INSIDE: CITY, SUBWAY, BUS, THEATER, DOWNTOWN MAPS
GR E AT SE ATS AVA IL A BLE THIS W EEK
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.
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.
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 farr eaching 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 16 & 54
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 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:
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 in New York takes many forms, from historic destinations to stunning views. The legendary aircraft carrier that’s now the Intrepid Museum offers plenty of both. The Fighting “I” served tours of duty in both World War II and Vietnam and today takes visitors on an interactive journey through American innovation. The museum includes the Space Shuttle Pavilion, home to Enterprise, the world’s first space shuttle. The flight deck shows off 28 historic aircraft. New exhibit Apollo: When We Went to the Moon explores the dramatic history of human space flight.
When you want to pose “in a moment in time” with the world’s most iconic musicians, leaders, athletes, and A-list stars, Madame Tussauds in Times Square is your destination. In addition to being “the world’s greatest wax museum,” you can immerse yourself in adventures like the MARVEL Super Heroes 4D Film & Experience and the multi-sensory Coney Island Carnival Carnage 7D Game
If you want to see the Statue of Liberty and
Find prime perspectives on historic bridges and soaring skylines aboard City Cruises.
Ellis Island first-hand, Statue City Cruises is the only way to get there (with amazing perspectives on water, shipping, and skylines along the way). When you arrive on Liberty Island, you’ll find the Statue of Liberty Museum. Breathtaking views are joined by a $100 million destination that includes an up close look at the statue’s original torch. Opened in 1892, Ellis Island was the gateway for 12 million newly minted Americans. Some 40% of the U.S. population traces their ancestry here. Visitors today can explore the main building and The National Immigration Museum.
City Cruises offers great ways to dine along the skyline. For a refined experience, book a Premier Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise on the all-glass, European-inspired Bateaux New York and enjoy chef-prepared, plated dining, live entertainment, signature cocktails, and the city’s most impressive views. Or enjoy an upbeat buffet experience with DJ music and views from the open air roof deck on the Spirit of New York
Catch a ride with Seastreak and you’ll cruise in comfort with climate-controlled cabins, an open-air top deck, panoramic windows, and a full-service cash bar. In addition to local excursions, don’t miss whale watching cruises—charismatic humpback whales are Continued on p. 16
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encountered on 90% of Seastreak’s whale watching tours!
If you’re seeking a getaway (Jersey Shore, anyone?) or need transportation to or from Newark Liberty International Airport, NJ TRANSIT is the way to go, with hassle-free ways to get where you’re going in New Jersey. New York a vertical city and five worldclass observatories open up the city’s skies. The Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor observation deck, 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. 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. At night, SUMMIT is transformed into a beacon of light and energy visible to all of New York City and beyond. See the Empire State Building for yourself and you’ll know
from top left: One World Observatory, atop the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building; HeliNY New York City gets up close and personal with the city icons; shopping meets dining meets DreamWorks Water Park, the largest indoor water park in North America, at American Dream.
immediately why the skyscraper is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. For immersion in the Art Deco glory of Manhattan, Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock is a prime destination.
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° sights of the city and beyond.
For an even higher POV, the nearby 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 explore the city’s best attractions, tours, and experiences for one money-saving price with Go City. There are two options, the All-Inclusive Pass (for seeing as much as
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Chief Executive Officer: David L. Miller
& MARKETING
Vincent Timpone
Managing Director | Partnerships: Linda Pierce
Managing Director | Marketing: Sheri Lapidus
Director | Content Management: Ethan Wolff
Director | Creative Development: Wendy Tittel
Theatre Editor: Griffin Miller
Contributors: Evan Levy, Linda Sheridan
Director | Operations Management: Ray Winn
Director | Order Management: Heather Gambaro
Chief
FD Financial District
T Tribeca
NH NoHo
LES Lower East Side
SH SoHo
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. Less than five miles from Times Square!
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
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.
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. Exhibition spaces on floors 2 and 80 provide fascinating context.
Continued from p. 16 possible) and the Explorer Pass (if you’ve only got a few attractions on your radar). Among the possibilities: Brooklyn Bridge bike rentals, Yankees tickets, jazz in Harlem, and walking tours. There are over 100 options all told, with savings up to 50%—see more, spend less. Just a blink from NYC on the New Jersey side you’ll find American Dream, which boasts
the largest indoor theme park in North America plus skating, mini golf, pizza, barbecue, luxury retailers, and even an aquarium. Bring a swimsuit for DreamWorks Water Park, the largest indoor waterpark on the continent. All told, there are more than 3 million square feet to explore here, with something for everyone— no matter the weather.
gocity.com
Explore the best attractions, tours, and experiences in NYC for one money-saving price. Go City offers two options, the All-Inclusive Pass (for seeing as much as possible) and the Explorer Pass (if you’ve only got a few attractions on your radar). Both provide easy access, from Broadway lights to observatory heights.
