City Guide New York, December 26, 2024

INSIDE: CITY, SUBWAY, BUS, THEATER, DOWNTOWN MAPS

by Matthew Murphy

Photo

GR E AT SE ATS AVA IL A BLE THIS W EEK

THE ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY EXPERIENCE A BREATHTAKING OBSERVATORY EXPERIENCE

One World Observatory opens you up to an uplifting and illuminating experience above all else – it’s not simply about the sightlines. Take in unparalleled views, the taste of elevated dining, the rush of discovery, and more. The 60 – 75-minute experience fits perfectly into your downtown itinerary.

One World Observatory opens you up to a sensory experience above all else – it’s not simply about the sightlines. It’s the feel of Lower Manhattan, the taste of fine dining, the rush of discovery, and more.

The Tallest Observatory i n N e w York City

If you’re interested in experiencing what it’s like to be at the top of New York, look no further. The observatory’s sprawling 360-degree views stretch 45 miles in all directions. Imagine reflecting on the grandeur of NYC’s famous mix of architectural styles that make this skyline the most recognizable in the world from the tallest point in the city.

Beyond the view, visitors to the observatory are encouraged to learn something new about New York from the place where it all began. A team of tour guides will enlighten you on NYC’s rich history, which originates in Lower Manhattan. Sit in on daily interactive presentations or engage one of the guides with your questions to make the most of the visit.

Dine Among the Clouds

Have you ever dined from 101 stories in the sky? Now’s your chance. The restaurant and bar offer unprecedented skyhigh views paired with a menu that offers an equally farreaching perspective on New York’s culinary culture. The front of house team provides personable service, making sure each guest feels at home.

See more on the observatory and its amenities on page 12 & 56

The observatory is open daily and is located at the top of One World Trade Center. Visitors can enter at 117 West St.

Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly encouraged. Check with the concierge desk for offers.

WELCOME

From the PUBLISHER OF CITY GUIDE

Welcome to New York, the city that never sleeps.

You have arrived at the United States’ epicenter of culture, attractions, theater, dining, and more. When you wander through the neighborhoods, you’ll find historical sites, architecture, parks, specialty shops, epicurean delights, and many other memory makers. City Guide’s mission is “Guiding Discoveries” and in these pages you’ll discover iconic NYC destinations, Broadway shows, restaurant and nightlife options, and activities that will delight, educate, and entertain you. Whatever your pleasure, a jam-packed few days or a leisurely visit, City Guide will make navigating your stay easier—after all, we’ve been helping visitors make the most of the Big Apple for over 40 years. If you’re looking for more information visit cityguideny.com for an up to date calendar of events and thousands of other “fun to sees.”

NYC is known for its constant evolution and we’ll also show you new shopping destinations, the latest on our five observatories, immersive experiences, exhibitions at some of the world’s finest museums, and many great pop-up venues. Have a great time and welcome to our city.

Yours sincerely,

David L. Miller

Dear Friends:

From the MAYOR OF NEW YORK

I am delighted to join City Guide in welcoming you to the greatest city in the world!

New York is brimming with unmatched energy and diverse residents, and our myriad attractions inspire tens of millions of people to travel here every year. This ever-evolving city is a singular destination, and whether you are a first-time visitor or a returning guest, I encourage you to explore our different neighborhoods and experience our acclaimed museums, beautiful parks, fashionable shops, iconic architecture, innovative culinary and nightlife offerings, major sporting events, and rich performing arts and cultural programming across all five boroughs.

As you’ll find in this comprehensive guide, there is always something exciting to discover in the Big Apple. I hope that you enjoy your stay, and that you visit us again soon.

Sincerely,

Eric Adams

SIGHTSEEING

See It All From Unique New York Perspectives

New York is a vertical city and there’s never been a better time to experience it, with five worldclass observatories opening up the city’s skies. The Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor observation deck, Edge, stands atop Hudson Yards. Step out onto the triangular open-air deck and you’ll be 100 floors above the ground. Across town near Grand Central, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt takes the concept of an “observation deck” to new heights through three floors of multi-sensory interactions. For a downtown take on altitude, look to One World Observatory. It’s the tallest building in the hemisphere, and with over 40,000 metric tons of steel and a unique concrete core, it’s the strongest building in the world. A minute’s ride will take you to the main observatory level, with 360° immersions in the landmarks for downtown. See the Empire State Building for yourself and you’ll know immediately why the skyscraper is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The 86th floor is home to the Observation Deck, open to the air with views that go on for miles. Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock observation deck offers both outdoor and indoor viewing areas here. Outside, transparent safety-glass panels allow wholly unobstructed views of the city’s landmarks, including all of Central Park.

Continued on p. 16

Above: Visit SUMMIT One Vanderbilt for unforgettable photo ops and fresh points of view on New York City.

TOURS & ATTRACTIONS MAP

Above: dive into the world’s largest indoor wave pool at DreamWorks Water Park at American Dream.

Continued from p. 12

For an even higher POV, the Downtown Manhattan Heliport along the East River is home to HeliNY New York City. These helicopter tours are the most exciting way to view all of the city’s major landmarks, from a perspective few ever experience.

You can find great views aboard the legendary aircraft carrier that’s now the Intrepid

Museum, in addition to immersions in innovation and bravery. The Fighting “I” served in World War II and Vietnam and today shows off 28 historic aircraft from the flight deck.

Seastreak will get you out on the water, with excursions to scenic spots departing from Wall Street near the Seaport. City Cruises offers great ways to dine along the skyline, aboard

the all-glass, European-inspired Bateaux New York and the upbeat buffet experiences of the Spirit of New York. If you want to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island first-hand, Statue City Cruises is the only way to get there. Boats leave from Battery Park City, with amazing perspectives on water, shipping, and skylines along the way.

You can pose “in a moment in time” with the world’s most iconic musicians, leaders, athletes, and A-list stars at Madame Tussauds in Times Square. In addition to being “the world’s greatest wax museum,” you’ll find immersive adventures like the MARVEL Super Heroes 4D Film & Experience

The hit Netflix show Squid Game meets real life (with some modifications) at the new immersive Squid Game: The Experience. Find out if you can outsmart the Young-hee doll in Red Light Green Light, among a series of challenges. (Afterwards, you can relax at a Korean-inspired Night Market with merch,

photo stations, and soju-infused cocktails.) Explore the city’s best attractions, tours, and experiences for one money-saving price with Go City. There are two options, the New York Pass (for seeing as much as possible, covering from one to 10 days) and the Explorer Pass (if you’ve only got a few attractions on your radar). Among the possibilities: Brooklyn Bridge bike rentals, jazz in Harlem, museums, and walking tours—over 100 options in all, at up to half off regular cost. Save 10% more with promo code CGNY10!

Just a blink from NYC on the New Jersey side you’ll find American Dream, which boasts skating, skiing, mini golf, pizza, luxury retailers, and even an aquarium. Theme park Nickelodeon Universe has the world’s steepest roller coaster and tallest indoor spinning drop tower waiting to thrill you. There are more than 3 million square feet in all here, with something for everyone. It’s all just 5 miles from Times Square!

Clockwise from top left: Edge will thrill you with its glass floor, providing views of the High Line 100 stories beneath you; glam it up at the Glow Gala at Madame Tussauds NY; views and Lady Liberty access aboard Statue City Cruises.

SIGHTSEEING

Historic bridges and modern skylines from One World Observatory.

FD Financial District

T Tribeca

NH NoHo

LES Lower East Side

SH SoHo

AMERICAN DREAM NJ

LI Little Italy

GV Greenwich Village

EV East Village

CH Chelsea

MD Meatpacking District

1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 833-263-7326; americandream.com

Shops. Dining. World-class entertainment. The range of activities here is jaw-dropping, from Saks to sharks to Legoland. Just a blink from NYC on the New Jersey side you’ll find the largest indoor theme park in North America plus skiing, skating, mini golf, a water park, pizza, barbecue, luxury retailers, and even an aquarium. There are more than 3 million square feet in all here—less than five miles from Times Square!

CENTRAL PARK BOATHOUSE $$$ UES

The Lake, Central Park (E. 72nd St. & Park Dr N.), 718-973-9339; centralparkboathouse.com

One of the city’s most scenic spots is The Lake, with Central Park and skyscrapers in the background. You can soak it all in at the refreshed and reimagined Central Park Boathouse. There’s an elegant destination restaurant here, serving lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch, plus a casual café for bugers, lobster rolls, and views to remember.

CITY CRUISES CH

Chelsea Piers, Pier 61 (W. 23rd St. & 12th Ave.), 866-817-3463; citycruises.com/newyork

Offers brunch, lunch, and dining cruises throughout the year, along with narrated sightseeing tours and cocktail cruises. Choose from buffets or elegant plated experiences on the glass-enclosed deck of the European-inspired Bateaux. The NYC Downtown Sightseeing Cruise is back on the water as is the Alive After Five cocktail cruise. City Cruises sails year-round from both NY and NJ from four convenient locations.

GP Gramercy Park

MW Midtown West

ME Midtown East

TD Theater District

TS Times Square

EDGE MW

UES Upper East Side

UWS Upper West Side

H Harlem

NJ New Jersey

Level 4 inside The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, 332-204-8500; edgenyc.com

The Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor observation deck, Edge, towers the city’s newest neighborhood, Hudson Yards. Edge is an incredible triangular deck where you stand 100 floors above the ground and see miles and miles in every direction. Edge will also thrill you with its glass floor, providing views of the High Line far below your feet. The experience begins with an all-new immersive experience, followed by an exciting 60-second elevator ride. True thrill seekers can opt for City Climb, the highest open-air building ascent in the world.

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING OBSERVATORY MW

20 W. 34th St. (5th-6th Aves.), 212-736-3100; esbnyc.com

One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, arguably the most famous skyscraper in the world. Ride to the 86th floor for unforgettable views of Manhattan and beyond. Equally amazing for a daytime photo that captures the city in all its glory or a nighttime shot filled with glittering buildings. Exhibitions on floors 2 and 80 provide fascinating context.

GO CITY gocity.com

Explore NYC’s best attractions, tours, and experiences for one money-saving price. Save up to 50% with the New York Pass, available for 1 to 10 days, visiting as many attractions as you like. Enjoy easy access to the best of NYC, from Broadway lights to observatory heights—save 10% more with promo code CGNY10 at cityguideny.com/nyp!

