Events & Things To Do

15 ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month in NYC

Photo of the National Museum of the American Indian courtesy of Wikimedia; Photo of AMNH’s Northwest Coast Hall courses of D. Finnin/AMNH

November 1, 2022

15 ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

In November, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month as a way to commemorate the cultures, histories, and traditions of indigenous peoples across the country. Although New York became the first state to recognize "American Indian Day" in 1916, it's important to remember that the forceful removal of Native people from their homes is inextricably linked to the history of New York City and the surrounding area. Ahead, find ways to honor Native American Heritage Month, from events at the National Museum of the American Indian to nature-inspired tours through city parks.
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Get a first look at this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Photo courtesy of Tishman Speyer

November 1, 2022

Get a first look at this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

By Devin Gannon

The 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has officially been announced, marking the start of New York City's holiday season. The 82-foot-tall Norway Spruce hails from Queensbury, an upstate New York town near Lake George. The Rockefeller Christmas Tree will arrive in Manhattan on Saturday, November 12, and then will be decorated with thousands of lights. The annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 30.
It's that time of year again

All renderings courtesy of Marvel

October 31, 2022

Bronx Museum of the Arts unveils $26M renovation plan and brand redesign

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York City's only free contemporary art museum revealed a new design and revamped brand identity. Located at the corner of Grand Concourse and 165th Street in the Bronx, the Bronx Museum of the Arts will receive a new multi-story entrance and lobby design in its South Wing created by architectural firm Marvel using $26 million in city funding. It is the first time the museum has undergone such a significant transformation, which will wrap up by 2025.
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The Kenneth C. Griffin Exploration Atrium; Photo: Timothy Schenck/©AMNH

October 28, 2022

See how Studio Gang’s canyon-inspired science center is taking shape at AMNH

By Devin Gannon

Not only does the American Museum of Natural History's new center make the museum's founding dream of building one continuous campus across four city blocks a reality, but it also brings a new architectural gem to New York City. Designed by Jeanne Gang's Studio Gang, the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation is a dramatic, curving structure, inspired by caves and canyons formed by natural forces. The museum released new photos and provided a media tour of the Gilder Center this week, highlighting its progress on the Upper West Side ahead of the official opening in February.
Take the tour

See NYC architects compete in annual pumpkin carving contest Pumpkitecture

Image courtesy of Sam Lahoz

October 27, 2022

See NYC architects compete in annual pumpkin carving contest Pumpkitecture

By Aaron Ginsburg

The annual competition that pits New York City-based architectural firms against each other to carve the best pumpkin is returning on Friday, just in time for Halloween. Known as Pumpkitecture, the event will give onlookers the opportunity to see architects hone their skills in real-time and compete for the big prize, the Pritzkerpumpkin. Pumpkitecture will take place at the Center for Architecture at 536 LaGuardia Place in Greenwich Village on October 28 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Get ready to go gourd to gourd

Mexico Week returns to Rockefeller Center for Day of the Dead

Photo courtesy of Tishman Speyer

October 26, 2022

Mexico Week returns to Rockefeller Center for Day of the Dead

By Aaron Ginsburg

Rockefeller Center is hosting its second annual Mexico Week, a celebration of Mexican heritage and Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Over the course of the weeklong event, New Yorkers can experience Mexican art, food, music, and culture across the campus. Mexico Week kicks off this Thursday and runs through November 2.
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Events & Things To Do

Nearly 100 NYC streets will go car-free for safe trick-or-treating this Halloween

Photo courtesy of Marco on Flickr

October 24, 2022

Nearly 100 NYC streets will go car-free for safe trick-or-treating this Halloween

By Aaron Ginsburg

For the first time, dozens of New York City's "Open Streets" will expand operating hours on Halloween to make trick-or-treating safer for young New Yorkers. As part of the Department of Transportation's "Trick-or-Streets," nearly 100 streets, plazas, and other commercial corridors across the city will be closed to cars on October 31 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith to create floor-to-ceiling mosaics at new Grand Central Madison terminal

Yayoi Kusama, 2020 Photo by Yusuke Miyazaki © YAYOI KUSAA Courtesy Ota Fine Arts, Victoria Miro, David Zwirner

October 17, 2022

Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith to create floor-to-ceiling mosaics at new Grand Central Madison terminal

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has tapped two contemporary artists to create permanent artwork for the long-awaited 700,000-square-foot Long Island Rail Road terminal opening at Grand Central this year. MTA Arts & Design, the agency responsible for commissioning public art in subway stations, announced artists Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith will design site-specific floor-to-ceiling mosaics for the new terminal, dubbed Grand Central Madison.
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The top spooky and spirited NYC bars to visit this Halloween

