Rossilynne Skena Culgan

If you’re looking for the best things to do in NYC this week, or even for today, there are tons of fun options, including Comic Con, a pole dancing/comedy mash-up, a musical adaptation of "Almost Famous," and the New York Film Festival, and awesome free events in NYC! For more ideas, scroll down to see this week's best things to do in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in New York

We're throwing the spookiness into high gear with events for Halloween in NYC. October is filled with costumed parties, jump scares at haunted houses, corn mazes and parades — and we're ready! Don't bother breaking out your sewing kit, New York's greatest Halloween stores have plenty of options to make you look really spooky. Make sure to check out our NYC events in October too for even more activities to finish off the month in killer spirits.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Halloween in NYC

Just being in NYC in the fall is an experience in itself—for a few brief months, we all channel Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail and breathe in the crisp air filled with the smell of leaves and pretend we're in the middle of a love story for the ages (maybe we are). It's true that NYC is one of the most sought out places to experience the best that fall offers, from delightfully spooky Halloween events and festivals to gorgeous leaf-peeping opportunities and some of the best festivals. Autumn in NYC is tough to match!

'Tis the season to get spooky! But beyond the best Halloween events, but there are also plenty of other awesome NYC events in October 2022. Use our events calendar to plan the quintessential month for leaf peeping and spotting fall foliage, pumpkin picking and more things to do in fall. Kick off fall with some epic cultural events, you don't want to miss happening like Open House New York, Oktoberfest and all kinds of haunted events. And just in case you want to plan ahead, here's our November event list to start marking your calendar. RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar for 2022

Looking for the best things to do in NYC this weekend? Whether you’re the group planner searching for more things to do in NYC today, or you have no plans yet, here are some ideas to add to your list for this weekend: Stargazing in Central Park, a festival in Chinatown, a massive Deepavali celebration, an Oktoberfest event all about local beers, and more. All you have to do is scroll down to plan your weekend! RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in NYC

Contrary to its moniker, Oktoberfest, the annual autumnal celebration anchored in Munich, Germany, with satellite festivities all over the globe, kicks off in September. Lucky for you, New York City hosts some of the best boozy, musical sausage fests in the world. This year’s events include weeks-long waterside parties and brewery bashes—all with plenty of German (and local!) beer to start your fall eating and drinking plans out right. RECOMMENDED: Oktoberfest NYC 2022 guide

The arts scene in New York this fall charts a distinct line through time. Several shows will feature historic pieces, some dating as far back as 3400-2000 BCE, while others showcase art through modern, immersive experiences. From public art displays to gallery shows to musuem presentations, here are 15 art experiences we're excited about this fall. They're presented in chronological order, so you can mark your calendar.

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and you may be looking for events around NYC to memorialize this solemn day. Over the past two decades, NYC has memorialized those we lost in the attacks through music, somber ceremonies, art installations and incredible symbols like the Tower Lights. In 2022, events include live music, art exhibitions, peace vigils, and more. Here are some ways to mark the significant milestone. 

Vote for the cutest doggo in the best Halloween costume during this year's virtual 23rd Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest on Saturday, October 29. Held every year by Fort Green Park Users and Pets Society since 1998, the event is held at the bottom of the Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument stairs, where more than a hundred dogs run around in silly and creative costumes from RBG to hot dogs and more.

As if it weren't hilarious enough in real life, Tinder (the wildly popular dating app) gets exposed in this comedy show. If you're hoping for some swiping tips (no matter how ridiculous), this is the event for you. Like Tinder in real life, anything can happen at this show by Lane Moore, who will be joined by Mike Drucker ("Full Frontal with Samantha Bee") and Jordan Carlos ("The Daily Show") swiping live through the weirdest New York City tinder profiles.