SIGHTSEEING (CONT’D)

HELINY NEW YORK CITY FD

Downtown Manhattan Heliport, 6 East River Piers (FDR Dr.), 212-355-0801; heliny.com

The most exciting way to view all of the city’s major landmarks, from the Statue of Liberty to Central Park. Explore NYC from a perspective few ever experience, with three tour options ranging from 12 to 30 minutes and taking in up to 25 landmarks.

INTER_ SH T

415 Broadway (Canal St.), 646-808-9911; interiam.co

SoHo/Tribeca’s new interactive art experience takes visitors on a magical adventure. Explore two floors of otherworldly environments and reactive art, which will encourage you to escape NYC and unleash your inner child. Journey through the INTERverse and connect with the beauty, laughter, and power within you.

INTREPID MUSEUM MW

Pier 86, W. 46th St. & 12th Ave., 212-245-0072; intrepidmuseum.org

Founded in 1982, this landmark aircraft carrier takes visitors on an interactive journey through history to learn about American innovation and bravery. Explore the Space Shuttle Pavilion, home to Enterprise, the world’s first space shuttle, 28 authentically restored aircraft, and the nuclear submarine Growler

MADAME TUSSAUDS NEW YORK TS

234 W. 42nd St. (7th-8th Aves.); madametussauds.com

Time to celebrate #BIGTIME. Get your selfie sticks ready: Madame Tussauds is the only place with no ropes or barriers holding you back from your favorite stars. Pose “in a moment in time” with iconic musicians, leaders, sports legends, and A-list stars.

NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM BK

99 Schermerhorn St. (Boerum Pl.-Court St.), 718-694-1600; nytransitmuseum.org

Gallery Annex & Store, Grand Central Terminal, Shuttle Passage, Main Concourse, 212-878-1016; mta.info

Housed in a historic 1936 IND subway station in Brooklyn Heights, and easily accessible by subway, this is the largest museum in the United States devoted to urban public transportation history, and one of the premier institutions of its kind in the world. The Museum explores the development of the greater New York metropolitan region through the presentation of exhibitions, tours, educational programs and workshops dealing with the cultural, social and technological history of public transportation.

NJ TRANSIT NJ

973-275-5555; njtransit.com

Traveling to or from Newark Liberty International Airport or MetLife Stadium, Prudential Center, or the Jersey Shore? NJ TRANSIT is the convenient, hasslefree way to get where you’re going in New Jersey. Frequent service from Penn Station New York!

ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY FD

285 Fulton St., 844-696-1776; oneworldobservatory.com

There’s only one tallest. Only one strongest. And only one destination selected as the Best New Attraction in the World. These superlatives belong to One World Trade Center, and its pinnacle, the One World Observatory, rising over 100 stories in the sky. House restaurant ONE Dine combines seasonal menus with stunning views.

SQUID GAME: THE EXPERIENCE MW

Manhattan Mall, 100 W. 33rd St. (Sixth Ave.), squidgameexperience.com/new-york

The hit Netflix show Squid Game meets real life (with some modifications) at this new immersive. Find out if you can outsmart the Young-hee doll in Red Light Green Light, among multiple challenges. (Afterwards, you can relax at a Korean-inspired Night Market with merch, photo stations, and soju-infused cocktails.)

STATUE CITY CRUISES FD

877-LADY TIX (877-523-9849); cityexperiences.com

Offering ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island—the only way to get there. Daily rides depart approximately every 30 mintues from Battery Park at the foot of Manhattan. New to Liberty Island is the Statue of Liberty Museum, with memorabilia, an immersive film, and up close looks at the statue’s original torch, a 3,600-pound copper flame.

SUMMIT ONE VANDERBILT ME

45 E. 42nd St. (5th-Park Aves.); summitov.com

Blending elements of art, technology, architecture, and thrill, SUMMIT takes the concept of an “observation deck” to new heights through three floors of multisensory interactions. The installation AIR designed by Kenzo Digital creates the illusion of boundless space. At night, the scene dramatically shifts through a oneof-a-kind light and sound story, turning into a beacon of energy for NYC and beyond.

TOP OF THE ROCK MW

30 Rockefeller Center (W. 50th St. btw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 877-692-7625; topoftherocknyc.com

The 67th-70th floor observation deck of 30 Rockefeller Plaza offers sweeping, unobstructed open-air views of New York City. Two new additions provide even more immersion in the skylines: The Beam, which lets you recreate an iconic NYC image above the skyline, and Skylift, a revolving platform that rises three stories into the air for panoramic views of the city and beyond.

Chief Executive Officer:

SALES & MARKETING

Executive Director:

Managing

Managing Director | Marketing:

PUBLISHING

Director | Content Management:

Director | Creative Development:

Theatre Editor:

Contributors:

OPERATIONS

Director | Operations Management:

Director | Order Management:

FINANCE

Chief Financial Officer:

Immerse Yourself

The city is overflowing with new interactive experiences, bringing art and culture to three-dimensional life.

SoHo/Tribeca’s interactive art experience INTER_ presents two floors of otherworldly environments. Get into the spirit of the season with wINTERverse, the attraction’s annual winter wonderland. The adventurous will also want to check out The INTERnet, 80,000 feet of hand-woven rope reflecting masterful weaving, with sacred geometric patterns integrated into the web. Guests are welcome to climb among the ropes and experience the artwork from within.

Other SoHo spots include Color Factory’s adventures with shades across multiple art-inspired rooms. The Museum of Ice Cream offers a hall of ice cream scoops and a three-story slide. The world’s largest collection of Banksy-inspired murals and artwork is on view at the Banksy Museum, which also features the artist’s studio work, animated visual elements, and videos. In Lower Manhattan, Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology immerses visitors in cutting-edge projections, sound design, and mirrored spaces that stretch to infinity.

Head to the historic boiler room of Chelsea Market to experience the immersive space ARTECHOUSE, NYC’s original home for digital art. The latest show here is Tingle Bells:

An ASMR-Inspired Holiday Special, an Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR)-inspired retreat that blends nostalgic holiday warmth with cutting-edge digital art.

The Museum of Broadway near Times Square is an interactive destination celebrating the rich history of theatre in New York. Don’t miss current special exhibit Disney on Broadway: 30 Years of Magic, which features costumes, memorabilia, and photo-op backdrops from The Lion King and Aladdin

Madame Tussauds New York is the only place with no ropes or barriers holding you back from living your best life with your favorite stars. The newly installed Music area transports visitors to the heart of a New Year’s Eve concert in Times Square. You can mingle with figures of Drake, Anitta, and Beyoncé amid countdown clocks, celebrity New Year’s resolutions and confetti-strewn floors.

The hit Netflix show Squid Game meets real life (with some modifications) at the new immersive Squid Game: The Experience. Find out if you can outsmart the Young-hee doll in Red Light Green Light, among multiple challenges. Afterwards, you can relax at a Korean-inspired Night Market with merch, photo stations, and soju-infused cocktails.

Top: test your skills as a hit Netflix show comes to life at Squid Game: The Experience. Photos: Netflix.

Exploring

culture

1 NYC museums have something for everyone, from art to history to the city itself.

1 Explore 65 years of Barbie through 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion designs, ads, and video at the new Museum of Arts and Design exhibition Barbie®: A Cultural Icon. 2 Columbus Cir.

2 The Brooklyn Museum celebrates its 200th anniversary with Solid Gold, an immersion across time and cultures through one of humanity’s most dazzling obsessions. 200 Eastern Pkwy., Brooklyn

3 Once the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan, today The Morgan Library & Museum displays priceless manuscripts and art. Highlights of the Collections Spotlight, Fall 2024 include the vibrant illustrations of a ca. 1525–30 Book of Hours 225 Madison Ave.

4 The American Museum of Natural History‘s Origami Holiday Tree celebrates the season. This year’s theme is Jumping for Joy, with more than one-thousand origami decorations showing off the world’s bouncing fauna. 200 Central Park W.

Left page top: Montien Boonma’s House of Hope (1996–97) draws on Buddhist rituals of devotion and healing to offer a sense of refuge in fraught times. Second floor, the Museum of Modern Art. 11 W. 53rd St.

See p. 66 for credits

TIMELESS STORIES AND

BEGINNINGS.

us in our celebration of our Centennial while honoring our first director Belle da Costa Greene. To learn more, visit themorgan.org.

THIS WEEKIN THE CITY

ONGOING

The towering tree in Rockefeller Center is an international symbol of the holiday spirit. This year’s version is a Norway Spruce from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, wrapped in 50,000 LED lights and crowned with a Swarovski crystal star. The lights shine daily from 5am to midnight (they’ll run all night on Christmas Eve). The tree is just the beginning of things to do in Rockefeller Center. The Rink at Rockefeller Center is one of the world’s most famous patches of ice and this year marks its 86th anniversary. Nearby you’ll find the Top of the Rock Observation Deck and one of New York’s most breath-

taking views. Three floors of indoor and outdoor decks offer sweeping open-air perspectives. The area also boasts world-class shopping, great bites, famous art and architecture, and Radio City Music Hall, home to NYC’s most famous holiday tradition, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes. Rockefeller Center, btw. 48th & 51st Sts. and Fifth & Sixth Aves., 212-588-8601, rockefellercenter.com

The Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor observatory, Edge, stands atop the city’s newest neighborhood, Hudson Yards. Step out onto the triangular deck and

you’ll be 100 floors above the ground with miles of visibility in every direction. For a whole other level of thrill, Edge is also the home of City Climb, the highest external building ascent in the world. City Climb will let you scale the outside of the building, from the observatory on up to the skyscraper’s top. Led by trained guides, small groups traverse a series of open-air platforms and stairs. At the peak you can lean out over the edge while standing higher than anyone else in NYC.

Level 4 inside The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, 332-204-8500, edgenyc.com

downtown

So much to do. So much to see.

No trip to NYC is complete without a visit to Lower Manhattan. It’s easy to reach, just a short ride from most any part of Manhattan. Once you’re here, distances are short, and the streets are easy to navigate.

ATTRACTIONS» Ultimate perspectives on downtown can be found at One World Observatory. The observatory level boasts a climatecontrolled interior with stunning 360° views. Soak in seasonal vibes, as the space has been transformed into ONEderland, with a cozy chalet atmosphere filled with photo ops, plus festive bites from house restaurant One Dine.

One World has great Statue of Liberty views; Statue City Cruises is the only way to get there in person, leaving out of Castle Clinton at the neighborhood’s southern tip. On Liberty Island you’ll find the Statue of Liberty Museum, with artifacts and up-close looks at the statue’s original copper torch. Boats also stop at famed immigrant point of entry Ellis Island.

Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology redefines the museum experience as an ultra-sensory immersive, featuring cutting-edge projections, sound design, and mirrored spaces

that stretch to infinity. More modernity can be found at architectural wonder Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC). Upcoming concert performances include acclaimed composer/ pianist Samora Pinderhughes (Friday, December 20th) and the dynamic soul-funk of Britton & The Sting (Saturday, December 21st).

MUSEUMS» Visiting Fraunces Tavern Museum feels like time travel, with exhibitions showing off the building’s long and important history, including serving as the site of General George Washington’s famous farewell to his officers at the end of the Revolutionary War. The Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is nestled into Battery Park, inside a contemporary building with inspiring views of New York Harbor. Exhibits here celebrate the lives and traditions of both those who survived and those who perished in the Shoah.

THE SEAPORT» Along the East River, The Seaport brings together centuries of history with modern style. There’s shopping, dining, and a museum dedicated to the area’s seafaring past. Seasonal activations include

Top to bottom: The Long Room at Fraunces Tavern Museum, where General George Washington bid farewell to his officers; Century 21 is a designer discount paradise. Left page: cruise inside the soaring Oculus at the Winter Whirl Roller Rink.

Santa’s Winter Wonderland at waterfront bar Watermark and ice skating and holiday cocktails at Jingle Jangle at The Dead Rabbit at the Rooftop at Pier 17.

SHOPPING» One of the neighborhood’s most famous draws has reopened the doors to its Cortlandt Street flagship. Century 21 stocks a world of designer fashion at discount prices. Four floors offer everything from shoes to fragrances, handbags, luggage, and men’s, women’s, and kids’ apparel.

Navigate the neighborhood with the Lower Manhattan Map at the back of City Guide.

Getting Downtown is easy.

Most major subways lines stop in Lower Manhattan and the ride is only 15-20 minutes from midtown. Convenient downtown stations include:

1 train to Rector Street or South Ferry

2 3 trains to Wall Street or Fulton Street

4 5 trains to Wall Street or Bowling Green

6 train to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall

A C trains to Fulton Street

E train to World Trade Center

J Z trains to Broad Street

R W trains to Rector Street, Cortlandt Street, or Whitehall Street

You can’t miss the soaring white wings of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava’s Oculus Inside, dozens of top retailers can be found at the Shops at the Oculus. You can glide beneath the architecture at the Winter Whirl Roller Rink, complemented by a holiday soundtrack. The complex is part of Westfield World Trade Center, which has even more shops to explore.

Nearby Brookfield Place offers stylish shopping, restaurants, and a food hall. This season, the palm trees of Brookfield’s Winter Garden atrium are transformed for Holiday Under the Palms, featuring photo ops and performances. Ice skating along the river is just outside.

A REJUVENATING GETAWAY» Italian spa QC NY is an oasis with massages, saunas, steam rooms, and outdoor pools, just a quick ferry ride away on historic Governors Island.

BROADWAY’S MJ: Elijah Rhea Johnson

He walks through the door of the vast rehearsal studio set and for a split second, Elijah Rhea Johnson takes the pulse of the audience before shedding his jacket and sliding into the dance ensemble—already heavily into the 5, 6,7, 8 of “Beat It”—and Michael Jackson’s singular moves and lyrics. MJ, the musical and the man have arrived. Fedora, wig, loose shirt, tuxedo pants, scrunched white socks, black loafers…visual triggers are met by Johnson’s masterful performance. “I get into character through dancing and singing,” he says. “And the audience is so much a part of it. Michael is such an icon in people’s memories and they bring that to me. It’s magical in that way. So even though it’s me up there, in the moment they feel I’m really him.”

Using the days leading up to Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour—and an MTV crew documenting his process—as the

By Griffin Miller

musical’s nucleus, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage presents a decades-spanning mosaic of Jackson’s backstory, from his childhood as lead singer of the Jackson 5, to episodic takes that bounce from gigs to time with his brothers and notoriously aggressive father, Joe.

Nottage homes in on the bittersweet reality of Jackson’s past with the characters of Little Michael, Middle Michael, and mother Katherine, who soothes the young singer when he doubts himself and his talent.

Like Jackson, performing was a significant part of Johnson’s formative timeline—only for him, show biz was his choice. And the King of Pop was his inspiration. “Michael’s the reason I started performing,” says Johnson, who recalls his dad teaching him to Moonwalk in their Detroit living room when he only five or six— and becoming obsessed with Jackson’s songs and MTV videos. “The

Photos: Matthew Murphy

first time I was up on stage was a school talent show. I was in the 3rd or 4th grade and I performed ‘Thriller.’ “

Not long after, Johnson found himself at the Apollo Theater auditioning for the Las Vegas production of The Lion King, nailing the role of Young Simba. In Vegas, offstage he’d be wearing a fedora and channeling the moves that earned him the nickname “The Michael Jackson Kid.”

Following Lion King, Johnson’s career trajectory found him in Kidz Bop and later as “EJ,” lead singer with Mindless Behavior. Next came the workshop for a new Broadway jukebox bio: MJ The Musical, where he was cast as Middle Michael. Becoming part of the incubator process was something that stayed with Johnson until he moved into the title role in the Broadway production on April 4th, 2023.

“Honestly, because playing Michael was by then second nature to me, there was no pressure, I could roll into the show,” says Johnson. “Also, the workshop included 75% of the current cast, so coming to Broadway was like coming home—everyone was warm and welcoming. The was no pressure so I could just get down to the work”.

The work, as it happens, never ends in MJ, a production featuring pedal-to-the-metal direction and choreography by the show’s Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon. Fortunately, the company of triple-threat performers is more than up to the challenge, one that includes production number after production number of killer dance moves. “Our show is really hard, and we really feel it,” says Johnson, whose legs takes the brunt of multiple high-impact shows. “Being a performer is not for the weak—it takes a lot to maintain.”

around him, what he calls his MJ family, he notes, “I see them more than I see my parents—they’re crazy amazing.”

Not surprisingly, the youngest members of the company are a throwback for Johnson. “When I see the little Michaels and Marlons, it’s like looking into the past. To see them so young at the beginning of their careers reminds me of the joy I felt at their age…you don’t fear being on stage, it’s fun,” he says.

On the other hand, approaching the role of adult Michael took Johnson to a far more introspective place. “The majority of my life has been spent in the arts and performing, so what really interested me in playing MJ was finding the human parts and vulnerabilities,” he says. “We are all human; we all have hardships and rough times so I wanted to find places in me that are close to Michael—not one to one, because you cannot fully imagine another person. But as a performer playing another person. I try and be as authentic as possible and share something positive. All I want is to do justice to Michael and his music.”

For anyone wondering about the impact of

MJ The Musical on theatregoers, let’s just say it exceeds expectations.

Totally. If you grew up loving Jackson’s music, you will fall under its spell immediately, and for sure you’ll want to share this musical legacy with the younger members of your inner circle. The score, boasting Jackson mega hits from “Billie Jean” and “I’ll Be There” to “Man in the Mirror” and “Thriller,” is matched with choreography and acting that has audiences spellbound.

“In playing MJ, I’m living out my childhood and adult dream,” says Johnson. “I’m so grateful to be part of something that resonates with—and touches—so many people.”

While some of his fellow cast members get charged up before each show, Johnson meditates to center himself: “I’m a lot more chill in how I deal.” And as for the people

MJ The Musical is playing at the Neil Simon Theatre, 250 W. 52nd St. For tickets and playing schedule call 212-239-6200 or visit mjthemusical.com.

S HOP IN THE CITY Holiday

One of the city’s great pleasures is exploring its stores—and by extension, its neighborhoods. Here are our picks for must-shop spots all around NYC (with our absolute favorites in bold).

By Evan Levy

In Lower Manhattan don’t miss the soaring, cathedral-like space that defines the Oculus. The worldclass collection of shops here is definitely about time—or it will be, when you peruse the selection of timepieces at Breitling, Tissot, and Longines. Across the street is a true New York shopping legend, Century 21 NYC. The Cortlandt Street flagship boasts a world of designer fashion at discount prices. Four floors offer everything from shoes to fragrances, gifts, handbags, luggage, and men’s, women’s, and kids’ apparel.

To the north is the perennially chic SoHo (“South of Houston”), a low-rise neighborhood with a focus on the cutting edge. East of there you’ll find the Lower East Side, once the city’s home for bargain shopping and today full of stylish boutiques. Pay a visit to Daredevil Tattoo, where you’ll find not only custom tattooing from artists skilled in a range of styles, but also a Museum of Tattoo History, with tattoo flash, machines, and ephemera gathered over three decades.

On the west side along the Hudson you’ll encounter Chelsea, the Meatpacking District, and the luxury brands and stylish boutiques of The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards. Times Square is action-packed and the retail scene is no exception. M&M’s New York is a great stop for a snack or a souvenir. A two-story color wall is packed with thousands upon thousands of colorful milk, peanut, and specialty M&M candies. There’s also an on-site printer that will let you create customized candy on the spot. Sports fans won’t want to miss Pelé Soccer, The World’s Greatest Soccer Store. You can shop— and personalize—official jerseys and fan gear from 100+ teams and players around the world. Nearby Cockpit USA has been reproducing genuine, contemporary versions of iconic American-made aviator clothing for nearly half a century.

Rockefeller Center is famous for its rink and Art Deco architecture, but there’s top shopping here as well. Across the Avenue of the Americas you’ll find the MLB Flagship Store, with authentic merchandise representing all 30 major league clubs.

The Diamond District is here as well, a bustling hub for gemstones and jewelry. Visit OMI Jewelry for luxury watches and beautiful custom jewelry; JD Watches offers an exquisite collection of iconic

STATEMENT JEWELRY : : Hunting for sparkly jewelry in New York? No one does it better thab the world-renowned Diamond District. Excite someone this holiday season with a gift from OMI Jewelry like this stunning rose gold 5-strand wrap ring ($2,170), which features over 2 carats of VS1 high-quality F-color diamonds. 10 W. 46th St., 6th Fl., 844-330-9466, omijewelry.com

WARM, WARMER, WARMEST : : This holiday season, treat yourself to a top-find shearling from Cockpit USA. Luxurious, stylish, and historic, the Superfortress Shearling Leather Coat ($1,790) will keep you warm and authentically stylish for many years to come. 15 W. 39th St., 12th Fl., 212-575-1616, cockpitusa.com

brands like Breitling, Hublot, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe.

