also good for you. That’s the idea behind this guide, which we put together with NewYork-Presbyterian. Their world-class doctors from Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine are leaders in their fields, bringing their expertise to every patient visit across more than 450 locations in New York City and Westchester. Here, they share the kind of practical, science-backed advice that fits neatly into the life you’re already living. No overhaul required. New York Botanical Garden Photograph: Shutterstock | The New York Botanical Garden Few places in the city make the case for immersing yourself in nature as effortlessly as the New York Botanical Garden. Spread across 250 acres in the Bronx, with 50 gardens and plant collections, a Victorian-era glasshouse and 50 acres of old-growth woodland in the Thain Family Forest—one of the largest remaining tracts in New York City—it offers the kind of quiet, unhurried beauty that slows you down. You don’t need a plan or a destination. A slow walk through the rose garden or along

This one-night experience celebrates Asian creators, innovators and changemakers shaping what’s next for themselves and for the world. Guests will journey through four cultural stations, sample featured dishes from Asian-owned vendors Okiboru and Wayla, and hear from changemakers on stage before closing the night with a live AAPI DJ set on the fifth-floor terrace. Every guest who completes the journey enters for a chance to win $5,000 toward their next bold move! Date & timeThursday, May 21 @ 6pm LocationTime Out Market New York in Dumbo, 55 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY What to expect Four cultural stations inspired by Chinese calligraphy, Korean Dancheong patterns, the Kalava thread-tying tradition, and Vietnamese strategy games Food from Wayla and Okiboru, two Asian restaurants featured at Time Out Market New York in DUMBO* A signature cocktail program rooted in Asian flavors, with non-alcoholic options for every drink A Changemaker Q&A panel with Asian creators and innovators on the fifth floor The Call Your Shot Wall, where guests place their card and enter the sweepstakes A $5,000 sweepstakes from Time Out toward one guest's next chapter, presented by Toyota A live AAPI DJ set to close out the night A Time Out Market gift card and drink ticket for the first 100 guests RSVP * Featured dishes available for purchase

Therapy is great. The gym is great. But on certain days, neither scratches the specific itch of wanting to put a baseball bat through something glass. That’s where Rage Ground comes in, at a warehouse on the edge of downtown L.A. The premise is exactly what it sounds like. You arrive at 120 E 11th St, get suited up in full protective gear (coveralls, gloves, a face shield, a hard hat, a chest protector), pick a weapon from the bat-pipe-mallet rack, and walk into a modular room stocked with breakable items. Then you swing. Plates, mugs, mirrors, glass panes when they’re in stock, wood furniture if you spring for the add-on. The inventory rotates with what’s come in that week, which means some sessions skew kitchen-cabinet and others skew yard-sale. Staff handles cleanup, and you walk out lighter than you came in. What sets Rage Ground apart from the other smash rooms around L.A. is the range. The standard rage room handles anywhere from one to 20 people across a few modular configurations. A paint-splatter room sits closely to art-class catharsis, and guests leave with a canvas they can hang above the couch. A car-smashing area takes groups of up to 12, where the canvas is a full vehicle, and the tools get heavier. And if you can’t get downtown, mobile units bring the whole operation to you. The crowd is everyone. Couples on a third date who’ve decided dinner-and-a-movie has run its course. Coworkers on a team-building afternoon. Friends who needed a 30th birthday plan that wa

Swingers has finally swung into Boston, and your friends have no idea what’s about to happen to its “let’s just grab drinks” agenda. The new Back Bay outpost at 777 Boylston St. turns mini golf into a full‑scale night out with two indoor crazy golf courses, a Carnival packed with games, craft cocktails and serious comfort food from Emmy Squared Pizza. It’s what happens when an English country club, a retro arcade and a very extra bar decide to move in together and invite all of Boston. Born in London and already wreaking polite havoc in New York, DC, Las Vegas and Dubai, Swingers calls itself “competitive socializing,” which is basically code for “your friends will still be talking about that missed putt in six months.” The Boston venue spreads across two levels and about 21,000 square feet, with Back Bay views, moody lighting and a 1920s English country club vibe that feels more “tipsy members’ lounge” than “day on the fairway with dad.” You wander between bars, fairground‑style decor and greens that are deliberately designed to mess with your short game in the most fun and photogenic way possible. The headline act is, obviously, crazy golf. Each nine‑hole course winds through the venue, so your round comes with built‑in bar breaks, people‑watching and that one hole you absolutely insist on redoing. Then there’s Carnival, a throwback arcade crammed with more than 40 games, from Skee‑Ball to classic fairground setups where you can rack up points and trade them for prizes. Pic