Laugh out loud at this night of comedy curated by Indian immigrant comedians Karthik Lavangu and Vinod Chhaproo. This monthly stand-up comedy showcase features comedians with unique perspectives from NYC and beyond. Here's the line up for October 1: — Sonya Vai (Host, New York Comedy Festival)— Atheer Yacoub - Comedy Central, Gotham Comedy Live— Chanel Ali - Just for Laughs, Netflix— Gabby Bryan - Unabashed Podcast, You Know What Dude Podcast— Greg & Rob - Sirius XM, New York Comedy Festival, Greg ad Rob podcast— Karthik Lavangu - World Comedy Expo, Altercation Comedy Festival— Vinod Chhaproo - Netflix, Buzzfeed

More than 100 artists will show off their work—everything from jewelry to photography to ceramics—at the first CraftNewYork fair in three years. Plus, sip on tastings from Hudson Valley distilleries while you shop. Find all the fun at Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center.

Haunt O’ Ween is making its debut in Holmdel, New Jersey (an hour’s drive from NYC) this year with a pumpkin patch, 'round-the-clock trick-or-treating, a carnival with rides, a “Beyond The Grave Rave," and a walkthrough and tunnel of glowing jack o’lanterns.  And it's taking the family-friendly Halloween fun to the next level with a sneak peek at the Netflix show "Daniel Spellbound," according to SecretNYC, a publication published by Fever, the booking platform for this event. In the themed experience, you'll get a chance to see if you can use your magical powers to solve a puzzle. The "Daniel Spellbound" theme will be woven throughout the 200,000 square-foot fest, SecretNYC reports, with Daniel and other characters coming to life through interactive codes.  The show will be released on October 27, so this experience offers a chance to play a role in the story before it even airs.  Here's our full story on what to expect at Haunt O' Ween.

In this game show, contestants transform memes, audience stories, family recipes, and more into interpretive dance pieces to be judged by a panel of comedians. The answer is yes, it's every bit as ridiculous—and hilarious—as it sounds. In this week's show they'll be tackling "National Days," including some wacky ones like National Ceiling Fan Day. Propose your own special day or come play along with comedian judges Ben Katzner and Blair Dawson as they try and decipher what special day the dancers are using as inspiration.

Celebrate Oktoberfest at Time Out Market on Saturday, October 8 by tasting some of the freshest beers from local breweries. Sample beers from Brooklyn Brewery, Evil Twin Brewing, Five Points Brewing Co., Kings County Brewers Collective, Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co., Sixpoint Brewery, Strong Rope Brewery, Threes Brewing, and Wild East Brewing Co.  Take your pick from three sessions: 12-2:30pm, 3-5:30pm, or 6-8:30pm. Stein hoisting contests will be held during the first two, with a $100 TOM card and decorative steins for the winners.  Enjoy themed decoations, surprise raffle giveaways, and music by Vada 1-5pm and Dwai 5-9pm.

Emerging Artists Theatre, or EAT, mounts a new edition of its platform for plays, musicals, solo shows and dance pieces in their developmental stages. This fall's expanded series will showcase 70 shows over four weeks including new musicals, plays (short and long), dance, cabaret and solo shows. The New Work series runs through October 23.

Meet Enheduanna, the earliest author in human history whose name we know. A priestess and a poet, her work predates the Homeric epics by more than a millennium. A new exhibition at The Morgan Library & Museum, She Who Wrote: Enheduanna and Women of Mesopotamia ca. 3400-2000 BCE, will commemorate the pioneering writer. The exhibit offers a glimpse into the life of a woman who died almost 5000 years ago and yet whose voice we can still hear today. Leaning into the experiences and echoes of caste and status in an ancient patriarchal society, the exhibition is not only an aesthetic enterprise, but also a humane one, addressing the nature of memory and dehumanization throughout history. It's on view October 14 through February 19, 2023.  

The title of this exhibit says it all: The Ronald S. Lauder Collection: Selections of Greek and Roman Antiquities, Medieval Art, Arms and Armor, Italian Gold-Ground and Old Master Paintings, Austrian and German Art and Design. Marvel at 500 works—many of which will be on view to the public for the first time—across two floors of Neue Galerie New York. The pieces are from the collection of Neue Galerie’s co-founder and president, Ronald S. Lauder, each showing his penchant for the art of superb beauty, quality, and rarity. The exhibition provides a glimpse into one of the finest private collections in the world. The show is on view from November 11 through February 13, 2023.