Two of the most famous shopping streets in the world are across town on the east side. Fifth Avenue has a who’s who of designer fashion, from Bulgari to Cartier, Tiffany to Gucci A newcomer here is The Travel Agency, a legal, licensed cannabis dispensary with top-quality products in a roomy, high-design space. Nearby Madison Avenue’s names include Fendi, Giorgio Armani, and Berluti.

If you’re on the Upper West Side on Sunday,

don’t miss Grand Bazaar NYC, the city’s largest curated market—and most distinctive.

Just a blink from NYC on the New Jersey side you’ll find American Dream, with recreation options that include gigantic indoor theme and water parks. A staple at the complex is The Avenue at American Dream, a luxury shopping and dining experience with a curated collection of world-renowned fashion brands. Contemporary retail options are almost endless; round-trip buses run directly with quick, convenient service from Times Square.

HELPFUL SERVICES

DAREDEVIL TATTOO SHOP & MUSEUM

141 Division St. (Canal St.), 212-533-8303, daredeviltattoo.com

Daredevil Tattoo specializes in custom tattooing with artists versatile in all styles, whether it’s your first tattoo or a full sleeve. Daredevil features a Museum of Tattoo History as part of the shop. The location is on the Lower East Side, at the edge of Chinatown. Walk-ins are welcome and online booking is available. Open every day noon to 8pm.

LUGGAGEHERO

Locations citywide, including Penn Station, Grand Central, Times Square, JFK; luggagehero.com/ newyork

Safe and secure luggage storage through local businesses at only $1.19hour/$5.40day. All luggage sizes accommodated; it’s the only company offering both hourly and daily rates. 130+ locations all around NYC, easy and convenient. Book online or through the official LuggageHero App for Apple and Android.

SCHUMER’S WINES & LIQUORS

59 E. 54th St. (btw. Park & Madison Aves.), 212-355-0940, schumerswines.com

Trusted for more than 40 years, known for its excellent selection of the great vineyards of California, France, Australia, Argentina, and Italy (lots of half bottles, too). Also vintage ports, single malts, cognac, American whiskeys and bourbons—including their own Barrel Picks. Large supply of cold wine and champagne always ready. Open Mon.-Fri., 9am-8pm; Sat.,11am-8pm. Deliveries til 7pm.

SPECIALTY SHOPPING

AMERICAN DREAM

1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 833-263-7326; americandream.com

Shops. Dining. World-class entertainment. It’s all here, from Saks to sharks to Legoland. American Dream is just a blink from NYC on the New Jersey side. The largest indoor theme park in North America plus skiing, skating, mini golf, a water park, pizza, barbecue, luxury retailers, and even an aquarium—all less than five miles from Times Square!

CENTURY 21 NYC

22 Cortlandt St. (Church St.), 212-227-1202, c21stores.com

The return of a legend! NYC’s favorite discounter Century 21 has reopened the doors to its flagship. Head downtown for a curated selection of style amid a new and improved shopping experience. Shoes, dresses, coats, looks for men, and much more from top brands at the lowest prices.

COCKPIT USA

15 W. 39th St., 12th Floor (btw. Fifth & Sixth Aves.), 212-575-1616, cockpitusa.com

For over 45 years, Cockpit USA has been reproducing genuine, contemporary versions of iconic American-made aviator clothing, both in civilian and military design. You’ve seen their jackets across pop culture from Steve McQueen to Tom Hardy to U.S. Presidents. Visit their midtown showroom and find quality and craftsmanship unlike any other. Appointments encouraged but not required to ensure they have your jacket size when you arrive.

GRAND BAZAAR NYC

Columbus Ave. & 77th St., 212-239-3025, grandbazaarnyc.org

Sundays on the Upper West Side you can check out Grand Bazaar NYC, the city’s largest curated market—and most distinctive! Browse 130+ curated dealers with everything from fashion to home goods to vintage finds, arrayed both indoors and out. Come hungry: there are great artisanal food bites as well. 10am-5pm.

H&S ART GALLERY & CUSTOM FRAMING

112 W. 44th St. (btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.), 212-768-3160, hsart.com

Open daily in Times Square, H&S Art Gallery & Custom Framing features original 3-D artworks by Charles Fazzino, Rizzi, and Suchy; serigraphs by Keeley, Tarkay, Pejman, Yamagata, Freyman, Kubik, Delacroix, and many others. They also offer signed sports memorabilia, posters, and same-day professional custom framing. They ship worldwide.

JD WATCHES

10 W. 46th St., 6th Floor (btw. Fifth & Sixth Aves.), 917- 843-3156, jdwatchesny.com

JD Watches is your premier destination for luxury watches, with an exquisite collection of timepieces highlighting iconic brands like Breitling, Hublot, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe. Pre-owned luxury watches feature extended warranties, expert care by master watchmakers (each timepiece has been restored to prime condition), and 100% authenticity—every watch is thoroughly inspected and certified genuine.

M&M’S NEW YORK

1600 Broadway (7th Ave. & 48th St.), 212-295-3850, mms.com/en-ie/explore/mms-stores/new-york

Positioned in the heart of Broadway, M&M’S Times Square is officially the hottest performance in town! Nothing brings more flavor to Manhattan than our two-story color wall packed with THOUSANDS of your favorite Milk, Peanut, and Specialty M&M’S Candies.

MLB FLAGSHIP STORE

1271 Ave. of the Americas (51st St.), 332-228-1040, mlb.com/shop/nyc-retail-store

Midtown West’s MLB Flagship Store is Major League Baseball’s first permanent retail location in the U.S. In a roomy space spanning two floors, you’ll find a wide selection of merchandise, including apparel from all 30 MLB teams, and customization options.

OMI JEWELRY

10 W. 46th St., 6th Floor (btw. Fifth & Sixth Aves.), 844-330-9466, omijewelry.com

OMI Jewelry is your trusted source for luxury watches and beautiful custom jewelry. Brands include Rolex, AP, Patek, Hublot, Breitling, Cartier, and Chanel. A family business with family values, founded on the belief that beautiful jewelry shouldn’t be prohibitively expensive and the buying experience should be a pleasurable one. Offering a wide selection of stylish jewelry and fine watches, with a knowledgeable team that makes selecting and purchasing luxury easy.

PELÉ SOCCER

1560 Broadway (btw. 46th & 47th Sts.), 646-666-0025, pelesoccer.com

The World’s Greatest Soccer Store, from soccer legend Pelé, where you can shop—and personalize—official jerseys and fan gear from 100+ teams and players. Limited-edition footwear from top brands like Nike, Adidas, and Puma, and seats on stadium bleachers for watching live soccer games on a huge TV screen.

THE TRAVEL AGENCY

587 Fifth Avenue (btw. 47th & 48th Sts.), 212-420-6000, thetravelagency.co

The state’s most knowledgeable budtenders connect customers with top-quality products at this legal, licensed cannabis dispensary. Expect a superior curated selection covering all categories, including premium flower, vapes, edibles, and prerolls, from local and national brands.

Happiest of Holidays from Broadway & Beyond!

The halls are decked, the tree is lit, bustling shoppers are merry and bright, and Jack Frost is frolicking through the holiday air. ‘Tis the season in New York City where magical moments are in festive swing in theatres across the city, starting with the world-renowned Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes—otherwise known as the Big Apple’s annual gift to audiences from near and far.

Wrapped in dazzling costumes and eye-popping sets, Christmas Spectacular showcases all kinds of Rockette fabulousness, including the legendary “Rag Dolls” and “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” numbers, as well as the show’s most recent crowd pleaser, the cutting-edge “Dance of the Frost Fairies” featuring breathtaking projections and fluttering drones that soar above theatregoers. In a word, unforgettable.

BROADWAY YULE LOVE

Speaking of mega productions with no shortage of awesome, The Great Gatsby is lighting up Broadway with first-rate actors drenched in retro glam. Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary triumph, the show’s leading man is Tony nominee only through January 19th when he exits the role he created. My advice: scoop up tickets ASAP and catch his stunning take on the eccentric millionaire who surrounds himself with 1920s glitterati in pursuit of his lost love, Daisy Buchanan (Eva Noblezada). “We set out to put on a big, vocally stunning, no-holds-barred musical,” says Jordan, who, like thousands of theatregoers, to be “quintessential

Meanwhile, over at Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre, Lin-Manuel ’s panoramic view of the life, times, and people orbiting U.S. Founding Father Alexander Hamilton continues its blockbuster , the groundbreaking show that scored multiple Tonys in 2016 (Best Musical included), surges with explosive energy and imagination, whether it’s Trey Curtis in the title character ’s Aaron Burr, Tamar Greene’s George Washington, ’s sing-along turn as King Continued on p. 44

Left: the ensemble cast of The Great Gatsby. Top left: Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes Top right: Mary Kate Morrissey in Wicked Photo: Joan Marcus.

THEATER MAP

What’s playing where on Broadway

TKTS: 25-50% Off Tickets (the day of the show)

40 & Juliet (Stephen Sondheim Theatre)

39 Aladdin (New Amsterdam)

31 All In: Comedy About Love (Hudson Theatre)

7 Back to the Future: The Musical (Winter Garden Theatre)

9 The Book of Mormon (Eugene O’Neill)

4 Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (August Wilson Theatre)

10 Chicago (Ambassador)

35 Cult of Love (Helen Hayes Theatre)

18 Death Becomes Her (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre)

34 Elf (Marriott Marquis Theatre)

14 Eureka Day (Samuel J. Friedman Theatre)

3 The Great Gatsby (Broadway Theatre)

34 Gypsy (Majestic Theatre)

11 Hadestown (Walter Kerr)

19 Hamilton (Richard Rodgers)

37 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Lyric)

32 Hell’s Kitchen (Shubert Theatre)

33 The Hills of California (Broadhurst Theatre)

13 Left on Tenth (James Earl Jones Theatre)

28 The Lion King (Minskoff)

30 Maybe Happy Ending (Belasco Theatre)

5 MJ the Musical (Neil Simon Theatre)

23 Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Al Hirschfeld)

25 The Notebook (Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre)

29 Oh, Mary! (Lyceum Theatre)

15 Our Town (Ethel Barrymore Theatre)

25 The Outsiders (Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre)

8 Romeo + Juliet (Circle in the Square Theatre)

26 The Roommate (Booth Theatre)

16 SIX (Lena Horne Theatre)

24 Stereophonic (Golden Theatre)

21 Suffs (Music Box Theatre)

36 Sunset Boulevard (St. James Theatre)

12 Swept Away (Longacre Theatre)

17 Tammy Faye (Palace Theatre)

22 Water for Elephants (Imperial Theatre)

6 Wicked (Gershwin Theatre)

2 A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical (Studio 54)

Continued from p. 41

George III, the guys are at the top of their game—as are Morgan Anita Wood, Stephanie Umoh, and Cherry Torres who embody the Schuyler sisters.