Photo courtesy of The Cauldron NYC

October 14, 2022

The top spooky and spirited NYC bars to visit this Halloween

By Devin Gannon

New York City's favorite holiday is back and better than ever, with Halloween traditions and events returning in full force after two years. In addition to the parades, pumpkins, costume contests, and fright fests, many of the city's bars and restaurants transform into spooky dens decked out in eerie decor and serving spirited drinks and ghostly bites. Make the most of Halloween by visiting one of these freakishly festive bars.
Where to sip on spooky spirits

A history of the Village Halloween Parade: Puppets, performers, and NYC pride

Photo via John St John / Flickr

October 12, 2022

A history of the Village Halloween Parade: Puppets, performers, and NYC pride

By Dana Schulz

The Village Halloween Parade may not be as completely outrageous as it once was, but this annual holiday extravaganza is quintessential Greenwich Village. Though many parade attendees are there to show off their costumes and check out those of others, there's a large number of guests who revel in the nostalgia of a New York tradition that's marched downtown since 1973. But there's a lot more history to the parade than most people may know. For instance, it didn't always go up 6th Avenue, and there's an entire art form behind those supersized puppets.
All the history right here

Open House New York returns this month with free tours of 270+ places in NYC

By Devin Gannon

The annual Open House New York Weekend returns for its 20th year this month and for the first time, the festival will be totally free to attend. OHNY takes place from October 21 through October 23 and offers an up-close look at more than 270 buildings, projects, and other spaces across New York City typically off-limits to the public. Even better, the festival has done away with its $5 reservation fee at places with restricted capacity and has introduced a new lottery system for ticketed locations that will replace its old first-come, first-serve model.
See the lineup

The Garment District’s iconic button & needle kiosk will be redesigned

Rendering courtesy of the Garment District Alliance

October 11, 2022

The Garment District’s iconic button & needle kiosk will be redesigned

By Aaron Ginsburg

The iconic button and needle sculpture and information kiosk that has sat on a Garment District corner since the 1970s is getting a makeover. Located on Seventh Avenue and 39th Street, the new permanent art installation will be 28 feet tall and include a 15-foot diameter aluminum button and a 32-foot brushed stainless steel needle, according to the Garment District Alliance. The sculpture, which will replace the now-vacant kiosk, is set to be completed in December.
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Events & Things To Do

Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens for the first time in over two years

Image via WikiCommons

October 11, 2022

Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens for the first time in over two years

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Statue of Liberty's crown on Tuesday reopened to the public for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The crown closed in March 2020 when Covid-19 first hit New York City due to concerns about spreading the virus in the statue's enclosed spaces. Visitors should be prepared to climb the 162 steps to the top as there is no elevator service.
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New exhibition at Grand Central traces 100 years of urban planning and design in NYC

Photos courtesy of Regional Plan Association

October 7, 2022

New exhibition at Grand Central traces 100 years of urban planning and design in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

In celebration of its centennial, the civic group Regional Plan Association has opened a free public exhibition in Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall. Designed by James Sanders Studio and curated by RPA, The Constant Future: A Century of the Regional Plan explores 100 years of New York City's development from 1922 to the present day. The two-story display will be on view through October 24.
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Whimsical ‘Wonderland’-inspired art exhibit and bar opens in Midtown

Photo by Elizabeth Acevedo

October 6, 2022

Whimsical ‘Wonderland’-inspired art exhibit and bar opens in Midtown

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new interactive art experience is bringing the whimsical world of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to Midtown. Created by artist Alexa Meade, the Wonderland Dreams art installation includes more than 20 playfully hand-painted rooms in Meade's signature 3D style. Meade has painted every inch of the 26,000-square-foot space, from floor to ceiling, creating a multi-dimensional work of art inspired by the Lewis Carroll novel. Taking over the old Best Buy at 529 Fifth Avenue, the limited exhibition opens on Friday, October 7 and runs through April 2023. The accompanying wine bar is expected to open later this month.
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Pumpkin picking and fall festivities return to Governors Island

Photo via Governors Island

October 5, 2022

Pumpkin picking and fall festivities return to Governors Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

Governors Island is welcoming back visitors for its annual Pumpkin Point fall festival. Hosted in Nolan Park, guests are invited to come and pick their pumpkins for free with a suggested donation. The event also includes a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, pumpkin painting, and more. Pumpkin Point will take place on the weekends of October 22- 23 and October 29- 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Events & Things To Do

Brooklyn art installation turns old emergency call boxes into memorials for victims of police brutality

All photos courtesy of Bradley McCallum

October 4, 2022

Brooklyn art installation turns old emergency call boxes into memorials for victims of police brutality