Admire nearly 130 outfits ranging from haute couture pieces to stage costumes, alongside custom accessories, sketches, videos, images by leading fashion photographers, and spectacular installations that mirror the approach of fashion visionary Thierry Mugler. Brooklyn Museum's Thierry Mugler: Couturissime explores the fascinating, edgy universe of the French designer. Mugler established himself as one of the most daring and innovative designers of the late twentieth century through bold silhouettes and unorthodox techniques and materials, including glass, Plexiglas, vinyl, latex, and chrome. The exhibition isn't just a visual treat—it also brings in the sense of smell. An expanded section dedicated to fragrance centers on Mugler’s trailblazing scent Angel.   

What is art anyway? And what's behind hierarchies within the art world? A self-declared laboratory for experimentation, Just Above Midtown JAM was an art gallery running from 1974 until 1986 where Black art flourished—and it encouraged artists and visitors to ask those very questions. "Just Above Midtown: Changing Spaces," a new exhibit at MoMA will commemorate the history of the gallery as a hub for conceptual art, abstraction, performance, and video. Linda Goode Bryant started JAM in 1974, when she was a 25-year-old arts educator and mother of two, to, in her words, “present African-American artists on the same platform with other established artists.”  The MoMA show will presents artists and artworks previously shown at JAM through archival photos, videos, and other contextual historical material, along with performances, film screenings, public programs, and an exhibition catalogue co-published with The Studio Museum in Harlem. Just Above Midtown runs at MoMA from October 09, 2022 through February 18, 2023.

When envisioning the redesign of David Geffen Hall, home to the city’s symphony orchestra, leaders wanted “to create the instrument the New York Philharmonic deserves,” Lincoln Center’s President Henry Timms said during a preview of the space today.  At first glance, it appears they achieved their goal, transforming the building into a state-of-the-art hub for classical music and a more welcoming space for New Yorkers. The renovated David Geffen Hall will officially open on Saturday, October 8, after completing a $550 million renovation two years early. Opening weekend will feature a pay-as-you-wish performance of Etienne Charles’ new work, “San Juan Hill: A New York Story,” exploring the story of the immigrant communities that populated the land in and around the Lincoln Center area.  RECOMMENDED: 15 NYC art exhibitions we’re most excited about this fall Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect from the new theater.  Photograph: By Michael Moran / Courtesy of David Geffen Hall | A rose petal motif carries through the theater. A more intimate theater experience The Wu Tsai Theater, with its red and blue rose petal design, welcomes visitors with a dramatic entrance. The petal motif meant to evoke joy and possibility continues throughout the theater with a pinkish petal design covering the theater’s 2,200 seats.  The theater used to hold 2,700 people, but cutting those 500 seats allowed designers to extend the stage, add seating behind and beside the orchestra, and bring the mus

In honor of both National Coffee Day (September 29) and International Coffee Day (October 1) last week, we asked Time Out readers which coffee shops they love a latte. Now we're spilling the tea—er, coffee—on which coffeeshops to add to your list. Consider this guide as a companion to our reporting on The 24 best coffee shops in NYC where you'll see plenty of overlap. Several places were submitted over and over, so we marked those ones with an asterisk.* It's worth noting that we haven't personally vetted every place on the following list, but we trust all of our readers' recommendations enough to share. Plus, dear readers, you've also introduced us to some new spots to check out, and that's simply brewtiful. Enough with the puns, onto the list, from A-Z.  RECOMMENDED: NYC's 31 best bakeries  % Arabica, DUMBO 787 Coffee & Co., Upper East Side 10,000 Coffee, Midtown Abraco, East Village Alegrito Cafe Bar, Bensonhurst  As you Life, East Williamsburg Bar Pisellino, West Village The Bean, Multiple locations Beans and Leaves, Staten Island Birch Coffee, Multiple locations Black Fox, Multiple locations Blackstone Coffee Roasters, Greenwich Village  Blue Bottle, Multiple locations Bluestone Lane, Multiple locations, but be sure to visit the UES spot for amazing architecture Brightside, Williamsburg Caffe Reggio, Greenwich Village Chock Full O' Nuts, Multiple locations Coffee Inn, Lenox Hill Coffee Project, Multiple locations Culture Midtown Espresso, Midtown D'Amic