One of my favorite things about Broadway is that every theatre is home to a different time—or reality. Hamiltonian history, e.g., takes place a block over from the mythical Pride Lands of South Africa where Disney’s Tony-winning The Lion King unfolds. Based on the animated classic, this long-running musical presents a timeless coming of age story centering around Simba, the lion cub who grows up alongside a menagerie of inspired fauna. Here, actors and puppets intersect for a fantastical merger actualized by director Taymor over 25 years ago. Not surprisingly, former young fans return to share The Lion King with their own kids, maintaining “The Circle of Life.”

unleashed in the biggest, baddest production number ever: “A Friend Like Me.” Naturally, Genie helps Aladdin to win the lovely Princess Jasmine (Sonya Balsara), vis a vis several mind-blowing special effects. No wonder the show and its stars have been enjoying standing ovations for a decade.

Translating the character of Genie in Aladdin into holiday vernacular is a tossup between Merry & Bright and Naughty & Nice. Endowed with endless exuberance, the character (played by Michael James Scott) first appears as the musical’s de facto host, ushering audiences into Agrabah: “City of flying carpets, soaring heroes, famous love ballads, and more glitz and glamour than any other fictional city in the world.” And once the title hero (Adi Roy) frees him from the lamp, his magical skills are

Newer to the Broadway scene is 2024’s Tony-winning Best Musical, The Outsiders, a show that transforms S.E. Hinton’s seminal novel into electrifying live theatre. If you grew up reading the book, you’re already familiar with the Curtis brothers—Ponyboy (Brody ), Darrel (Brent Comer), and Sodapop (Jason Schmidt)—as well as Johnny Cade (Sky LakotaLynch) and Dallas Winston Joshua Boone). All exist in 1967 Tulsa, Oklahoma where they, and their fellow pitted against the Socs (“Socials”) in a rivalry that turns fiercely physical. In short, this stunning tale of friendship, belonging,

The Book

been spreading its madcap wings since 2011, the year it picked up its Best Musical Tony.

A masterclass in comedic irreverence by creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q’s Robert Lopez, the show never misses a brazen beat, from the multiple ding-dongs of proselyting young Mormons in the opening number to its two central characters—a couple of fledgling missionaries played by Kevin Clay and Jordan Matthew Brown—assigned to a ramshackle Ugandan village with no clue about

Top: Kevin Clay in The Book of Mormon. Photo: Paul Coltas. Lower: Michael James Scott in Aladdin. Photo: Deen van Meer.

IMMERSIVE BROADWAY

When The Museum of Broadway opened its doors in 2022, it instantly became a one-of-a-kind attraction, welcoming Broadway insiders, fans, and newcomers to the largest and most iconic collection of theatres in the world. Made up of countless historic exhibits and covering three floors, the Museum is an awesome visual and audio archive of artifacts, posters, photographs, costumes, props, and original recordings from Broadway musicals, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at a Broadway show. The addition of new displays means you can size up items from shows presently running, like costumes worn by the MC and Sally in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. And then there are special limited exhibits, the current one being Disney on Broadway: 30 Years of Magic (through 1/5/25 only), which features costumes, memorabilia, and way cool photo-op backdrops from The Lion King and Aladdin.

what awaits them. Sure, the set-up may seem simple, but the payoff is priceless.

SEASONAL SORCERY

If you’re wondering what to get your favorite witch- or wizard-wannabe this holiday season, I suggest that (in addition to tickets, of course!) you check show websites for everything from magnets to tees to books to bling. Both Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Wicked are known for their extensive lines of merch, but (spoiler alert) in-theatre shops generally carry more items.

If you’re heading to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for the first time or on a return visit, you’ll find several new principals have “apparated” onto the Lyric Theatre stage. Matthew James Thomas is now Harry Potter, Sarah Killough is the new Ginny, Alex Serino plays their son, Albus, and Kristen Martin has stepped into the role of Delphi Diggory. The story follows Hogwarts newbies Albus and

best bud Scorpius Malfoy (Erik Christopher Peterson) whose time-traveling antics run amok. The show, now running under three hours, magically manages to include the same thrilling story and special effects of the former 3 ½ hour version. And FYI, no time-turners were involved in the transition.

Illuminated signs and zipper streams dominate the airspace above the passageway to the Gershwin Theatre on both 50th and 51st Streets, alerting passers-by that they’ve reached Wicked central. Further proof comes a half hour before curtain with the extensive line of excited theatregoers snaking into the theatre lobby. Twenty-one years strong, this musical phenom has never lost its status as one of Broadway’s greatest hits, with December being the perfect time to “rejoicify” with “swankified” Glinda (Alexandra Socha) and ultra-green Elphaba (Mary Kate Morrissey) as they navigate classes and friendship at Oz’s Shiz University.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

From tiny tots to “for the whole family to share” to a couple grown-up fa-la-la-lalas, Big Apple holiday performances are rocking NYC this jolliest of seasons!

BROADWAY

Elf thru 1/4/25 (elfonbroadway.com)

OFF-BROADWAY

Annie 12/4 thru 1/5/25 (msg.com/annie)

Big Apple Circus thru 1/5/25 (bigapplecircus.com)

A Child’s Christmas in Wales 12/4 thru 12/29 (irishrep.org)

A Christmas Carol at the Merchant’s House 11/26 thru 12/29 (merchantshouse.org)

A Christmas Carol the Musical 12/1 thru 12/30 (scroogeinthevillage.com)

Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City

DID YOU KNOW…

…two of New York City’s longest running/most popular shows can be found Off-Broadway?

Having landed at the Astor Place Theatre in 1991, Blue Man Group—the famously uninhibited trio of deadpan clowns—is known for keeping kids, adults, and everyone in between giggling, guffawing, cracking up, and majorly entertained in unexpected and crazy ways with their signature paint drumming and wild extravaganza of tubular escapades. Morphing over the past 33 years (especially when it comes to techno-razzle-dazzle), the blue dudes are both edgy and true to their Big

Rockettes thru 1/5/25, pictured here (rockettes.com/christmas)

The Dead, 1904 11/20 thru 1/5 (irishrep.org)

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker 11/29 thru 1/4/25 (nycballet.com)

The Hard Nut 12/12 thru 12/22 (bam.org)

The Magic Flute at the Met 12/12 thru 1/4 (metopera.org)

Seven in One Blow, or The Brave Little Kid 12/6 thru 12/21 (axiscompany.org)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Holiday Show 11/15 thru 1/5/25 (hungrycaterpillarshow.com/newyork) Yuletide Factory 11/22 thru 12/29 (newvictory.org)

Apple roots.

The Off-Broadway title-holder, however, is Perfect Crime, the sexy murder mystery that—as of December 5th at 7pm—will have played a staggering 15,000 performances for a run spanning the ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, 2010s, and early 2020s, making it the longest running play in NYC history. The production stars Catherine Russell as the enigmatic psychiatrist who drives the plot—a role she’s played since the show debuted, missing only four performances since 1986. Catch the record-breaking show at the Anne L. Bernstein Theater at The Theater Center in the very heart of the Theater District!

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Photo: Miller Mobley

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THEATER

A timeless tale of “haves and have nots,” The Outsiders.

KEY COMEDY DRAMA MUSICAL EVENT

broadway & JULIET

Stephen Sondheim Theatre, 124 W. 43rd St., 833-274-8497; andjulietbroadway.com

(2 hrs., 30 mins.) This lively musical comedy asks what would happen next if Juliet ditched Shakespeare’s tragic ending for a fresh start and a second chance at life and love—her way.

ALADDIN

New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St., 866-870-2717; aladdinthemusical.com

(2 hrs., 30 mins.) The beloved story is brought to thrilling theatrical life in this bold musical. With just one rub of a magic lamp, Aladdin’s journey sweeps you into an exotic world full of adventure, comedy and romance. It’s an unforgettable Disney theatrical experience that includes all the cherished songs from the Oscar-winning score plus more written especially for Broadway.

ALL IN: COMEDY ABOUT LOVE

Hudson Theatre, 141 W. 44th St., 855-801-5876; allinbroadway.com

(90 mins., no intermission) A rotating cast of four Broadway stars tackle dating, heartbreak, marriage, etc., in tales adapted from Simon Rich’s short stories. 12/11 thru 2/16/25

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL

Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway, 212-239-6200; backtothefuturemusical.com

(2 hrs., 40 mins.) When Marty McFly’s time machine travel changes family history, he must fix the present, escape the past, and send himself back to the future. Based on the classic Michael J. Fox film. Thru 1/5/25.

THE BOOK OF MORMON

Eugene O’Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St., 877-250-2929; bookofmormonbroadway.com

2011 Tony, Best Musical (2 hrs., 30 mins.) One of Broadway’s most successful, Tony-winning (nine in 2011!) musicals from the hilariously irreverent minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park. The show follows a couple of wide-eyed Mormon missionaries whose first official assignment takes them from ringing doorbells stateside to a remote village in Uganda. Divinely profane in all the right places!

CABARET AT THE KIT KAT CLUB

August Wilson Theatre, 245 W. 52nd St., 888-985-9421; kitkat.club

(2 hrs., 45 mins.) Visionary revival of the Kander & Ebb classic, set at the start of WWII in Berlin’s Kit Kat Club with a mercurial MC and Sally Bowles as stars.

CHICAGO

Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th St., 212-239-6200; chicagothemusical.com

(2 hrs., 30 mins.) Winner of 6 Tonys for a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz.

Photo by Matthew Murphy.

CULT OF LOVE

Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St., 212-541-4516; 2st.com

(100 mins., no intermission) The adult Dahl family children and partners return to their childhood home for a Christmas of traditions and conflict. In previews for a 12/12 opening. Limited engagement thru 2/9/25.

DEATH BECOMES HER

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St., 212-239-6200; deathbecomesher.com

(2 hrs., 25 mins.) After two glam frenemies become rivals, a magic potion restores their youth and beauty, along with a grudge to last eternity.

