Events &amp; Things To Do

The city's Parks Department opened a new photography exhibition at Central Park's Arsenal Gallery that displays more than 40 archived photographs from the department's collection. Called "Streets In Play: Katrina Thomas, NYC Summer 1968," the exhibit features images taken by the late photographer Katrina Thomas, who in 1968 was hired by NYC Mayor John Lindsay and tasked with capturing the city's summer initiative, "Playstreets," in which residential blocks were closed to vehicles and instead equipped for recreational activity.
Take a look

Macy’s fireworks by the numbers: The tricks and stats behind the nation’s largest 4th of July show

Image via Flickr cc

June 30, 2022

Macy’s fireworks by the numbers: The tricks and stats behind the nation’s largest 4th of July show

America's largest 4th of July fireworks show is getting ready to light up the New York sky; Macy’s 46th annual Fourth of July live fireworks extravaganza happens Monday, July 4th at 8 P.M., Plans are being hatched to snag a spot at one of the city's better viewing locations (or in front of a bigger screen; the show is being broadcast live) to watch the amazing choreography of pyrotechnics throughout the two-hour display. The fireworks are set to sail skyward from five barges stationed on the East River centered around Midtown Manhattan starting at about 9:25 P.M.–and the numbers behind the show are even more impressive this year.
Check the figures behind the fireworks

Where to watch the Macy’s July 4th fireworks for free in NYC

Photo by pparnxoxo on Unsplash

June 29, 2022

Where to watch the Macy’s July 4th fireworks for free in NYC

Nowhere is quite like New York, especially on the Fourth of July. Macy's signature fireworks show, the largest in the nation, will once again ring in Independence Day with more than 48,000 shells and effects from five barges floating in the East River. While there are many places around the city hosting fireworks watch parties, there are seven official public viewing locations along two miles that will offer the best (read: free) views of the Macy's Fourth of July show, including Midtown, Long Island City, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

Meriem Bennani reveals first-ever public sculpture on the High Line

“Windy” by Meriem Bennani, co-commissioned by High Line Art and Audemars Piguet Contemporary. Image courtesy of the artist, High Line and Audemars Piguet

June 28, 2022

Meriem Bennani reveals first-ever public sculpture on the High Line

New York City-based artist Meriem Bennani last week debuted her first public sculpture, a captivating kinetic structure that kicked off the summer season of the High Lines Art's program. Windy, co-commissioned by High Line Art and Audemars Piguet Contemporary, is a 9-foot-tall spinning structure comprised of approximately 200 black foam discs that spin at different speeds and in unique sequences. Located on the High Line at 24th Street, Bennani's piece will stay on view to the public until May 2023.
Find out more

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Photo credit: Caroline Culler via Wikimedia cc

June 28, 2022

The ultimate guide to Dumbo, a neighborhood that led the way to Brooklyn’s 21st century

Brooklyn's 25-block Dumbo neighborhood gets its name from where it can be found: Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, which explains not only the neighborhood’s location, but its cultural and residential evolution. The waterfront district’s iconic East River and Manhattan views and its stunning bridge-framed architectural vistas have defined it long before its current acronym and status as a coveted residential choice. Unlike many other Brooklyn neighborhoods, the area it occupies is quite small, but its architecture, infrastructure, and economic status are formidable.
Your guide to Dumbo, this way

Events & Things To Do

13 spots to watch the 4th of July fireworks in NYC

Photo by John Saeyong Ra on Flickr

June 27, 2022

13 spots to watch the 4th of July fireworks in NYC

To most Americans, the Fourth of July means good food, drinks, time spent with family and friends, but most importantly, fireworks. Luckily for New Yorkers, the city has plenty of opportunities to see fireworks with Macy's annual 4th of July Fireworks show and Jersey City's own grand fireworks display. For those seeking an unforgettable Independence Day experience, here is a selection of the best ticketed events to enjoy this year's July 4th fireworks celebration, from waterfront bars lining the East River's piers to the city's highest observation decks.
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Events & Things To Do

Everything you need to know about the 2022 NYC Pride March

Photo by Jessica Green on Unsplash

June 21, 2022

Everything you need to know about the 2022 NYC Pride March

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the NYC Pride March is returning to the city, fully in person, on Sunday, June 26. The theme for this year's march is "Unapologetically Us," with Ts Madison, Punkie Johnson, Schuyler Bailar, Dominique Morgan, and Chase Strangio set to be the event's grand marshals. Ahead, get the details for this year's parade and learn more about other Pride events taking place.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

