Shaye Weaver

New York City’s cultural amenities are many, but none quite match the number, scale, and variety of its museums. There is literally an institution for every interest, whether it’s in art, history, science, or quirkier subjects. From 5,000 years of art history at The Metropolitan Museum to cutting-edge art at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City is an art lovers' paradise. There are dozens of other types of museums, too, like the encyclopedic American Museum Of Natural History, the classical New-York Historical Society, and the sultry Museum of Sex. Photography fans have to check out the International Center of Photography, architecture buffs should head to the Skyscraper Museum, and transit lovers can't miss the New York Transit Museum. And, of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, even if you don’t count all of the other museums in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Is it a lot to take in? Certainly. But if you want to find a museum with your name on it, look no further than our complete guide to the best museums in NYC, complete with highlights at each one.  RECOMMENDED: 🖼Full guide to the best museum exhibitions in NYC

We love a European vacation as much as the next person, but perhaps less so these days. Despite the innovations in air travel luring us abroad, there’s just too much to see and do right here in America. With plenty of accessible domestic tourism and stunning destinations for year-round travel, a weekend getaway in the U.S. is just the vacation we all need right now. Our picks bypass the obvious choices, say New York or L.A., in favor of smaller cities with booming art scenes, lesser-known towns with incredible restaurants and coastal spots with plenty of room to spread out on the sand. You’ll find fewer crowds and plenty of small-town charm at these unexpected destinations. Looking for someplace to go in 2026? These places should absolutely be on your travel radar this year. RECOMMENDED: The best cities to visit in the U.S.

So you’re looking to find a good jazz club in NYC? The city is the home of some of the best jazz in the world and has been since the 1920s. But recently, they, along with so many live-music venues around the city, have gone through a rough patch with skyrocketing rent and cost increases. That’s why it’s important to enjoy a night out at these bastions of great music. We’ve rounded up the top jazz clubs NYC has to offer from Greenwich Village, Manhattan to Gowanus, Brooklyn, touching on hallowed landmarks, swanky newcomers, cutting-edge outer-borough spots, no-frills joints, date-idea destinations and more. RECOMMENDED: Full coverage of jazz in NYC

Cherry blossoms in NYC offer New Yorkers a brief but gorgeous pop of beauty, which is why we flock in droves to see them when they bloom each spring. From the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to Central Park and even some hidden spots around town, we've rounded up the best places where you can gaze at the delicate pink flowers, take the perfect warm-weather-ready photo for your Instagram feed (remember to wear your cutest pink outfit), and check off your bucket list with these best things to do in spring.  RECOMMENDED: Best NYC events in 2026 When can you see cherry blossoms in NYC? Cherry blossoms bloom in NYC based on each year's weather, but they usually begin in earnest by late March. CentralPark.com says the park's trees bloom from April to May. Speaking of Central Park, the cherry blossom trees here can be found between 72nd Street and 96th Street around the Reservoir, Cherry Hill, Pilgrim Hill, Great Lawn, Cedar Hill, and the area just south of Cedar Hill between 74th and 77th Streets. But Central Park isn't the only place to admire these pretty petals; keep scrolling for the full list. 

When you're really feeling "the grind," it's your body and mind's way of telling you to go to the spa. If a weekend getaway isn’t in the cards, hitting one of the best spas in New York City is especially a great alternative. The city's spas dish out serious serenity in the form of massages, facials and other relaxing treatments so you can be refreshed and on the way to stress-free bliss. Spas are not just for melting away stress (though that’s certainly a welcome side effect), they also offer services that can soothe sore muscles, refresh tired skin or get you ready for a beach weekend or big night out. Others offer facilities where you can spend a full day unwinding (girls’ day, anyone?). Some offer or even specialize in couples massages for a romantic date option. NYC spas range from affordable to all-out luxurious. Treat yourself to a pampering at one of these spas—you deserve it.