If your idea of cooking is DoorDash and a prayer, this is your sign to level up with actual fresh pasta, an Italian chef and bottomless prosecco in the Burbank hills. For one night only, The Green Room at Castaway becomes a tiny corner of Puglia, the sun-soaked heel of Italy that basically invented “I woke up like this” carb glamour. Italian chef Roberta D’Elia is flying in with Pasta Evangelists to teach you how to make the region’s most iconic shapes by hand: cavatelli and orecchiette, the little shells that exist solely to hold as much sauce as physically possible. Rest assured, this isn’t some untested pop-up. Pasta Evangelists’ masterclass is ranked as TripAdvisor’s number one food experience in London, which means this format has already been stress tested by very opinionated people who take their carbs seriously (which we know because Time Out was born in London). Now it’s getting the L.A. treatment for a single night, in a space that already feels like you’ve snuck into a fancy wrap party. Forget the usual watch-from-the-back demo where someone in a toque does all the work while you politely clap. You’re at the table, hands in the flour, rolling and shaping your own pasta while Roberta tells stories about cucina povera, the “poor man’s kitchen” tradition that somehow gave us some of the best food on Earth. There will be zero written exams, but a lot of “oh, so that’s what my Nonna was talking about” moments, even if your actual grandma is from Glendale. Fueling all th

Astoria has never been short on good pizza. Great pizza, even. The kind of pizza that sparks passionate debates at parties. But R&R Pizza Connection isn't here to join the debate. It's here to end it, mostly by handing you a pie so good you forget what you were even arguing about in the first place. Located on 34th Avenue, this is the spot where a dream turned into dough and dough turned into a full-blown neighborhood obsession. According to the team behind the place, Pizza Connection was born from a simple but bold idea: Bring the flavors of Italy to New York and make them so authentic that you question your own geography. And if that meant importing ingredients, techniques and the pizzaiolo himself from Italy, then so be it. Astoria wanted great pizza. These guys took that personally. R&R Pizza Connection is the brainchild of Antonio Rescigno and cousins Frank and John Paul Riccardi. Their goal wasn't to reinvent pizza, but to connect New Yorkers to the kind of pizza that would make them close their eyes for a second longer than usual because their brains needed to process joy. That connection starts with imported artisanal flour that's unbleached, unbromated and treated with more respect than most people treat their houseplants. The dough is long-fermented and high-hydration, which is the polite culinary way of saying this pizza crust has been coddled, nurtured and given room to grow into its full potential. It's airy, crisp and unexpectedly light. This is not the crust yo

Tucked at the very edge of Manhattan, ofCorsica! brings a taste of the Mediterranean coast to Pier 57. The restaurant blends the relaxed charm of a seaside escape with the polish of a New York dining destination, offering guests a place to unwind over good food for lunch or dinner, good wine and Hudson River views that feel a world away from the city’s pace. Inside, the space is bright, open and quietly elegant, with textures that nod to coastal simplicity: light woods, whitewashed walls and a steady view of the water. It’s designed to feel easy rather than extravagant, a setting where the focus stays on the food and the people sharing it. Chef Andrew Minitelli’s menu evolves with the seasons, reflecting the dynamic spirit of Mediterranean cuisine. Each new iteration explores the ingredients, traditions and coastal influences of the region, ensuring that no two dining experiences at ofCorsica! are ever quite the same. The wine list is a statement in itself. ofCorsica! holds the largest collection of Corsican wines in the United States, celebrating a region that remains one of Europe’s most distinctive. The island’s vineyards, shaped by rugged mountains and salty air, produce bottles that are earthy, mineral and quietly complex. They pair seamlessly with Minitelli’s seafood-forward, olive oil-driven dishes, bringing an extra layer of authenticity to the meal. While the food and wine are reason enough to visit, the setting completes the experience. Panoramic views stretch acros