Travelers rushing through Penn Station will now have a reason to slow down for a moment to experience local art. The station's new look was unveiled today as part of the Art at Amtrak public art series. Dennis RedMoon Darkeem's vibrant artwork depicting totems and other symbols fills the main rotunda area, and sunny pieces by Ghost of a Dream (Lauren Was and Adam Eckstrom) overlook the departure hall.  RECOMMENDED: 15 NYC art exhibitions we’re most excited about this fall "This is not merely wallpaper; it’s communicating something," Art at Amtrak curator Debra Simon told Time Out. "That's why I chose Ghost of a Dream and Dennis—not only was their artwork immediately accessible and visually engaging but there’s a meaning behind it." Darkeem's work, titled "Patchwork Travelers," draws on colors, patterns and icons such as the medicine wheel from his dual heritage as an Indigenous and African American. As a mixed media artist, Darkeem blends collage, sculpture and photography in his work. Even printed on vinyl covering the pillars in the Penn Station rotunda, the pieces look textural, as if you could run your fingers along the sweetgrass braids or dip a toe into the water.  Photograph: By David Plakke / Courtesy of Art at Amtrak | Dennis RedMoon Darkeem with his work. His work transformed plain blue concrete pillars into bright columns that stand out even in a visually loud space amongst ads and signs for fast food restaurants. Now, standing the middle of the rotunda between t

There's no substitute for browsing through a local bookstore—running your fingers along the spines of books, breathing in the distinct papery aroma and finding a new paperback to take home to your TBR pile. Sure, we can order books online at the tap of a finger to be delivered the next day, but if there's one silver lining to the pandemic, it seems many realized the value of shopping local instead. A bevy of independent bookstores are popping up around New York City, with a secret bookstore behind a bodega in Greenpoint, a shop in Park Slope spanning the genres, a vintage bookshop with specialty teas in Bed-Stuy, a sustainability focused bookshop in Greenpoint called Leaves, a second Books Are Magic store coming to Brooklyn Heights and a new McNally Jackson location opening in Rockefeller Center.  RECOMMENDED: This new book pays homage to NYC’s beloved storefronts with gorgeous illustrations The trend isn't just in New York City. More than 300 new independent bookstores have opened across the nation in the past few years, rebounding after struggling early in the pandemic, The New York Times reported this summer. Some 200 more are expected to open in the next couple of years, per The Times. Amid the pandemic, Jason Mojica and his son began selling graphic novels on the sidewalk as a way to pass the time, and he "discovered the joy of book selling." He opened Hey Kids Comics! last year, then opened "old-school used bookstore" Burnt Books this summer inside his neighborhood bode

See the stars this weekend through telescopes on the deck of The Intrepid and in Central Park with famed scientists. Two astronomy events will offer a chance to gaze at stars, planets, and the Moon this weekend alongside astronaut Fred Haise and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.   Recommended: Four great ways to go stargazing in NYC    Photograph: By Ivan Gonzalez / Courtesy of Amateur Astronomers   Autumn Starfest in Central Park  The Amateur Astronomers Association of New York will bring telescopes so you can see Jupiter, Saturn, the craters of the Moon, star clusters, double stars and other astronomical phenomena from 7-10pm on Saturday, October 1 in Central Park’s East Meadow at 99th Street.  Autumn Starfest is a free, all-ages event held in celebration of NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night, a global evening of appreciation for the moon. International Observe the Moon Night occurs annually in the fall, when the Moon is around its first quarter, great for late-afternoon and evening observing, per NASA. Neil DeGrasse Tyson of StarTalk will serve as guest host, and he’ll be joined by meteorologist and amateur astronomer Joe Rao.  The Amateur Astronomers Association of New York promotes an appreciation of astronomy. Founded in 1927, the nonprofit strives to connect the community of New York City to the stars through events like this one.  The event will be held weather permitting, so keep your fingers crossed for clear skies.  If there’s one silver lining to the