Nowhere in the world does luxury quite like New York City, and from sleek, glassy, towering stays which overlook Columbus Circle and Central Park to tiny little boutique hotels which feel more like ridiculously fancy private homes, luxury comes in all grandiose shapes and glitzy sizes here.  But we aren’t just talking about cloud-like bedding and pretty decor—luxury also means gorging on dishes crafted by world-class chefs, being in prime New York locations, and enjoying polished, attentive service. So, looking to splash out on an ultra-luxe stay in NYC? Here’s where we would recommend, with new reviews of The Fifth Avenue Hotel, The Knickerbocker, and obviously, The Plaza.  Which area is best to stay in New York? For proper, over-the-top luxury, blockbuster New York hotels live on Fifth Avenue, in FiDi, or on the Upper East and West sides. You can browse our comprehensive guide to all of New York City’s best neighborhoods—it will help you figure out which is the best for your trip.  New York’s most luxurious hotels at a glance: 🤩 Most iconic: The Plaza 💎 Most luxurious: The Lowell Hotel 👛 Best budget: The Wallace Hotel 🌃 Best view: Mandarin Oriental 👙 Best pool: The Peninsula New York 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have re

This list is from 2024. Our latest ranking for 2025 is live here. In 2024, what exactly makes a neighbourhood cool? Craft breweries, natty wine bars and street art are well and good, but the world’s best, most exciting and downright fun neighbourhoods are much more than identikit ‘hipster hubs’. They’re places that reflect the very best of their cities – its culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink – all condensed in one vibey, walkable district. To create our annual ranking, we went straight to the experts – our global team of on-the-ground writers and editors – and asked them what the coolest neighbourhood in their city is right now, and why. Then we narrowed down the selection and ranked the list using the insight and expertise of Time Out’s global editors, who vetted each neighbourhood against criteria including food, drink, arts, culture, street life, community and one-of-a-kind local flavour. The result? A list that celebrates the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities – and all their quirks. Yes, you’ll find some of those international hallmarks of ‘cool’. But in every neighbourhood on this list there’s something you won’t find anywhere else. Ever been to a photography museum that moonlights as a jazz club? Or a brewery with a library of Russian literature? How about a festival dedicated to fluff? When communities fiercely support and rally around their local businesses, even the most eccentric ideas can become a reality. And that, in our eyes, is

This list is from 2025. Our latest ranking for 2026 is live here. People who don’t live in cities will tell you they’re busy, lonely and expensive places. But there’s a reason so many people choose to live in them: with world-class art and culture, unbeatable food and nightlife, buzzing neighbourhoods and a dizzying amount of stuff to do and see, there’s simply no better place to be.  Every year, we take the pulse of city living by quizzing thousands of locals across the planet about life in their hometowns. This year, more than 18,500 city-dwellers shared their insights on everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. When urban living can sometimes feel isolating and costly, this year we wanted to get a sense of what, exactly, makes a city feel like home. Sure, the nightlife is great, but is the city safe and walkable? Is good quality food and art available at a reasonable price? Is it easy to make friends, find love, and access nature?  Livability was a key factor in our ranking this year. But a great city to live in is, naturally, a great city to visit. So, along with the thousands of responses from locals around the world, we asked Time Out’s global network of city experts to vote on the places they think are particularly exciting right now. After crunching all that data, here we are: Time Out’s definitive ranking of the world’s best cities in 2025. Read on to see how your hometown fared… RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The coolest n

If there’s one thing—just one thing—you’re coming to New York City for, it’s got to be the views. There are few spectacles more iconic than the twinkly Manhattan skyline, after all, but housed inside many of those towering skyscrapers are hotels with magnificent views. With brand-new coverage from our local writers on Equinox Hotel, The Shelburne Sonesta and the Park Terrace Hotel, as well as many, many more.  Which area is best to stay in New York? Manhattan’s dense concentration of high-up, high-end hotels means you’re blessed with options for up close and personal views of The Big Apple, but heading over to Brooklyn is also a great option for more sweeping city vistas. Have a read of all our guides to all NYC’s neighborhoods, to help you decide.  New York’s best hotels with a view, at a glance: 🌃 Best view: Ritz-Carlton Central Park 👙 Best pool: Equinox Hotel 👛 Best budget: The Shelburne Sonesta 💎 Most luxurious: Mandarin Oriental 🤩 Most iconic: The Plaza 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes

Sometimes the best gift of all is flowers. Whether you're staying with the fam, visiting old school friends or celebrating with your other half, a beautiful bouquet of flowers sometimes just says 'I appreciate you' so much better. From glorious poinsettias to a curated bunch of delights, we've got you covered with the best flower delivery services in NYC.  Luckily, we live in NYC in the 21st century where you can get flowers delivered straight to your door for the very next day – or in some cases, that exact same day. And it’s not just bouquets you can send to your loved one. You can get potted plants (perfect for plant fanatics), good quality chocolates, candles, and even more sent straight to their door. We’re on hand to help you make the best decision by rounding up all of the very best flower delivery services in NYC, ready for you to choose your fave. And if you're not afraid of a little long-term commitment, many of the shops included in our round-up offer a subscription model so you can keep 'em coming all year round... RECOMMENDED: 🍫 Check out the best chocolate deliveries in the USAOr how about the best alcohol delivery in NYC? How do we know it's the best of the best? Our lists are expertly curated by our local experts far and wide to offer you the lowdown on the best delivery services in NYC. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Want to jump-start your health and wellness? A good place to begin is by joining one of these top-notch NYC gyms. Finding the perfect fitness center that won’t cost you an arm and a leg can feel like a huge feat, but we prefer you save your precious energy for the gym, so we’ve sweated through the city’s best and most budget-friendly health clubs across all five boroughs to ease your search. Here’s our essential list of our favorite places to get our blood pumping, which offer daily passes and monthly memberships among other perks like high-end amenities (hello heated pools!) and new fitness classes (and some non-traditional, weird fitness classes, too). Good luck with all your wellness goals, and after you dive in, go treat yourself to the best bagels in the city. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to fitness in NYC

As the nights draw in and the chill sets through the air, there’s no denying it: spooky season has officially arrived. The pumpkins are carved, the costume’s nailed and now there’s just one thing left to summon… a Halloween playlist wicked enough to get even the undead on their feet. Sure, the classic Halloween songs still reign supreme – we’re talking ‘Thriller’, ‘Ghostbusters’ and all the usual heavy-hitters. But lately, a new wave of pop phantoms has emerged to soundtrack your October nights. From Olivia Rodrigo’s ex-boyfriend bleeding her dry, to the enchanting spellwork of Lady Gaga a.k.a Mother Monster herself, with a detour through the slick, otherworldly beats of K-Pop’s most stylish demons – Halloween playlists have, quite literally, come back to life. Our favourite Halloween playlist songs for 2025 at a glance: Most iconic Halloween track: ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson Best new Halloween anthem: ‘Abracadabra’ by Lady Gaga Most dramatic Halloween song: ‘There Will Be Blood’ by Kim Petras Best Halloween anthem with a K-Pop twist: ‘Your Idol’ by Saja Boys Best Halloween track to dance to: ‘Monster Mash’ by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers RECOMMENDED: 👻 The best Halloween movies of all time 🎤 The best karaoke songs 🎵 The best songs of 2025 so far 🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far

A hotel needs to tick at least three boxes for when you’re visiting New York City—it’s got to be clean, comfortable and centrally located. Aura Hotel Times Square checks these off easily, and it all begins when you enter the lobby on West 44th Street. As soon as we stepped inside the soothing space (with a dreamy scent immediately gracing us), the chaos of midtown quickly faded away. Our check-in was seamless and pleasant (we were given two drink tickets to the bar next door, The Long Room), and we got to head up to our room straight away, one of the penthouse suites overlooking part of Times Square and the Theater District—a reminder of just how perfectly located Aura Hotel is. Why stay at Aura Hotel Times Square? Set across from Belasco Theatre, a block or two from Bryant Park, Times Square and many other Broadway theaters, it is one of the more convenient stays in the area, and it doesn’t skimp on vibes. Aura Hotel was previously Hotel Mela, but it underwent an extensive renovation, with a grand reopening in 2024 by Rebel Hotel Company. So, what’s new here? A fresh aesthetic with newly redesigned rooms with modern furnishings, state-of-the-art technology and better cityscape views is what. The stylish design found in each room is both calming and pleasant with upscale touches across the space, from plush rugs to light wood accents and more. Plus, there are lovely Molton Brown toiletries and Nespresso coffee machines in each room. Aura Hotel Times Square also has a dedicate

Coney Island has been the center of seaside amusement since before the turn of the 20th century. It has been romanticized in film and music—beloved for its exciting rides and wacky attractions for children and the nostalgic memories it brings to adults. It saw years of neglect, sure, but the arrival of the Luna Park amusement park restored the area’s lively nature. Today, hundreds of thousands of people visit what has become one of the top New York beaches offering a range of fun things to do in summer. From movie nights to concerts and the wild Mermaid Parade, there’s truly an activity for everyone. The summer destination is one of the best day trips from NYC, so when you go, hit must-visit stops like Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand for a bite, attend a crazy Coney Island Cyclone game and check out New York City's only aquarium.