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.
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
234 W. 42nd St. (7th-8th Aves.); nycwax.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.
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. Go to nytransitmuseum. org for details of current exhibits and programs, or to shop the Museum’s online store.
For more sightseeing info, including the city’s top boats and great seasonal activities, check out cityguideny.com/sightseeing.
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.
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.
E. 35th St. and Pier 11, Manhattan/Seastreak Ferry Terminal at Highlands, 326 Shore Dr., Highlands, NJ, 800-BOAT RIDE (800-262-8743); seastreak.com
The most comfortable way to explore the area: climate controlled cabins and an open-air top deck, 360° panoramic windows, and a full-service cash bar. NYC Whale Watching Cruises are back!
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 minutes from Battery Park at the foot of Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty Museum features an immersive film and up close looks at the statue’s original copper torch.
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 multi-sensory interactions. The installation AIR designed by Kenzo Digital creates the illusion of boundless space. At night, the scene dramatically shifts through a one-of-a-kind light and sound story, turning into a beacon of energy for NYC and beyond.
The city is overflowing with new interactive experiences, bringing art and culture to three-dimensional life.
SoHo/Tribeca’s interactive art experience INTER_ will take you on a magical adventure across two floors of otherworldly environments and reactive art, encouraging you to escape from NYC and unleash your inner child. Journey through the INTERverse and connect with the beauty, laughter, and power within you.
Calling all Potterheads! Holding down a sprawling space near Herald Square is Harry Potter: The Exhibition. Journey through the iconic moments, characters, settings, and beasts of the Wizarding World. Brew potions in the Potions Classroom, pot a mandrake in the Herbology Greenhouse (it smells amazing),
and use your digital wand to defeat a boggart in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Afterwards, check out the shop for Butterbeer, wands, and other Potter merchandise.
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. New York City is famous for its gala culture and you can immerse yourself in the scene right in Times Square. The Madame Tussauds flagship holds 19 celebrities, including new and never-before-seen wax figures of Ariana Grande and P. Diddy, at the Glow Gala installation. Many of the figures, including RuPaul, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry, are wearing illuminated, show-stopping looks inspired by New York’s legendary Met Gala.
For an adventure with shades themselves, SoHo art space Color Factory delivers a colorful adventure. At the Museum of Ice Cream you can check out a three-story slide that ends in a
Above: immerse yourself in the Wizarding World at the interactive experience Harry Potter: The Exhibition.
pool of sprinkles and walk through a hall of ice cream scoops. The Museum of Illusions NYC is great photographic fun, where you can laugh, scream, run, and take selfies.
Clockwise from top left: explore two floors of otherworldly environments at INTER_; get your celebrity glow on at Madame Tussauds New York; alter your perspective on a visit to newcomer IMAGINARI, where you’ll encounter wonders like a 12-foot-tall blossoming cherry tree enveloped by monarch butterflies.
HARRY POTTER: THE EXHIBITION MW
50 W. 34th St. (5th-6th Aves.); new-york.harrypotterexhibition.com
Calling all Potterheads! A sprawling interactive experience is now open near Herald Square. Journey through the iconic moments, characters, settings, and beasts of the Wizarding World. Brew potions, predict the future in Divination, and pot a mandrake in the Herbology Greenhouse (it smells amazing!).
200 Hudson St. (Vestry-Canal Sts.); imaginarico.com
Museum experiences meet experiential explorations at newcomer IMAGINARI. World-renowned artists can be found in gallery spaces, while inaugural exhibition “The Insect World” immerses visitors in a mesmerizing realm that includes 6-foot clouds surrounded by giant morpho buterflies.
NYC’s newest attraction is Tribeca’s IMAGINARI. This immersive exhibition space redefines the traditional museum experience by blending art, science, and entertainment. You’ll enter an oasis that shows off the See p. 18 for
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.
234 W. 42nd St. (7th-8th Aves.); nycwax.com
Get your selfie sticks ready: Madame Tussauds is the only place with no ropes holding you back from your favorite stars. Pose “in a moment in time” with iconic musicians, leaders, sports legends, and A-list stars, and immerse yourself in adventures like the MARVEL Super Heroes 4D Film & Experience
insect world in a new light. Awe-inspiring installations include towering 6-foot insects, a sprawling milkweed garden, and a magnificent cherry tree enveloped by blossoms and monarch butterflies. Even the sound adds to the immersion, with a bespoke soundtrack composed of Hz frequencies.