It’s the tiny locksmith shops, expansive markets and the greasy spoon diners that make New York, New York, illustrator Joel Holland contends in his new book NYC Storefronts: Illustrations of the Big Apple’s Best-Loved Spots.  As the pandemic began, Holland watched as the city shuttered and some stores closed altogether. He grabbed a pen and some markers and began sketching each one as a visual love letter to the city. As he posted the illustrations to Instagram, he saw how the drawings resonated with fellow New Yorkers.  RECOMMENDED: The 25 best books set in or about New York Now, Holland has turned those 225 illustrations of some of the city’s most iconic storefronts into a book called NYC Storefronts, publishing on October 4. Writer David Dodge penned vivid descriptions for each entry, giving readers tips on everything from where to find the best chicken schnitzel to where to buy a black cap fringed with red-and-yellow flames.  The illustrations focus on Manhattan and lean into places that have become favorites of Holland and his family. He also took suggestions from friends along the way.   Photograph: Courtesy of Joel Holland   “I’m fully aware that this is not every single restaurant or business in New York. And I know that the selections that were made were from my heart, from what I was familiar with,” Holland told Time Out. “My hope is that with David’s writing, with my drawings, that people might see a shoe repair place, and that might not be where they go, but it

Part visual splendor, part olfactory wonder and part ooey-gooey sensory fun, Sloomoo Institute’s slime museum is reopening on Saturday, September 24 after a renovation. This captivating playground welcomes all ages to its home in SoHo—or “SooHoo,” in Sloomoo parlance (see what they did there?). The original Sloomoo experience began as a pop-up in 2019 intended for a six-month run, but it was so popular that it stayed open for two years. After a brief closure, the immersive experience is now reopening with a brand new look.  While Sloomoo is a highly Instagrammable experience, the founders hope you’ll spend some time away from your phone and immersed in the moment during your 90-minute visit to truly have the slime of your life. Here are five things not to miss at Sloomoo:  Photograph: By Rossilynne Culgan | "Floam," a slime filled with tiny soft foam beads. 1. Squish 25 different concoctions Colorful vats of slime fill the space featuring gooey substances in different textures. A sign accompanying each container explains the goop’s stretch factor, poke factor and pop factor. You’re welcome to dip your hands into each viscous vat to squish and stretch each one. Many of the slimes even smell—the banana aroma is uncannily accurate.  Photograph: Courtesy of Sloomoo | That's me on the right getting slimed. 2. Get slimed  Pretend you’re on Nickelodeon as buckets of slime pour on you from above at Sloomoo Falls. Don’t worry about your clothes: Staff will provide you with a biod

The Broadway show The Phantom of the Opera will close after 35 years, the theater company confirmed this weekend, with its final shows set for Valentine’s Week 2023.  As Broadway’s longest-running show, Phantom has delighted audiences with more than 13,500 performances since it opened on January 26, 1988. Before it closes on Saturday, February 18 with its colossal 13,925th show, it’ll celebrate its 35th anniversary. The show has played at the resplendent Majestic Theater since the beginning of its run. 'As much a part of the city landscape as the Empire State Building' "As much a part of the city landscape as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, the blockbuster phenomenon has long been a New York City landmark," the show wrote in its closure news release. "Widely considered one of the most beautiful and spectacular productions in history, the musical set the bar with its lavish sets and costumes, large cast and Broadway’s largest orchestra—a perfect match for its sumptuous score and classic love story." The closure announcement says that leaders decided the right time to close Phantom would be after its 35th birthday; the New York Post, which broke news of the closing on Friday, said the show has struggled since the pandemic and is losing "some $1 million a month." During Phantom's run, it shattered every possible record, surpassing the nearly 18-year run of Cats, grossing $1.3 billion, sharing the show with 19.5 million people, and serving as the largest sin

A historic building in the Upper West Side will become the new home for Aperture, the esteemed photography organization celebrating 70 years. Aperture will move from its location in Chelsea to a 10,000 square-foot space where initiatives will "demonstrate the power of photography to spark curiosity and enhance understanding of the world and each other." Set to open in summer 2024, Aperture's new location at 380 Columbus Avenue will place it in a cultural core across from the American Museum of Natural History and blocks from the New-York Historical Society and Central Park. The organization's leaders hope the strategic location will introduce a wider audience of locals and visitors to its photography work, calling the new space "a hub for collaboration and convening, and a site for public engagement with Aperture’s quarterly magazine, books, and prints." RECOMMENDED: 15 NYC art exhibitions we’re most excited about this fall The red brick 1886 building will house the kinds of programming Aperture has become known for in its seven decades: photography installations, artist talks, panel discussions, book signings and education programs centered around photography. The bookstore will also get prime positioning, as Aperture is recognized for publishing some of the most important photography books of the past several decades. Visitors will be able to see directly into several of Aperture’s work spaces as a way to foster transparency and unveil the organization's work, thanks to a d