Radio Park debuts summer garden dining series atop Radio City Music Hall

Radio Park above Radio City Music Hall. Photo credit: Rockefeller Center

June 20, 2022

Radio Park debuts summer garden dining series atop Radio City Music Hall

With the start of summer comes summer dining, and this July will mark the debut of an event that combines the excitement of Rockefeller Center with the experience of dining in a garden oasis high above New York City. Radio Park, the 24,000-square-foot landscaped rooftop that opened last year above Radio City Music Hall, will host "Dine at Radio Park," a new weekend dining series led by two celebrated local chefs.
Find out more

Annual Juneteenth NY Festival in 2018 Photo credit: Juneteenth NY

June 17, 2022

15 ways to celebrate Juneteenth in NYC

By 6sqft

Although it was recognized as a federal holiday only last year, Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black Americans for more than 150 years. After President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862, it took more than two years for the order to reach enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. Juneteenth was first observed in Texas as “Jubliee Day” on June 19, 1866. Now an official New York and federal holiday, Juneteenth is a day to commemorate and honor Black Americans, as well as renew the fight for equality. In New York City, there are several Juneteenth events happening this weekend, from panel discussions and a bike tour of Brooklyn to live music and a food festival featuring Black vendors.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC and NJ selected as host city for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Soccer fans across New York and New Jersey celebrated on Thursday as FIFA announced that the region had been selected as one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup. East Rutherford's MetLife Stadium will be host to one of the largest sporting events in the world, the first time the tournament has been held in the United States since 1994. The tournament will be hosted jointly by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

12 things you need for the perfect picnic in NYC

Photo by Ben Duchac on Unsplash

June 16, 2022

12 things you need for the perfect picnic in NYC

By Lizzy Briskin

Warm weather has arrived in New York City, which means it’s time to dust off your picnic blanket and fill your basket with local goodies for a meal al fresco. To help you throw the best picnic, whether you’re impressing a first date or just taking some solo time to recenter in Central Park, we’ve rounded up all of the essentials for a fantastic meal outdoors in the Big Apple.
See our picnic picks

You can buy the Pride rainbow heart decals that adorn NYC subway cars

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

June 14, 2022

You can buy the Pride rainbow heart decals that adorn NYC subway cars

Happy Pride Month, New York City. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been showing off its Pride logo decal on select subway cars since they rolled out the design in 2019. The heart-shaped decal was created as part of “50 cars for 50 years after Stonewall,” marking the historic event's 50th anniversary.
Find out where to get the merch

Ain’t Misbehavin; Designed by Derek McLane. Rendering courtesy of the Museum of Broadway

June 14, 2022

The Museum of Broadway announces November opening date

The first permanent museum dedicated to Broadway has an official opening date. The Museum of Broadway will open its doors at 145 West 45th Street in Times Square on November 15. Along with an opening date, new renderings of the space were released on Tuesday, showing off the museum's immersive experiences and "behind-the-curtain" look at the history of Broadway.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL

June 13, 2022

NYPL is giving away 500,000 free books to New York kids and teens this summer

The New York Public Library will give away half a million brand new books to families, part of a series of programs aimed at keeping kids and teens engaged while school is out for the summer. The free books are available at all branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, as well as during select outdoor programs. In addition to distributing 500,000 free books, NYPL's "Summer at the Library" program includes outdoor pop-up storytime, writing and reading challenges, and hundreds of free programs for readers of all ages.
Learn more

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade turns 40, returns to the boardwalk this year

Photo credit: © Norman Blake

June 10, 2022

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade turns 40, returns to the boardwalk this year

Even a pandemic can't sink the zany spirit of the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. The event, now in its 40th year, is the nation's biggest art parade and the largest annual event in Coney Island. After a two-year hiatus, the parade will return "fin-person" this year to welcome summer, co-presented by Coney Island USA and Coney Island Brewery, on Saturday, June 18, rain or shine.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

The Morgan Library unveils $13M exterior restoration and new garden with public access

The Morgan Garden, view looking north. Courtesy of the Morgan Library & Museum, New York. © Brett Beyer, 2022.

June 9, 2022

The Morgan Library unveils $13M exterior restoration and new garden with public access

The Morgan Library and Museum will unveil the recently restored exterior of the Morgan Library and the new Morgan Garden to the public this month. The six-year-long, $13 million project marks the first-ever comprehensive restoration of the historic 115-year-old library’s exterior. Designed by architect Charles Follen McKim for J.Pierpont Morgan, the library was completed in 1906 and later became a public institution. The project restores one of the nation's finest examples of Neoclassical architecture, enhances the surrounding grounds, improves the building's lighting, and enables public access to the grounds of the 36th street site for the first time ever.
Stroll the garden, this way

Hochul signs law that unlocks New York’s underused hotel space for use as affordable housing