Newly opened in the Financial District, the Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology will wow you with multiple levels that bring together cutting-edge projections, sound design, and mirrored spaces that go on forever. Experimental artist Roy Nachum is
behind the creative vision.
The Flatiron District’s Museum of Sex presents the history, evolution, and cultural significance of human sexuality. You can explore the legacy of fairground frolicking at ongoing exhibition Super Funland: Journey into the Erotic Carnival.
The American Museum of Natural History shows even old-line institutions getting on board: the immersive Invisible Worlds explores networks of life at all scales. Experiences include jellyfish, satellite networks, the human brain, and interactions in Central Park.
NYC museums have something for everyone, covering art, history, and even the city itself.
Come inside for
The quaint neighborhood of Gramercy hosts Fotografiska New York, a museum experience for the modern world. There’s a vibrant atmosphere here unlike any other NYC museum, with music and drinks from coffee to cocktails to champagne allowed anywhere in the building. Current exhibitions include Vivian Maier: Unseen Work, celebrating an obscure New Yorker who photographed the city’s streets while working as a nanny. The uncovering of Maier’s work in a storage locker revealed a rich legacy, on display here through 200 color and black and white images and Super 8 films and soundtracks, produced between the early ‘50s and the mid-’80s. “We are thrilled to be premiering this beautiful exhibition in her hometown of New York—it’s a testament to her distinct perspective and talent, and an honor for the museum,” says Sophie Wright, Executive Director.
On the Upper West Side, the American Museum of Natural History carries on its mission of discovering and interpreting the natural world. In the revamped Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals you can explore meteorites, moon rocks, and crystals—not to mention treasures like the Star of India sapphire. New temporary show Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip-Hop Jewelry celebrates the influence of a Bronx-born culture through some of its most iconic (and priceless) jewelry.
Across town on the Upper East Side’s “Museum Mile” stands the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, housed in a historic mansion conveted to a center for contemporary and historical design. On view now is Acquired! Shaping the National Design Collection, which highlights the ways the museum adds new work, reflecting current issues and design’s evolving role in daily life.
On the Lower East Side, visual culture is the focus at the International Center of Photography Current exhibition Selections from ICP at 50: From the Collection traces the medium’s
development and impact on society.
The nearby Tenement Museum tells the story of the working-class residents and their contributions to NYC’s explosive growth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Guided tours provide a glimpse of how lives were lived across multiple immigrant cultures.
At the southern tip of Lower Manhattan, The Museum of Jewish Heritage–A Living Memorial to the Holocaust honors those who died in the Shoah by celebrating their lives, cherishing the traditions that they embraced, and affirming the vibrant worldwide Jewish community that is their legacy today.
Brooklyn has become a tourist destination to rival Manhattan, complete with its own world-class institution: the Brooklyn Museum. Just 20 minutes from Manhattan you’ll find a priceless collection that will surprise you with its range, from ancient Egypt to European masterpieces to a feast of decorative art.
Current exhibition Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys spotlights monumental works by Black diasporic artists (through July 7th).
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New York City is a fantastic place to celebrate the anniversary of America’s Independence. The main event is of course the Macy’s 4th of July free fireworks show, which is celebrating its 48th anniversary. This is the nation’s largest Independence Day fireworks show. It begins at nightfall, 9:20pm or so, but for the best views you’ll want to get situated hours in advance. After 11 years on the East River, the fireworks will be ignited this year from the Hudson River, with multiple viewing opportunities on the west side of Manhattan between West 14th and West 34th Streets.
The best way to experience the fireworks is aboard City Cruises, an unforgettable way to celebrate the holiday. While onboard you’ll enjoy chef-curated buffet, creative cocktails, beer, wine, and New York’s most incredible views from the water. Climate-controlled interior and open-air outdoor decks await, with games, a live DJ, and dancing into the night. The cruise leaves from Pier 15 near the South Street Seaport.
For an all-American Independence Day experience, head out to Coney Island, home of the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. The world’s top competitive eaters gather here every July 4th. After a record-breaking performance last year, look for Joey Chestnut to add a 17th Mustard belt to his collection. On the women’s side, Miki Sudo will return to defend her 2023 title, one of nine Mustard belt wins in her collection. The competition takes place on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues.
Fireworks viewing information and other spectator tips are available at macys.com/fireworks or 212-494-4495.