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new public art installation in Downtown Brooklyn aims to bring attention to the fight against racism, violence, and the abuse of power within the criminal justice system. Created by artist Bradley McCallum, Witnessing transforms emergency call boxes once found on city sidewalks into memorials for victims and survivors of police brutality. McCallum's work will be on display in The Plaza at 300 Ashland through January 2023.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

October 4, 2022

NYPL and Marvel team up to release special Spider-Man library card

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York Public Library and Marvel Entertainment are releasing a limited-edition Spider-Man library card this month. Debuting just in time for New York Comic Con this week, the card will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis at NYPL branches throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island starting October 11. The collaboration marks the 60th anniversary of Spider-Man's first comic book appearance in the 15th edition of Amazing Fantasy.
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Events & Things To Do

MTA partners with Katz’s Deli and Alidoro on new subway-themed sandwich

Photo courtesy of Jessie Mislavsky/MTA on Flickr

September 30, 2022

MTA partners with Katz’s Deli and Alidoro on new subway-themed sandwich

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has partnered with legendary New York City sandwich shops Katz's Deli and Alidoro to create a limited-edition sandwich in celebration of the subway's 118th anniversary. The sandwich is being sold at four Alidoro locations in Manhattan from September 29 through October 31.
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Lego-like Radio Hotel and Tower opens in Washington Heights

All photos courtesy of Ossip van Duivenbode

September 30, 2022

Lego-like Radio Hotel and Tower opens in Washington Heights

By Aaron Ginsburg

Washington Heights' first-ever full-service boutique hotel is now open. Located at 2420 Amsterdam Avenue at the foot of the Washington Bridge, the colorful Radio Hotel and Tower was designed by Dutch firm MVRDV, with Stonehill Taylor as the architect of record, to "stand out at the entrance of Manhattan." The 23-story mixed-use building contains a 221-room hotel, ground-floor retail, office space, a Santo Domingo-inspired restaurant, and a rooftop lounge with 360-degree views.
Take a look

A free festival celebrating Chinatown and its community takes place this weekend

Image courtesy of Wes Hicks on Unsplash

September 29, 2022

A free festival celebrating Chinatown and its community takes place this weekend

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new festival celebrating Chinatown is coming to Lower Manhattan. Hosted by the neighborhood advocacy group Welcome to Chinatown, the 88 East Fair aims to bring business and appreciation to Chinatown's businesses and cultural institutions that have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Held at the East Broadway Mall at 88 East Broadway, the fair will run on September 30 and October 1 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Details this way

Events & Things To Do

Take a virtual tour of Bed-Stuy’s turn-of-the-century brownstones

Photo courtesy of The Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant

September 29, 2022

Take a virtual tour of Bed-Stuy’s turn-of-the-century brownstones

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant is once again inviting architecture lovers and design buffs on a virtual tour of the neighborhood's most remarkable brownstones. Returning for its 44th year with the theme "Preserving Our Legacy, While Embracing Our Future," the house tour will be available starting on October 15, with ticket holders able to view the video until November 27. While it once was an in-person experience, the event has been held virtually since 2020 because of the pandemic.
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Take a yoga class surrounded by immersive art in NYC’s Hall des Lumières

All photos by Matt Ritchie

September 29, 2022

Take a yoga class surrounded by immersive art in NYC’s Hall des Lumières

By Aaron Ginsburg

Here's a chance to participate in a unique "art-infused" yoga experience in the Hall des Lumières, a new permanent immersive art museum in Tribeca. Equinox has launched a six-week yoga series in the new cultural institution, which opened earlier this month inside the landmarked Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank. During the 45-minute vinyasa yoga flow class, participants are surrounded by the museum's inaugural exhibition featuring glowing projections of Gustav Klimt's famous artworks. Classes, some of which are open to non-Equinox members, take place on Thursday mornings through October 27 and cost $50.
Learn more here

Events & Things To Do

Bryant Park’s Winter Village returns for 21st season next month

Photo courtesy of Colin Miller

September 28, 2022

Bryant Park’s Winter Village returns for 21st season next month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Bryant Park's famous Bank of America Winter Village is set to return for its 21st season, offering New Yorkers the city's only free admission ice-skating rink, a renowned open-air holiday market, and the cozy rinkside Lodge with its seasonal cocktails and food. The Winter Village will be open daily starting October 28 through March 5.
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Events & Things To Do

10 best apple & pumpkin picking spots near NYC

Photo by Marius Ciocirlan on Unsplash

September 28, 2022

10 best apple & pumpkin picking spots near NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

With autumn in New York City officially here, you can take in the changing leaves and crisp air, and there are few places better to do that than a local farm. Some of the best spots near town offer apple and pumpkin picking, in addition to a slew of other fall-ready activities, making it easy to bring some of the season home with you. Ahead, we've rounded up our 10 favorite spots to check out.
Check 'em out!