If you’ve ever stood in a pristine gallery and thought, "This place could use more noise and less ego," congratulations. You’re the kind of person Dirtbag Arthaus was built for. Located at 229 Cook Street in Bushwick, this creative free-for-all celebrates the messy, unpredictable energy that makes real art happen. Dirtbag Arthaus, or DBAH, isn’t another sleek “creative space” filled with designer furniture and overpriced coffee. It’s raw, loud and refreshingly unfiltered. The floors are scuffed, the walls are covered in art that might still be drying and the air buzzes with the kinds of ideas that only happen when no one’s trying to impress anyone. It’s art stripped of its safety net, and that’s exactly what makes it exciting. DBAH’s motto, “real creativity, no gloss,” isn’t just a tagline. It’s a promise. The space is built for makers, misfits and everyone who still believes that inspiration doesn’t come from algorithms. Here, art doesn’t sit quietly on the wall. It bleeds, vibrates and sometimes yells. The Haus champions the grind, the chaos and the vulnerability that get lost when everything is filtered for social media. It’s also about community over clout. DBAH isn’t chasing followers; it’s building a scene. Artists and locals come together not because they want exposure, but because they want to collaborate. It’s a place where you can meet other people who give a damn about creating something real. The team behind it has no patience for performative networking or art-wo

Yellow Door Taqueria is Boston’s idea of summer on repeat. The menu is built around tacos, each one detailed and colorful enough to stand on its own. Handmade tortillas are the foundation, soft but sturdy, and the fillings shift between vegetables, seafood and meat with equal attention to balance and flavor. Cauliflower with salsa macha hits the smoky side, fish tacos come dressed with avocado crema, and al pastor brings a sweet-savory punch. The plates arrive quickly, which suits the energy of the room. This is not a slow, drawn-out dinner. People are here to eat, drink and talk over music that leans loud enough to set the pace without drowning out conversation. Margaritas are strong, tequila lists are long and service is tuned to keep tables moving at a steady clip. Décor adds to the mood without pushing too hard. Patterned tile, neon signs and tropical details make the space feel more like a neighborhood party than a themed restaurant. Regulars show up in groups, often staying longer than they planned, while newcomers are drawn in by the look and end up staying for the food. Yellow Door works because it does not spread itself too thin. It knows tacos and cocktails are enough. The kitchen nails the former, the bar manages the latter and the overall effect is a restaurant that feels confident in its lane. PEPSI™ Special Yellow Door Taqueria's special Carne Asada Burrito features grilled steak marinated in PEPSI with black beans, bacon and onion jam, blistered peppers, haban

Tacos Y Mas at Arapaho is the definition of dependable street-taco service: fast line, clear menu, salsa bar with range, and a staff that knows how to keep orders moving. Breakfast starts early, then the menu shifts into an all-day rhythm of tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, bowls, and combo platters. Prices are posted plainly and the portions make quick work of a lunch break or a late run. The Street Taco Platter is a good read on the kitchen: three tacos with rice and beans, built on soft corn tortillas and handed over as soon as they clear the flat-top. If you want something bigger, the Burrito Combo adds a crispy taco on the side. Birria shows up as a platter with consomé when you want a richer route. Signature tacos lean into house builds like pastor, barbacoa, bistec, pollo asado, and more. Seafood options rotate in with shrimp or fish, and there are breakfast tacos from open to close if you keep that schedule. Combos simplify decisions for groups, while a six-pack of street tacos is the office hero move when everyone is “fine with anything.” The salsa bar is part of the brand’s identity, with a range that moves from mild to dare-you heat, and the team encourages people to customize without slowing down the line. The room is casual and bright with quick-serve seating. Most orders are dine-and-dash or takeout, though you will see families park a tray and split a platter. Late on weekends, hours stretch well past dinner, which makes this location a reliable stop after