Since its days as New Amsterdam, New York City has been defined by a spirit of openness and creativity. June is Pride Month and a great time to delve into the city’s role in the fight for gay rights and recognition. This Friday and Saturday look for a reprise of last year’s successful Pride in Times Square,
Madame Tussauds New York is the only place with no ropes or barriers holding you back from your favorite stars. Don’t miss the new Glow Gala immersive. Many of the figures, including RuPaul, shown here, are wearing illuminated, show-stopping looks inspired by the legendary Met Gala.The attraction has just launched an exclusive new experience, the Behind the Scenes Tour For the first time ever you can see firsthand what it takes to make and maintain the world’s most famous wax figures. Pass through a private door into the actual studio where the work is done. Props can be seen up close, and you can even handle teeth and eyeballs. Celebrities are often fully
which included top stage and screen celebrities, talent from Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, local Times Square business promotions, Pride Piano Bar sessions, live DJ sets, The Big Broadway Disco, and more. Pride Month’s signature event is Sunday’s Pride March, which this year follows the theme “Reflect. Empower. Unite.” The March steps off at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue at
involved in their hairstyling and wardrobe choices and many of the outfits here come straight from celebrity closets—look out for a Taylor Swift original dress or shoes straight from Kim Kardashian’s closet. There’s ample time at the end for Q&A with the wax artists
noon, although you’ll want to get there in advance for prime views. There’s an accompanying street fair, PrideFest, which takes place in Greenwich Village starting at 11am. You’ll find live music, exhibitors, and food vendors near the Stonewall Inn, where the Stonewall Uprising in 1969 launched the modern gay rights movement. nycpride.org
who handle the sculpting, painting, hair color, styling, and wardrobe. The tour runs Monday through Friday at noon and 2pm, for a charge of $12 per guest in addition to regular admission cost. 234 W. 42nd St. (btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.), nycwax.com
6.27-7.4
6.28-6.29, 7.4
Vintage pin-up-inspired performers The Satin Dollz are hosting enchanted evenings at the USA Brooklyn Delicatessen in Times Square. Drawing on
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Every Sunday on the Upper West Side you can check out Grand Bazaar NYC, the city’s largest curated market—and most distinctive. This week you’ll also find the Summer Brunch &
the timeless classics of the ‘40s and ‘50s, the Satin Dollz give a high-energy performance as they weave their way through the aisles while you dig into first-rate
Shop – Love Bazaar. Come celebrate Pride and diversity, browsing an eclectic mix of offerings from talented local artists and makers, and independent vintage and specialty dealers.
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comfort food. The Satin Dollz began in 2005, delivering performances that call back to the WWII USO Camp Shows. Vocal harmonies, tap dancing, beauty, and charisma all come together, wrapped up in a retro bow. (After the show, you can meet The Dollz and capture photo moments.) Show nights are weekly, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, no cover charge, with a special extra-patriotic performance slated for July 4th!
211 W. 43rd St. (btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.), 212-840-5800, brooklyndelicatessen.com
Come hungry: there are great artisanal bites as well. 10am-5pm, both indoors and out.
Columbus Ave. & 77th St., 212-239-3025, grandbazaarnyc.org
For coming up on 15 years, The Original NYC Talent Show has stood out as a rare stage experience showing off the eccentric, unparalleled talent native to New York City. You can catch it every Monday at 7:30pm at the Lower East Side’s beloved Parkside Lounge. Talents as diverse as Hannibal Buress, Janeane Garafolo, Colin Quinn, and Jim Gaffigan have appeared and audience members are invited to sign up and perform. As Victor Varnado (who co-hosts with Pam Wess) puts it, “The NYC Talent Show transcends being just a talent show. It’s a grand celebration of performance art, embracing everything from the sublime to the peculiar. Every act that steps onto our stage embodies the audacious, raw, and enthralling spirit of New York.” 317 E. Houston St. (Attorney St.), 212-673-6270, nyctalentshow.com
Visit while the Broadway rush is on and you’ll know instantly why Times Square is nicknamed “The Crossroads of the World.” On any given day hundreds of thousands of people pass through, drawn to the action from every corner of the globe. Beyond theatre, you’ll find food, drink, shopping, attractions, and a host of live performances.