ELF

Marriott Marquis Theatre, 210 W. 46th St. 212-307-4100; elfonbroadway.com

(2 hrs., 30 mins.) An orphan raised by elves in the North Pole leaves to find his birth father and helps NYC rediscover the meaning of Christmas. Co-starring Sean Astin as Santa. Limited engagement thru 1/4/25.

EUREKA DAY

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St. 212-239-6200; manhattantheatreclub.com

Eureka Day, a California elementary school, values inclusion—until a mumps outbreak forces the community to reconsider the school’s vaccine policy. In previews for a 12/16 opening.

145 WEST 45 TH STREET OPENS EVERY DAY AT 9:30AM

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AT OUR SPECIAL EXHIBIT

THEATER

THE GREAT GATSBY

Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway, 212-239-6200; broadwaygatsby.com

(2 hrs., 30 mins.) F. Scott Fitzgerald’s epic tale is now a lush musical that follows eccentric and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby in his pursuit of the lost love of his youth, Daisy Buchanan. With characters driven by complex inner lives erupting with extravagance and longing, the show comes to life through an electrifying jazz and pop-infused score for a grand production befitting the 21st century.

GYPSY

Majestic Theatre, 245 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; gypsybway.com

Audra McDonald stars as an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters’ success while yearning for her own. In previews for a 12/19 opening.

HADESTOWN

Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th St., 800-745-3000; hadestown.com

2019 Tony, Best Musical (2 hrs., 30 mins.) The action unfolds in a stylized New Orleans setting and Hades’ stomping ground, The Underworld. For the score, think New Orleans jazz melded with American folk music.

HAMILTON

Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St., 877-250-2929; hamiltonbroadway.com

2016 Tony, Best Musical (2 hrs., 55 mins.) Visionary writer/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda’s white-hot historical musical that redefined Broadway! Told through a score of musical theatre, hip-hop, jazz, and R&B, this Pulitzer-winning production relating the story behind orphan/Treasury head/founding father Alexander Hamilton has also scooped up Tony and Grammy Awards.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Lyric Theatre, 214 W. 43rd St., 212-305-4100; broadway.harrypottertheplay.com

2018 Tony, Best Play (2 hrs., 50 mins.) This visually spectacular show begins where the films end, with the friendship between Harry’s son Albus and Draco’s son, Scorpius—BFFs whose magical misadventures involve Time-Turner shenanigans and a mysterious friend. Familiar characters plus a new generation of Hogwarts students make this a must-see for fans (the program has a full summary and wizarding world crash course for HP neophytes).

HELL’S KITCHEN

Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; hellskitchen.com

(2 hrs., 30 mins.) Grammy winner Alicia Keys’ autobiographical musical about 17-year-old Ali facing hard truths about race, defiance, and growing up.

THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA

Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; thehillsofcalifornia.com

(2 hrs., 45 mins.) In the ‘70s the Webb sisters come home for their dying mother; in the ’50s their singing gives a shot at fame. Limited engagement thru 12/22.

LEFT ON TENTH

James Earl Jones Theatre, 138 W. 48th St., 212-239-6200; leftontenthbroadway.com

((00 mins., no intermission) When she least expects it, the creator of You’ve Got Mail connects with a man and falls into her own romcom. Starring Peter Gallagher and Juliana Margulies. Limited engagement thru 2/2/25.

Trey Curtis and the company of Hamilton. Photo by Joan Marcus.

THE LION KING

Minskoff Theatre, 200 W. 45th St., 866-870-2717; disneyonbroadway.com

1998 Tony, Best Musical (2 hrs., 30 mins.) A glorious stage adaptation of Disney’s animated hit with a treasure trove of stunning visual magic created by Tony-winner Julie Taymor. Set in the rich African Pride Lands, the story follows the lion prince, Simba— along with young lioness Nala and villainous uncle Scar—from precocious cub to king of the jungle.

MAYBE HAPPY ENDING

Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; maybehappyending.com (105 mins., no intermission) In Seoul, an encounter between HelperBots Oliver and Claire leads to a unique friendship.

MJ THE MUSICAL

Neil Simon Theatre, 250 W. 52nd St., 212-239-6200; mjthemusical.com

(2 hrs., 35 mins.) This electrifying musical bio looks into Michael Jackson’s creative process leading up to his 1992 Dangerous world tour.

MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL

Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St., 888-506-4101; moulinrougemusical.com

2020 Tony, Best Musical (2 hrs., 35 mins.) A gleefully flamboyant take on Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 movie where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows.

THE NOTEBOOK

Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; notebookmusical.com

(2 hrs., 20 mins.) Based on Nicolas Sparks’ bestseller: a musical romance about Allie & Noah, who share a lifetime of love. Thru 12/15.

OH, MARY!

Lyceum Theatre, 145 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; ohmaryplay.com

(80 mins., no intermission) Mary Todd Lincoln examines her forgotten life and dreams through the lens of an idiot. Limited engagement thru 1/19/25.

OUR TOWN

Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 W. 47th St., 212-239-6200; ourtownbroadway.com

(1 hr., 50 mins., no intermission) Thornton Wilder’s timeless drama about life in a small town. Limited engagement thru 1/19/25.

THE OUTSIDERS

Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; outsidersmusical.com

2024 Tony, Best Musical (2 hrs., 30 mins.) In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, the hardened hearts and aching souls of Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade, and their chosen family of “outsiders” are in a fight for survival and a quest for purpose in a world that may never accept them. This gripping new musical, based on the 1983 film, reinvigorates the timeless tale of “haves and have nots,” of protecting what’s yours, and fighting for what could be.

ROMEO + JULIET

Circle in the Square Theatre, 235 W. 50th St., 212-239-6200; romeoandjulietnyc.com

(2 hrs., no intermission) A new adaptation where impulsive young lovers Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler hurtle to their fate. Limited engagement thru 2/16/25.

THE ROOMMATE

Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; theroommatebway.com

(90 mins., no intermission) Patty LuPone and Mia Farrow star in this witty and profound portrait of a blossoming intimacy between two women. Limited engagement thru 12/15

SIX

Lena Horne Theatre, 256 W. 47th St., 212-239-6200; sixonbroadway.com

(80 mins., no intermission) Henry VIII’s six wives take the mic to remix historical heartbreak into girl power.

STEREOPHONIC

Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; stereophonicplay.com

2024 Tony, Best Play (3 hrs., 5 mins.) This play with music tracks a 1976 rock band on the brink of superstardom. Limited engagement thru 1/19/25.

SUFFS

Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; suffsmusical.com

(2 hrs., 30 mins.) Set in 1913, exploring the victories and failures of the women’s movement and its pursuit of voting rights. Thru 1/5/25.

SUNSET BOULEVARD

St. James Theatre, 246 W. 44th St., 888-985-9421; sunsetblvdbroadway.com

(2 hrs., 35 mins.) Aging film star Norma Desmond turns to a struggling screenwriter to make her comeback —with disastrous consequences.

SWEPT AWAY

Longacre Theatre, 220 W. 48th St., 212-239-6200; sweptawaymusical.com

(90 mins., no intermission) After a violent storm sinks their whaling ship, how far will the four survivors go to stay alive?

TAMMY FAYE

Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway, 212-239-6200; tammyfayebway.com

(2 hrs., 10 mins.) Preacher Jim Bakker and his wife Tammy Faye see TV success scorched by backstage plotting.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

Imperial Theatre, 249 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; waterforelephantsthemusical.com

(2 hrs., 40 mins.) An orphaned young man finds a new life with a traveling circus in this spectacle-filled musical based on the bestselling novel. Thru 12/8.

THEATER (CONT’D)

WICKED

Gershwin Theatre, 222 W. 51st St., 877-250-2929; wickedthemusical.com

(2 hrs., 45 mins.) One of Broadway’s biggest hits, this fantasy musical based on the best-selling novel follows the friendship between two young girls—one smart, misunderstood, and green-hued; the other beautiful, ambitious, and popular. Oz’s fairy tale roots get replanted in an eyepopping production that turns the original story spectacularly upside down.

A WONDERFUL WORLD:

THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG MUSICAL

Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St., 833-274-8497; louisarmstrongmusical.com

(2 hrs., 35 mins.) Armstrong’s career from the POV of his four wives, starring Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart.

off-broadway

BIG APPLE CIRCUS

The Big Top in Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park; Learn more and get tickets at bigapplecircus.com

New York City’s hometown circus returns with an allnew show celebrating the magic and excitement of the city that never sleeps. “Hometown Playground” will dazzle audiences of all ages with soaring acrobats, astounding stunts, comedic mischief, and the cutest performing dogs ever, all while takingyou on an unforgettable journey to NYC’s diverse neighborhoods and unique landmarks! Limited engagement thru 1/5.

BLUE MAN GROUP

Astor Place Theatre, 434 Lafayette St., 800-258-3626; blueman.com

(105 mins., no intermission) Blue Man Group will rock your world, blow your mind, and unleash your spirit. Leave your expectations at the door and let three bald and blue men take you on a spectacular journey bursting with music, laughter, and surprises. 35 million people of all ages, languages, and cultures know what Blue Man Group is really about. Now it’s your turn.

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

STARRING THE RADIO CITY ROCKETTES

Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave., 212-465-6225; rockettes.com/christmas (90 mins., no intermission) NYC’s most famous holiday gift, this iconic show features intricate choreography performed by the incomparable Radio City Rockettes—the longest-running precision dance company in America. Beloved numbers like “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” blend with others featuring innovative technology (including immersive digital projections) to extend the show beyond the stage! Limited engagement thru 1/5.

PERFECT CRIME

Anne Bernstein Theater, The Theater Center, 210 W. 50th St., 212-921-7862; perfect-crime.com (1 hr., 45 mins.) A funny, sexy whodunit centering on Margaret Brent, a wealthy psychiatrist accused of offing her husband, and the handsome detective who’s falling in love with her while investigating the crime. Having debuted in 1987, the show is cited in Guinness World Records for its leading femme fatale, Catherine Russell, dubbing her the “Cal Ripken of Broadway” for playing all but four shows since opening night!

just off times square

THE MUSEUM OF BROADWAY

145 W. 45th St., 212-433-3686; themuseumofbroadway.com

This interactive, experiential museum celebrates the rich history of theatre in New York. Hundreds of rare costumes, props, and artifacts let visitors experience Broadway like never before. Along the way you’ll get the stories of the pivotal shows that transformed the landscape of Broadway. In total, the museum highlights more than 500 individual productions from the 1700s through the present.