Love the art of letter writing? Letters Live allows you to step into the words of luminaries like David Bowie, Charlotte Brontë, Che Guevara, Mohandas Gandhi and others with a live reading by talented performers. In the past, featured performers have been Benedict Cumberbatch, Lawrence Fishburne, Olivia Colman, Cate Blanchett and Taika Waititi! Not only that, the live reading is set to live music by popular artists. But you won't know who's performing until they take the stage. Organizers say, "rest assured, you will not be disappointed!" You'll have three nights to sit in for the readings—May 31 and June 1 and 2.

The opulent residence that houses a private collection of great masters (from the 14th through the 19th centuries) was originally built for industrialist Henry Clay Frick. The firm of Carrère & Hastings designed the 1914 structure in an 18th-century European style, with a beautiful interior court and reflecting pool. The permanent collections include world-class paintings, sculpture and furniture by the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Renoir and French cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener.  Following its 2020 closure for renovations, the Frick Collection reopened on April 17, 2025 inside its historic Gilded Age mansion. Now, visitors can see the museum's permanent collection inside restored spaces on the first floor while also walking around a new roster of galleries on the mansion's second floor—once the Frick family's private quarters—now open to the public for the very first time. That means you can walk into the original bedroom of Henry Clay Frick! Read more on The Frick's incredible new offerings, including a new 218-seat auditorium, an airy class room, an expanded reception hall, new state-of-the-art conservation studios and the museum’s first-ever cafe.

NYC Bud is not only Long Island City's first recreational dispensary but the first subway-themed dispensary. The interior is designed to look like an MTA subway station with vintage subway benches, subway signs and even graffiti from classic ’80s artists. There's a “wide range of high-quality” NYC cannabis brands for purchase in-store or delivery, including flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles and accessories from brands like Dank, Zizzle, MFNY, Ruby Farms, Good Times, Chef for Higher and Plug N Play. The shop also hosts fun events like Buds & Brushes, comedy shows, bud brunches and DJ sets.

This was the first recreational cannabis retail store in New York and its focus is on smaller businesses owned by BIPOC and women, including Florist Farms, Back Home Cannabis Company, Aryloom and Lobo Cannagar. You’ll find vapes, edibles, flower, prerolls and more from these brands in addition to apparel and literature about smoking, cannabis, the mission of Housing Works and more. You can peruse its full menu here. The dispensary in its first year added 200 more products to its menu with more from queer-, BIPOC- and women-owned and led companies. And currently carries several social equity brands, including Brelixi, Fat Nell, The Weekenders and Flamer and Drew Martin. Housing Works also puts its generated revenue back into the community that it serves. Since 1990, the nonprofit has been an advocate for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and has provided lifesaving services and has done that through entrepreneurial businesses, including its 10 thrift stores and bookstore/cafe in Soho. The dispensary was its 12th shop in NYC and one of many dispensaries it has planned (another just opened in NoMad at 30th Street and Sixth Avenue). 

This giant space with shiny wood floors and colorful art on its walls is Steinway's own licensed cannabis dealer and art gallery.  Those looking for product get a personalized experience with a focus on the therapeutic and wellness benefits that cannabis can offer in a welcoming, informative and educational atmosphere. And as mentioned earlier, Cannavita has its sights set higher—it regularly hosts gallery nights to support local artists, comedy nights and even yoga nights to encourage mindfulness and wellness.

Tucked away on Bridge Street in an old factory basement, this two-story playscape for kids and adults contains ample room for fun, including laser tag, mini-bowling and arcade games. Laser tag games are comprised of three 10-15-minute matches, where you bob and weave around rustic columns and obstacles Area 53 has set up. Across an hour-and-a-half, you and your friends will be giggling and screaming as you "shoot" each other's guns to gain points. It's not for the faint of heart—running to avoid lasers is a workout, but a super fun one. We'd recommend checking out its "After Dark" laser tag and mini-bowling for those 18+ on Thursday nights. Area 53's mini-bowling allows for up to six people to knock down pins across 25 minutes and its arcade has traditional games, from basketball shooting games to racing games and claw machines.  Area 53 has other locations with even more fun—its Williamsburg "Adventure" spot has a ropes course, rock climbing, a zip line, slides, battle beams and ball and foam pits, an arcade, roller skating and more! There's also an Area 53 Paintball arena in Williamsburg that's 20,000 square feet (with its own arcade). We recently took our editorial team to laser tag at Area 53, and we had an absolute blast (pun intended).