Richardson East runs the same playbook with a neighborhood feel. The menu covers street tacos, signature builds, crispy tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, nachos, bowls, breakfast staples, and family-friendly combo platters. Ordering is simple: pick your format, pick your protein, add rice and beans if you want the full plate. The line moves quickly and the staff is comfortable answering first-timer questions without slowing things down. There is a proper salsa bar here too, so the mild crowd and the heat chasers both leave happy. Street tacos on corn tortillas are the core. Pastor, barbacoa, bistec, pollo, and carnitas rotate as steady sellers, while fish or shrimp fill the seafood lane. A six-pack of street tacos travels well and is the safe order for a group. Breakfast tacos start early and stick around through the day, which suits commuters and weekend errands. The enchilada platter is a sleeper option when you want a knife-and-fork plate without breaking stride. Portions are sensible for lunch and generous enough for dinner, and the price point fits repeat visits. The dining room keeps a low-stress pace. Tables turn often at lunch, then the room settles into a steady evening flow. Families show up for combo platters, solo diners finish a quick three-taco set and head out, and the takeout counter handles a constant stream of online orders. Staff keeps the salsa bar stocked and the queue moving during peak hours. If you want a basic roadmap, start with pastor or barbaco

SoDough Square in Orlando’s SODO district keeps its focus tight: Detroit-style pizza baked in steel pans until the edges crisp and caramelize. The dough is soft inside, crunchy at the edges, and every pie comes finished with sauce ladled on top. Pepperoni cups curl into flavor bombs, veggie mixes get the same respect, and the occasional specialty pie rotates in for variety. The space is casual but deliberate. Orders move quickly, pies come out hot, and the staff is practiced at keeping things flowing during the inevitable dinner rush. People show up in groups, but solo diners are just as common, eating slices at the counter before heading back out. Sides and salads provide balance, but pizza is the main event. Portions are generous enough that one pie can work for two if you are not ravenous, but most people order their own. The crust is what defines SoDough: airy, structured, and sturdy enough to hold the toppings without losing its bite. Regulars know the drill—show up hungry, grab a pie, adjust your toppings as needed, and finish with the last square that’s always a little more satisfying than you planned.  

Winter Park’s SoDough Square offers the same square pies in a slightly more residential setting. The formula doesn’t change: thick Detroit-style crust, caramelized edges, sauce on top, and toppings that range from classic pepperoni to seasonal vegetables. The crowd skews local, with families ordering multiple pies and groups splitting squares. Service keeps pace with demand, and the kitchen is consistent in turning out pizzas that look and taste the same each time. That reliability is why Winter Park regulars adopt it quickly. The dining area is small but comfortable, designed for quick meals as much as longer group gatherings. Staff keep the pace brisk without rushing people out. What makes this location stand out is its neighborhood integration. It feels like a local pizza shop even though it’s part of a small group, and that makes it a reliable anchor for weeknight dinners or casual weekend meals.  

Shawarmas To Go delivers Middle Eastern staples without overcomplication. The wraps are packed tight with marinated chicken, beef, or falafel, balanced with pickles, vegetables, and bold garlic sauce. Everything is wrapped neatly, making it as portable as it is filling. The menu is direct: shawarmas, platters, falafel, and sides that round out a meal. Fries, hummus, and rice provide variety without distracting from the main event. Portions lean generous, and pricing makes it practical for repeat visits. The dining space is functional, designed for quick turnover, but regulars keep it steady. Lunch breaks, late-night snacks, and family dinners all fit the format. Staff move quickly, orders are consistent, and the line clears faster than you expect. It works because it doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is: straightforward shawarma service with food that lands the same way each time.  