CUISINE CORNER

NYC is a world-class destination for foodies. It’s also home to NY classics that have earned those Instagram snaps across decades of service. You’ve got questions about dining out? We’ve got answers.

h Where can I get a meal from a celebrity chef?

Famed chef David Burke (Top Chef Masters) has launched Park Ave Kitchen in Midtown East. It’s a two-for-one restaurant, with a formal dinein brasserie on one side and a more casual to-stay area with a take-out option on the other. Dishes reflect the creativity Burke is famed for: pretzel crabcake rafts, Angry Alaskan King Crab Legs, and Clothesline Bacon.

hWhere can I get a memorable meal with spectacular views?

The best way to dine along the skyline is aboard City Cruises. For a refined experience, book a Premier Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise on the all-glass, European-inspired Bateaux New York and enjoy plated dining, live entertainment, signature cocktails, and the city’s most impressive views.

fWhere can I be transported in Times Square?

Havana Central serves home-cooked Cuban food in a friendly setting in the center of everything. Before a Broadway show, or after a visit to a Times Square attraction, step into this spacious 1950s eatery for a mojito and some ropa vieja. Weekdays from 3-7pm enjoy Happy Hour drink specials and 1/2 price empanadas at the bar (the drink specials include house specialty tropical cocktails and are available restaurant-wide).

iWhere can i experience a top Steakhouse in New York?

Morton’s The Steakhouse is famous for USDA prime-aged beef, fresh seafood, fine wine, and elegant desserts. The experience blends classic and contemporary, with an innovative cocktail culture that fuels a bustling bar scene. (A second location can be found near the 9/11 Memorial downtown.) Morton’s serves only the top 2% of beef so you know you’re getting top quality in the center-cut filet mignon or signature cut prime New York strip.

f Where can I get a real NYC comfort food experience?

The USA Brooklyn Delicatessen turns back the culinary clock to a slower time, when tastes were simpler. You’ll find EGGFACE sandwiches at breakfast; lunch and dinner options run from hot pastrami, corned beef, and turkey to chicken soup and salads. Locations don’t come any more prime, right in the heart of Times Square (there’s a second location on West 57th, close to Central Park and Midtown shopping).

gWhere can I dine among the clouds?

The simply stunning views from One World Observatory in Lower Manhattan are complemented by the seasonally inspired options at ONE Dine The 101st floor menu plays off New Yorker favorites like Korean ssam wraps, hamachi crudo, pasta, steak frites, and smash burgers with caramalized onions and Gruyère cheese. You can raise a toast with small production wines, local draft beers, and craft cocktails.

iA high energy spot in Times Square?

Pink Taco serves imaginative Mexican-inspired fare amid rock ‘n’ roll vibes. You’ll find tacos with attitude, perfectly shaken margaritas, and signature cocktails like the Ranch Water, made with fresh lime and Herradura Blanco tequila.

f Where’s a legendary spot for dining along the water?

Newly reopened, the Central Park Boathouse honors tradition and updates a classic. City settings don’t come any more scenic than this, along The Lake near Bethesda Fountain nestled into the park itself. Elegant seasonal dining highlights entrees like prime rib, Sicilian swordfish, and chicken Milanese. There are also more casual options at the café, ranging from breakfast sandwiches to the namesake burger and iconic lobster roll.

h A real Italian experience before a Broadway show?

La Masseria serves a first-rate Italian menu that blends traditional and modern. Inspirations come from the region of Puglia (the heel of Italy’s “boot”), resulting in simple, authentic pastas, risottos, and meat and fish dishes. A little ways uptown, spinoff Masseria dei Vini is known for Neapolitan-style pizza crafted with a Ferrara wood-burning oven, in addition to stellar seafood and fresh homemade pastas.

DINING

HARD ROCK CAFE TS $$

1501 Broadway (43rd-44th Sts.), 212-343-3355, hardrockcafe.com/location/new-york | AMERICAN Rock your senses with tantalizing food and drinks and an awe-inspiring rock memorabilia collection. Priceless pieces from Elvis to The Beatles to contemporary stars. Don’t miss weekend brunch 11am-3pm, with bottomless mimosas and faves like chicken ‘n’ waffles and build-your-own scrambles.

HAVANA CENTRAL TS $$

151 W. 46th St. (6th-7th Aves.), 212-398-7440, havanacentral.com | CUBAN

West

$ Inexpensive/Mostly $20 & under

$$ Mostly $20-$40

$$$ Mostly $50 +

THEATER DISTRICT/MIDTOWN WEST

BOND 45 TS $$

221 W. 46th St. (Broadway-8th Ave.), 212-869-4545, bond45ny.com | ITALIAN

One of the great restaurants from The Fireman Hospitality Group, known for its antipasto bar with a rotating selection of market-fresh veggies. Expansive menu includes specialty veal chops, seafood, housemade pasta, and thin-crust pizza. Expansive rusticchic space inside the stylish Deco confines of the Hotel Edison. Open Sun.-Thurs. 7am-10pm, Fri-Sat. 7am-11pm.

BROOKLYN DINER MW $$

212 W. 57th St. (Broadway-7th Ave.), 212-977-1957: 155 W. 43rd St. (Broadway-6th Ave.), 212-265-5400, brooklyndiner.com | AMERICAN

A classic New York experience inspired by “the old neighborhood in Brooklyn.” Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with diner favorites like Reubens, burgers, chicken soup, and pot pies. Lighter fare like tacos, teriyaki salmon, and entree salads as well. Sparkling new Times Square location open SunThurs. 8am-10pm, Fri.-Sat. 8am-11pm.

DEL FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE

STEAKHOUSE TD $$$

1221 Ave. of the Americas (48th-49th Sts.), 212-575-5129, delfriscos.com | STEAKHOUSE

Energetic and luxurious three-story steakhouse with floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of Sixth Ave. and Rockefeller Center. Treats guests to an exceptional experience through chef-driven cuisine, world-class wines, and unparalleled hospitality.

Home of Real Cuban Cooking in the heart of Times Square. Come for the food—but stay for the party! Find “the best mojitos north of Havana” plus Happy Hour at the bar, Monday-Friday 3-7pm. Classic Cuban favorites like empanadas, slow-roasted pork, and ropa vieja

LA MASSERIA TD $$-$$$

235 W. 48th St. (Broadway-8th Ave.), 212-582-2111, lamasserianyc.com | ITALIAN

“A farmhouse in the middle of Manhattan,” offering classic dishes from Italy’s Puglia region, utilizing the freshest natural ingredients for simple, authentic pastas, risottos, and meat and fish dishes. Warm, inviting decor blends rural Italian style and charm, complementing the exceptional cuisine and wine list.

MASSERIA DEI VINI TD $$$

887 9th Ave. (57th-58th Sts.), 212-315-2888, masseriadeivini.com | ITALIAN

A first-rate Italian menu blends traditional and modern. Beautiful dishes from Puglia, many of which incorporate seafood and fresh homemade pastas. Gourmet pizza Neapolitan style from a Ferrara woodburning pizza oven. Extensive wine by the glass and a large selection of bottles—especially from Italy.

THE PALM RESTAURANT–MIDTOWN TD $$$

250 W. 50th St. (Broadway-8th Ave.), 212-333-7256, thepalm.com | STEAK/SEAFOOD

A dining tradition handed down for generations: a place to not only enjoy a spectacular meal before or after a show but to also catch up with friends, celebrate family milestones, and close business deals. Enjoy a wide array of options such as the fan favorite lobster, Italian specialties, and steaks.

PARIS BAR MW

Inside the Le Meridien Hotel, 120 W. 57th St. (6th-7th Aves.), 212-581-8900, parisbarnyc.com | FRENCH

The Fireman Hospitality Group has just launched its latest, a chic French brasserie open daily from 7am to midnight. Look for traditional French favorites like beef bourguignon alongside fresh seafood offerings. Pro tip: the roof is home to Le Jardin Rooftop Bar, a serene escape with panoramic views of Central Park.

DINING

PINK TACO TS $$

7 Times Sq. (7th Ave. & W. 41st.), 212-315-8226, pinktaco.com/locations/new-york-city | MEXICAN Rock ‘n’ roll vibe-dining right in the heart of Times Square. Mexican-inspired fare is daringly imaginative, specializing in tacos with attitude, perfectly shaken margaritas, and signature cocktails. Breakfast and dinner daily, Hangover Brunch on Sat. and Sun., weeknight Happy Hour 3-6pm, and $4 taco specials all day long for Taco Tuesdays.

RAISING CANE’S CHICKEN FINGERS TS $

1501 Broadway (43rd-44th Sts.) 20 Astor Pl. (Lafayette St.) raisingcanes.com | AMERICAN

One of the fastest growing restaurant chains, with over 750 locations and more on the way, known for its ONE LOVE® Craveable Chicken Finger Meals, which include their iconic “Cane’s Sauce”—named the #1 most craveable sauce in the restaurant industry. Cane’s uses only the highest-quality ingredients with a cook-to-order system that ensures a greattasting chicken finger meal served hot and fresh every time.

REDEYE GRILL MW $$

890 7th Ave. (56th St.), 212-541-9000, redeyegrill.com | AMERICAN

Upscale dining featuring an elevated outdoor patio with prime views of Carnegie Hall and midtown. Classic American brasserie scene, with polished nickel and leather, warm tones, and original Red Grooms artwork. Gourmet menu features steaks, chops, fresh seafood, and sushi, with house specialties like the spicy tuna burger. Save room for banana cream pie!

STRIP HOUSE STEAKHOUSE & COCKTAIL LOUNGE TS $$$

15 W. 44th St. (5th-6th Aves.), 212-336-5454, striphouse.com | STEAKHOUSE

Named one of New York’s best steak restaurants by Zagat and awarded four stars by Forbes, the namesake cut isn’t the only thing to marvel upon…our walls are adorned with original Studio Manassé prints of 1930s burlesque stars. Our signature menu features sizzling prime cuts of beef, fresh seafood, and decadent desserts enjoyed in a bi-level space for lunch, dinner, and private dining.

TRATTORIA

DELL’ARTE MW $$

900 7th Ave. (56th-57th Sts.), 212-245-9800, trattoriadellarte.com | ITALIAN

The largest antipasto bar in the city, accompanied by signature Italian dishes including veal chop Parmigiana, chicken pepperoni Parmigiana, and the classic 101 Layer Lasagna. Interior features include funky oversize sculptures, in a space inspired by an artist’s studio in Tuscany. All in the heart of midtown!