This Australian shop, which began as a market stall in 2007, opened a store in Brooklyn in 2012, and offers pretty good deals, from $5 and $10 boxes of vintage pieces to dig through to more curated selections from Brooklyn-based brands. More specifically, its denim selection is impressive and includes a lot of different styles, patterns and fits. The store says Malia Obama, Jenna Ortega, Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Pattinson have all perused its wares. Time Out Tip: On a recent visit, we picked up some darling dangling star earrings and a watch ring—it was very busy, so we plan to go back on a week day.

Dig and ye shall find: The booty at this crazy-packed vintage store includes 1960s–1990s options for both guys and girls, plus a considerable costume jewelry and funky housewares selection. Not only is it chock full of great finds but it's really fun to look at. We went on a recent Saturday and found so much amid its racks, including a barely used sleek Michael Kors purse for $50 and a pair of never-worn, black velvet combat boots for $25. Even cooler, I found out that they take donations and you get 25% off your next purchase. Time Out Tip: The store spans two floors at 496 Driggs Avenue and 197 North 9th Street, so plan accordingly and bring some friends (and reusable bags) for a hunt to remember.

The fascinating history of one midtown building has become its future. The Chemists' Club Hotel, which opened February 2025, rests within a 1911 building that used to be home to the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the New York Section of the Society of Chemical Industry until 1987. The boutique hotel, which was redesigned from the former Dylan Hotel by Ilmiodesign, has 107 guest rooms and suites, a fitness center, a dedicated concierge and the acclaimed restaurant Benjamin Steakhouse, which remains.  But the star of the redesign is its Alchemy Suite, which boasts original gothic arches and stained-glass windows. The Penthouse Suite with a terrace featuring sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline is a runner up and for those with humbler budgets, the Junior Suites offer a still luxe experience with modern amenities and their own separate sitting areas. If you travel with your family or friends, you can opt for a deluxe double room. This is a very New York conversion—when it was a Chemists' Club, scientists met on a “social floor,” worked on a “scientific floor,” rented out one of its three laboratories, and stayed in its residential spaces. Now, travelers from all over are invited to luxuriate there. “Guests are encouraged to immerse themselves in the hotel’s artistic heritage, featuring works by renowned artists and sculptors–like Marcos Castillo and Carlos Bustamante–that celebrate the time honored story of the original Chemists’ Club,” the hotel’s press release states.

Time Out is throwing it down on Saturday nights with live DJ sets, the best views in NYC and drinks that'll get you in the groove. This week and on every Second Saturday, dance to Latin groove with DJ Loko & Thankyoueddin, featuring Rogue and Dada Cosmic. See you on the rooftop!   Coming up for Spotlight Saturdays: First Saturdays: Noise Complaint with DJ LSJThird Saturdays: Motion x Movement by One Motion DJs; AfroBeats & CaribbeanFourth Saturdays: MORESOUPPLEASE

Those meddling kids are coming back in a new way, according to Netflix. The streaming service is currently filming a live-action TV series called Scooby-Doo: Origins that will explore how the gang met before they became "Mystery Inc." Based on the characters from Hanna-Barbera, the new show from Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg (and their production company, Midnight Radio) will follow Shaggy and Daphne at summer camp as they get pulled into a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely, lost Great Dane puppy who may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. "Alongside the pragmatic and scientific townie Velma and the strange but ever-so-handsome new kid Freddy, they set out to solve the case that’s pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets," Netflix says. Mckenna Grace (The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Regretting You) will star as Daphne Blake, Tanner Hagen (The Pitt, Dark Light) will be Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson (Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret; Carousel) will be Velma Dinkley, and Maxwell Jenkins (Lost in Space, The Bondsman) will be Fred Jones. Paul Walter Hauser has been cast in a currently undisclosed role. It’s safe to say that Scooby-Doo himself will be animated/CGI. Scooby-Doo: Origins is also executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman (via Berlanti Productions), and André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Adrienne Erickson (via Midnight Radio). Toby Haynes will also serve as

Can't make it to the Stagecoach Festival this year? That’s OK—you can stream it! California's "country Coachella" is back with performances from artists like Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson and Post Malone this weekend, April 24 - 26. The three-day country music festival is happening in Indio, California, and this year, you can expect country's best—and a cross-genre lineup including Third Eye Blind, Avery Anna, Ludacris, Michael Marcagi, Pitbull, The Red Clay Strays, Wynonna Judd, Ludacris and Diplo. Here’s everything you need to know about the festival and how to watch it live. Where can I watch the Stagecoach live stream? You can watch Stagecoach on Prime Video, Twitch and the Amazon Music app. For the first time, you can also stream it live on the Amazon Music app on Fire TV. The Stagecoach 2026 livestream starts at 3pm PT each day of the festival. The international rebroadcast will be available beginning 9am. Can I watch all the stages or just one? Fans can switch between multiple stages on the Amazon Music app on mobile, web and Fire TV.  Can I easily watch the streams after they air? There will be a daily international rebroadcast on these platforms on April 25-27. How many sets will be streamed? There will be 40 sets on Friday, 39 on Saturday and 39 on Sunday! Don’t miss a single one—check out these schedules: Photograph: courtesy Stagecoach Festival Photograph: courtesy Stagecoach Festival Photograph: courtesy Stagecoach Festival There will also be fan polls and Q