In a city that rarely leaves space unused, Moxy Williamsburg has managed to carve out something original: a custom-designed pickleball court tucked inside Bar Bedford Garden. It’s the only hotel court in Brooklyn, and yes, it’s available year-round. The 15-by-30-foot court sits atop turf and folds seamlessly into the garden’s aesthetic. It’s functional, polished and surprisingly serene given that it’s located in the middle of a hotel. Aesthetically, it follows the Moxy playbook—bright, social, slightly offbeat—while still feeling like part of the neighborhood. Open daily from 10am to 7pm, the court is available to hotel guests and also bookable for private events. So whether you’re in the mood for a casual rally or planning an afternoon of low-stakes competition with friends, it’s an easy win. Custom paddles keep the volume down, which means you can actually hear your post-game drink order. Photograph: Michael Kleinberg Photography, courtesy of Moxy Hotels Photograph: Michael Kleinberg Photography, courtesy of Moxy Hotels Speaking of which, Bar Bedford is marking the launch with a new cocktail created in partnership with Grey Goose. It involves lemonade, raspberry liqueur and a honeydew melon ball shaped to resemble a tennis ball. It’s a small nod to the game, and it works. Pickleball has been named the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for four years running, and its appeal is clear: low barrier to entry, highly social, more physically engaging than it looks. As for Moxy

Moxy Hotels is once again going all in on Pride, with a packed schedule of events this June across all five of its NYC properties. Whether you’re looking for rooftop drag shows, burlesque bingo or a vodka soda that literally says Gay Water, this year’s programming is loud, proud and refreshingly well thought-out. The headline event is “Pride for the People,” a post-parade block party hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum, Xunami Muse. Taking place at Moxy Chelsea on June 29, the party includes DJ sets, live performances, on-site makeup from Stencil1 and a signature cocktail called Pride Punch. Tickets are $10, with all proceeds benefiting The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI). RECOMMENDED: NYC's best Pride events for 2025, from the marches to concerts That partnership with SIGBI goes beyond the party. All five NYC Moxy locations—Chelsea, Times Square, East Village, Lower East Side and Williamsburg—have officially been certified as Safe Spaces through the initiative. "As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I’m thrilled that at Moxy, Pride is more than a month—it’s a mindset," Lauren Levin, chief marketing officer at Moxy Hotels / Lightstone, said in a statement. "We're the only hotel brand in NYC to partner with The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, certifying each of our hotels as a designated safe space and training our staff to ensure every guest feels truly welcome." Photograph: Michael Kleinberg, courtesy of Moxy Williamsburg Other standout Pride events in

At some point in adulthood, “What are we doing tonight?” stops sounding like an exciting question and starts feeling like a group project with no leader and even less motivation. That’s where the apps come in (fingers crossed). I already use Time Out to find the best restaurants and things to do in whatever city I’m in—because obviously—but sometimes I want something even more niche or spontaneous, especially when I’m traveling and trying to find something that I could share with (and impress, if I’m being honest) that city’s Time Out editor. So I downloaded a bunch of apps promising to help. Some focused on live music. Others wanted me to “connect with my community,” even when I was just passing through. One kept pushing EDM yoga. I tried a few more than what you'll see, but those didn’t make the cut—and these are the ones that actually delivered. Whether I was in San Francisco, Brooklyn or killing time in a random airport-adjacent suburb, these apps surfaced events and experiences I wouldn’t have found on my own. This isn’t about “maximizing joy” or “rediscovering wonder.” It’s about having plans when you don’t know the city, don’t know the people and still want to do something better than stare at your phone on a hotel bed. And at home, it’s about never hearing the words “We should’ve just stayed in” ever again. Geocaching Geocaching turns any city into a low-key treasure map, using GPS to lead to hidden containers called caches. It’s the perfect mix of outdoorsy and nerdy

Booking dinner used to involve talking to another human. Now, it involves avoiding one. Because apps. You open OpenTable or Resy, pick your time slot and let the algorithm decide your night. Congratulations, you’ve made a reservation without accidentally speaking to a human being. Restaurant reservation apps have fully embedded themselves into the American going-out experience, especially among people who flinch at the idea of calling someone. Gen Z and Millennials live on these apps. Gen X uses them too, but mostly to avoid being the one stuck making the call. Boomers still ask, “Can’t we just walk in?” Restaurants love the crowd control but hate the fees. And the apps themselves? Useful, yes. But like everything in late-stage capitalism, they come with strings—fees, flakiness and an ongoing contribution to the death of human interaction. Let’s see how it all breaks down. OpenTable – Reliable with Boomer-proof buttons Best for: Group dinners, date nights, or booking a place your parents pickedWho uses it: Boomers, group organizersWhy we love it: OpenTable is the Toyota Camry of reservation apps; it’s everywhere, it’s reliable, it’s easy to use and it looks just dated enough to make it feel legit. You can rack up points, modify reservations easily and the confirmation emails arrive faster than you can text “on my way.”Room for improvement: It’s the Amazon of dining apps—ubiquitous and super convenient, but a little too transactional.Use it if: You're booking for people who st