USA BROOKLYN DELICATESSEN MW $

211 W. 43rd St. (7th-8th Aves.), 212-840-5800; 200 W. 57th St. (7th Ave., btw. 56th-57th Sts.), 212-757-5757, brooklyndelicatessen.com

AMERICAN COMFORT FOOD

Turns back the culinary clock to a slower time, when our tastes were simple, with the kind of real food you crave. Hot sandwiches and comfort food with a laidback ambiance. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. EGGFACE sandwiches featured at breakfast; for lunch and dinner enjoy offerings ranging from hot pastrami, corned beef, and turkey to chicken soup and salads.

UTSAV

INDIAN CUISINE TS $$

1185 6th Ave. (46th St., btw. 6th-7th Aves.), 212-575-2525, utsavny.com | INDIAN

Woman owned & run, serving dynamic cuisine to NYC for 24 years. Located in an open air plaza; bar on the first floor and a newly renovated spacious dining room on the second floor. Recently introduced Indo Chinese and Bengali menus join Indian menu to bring new flavors to the area for the first time. Come visit this hidden gem where you can savor different flavors from various parts of India. Lunch special $24.95. Happy Hour 5-8pm daily. Lunch noon-3pm, dinner 5-10:30pm daily.

EAST VILLAGE

STRIP HOUSE STEAKHOUSE & COCKTAIL LOUNGE EV $$$

13 E. 12th St. (University Pl.-5th Ave.), 212-328-0000, striphouse.com | STEAKHOUSE

Iconic NYC restaurant providing innovative food in a burlesque atmosphere, for a high-end steakhouse experience. Named one of New York’s best steak restaurants by Zagat and awarded four stars by Forbes, the signature menu features sizzling prime cuts of beef, fresh seafood, decadent desserts, and an extensive wine list. Limited seating is also available in the attached Speakeasy for those who prefer a more intimate dinner and cocktail experience.

NEW JERSEY

AMERICAN DREAM NJ

1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ, 833-263-7326, americandream.com, | GLOBAL Shops. World-class entertainment. Restaurants. The range of activities here is as jaw-dropping as the dining options, which run from bars and food halls to Little Sheep Hot Pot, Marcus Live! Bar & Grille by Marcus Samuelsson, Michelin-star chef Gastón Acurio’s Jarana, and YouTube sensation MrBeast’s only restaurant, MrBeast Burger.

To find the most innovative dining spots in NYC visit us online: cityguideny.com

DINING

UPPER EAST SIDE

CENTRAL PARK BOATHOUSE $$$ UES

The Lake, Central Park (E. 72nd St. & Park Dr N.), 718-973-9339; centralparkboathouse.com | AMERICAN Refreshed and reimagined, the Boathouse is a testament to Central Park’s rich history, right off The Lake near Bethesda Fountain. Elegant seasonal dining highlights entrees like prime rib, Sicilian swordfish, and chicken Milanese. The café offers casual dining with a view, ranging from breakfast sandwiches to the namesake burger and iconic lobster roll. Rowboat rentals provide a unique perspective on the park.

DAVID BURKE TAVERN UES $$$

135 E. 62 St. (Park-Lexington Aves), davidburketavern.com | AMERICAN Modern American restaurant by award-winning celebrity chef David Burke. Occupying the first two stories of a stately townhouse on the Upper East Side, the restaurant showcases Burke’s creative and contemporary approach to classic fare—often with show-stopping presentations. Lunch and dinner seven days from noon. Brunch Sat.-Sun. Happy Hour daily 3:30-6:30pm.

UPPER WEST SIDE

CAFE FIORELLO UWS $$ 1900 Broadway (63rd-64th Sts.), 212-595-5330, cafefiorello.com | ITALIAN

New Yorkers’ go-to for visits to Lincoln Center. Upper West Side legend features a lively outdoor cafe and a timeless interior finished in warm wood, brass, and mirrors. Updated Italian classics from the kitchen begin with a 50-item hot and cold antipasto bar. Excels in seafood, steak, veal, and pasta.

MIDTOWN EAST

MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE ME $$$

551 5th Ave. (entrance on 45th St.), 212-972-3315, mortons.com | STEAKHOUSE

Famous for USDA prime-aged beef, fresh seafood, fine wine, and elegant desserts: the ideal place for a memorable dinner, suited to both intimate occasions and larger parties. A true blend of classic and contemporary. Look for raw bar specials and butchercut features like the tomahawk ribeye, dry-aged bone-in K.C. strip, and wagyu filet. Innovative cocktail culture fuels a bustling bar scene.

PARK AVE KITCHEN BY DAVID BURKE ME $$$ 514 Lexington Ave. (48th St.), 646-847-4166; parkavekitchenbydb.com | AMERICAN

Bringing together delicious, authentic American fare with top-notch service in a fun atmosphere. David Burke is one of the best known and most respected chefs in Modern American cuisine with his signature whimsical, boundlessly creative approach. Formal dine-in Brasserie on one side of restaurant and a tostay area with a take-out option concept on the other. Daily lunch/dinner. Bar open daily 11am- midnight.

CHELSEA

CITY CRUISES CH $$-$$$

Chelsea Piers, Pier 61 (W. 23rd St. & 12th Ave.), 866-817-3463; citycruises.com/newyork

Offers brunch, lunch, and dining cruises throughout the year. Choose from buffets or elegant plated experiences on the glass-enclosed deck of the Europeaninspired Bateaux. Four convenient NY/NJ departures.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE FD $$$

World Trade Center, 136 Washington St. (Cedar-Albany Sts.), 212-608-0171, mortons.com | STEAK/SEAFOOD

Famous for USDA prime-aged beef, fresh seafood, fine wine and elegant desserts: the ideal place for a memorable dinner. Wide-open, modern dining room can accommodate large parties or an intimate dinner for two. Private boardrooms or grab a cocktail in Bar 12-21. Just steps from the 9/11 Memorial.

AF TER HOURS

Welcome to the world capital of nightlife: the city that never sleeps. Intimate jazz spots share blocks with DJ-driven nightclubs all around the city.

Neighborhoody pints can be found across midtown. For a more raucous scene, check out the East Village and Lower East Side. Brooklyn is raising up nightlife scenes to rival Manhattan’s—a trip across the East River reveals all kinds of options in Williamsburg. Head up to the rooftops for city vistas, like the stunning park views at Le Jardin Rooftop Bar, atop the Le Meridien Hotel in Midtown West.

Near Times Square, you can rock your senses with tantalizing food and drinks at Hard Rock Cafe Feel the history as you’re surrounded by collectibles from Jimi Hendrix, Billy Joel, John Lennon, The Ramones, Blondie, and Bruce Springsteen—global stars with New York connections. Nearby Havana Central serves home-cooked Cuban food in a lively setting. Fuel up with their festive Happy Hour, which includes half-

Above: you’ll find cozy, elegant surrounds at the new Le Jardin Rooftop Bar, atop Paris Bar.

price empanadas and classic mojitos and margaritas.

For world-class musical experiences, head to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s intimate Dizzy’s Club There are shows nightly, in a space expressly designed for superior live jazz experiences— you’ll hear the difference at every show. Night owls can catch Late Night Sessions every Thursday through Saturday starting at 11pm.

For an eclectic mix of talent, city legend Gotham Comedy Club brings in the hottest comics nightly. Legends like Jerry Seinfeld and David Chappelle have dropped in on this upscale, intimate setting in Chelsea. There are touring pros and ensemble nights like The Gotham All-Stars. We all deserve a laugh these days—Gotham Comedy Club is the best place in the city to find them.

“ONE OF THE TOP TEN PLACES IN THE COUNTRY TO SEE STANDUP.”

Above, L to R: tacos and tropical drinks at Havana Central; Times Square’s legendary Hard Rock Cafe is chock-full of rock ‘n’ roll energy (and history).

NIGHTLIFE

FD Financial District

T Tribeca

DIZZY’S CLUB

AT JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER MW

10 Columbus Cir. (59th-60th Sts.), 212-258-9800, jazz.org

In the heart of Columbus Circle, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s most intimate venue Dizzy’s Club invites you to experience world-class music in a casual setting with breathtaking views of Central Park and a curated menu featuring craft and spirit-free cocktails. Nightly sets begin at 7 and 9pm; Sun. sets 5 and 7:30pm; and Late Night Sessions 11pm Thurs.-Sat.

GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB CH

208 W. 23rd St. (7th-8th Aves.), 212-367-9000, gothamcomedyclub.com

Whether it’s date night, an evening with the boys, a girls night out, or even a good place to take your mother-in-law, Gotham has a show for you. Great laughs from top-tier professionals are joined by delicious pub food, a huge liquor selection--including 30 kinds of vodka--and an actual wine list. Legends like Jerry Seinfeld are known to drop in on this upscale yet intimate setting. Covers vary depending on show with a 2-beverage minimum.

Continued from page 27—Culture

Top of page 24, Montien Boonma, House of Hope, 1996–97. Medium: herbs, spices, natural binders, cotton string, painted wood, and steel. Credit: Gift of Dakis and Lietta Joannou. Copyright © 2024 Montien Boonma. Courtesy of the Montien Boonma Estate.

1. Installation view of Barbie®: A Cultural Icon at the Museum of Arts and Design, New York. Photo by Jenna Bascom.

2. (Top) Coclé. Plaque with Crocodile Deity, ca. 700–900. Gold (tumbaga), 8 1/2 x 9 in. (21.6 x 22.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1931, Museum Collection Fund, 33.448.12. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 33.448.12_SL1. jpg). (Bottom) Golden ballroom dress from the Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2020 collection by Balenciaga. Photo: Pari Dukovic / Trunk Archive.

3. Book of Hours, in Latin Belgium, Bruges (?), ca. 1525–30, illuminated by the Master of the David Scenes in the Grimani Breviary, MS M.1175, fols. 124v–125r. Melvin R. Seiden Collection, 2011.

4. Photo: R. Mickens / ©AMNH.

MANHATTAN SUBWAY MAP

MANHATTAN BUS MAP

For a more detailed downtown map, see the Lower Manhattan map.

WESTSIDEHIGHWAY

BROADWAY

EAVNICHOLASST

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW MURPHY AND EVAN ZIMMERMAN