Women continue to crush it in literature, and this year is no different. On Wednesday, six authors were named on the Women’s Prize Trust 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist, which means they’ve written books that examine the female experience in a groundbreaking way. The short list narrows down titles from 16 to six and in June, the trust will announce one winner who will win £30,000 (about $40K in USD) and the trust’s "Bessie" statuette. But already, we have a list of worthwhile books that an experienced panel of judges believes deserve recognition. (Judges this year include Julia Gillard, the former Prime Minister of Australia; poet, novelist and essayist, Mona Arshi; author, presenter, poet and speaker, Salma El-Wardany; writer, podcaster, actor and comedian, Cariad Lloyd and author, broadcaster and DJ, Annie Macmanus.) RECOMMENDED: Spotify now sells printed books through its app in the U.S. and U.K. According to the trust, the books span genre and setting, from the 1960s to the present day, from the Mississippi Delta to Japan, and from a college campus to the family home. But they all explore the complexity and beauty of the female experience as well as "the wealth of roles women play in society, the power they hold, and the extent to which they choose, or are able, to wield it." "The significance and experience of fiction is highly subjective and personal, but we can share in its undeniable power to hold up a lens to the realities of our world, and to connect with o

"Ogres are like onions. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers." Ogres also have Lego sets! Lego and Universal just announced a new brick set inspired by DreamWorks Animation's beloved Shrek franchise—the first time Shrek has appeared in Lego form. The first set, which is for ages 18+, contains detailed and posable Lego Shrek, Donkey and Puss in Boots figures. Shrek and Donkey are built with Legos, while Puss in Boots is a minifigure. It also contains a swamp base with the classic "Beware Ogre!" sign, so you can play out the "What are you doing in my swamp?!" scene. Cute nods to the film can be found within the box, including sunflowers, an onion and a blue flower with red thorns. If you know, you know. It's $129.99 and contains 1,403 pieces. Photograph: courtesy Lego Younger builders (those ages 10+) are getting a new Lego BrickHeadz set containing Shrek, Donkey and Gingy. (BrickHeadz are stylized, brick-built collectible figures, known for their distinctive square-headed design). Inside, you'll find Shrek's signature ears, Donkey’s cheeky smile, Gingy's icing buttons, and the "Beware Ogre" sign. This one is $24.99 and has 260 pieces. Photograph: courtesy Lego The news comes at the perfect time, as this year marks the 25th anniversary of the first film's premiere!  "Shrek has always celebrated imagination, friendship, and a little bit of mischief, which are values that translate perfectly into Lego play," said Raquel Ojeda, the Creative Lead from the Lego Group. "We're og

Kids (and kids at heart) can enjoy a taste of the Upside Down at McDonald's starting May 5—don’t worry, there are no demogorgons involved (unless you scan a QR code). On the premiere of Stranger Things: Tales From '85, April 23, Netflix and McDonald’s announced they're launching a special Stranger Things Happy Meal that includes: A custom Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85-inspired Happy Meal box One of 12 collectible character toys (Will, Caleb, Eleven, Dustin, Max and Mike) A Stranger Things activity book A QR code that unlocks a digital experience and interactive game where fans help save Hawkins (and McDonald's) from the monsters RECOMMENDED: Netflix's Stranger Things: Tales From '85 premieres this week The partnership is celebrating the release of the new animated kids' show, which follows the kid-crew in the winter of 1985, when they discover more horrors beneath the ice. "Mysterious monsters have spread across Hawkins—and now the creatures have taken over a beloved local hangout: McDonald’s," reads the Happy Meal announcement. "Luckily, Dustin and the gang have formed the Hawkins Investigators Club, but they can’t defeat this new threat alone. That’s where you come in. To bring the mission to life, a campaign spanning linear, digital and social uses original animation drawn directly from the show's distinctive visual style in commercials that drop fans right into the heart of the action. Every touchpoint is designed to make you feel like part of the crew." The new show