Governor Kathy Hochul signs hotel conversion bill; photo credit: Darren McGee–Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

June 8, 2022

Hochul signs law that unlocks New York’s underused hotel space for use as affordable housing

Gov. Kathy Hochul today signed a long-awaited bill that will relax the current rules for converting underutilized hotels into permanent housing. The new legislation allows for Class B hotels within–or within 400 feet of–residentially-zoned districts to operate as permanent residences. It also allows hotels which meet those criteria to be used for permanent housing if they enter into an agreement with the city or receive State financing, through the Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act (HONDA).
Find out more

Jersey City announces annual 4th of July fireworks celebration with concert headlined by Flo Rida

Jersey City’s 2019 fireworks display; Photo by Jennifer Brown/City of Jersey City

June 8, 2022

Jersey City announces annual 4th of July fireworks celebration with concert headlined by Flo Rida

New Jersey's largest Fourth of July fireworks display is returning to the Jersey City waterfront this year. Mayor Steven Fulop on Wednesday announced this year's Freedom and Fireworks all-day event will include a concert headlined by Flo Rida, with special guests Shaquille O'Neal aka DJ Diesel and Fun Flex, a massive fireworks show by Grucci, food trucks, and family fun.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

Manhattan Park’s annual Pop-Up Pool Party gets a new mural, inspired by an ocean wonderland

Photo by Max Touhey.

June 8, 2022

Manhattan Park’s annual Pop-Up Pool Party gets a new mural, inspired by an ocean wonderland

Roosevelt Island luxury rental community Manhattan Park has just unveiled the mural that will highlight its outdoor pool this summer. Now in its eighth year, the art transformation has graced the community's Pop-Up Pool Party each summer starting on Memorial Day. This year's mural, created by Syrian-Armenian artist Hratch Arbach, "reflects imaginary scenes inspired by the ocean wonderland.”
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Events & Things To Do

Photo by Steven Pisano

June 8, 2022

New York’s largest Pride flag returns to Roosevelt Island’s Four Freedoms Park

New York's largest Pride Month flag is back and better than ever this year. Found in Roosevelt Island's Four Freedoms Park, the 2022 Progress Pride Flag measures more than 100 feet long by 30 feet wide and features added colors to be more inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community. The installation, which will be featured on the park's monumental staircase throughout the month of June, first debuted in 2019, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, and is back for Pride Month 2022.
See it here

Events & Things To Do

L.E.A.F. festival blooms again this year with a three-day flower-filled affair in the Meatpacking District

Flower Flashes by Lewis Miller Design / Photo credit: Leatal Cohen, Pic and Petal for L.E.A.F

June 7, 2022

L.E.A.F. festival blooms again this year with a three-day flower-filled affair in the Meatpacking District

L.E.A.F, New York's budding contemporary flower show, returns to Manhattan’s Meatpacking District for its second year this month, inviting all to celebrate the renewal of New York City and its continued resilience. The three-day festival highlighting world-class floral design will feature a European-style flower market, large-scale floral installations and displays, and retail and hospitality events around the neighborhood.
Find out where the blooms are

Events & Things To Do

All photos courtesy of Chris Lee

June 3, 2022

See NYC’s largest outdoor dance floor and its 10-foot disco ball at Lincoln Center

New York City's largest outdoor dance floor is now open. As part of Lincoln Center's three-month-long festival Summer for the City, "The Oasis" opened this week with a 10-foot, 1,300-pound disco ball hovering above the institution's iconic fountain. Designed by costume and set designer Clint Ramos, The Oasis has transformed Josie Robertson Plaza into a dance floor that will host silent discos, live music, dance lessons, and more free events all summer. Summer for the City, which kicked off last month, will feature over 1,000 artists across 10 stages at the famed campus.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

Enjoy unlimited food and rich history at Brooklyn’s landmarked Lott House

Photo courtesy of Friends of the Lott House, Alyssa Loorya

June 2, 2022

Enjoy unlimited food and rich history at Brooklyn’s landmarked Lott House

Come enjoy unlimited dining from food trucks at the longest continually owned and occupied single-family home in New York City. Located in Marine Park, Brooklyn, the historic Hendrick I. Lott House is a rare surviving Dutch-American farmhouse situated on a parcel of land first purchased in 1719. The non-profit organization that preserves the grounds, Friends of the Lott House, this month will host "Taste the Neighborhood," a special ticketed event that includes unlimited food from local food trucks and encourages exploration of the historic site. The event will be held on June 12 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 1940 East 36th Street.
Details here

Delta’s $4B Terminal C opens this weekend at an all-new LaGuardia Airport

Photo courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

June 2, 2022

Delta’s $4B Terminal C opens this weekend at an all-new LaGuardia Airport