Laughing in a funeral home might feel as taboo as shouting in a library or microwaving fish in the office, but Ben Wasserman’s Live After Death comedy show performed in a Brooklyn funeral home will have you laughing out loud.  Part catharsis, part circus, you can see this comedy show about grief and loss this weekend on Saturday, September 24 and again on Saturday, October 29 at Sparrow Funeral Home in Greenpoint with tickets for $15. The show promises juggling, karate, a seance, ventriloquism and intimate discussions with the audience about grief.  Live After Death began as a way for Wasserman to work through his own grief after losing his dad, granddad, uncle and four friends in the span of three years. The show brings the audience on a hilarious yet moving journey through grief, honoring and celebrating lost loved ones.  “The funeral home has been really great and a really special place to do this show because I think people come into it a little more open to the conversational moments throughout the show,” Wasserman said.    View this post on Instagram A post shared by ben wasserman (@benwassergram) The comedian has set up lighting and created props to make the show feel more theatrical, but it’s also very clear that the setting is indeed a funeral home. In fact, the show is subject to cancellation if someone dies and the funeral home needs to be used for its original purpose. “I stand and juggle where ashes sit at the front of a funeral,” Wasserman said.

A new nightlife venue called Deluxx Fluxx will take over the former Studio at Webster Hall location, a 4,200-square-foot space beneath the famed music venue in the East Village, inspired by early arcades, punk rock, hip-hop and graffiti culture. When it opens on Friday, September 23, the venue will bring "an immersive visual and audial art space and arcade" that promises to reinvigorate the artist-centric venues that defined New York City nightlife in the early 2000s. Part interactive art project and part performance venue, expect live entertainment, DJs, pinball machines, "artfully weird" video games, custom video work, costumed performers, floor-to-ceiling blacklight art interiors and a day-glo design palette. Some of the arcade games offer their own New York City flair, like Crown Heights King where pigeons battle to be the king of the neighborhood. RECOMMENDED: The best clubs in NYC Deluxx Fluxx is the brainchild of Brooklyn-based artist duo FAILE (Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller) in partnership with restaurateurs Joe Robinson and Anthony Curis. The East Village venue will be Deluxx Fluxx's second location with its first located in Detroit. FAILE have also hosted temporary gallery installations in New York City and London.   Photograph: By Emmanuel Rosario / Courtesy of Deluxx Fluxx   'An indulgence of sensation' “Deluxx Fluxx has always been an indulgence of sensation. A place to find another reality through art, music, games, drinks and dance. An opportunity to ope

Have fun while helping others this weekend, as this Saturday's Queens Night Market will raise money for Hurricane Fiona relief.  The popular night market just returned for the season last weekend welcoming dozens of food vendors to Flushing Meadows Corona Park for an open-air feast. As event organizers heard about Hurricane Fiona's destruction, especially in Puerto Rico, they jumped into help. RECOMMENDED: Queens Night Market’s fall season starts this weekend with new vendors The market will donate 33% of its own net proceeds from Saturday’s event to support Hurricane Fiona relief efforts. In addition, nearly 30 vendors will donate part of their profits from the evening's sales (some of those vendors include Arepalicious, Hong Kong Street Food, Sam’s Fried Ice Cream, and Twistercake Bakery). Plus, the event will ask visitors to make a voluntary suggested donation of $5 at the entrance gate to support the fundraiser. Photograph: Time Out/Ali Garber “Political fallouts and geopolitical calamities seem to dominate news cycles in these divisive times, but I hope supporting victims of natural disasters is something we can all get behind," John Wang, founder of the Queens Night Market, said in a press release. "I can’t imagine what the families in Puerto Rico must be going through right now, and during Hispanic Heritage Month no less.” This isn't the first time the Queens Night Market has sprung into action to help others. In the past, the market fundraised in the aftermath of H