Where are the funny people at? That's what we all want to know. Netflix is presenting its answer with what it’s calling "The Short List," a showcase of 10 comedians that'll take place during The Netflix Is a Joke Festival, a week-long comedy extravaganza on May 4–10 in partnership with Live Nation. While the festival set in L.A. features over 350 live events, including stand-up performances, variety shows, comedy podcasts, tapings, exclusive events, and screenings, it’ll also put the very bright spotlight on rising comedy stars with The Short List. RECOMMENDED: 800 Pound Gorilla is launching a new streaming service exclusively for comedy According to the streamer, the comedians set for The Short List are:  Comedian CP (Chris Powell): a writer and performer whose comedy special Sunday After Six debuted in 2025 and was most recently on the staff of the second season of Diarra from Detroit. Ethan Simmons-Patterson is a stand-up comedian who has been featured on Comedy Central and is a regular at The Comedy Cellar. Gabby Bryan is a New York-based stand-up comedian, actress, podcaster, and Emmy-winning producer currently performing across the U.S. and U.K. to sold-out crowds with her tour “Gabby Bryan is My Best Friend.” Lucas Zelnick is a New York City native who has been featured on Comedy Central and in films including Regulars, Fade to Black and Pizza Movie. Maddie Wiener is a stand-up comedian who made her Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon debut last year on NBC and has fil

Women’s hoops returns this week—we're just days away from seeing what Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A'ja Wilson can pull off this WNBA season. The preseason is firing up this weekend already, and we've got questions: Will the Las Vegas Aces win again, or will the Phoenix Mercury rise again? Or will another team take the lead? Each of the league’s 15 teams will play 44 games in the 2026 regular season for a record total of 330 WNBA games! "The WNBA is coming off a landmark season in 2025, one that was defined by incredible basketball and countless memorable performances," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. "With an incredible 2026 draft and so many notable free agency signings and trades now giving way to the start of the season, the WNBA's unprecedented lineup of linear and streaming partners will shine a light on must-see matchups, and the remarkable skills the WNBA's stars provide each time they step on the court." The excitement is palpable, but tracking down where the games are airing is tricky. Fortunately, there are ways to make sure you don’t miss the biggest games. We’re breaking down what you need to know for the 2026 WNBA season right here, so you get in on all the action. The 2026 WNBA season start date The WNBA preseason opens this week on April 25, and the regular season tips off on May 8.  The 2026 WNBA game schedule You can see every game on the WNBA website, where you can sort the schedule by team and month. You can also find ticket links t

Prime Video just released its trailer for the fourth season of The Legend of Vox Machina—and we are so back! The hit adult animated fantasy-adventure series, based on the first campaign of the Dungeons & Dragons web series Critical Role, returns on June 3. Based on the trailer, fans will get what they’ve been waiting for. Watch the trailer below: Set a year after the Chroma Conclave, the crew, Vox Machina crew—Grog, Keyleth, Percy, Pike, Scanlan, Vax, and Vex—has separated, but when a long-slumbering evil awakens to threaten the realm, they reunite to take it down. The season will once again be voiced by Critical Role founders and cast members Laura Bailey (The Last of Us: Part II), Taliesin Jaffe (World of Warcraft), Ashley Johnson (The Last of Us), Matthew Mercer (Baldur’s Gate 3), Liam O’Brien (Marvel’s Avengers), Marisha Ray (Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft), Sam Riegel (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and Travis Willingham (Dispatch). The Critical Role cast also serves as executive producers alongside Chris Prynoski (Metalocalypse), Shannon Prynoski (Fairfax), and Ben Kalina (Big Mouth) of Titmouse. The cast also features previously announced voice actors Wayne Brady (The Wayne Brady Show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Kevin Michael Richardson (Lilo & Stitch, Kamek in The Super Mario Bros. Movie), and more. The show of produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Critical Role and Titmouse. The show still has a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is tough to accomplish, but ac