In a world where making friends as an adult often feels like scheduling a dentist appointment—necessary but mildly anxiety-inducing—Les Amis arrives with a refreshing proposition: what if finding meaningful connections didn't involve endless scrolling, awkward small talk or the dreaded "we should hang out sometime" that never materializes? Anna Bilych, the 27-year-old Estonian tech founder (and former PayPal product manager), co-created Les Amis with Oleg Pashinin after moving for work and realizing what we all know deep down: making new friends in a new city is somehow harder than canceling a gym membership. So, in January 2022, they built the thing she wished existed: a way to meet like-minded women through shared interests and curated hangouts that don’t feel like forced fun. Les Amis—French for “the friends,” because yes, it’s trying to class things up a bit—isn’t just an app, it’s a low-key movement. Now live in 19 European cities and recently launched in Austin, Texas, it’s already hosted over 4,000 events and connected thousands of women who were just looking for a better way to hang out. A smarter way to make actual friends Les Amis takes the chaos of adult friendship-making and gives it structure—without killing the vibe. It starts with a short but surprisingly insightful application where you share the usual details (age, job, interests) and a few personality-driven prompts that help match you with people who might actually get your references. The app’s algorithm t

Traveling as a writer/editor is a delicate balance of packing light while still bringing everything I need to keep the words flowing and the deadlines met. Sure, I always toss in the non-tech essentials like big binder clips (because hotel curtains never close properly), bamboo utensils (because I’m not a monster) and a Sharpie that never ever seems to run dry. But let’s be real—those things don’t help me hit “send” on a 1,000-word feature while sitting in a noisy airport. That’s where my tech arsenal comes in. These are the compact, medium-priced gadgets that keep me sane, productive and occasionally entertained while I’m on the move. They’re not just tools—they’re lifelines. From noise-canceling headphones that drown out screaming toddlers to a foldable keyboard that turns any café table into a workspace, these items are the unsung heroes of my carry-on. So, if you’re a fellow worker-on-the-go (or just someone who likes to pretend they’re working while scrolling Instagram), here’s my ultimate list of tech travel essentials. iPhone 15 Pro Max Let’s start with the obvious. My iPhone is my lifeline. It’s my camera, my GPS, my inbox and occasionally my therapist. The 15 Pro Max’s battery life is solid enough to survive a long-haul flight, and the camera is so good it makes me feel like a National Geographic photographer when I’m really just snapping pictures of my overpriced airport burger. AirPods Pro These little guys are a godsend. Whether drowning out the sound of a crying

The future of dining is looking a lot more like a sci-fi movie, and honestly? We’re here for it, so long as we don’t lose sight of the human touches—think recipe invention, taste and care. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in the U.S. restaurant industry is shaking up the food scene, making service faster, smarter and maybe even cooler. Restaurants are dealing with labor shortages and rising costs, and tech is swooping in to save the day—one robot at a time. Case in point is also one of the hottest trends: AI-powered customer service. Chatbots, like the ones used by Domino’s, are basically your new pizza BFFs, helping you place orders, track deliveries and even vent about your missing extra sauce (we’ve all been there). These bots work 24/7, giving human employees more time to focus on things that require, well, actual human skills. Meanwhile, McDonald's self-service kiosks use machine learning to personalize menu suggestions—so if you always get fries with that, they’ll know. AI is also getting deep into data, tracking customer behavior like a digital Sherlock Holmes. Starbucks’ Deep Brew AI remembers your go-to latte and recommends menu items based on your past orders (finally, a system that gets you). Over at Chipotle, AI helps monitor ingredient freshness, cutting down food waste and increasing sustainability. This environmental aspect of AI can help restaurants decrease their purchasing expenses while appealing to those of us for whom saving the plane