The Eye of Sauron draws ever closer. For months, there's been a rumor that the divisive (and expensive) Amazon Prime TV series The Rings of Power wouldn’t be released until 2027, but The Hollywood Reporter says it has confirmation that it is coming out later this year, in 2026. "A source close to production tells The Hollywood Reporter it'll be a little sooner than [2027]," the outlet writes. Better late than never, we say. Waiting two years between seasons has been the name of the game with this production. Season 2 came out in 2024, two years after the show's debut. So what do we know about the new season? The show, which is set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, jumps forward several years from the events of season 2. "Season 3 takes place at the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron, as the Dark Lord seeks to craft the One Ring that will give him the edge he needs to win the war and conquer all Middle-earth at last,” the synopsis reads. We know Charlie Vickers will return as Sauron, while Morfydd Clark will be back as Galadriel and Robert Aramayo will be back as Elrond. Newcomers will include Stranger Things' Jamie Campbell Bower, Ray Donovan‘s Eddie Marsan, Andrew Richardson, Zubin Varla and Adam Young. Amazon released a season wrap video featuring Campbell Bower and others in December. That is a picture wrap on Season 3! pic.twitter.com/Ir1rg9FETP — The Lord of the Rings (@TheRingsofPower) December 10, 2025 While the series has an overall rating of 84% on R

Starting May 5, there will be a one-stop shop for comedy specials. The Nashville comedy production company, 800 Pound Gorilla Media, with help from Cineverse is launching its own premium, ad-free streaming service called Gorilla Comedy+ (it's always gotta be a +, doesn't it?). The platform will feature exclusive new specials from comics like Patton Oswalt, Pete Holmes, Nish Kumar, Jourdain Fisher, Emmy Blotnick, alongside the full 800 Pound Gorilla catalog, which is over 250 titles. The app will have a curated library, comedian spotlights and will regularly release new specials. Upcoming releases include stand-up by Ian Bagg, Whitney Cummings, David Cross, Matt Rife, Kyle Kinane and Anjelah Johnson-Reyes. RECOMMENDED: The best new standup specials streaming right now "We're building Gorilla Comedy+ as a place where the comedy world can come together, which hasn't existed until now," said Damion Greiman, a co-founder of 800 Pound Gorilla. "After 10 years in the middle with a lot of comics, it's about helping them get to fans and keep building specials, series, movies and beyond." Founded in 2016, the 800 Pound Gorilla network produces, distributes and does marketing for stand-up comedy specials, including projects like Mark Normand’s Out To Lunch and Matt Rife’s Only Fans, Leanne Morgan's I'm Every Woman and Sean Patton's Number One. It partnered with other distributors like Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Network, Bill Burr & Al Madrigal’s All Things Comedy, as well as Comedy Cen

Rapper, singer and actor Jack Harlow is gifting books to readers tonight at one of NYC’s best bookstores. Harlow, 28, took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce that he’d gift a book to readers if they shop at McNally Jackson in Soho between 6:30pm and 8:30pm on Wednesday, April 22.  The first-come, first-served offer comes after the release of Monica, his fourth studio album, on March 13. He said he frequented the shop for inspiration while working on it. RECOMMENDED: A bookless bookstore is opening on the Bowery next month View this post on Instagram A post shared by @jackharlow According to Pix 11, Harlow approached the store with the idea. "We loved it from the start," the bookstore’s Director of Marketing, Jack Kyono, told the outlet. "It’s a generous and creative move, and it will be an exciting moment for reading culture in New York City." McNally Jackson, which has five NYC locations, features one of the city's most thoughtfully curated selections of nonfiction, novels, hard-to-find magazines, children's books and, most notably, poetry. Head to the McNally Jackson at 134 Prince St. in Soho to get your free book. Make sure to line up early or you’ll miss out!

Can a first love last forever? That’s the heart of the storyline in this summer's Heartstopper Forever—the finale movie that'll wrap up the fan-favorite romance on Netflix. Premiering on July 17, which is the fourth anniversary of Season 1's release, the movie picks up after the Season 3 finale that set up the inseparable couple for a long-distance future with Nick (Kit Connor) leaving for college soon. With Nick now preparing to leave for university and Charlie (Joe Locke) finding new independence at school, the reality of a long-distance relationship begins to weigh on them. Doubts take hold, and their relationship faces its biggest challenge yet, Netflix says. RECOMMENDED: Netflix's ‘Stranger Things: Tales From '85' premieres this week In the words of Alice Oseman, the story's creator, executive producer and graphic novelist, the film will explore time, memory, love, pain, the changing of the seasons, endings and beginnings and the ordinary magic of our everyday lives. "For a teenage relationship, [long distance] is a pretty huge hurdle to overcome," she said in a Tudum article. "Each of them has some conflicting feelings about this development. Nick isn't sure who he is without Charlie, and Charlie is nervous about being left behind. They have some work to do — both on their relationship and individually." Their friends are facing similar issues with the idea of potentially saying "goodbye." Before it airs in July, here's what you need to know about the movie: Why is Hear