TSQ LIVE» As summer heats up, the Times Square Alliance presents more than 80 open-air performances across Times Square’s public plazas. Renowned NYC organizations including Carnegie Hall Citywide, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Soul Summit collaborate on free programming showing off city talent. Tuesdays at 5pm you’ll find DJs putting on electrifying sets at the Broadway Pedestrian Plaza between 45th and 46th Streets. At the same spot on Thursdays at 5pm, Ailey Extension continues the legacy of dancer, choreographer, and activist Alvin Ailey with dance and fitness classes open to everyone, from absolute beginners to professionals. On Wednesdays at 5pm at the Pedestrian Plaza between 43rd and 44th Streets you’ll find a pop up place to connect around artistic activities for children, families, and creative minds. The experience is presented by Street Lab, a nonprofit that’s been programming NYC public space since 2011. MTA MUSIC (Music Under New York) can be found on the spot as well, hosting live shows that lean on the huge range of music found on NYC subway platforms and trains. One of the biggest draws is Summer Friday Concerts, bringing high-energy performances on select weeks. Unexpected Art» In the city that never sleeps, it’s only fitting that Times Square would dedicate itself to art just before the stroke of midnight. Midnight Moment is the world’s largest and longest-running digital public
art program, putting on a monumental synchronized display across 97 screens between 41st and 49th Streets. Artists change monthly—stand by at 11:57pm to catch the latest. For an art experience most New Yorkers don’t even know about, listen in to the steam grate at Broadway and Seventh Avenue between 45th and 46th Streets. The late artist Max Neuhaus created an enigmatic sound bath here, titled “Times Square.” Neighborhood Must Sees» There’s only one place in Times Square that guarantees star-spotting: Madame Tussauds New York Get up close with lifelike wax figures representing the world’s most iconic musicians, A-list stars, sports legends, and world leaders. More glamour can be found among Times Square dining options, which include the daringly imaginative Mexican-inspired fare and rock ‘n’ roll vibes of Pink Taco. The World’s Greatest Soccer Store is another neighborhood highlight. At Pelé Soccer you can shop—and personalize—official jerseys and fan gear from 100+ teams and players around the world.
Many things have changed on planet Earth since The Book of Mormon opened on Broadway more than 13 years ago, but the musical’s ability to trigger unrestrained, endorphin-boosting, from-the-gut, communal laughter isn’t one of them.
With a blare of trumpets and some nifty stage magic, a brief biblical prologue spills a few essential Mormon scripture beans, leading to…Lights up on a plucky young missionary (his superpower is his smile) who presses an invisible doorbell, and:
“Hello, my name is Elder Price, and I
Would like to share with you the/ Most amazing book.”
Suddenly, with incremental precision, the stage fills with cheery, doorbell-ringing Elders and The Book of Mormon is officially open for business.
Written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who traveled from South Park to Broadway, and Robert Lopez, who schlepped from Avenue Q, the show netted nine 2011 Tonys, Best Musical included, and a 2012 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. All for sending a couple of wide-eyed Elders—Kevin Price and Arnold Cunningham—into a dodgy Ugandan village, where blasphemy and gross-out humor are de rigueur, a one-eyed warlord tyrannizes the locals, and cheeky production numbers featuring missionaries, Ugandans—or both— seize the spotlight.
B.O.M. F.Y.I.
It’s also where pretty and impressionable Nabulungi (Kim Exum) embraces Mormonism as her ticket to Paradise, or as she puts it, “Sal Tleih Kasiti.” (Translation: Salt Lake City.)
If you come to The Book of Mormon enamored with Parker and Stone’s ability to amp anarchy into a crescendo lunacy, you’ll have no trouble surrendering to its naughty bravado. But even if you enter cold, you’re bound to fall under its irreverent spell. Consider the recurring ecclesiastical cameos from Jesus and Mormon VIPs Joseph Smith and Brigham Young…Elder Cunningham’s off-again/on-again angst…the ultra-spectacular “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” number… the audacious parody distorted from The King and I…the score…the choreography…the effects…
As for the leading Elders, Cody Jamison Strand plays the ebullient self-proclaimed sidekick Cunningham, while Kevin Clay is the show’s handsome, self-assured, play-by-therules Price.
A Virginia native, Clay began his love affair with the stage during a summer camp tribute to George M. Cohan when he was eight. “I was pretty smitten right away singing ‘Give My Regards to Broadway.’ From
Clay has been riding first-class on The Book of Mormon Express since Broadway reopened in the fall of 2021. “I always say that we are the perfect show for the true musical theatre lover and, more importantly, the opposite personality,” he says. “If you’ve never seen a Broadway show, see us. If you’ve seen 100 [Broadway shows], see us. I may be biased, but we are still the funniest show in New York. Fight me.”
there I performed at a community theatre every summer.”
Fast forward to Clay’s freshman year of college when The Book of Mormon made its Broadway debut. “I remember sitting to listen through the cast recording top to bottom. My first thought was, ‘Damn… this is my ideal show, and it came too soon.’ Luckily this train kept on running long enough for me to hop aboard,” he said, citing his trajectory from ensemble to Elder Price standby on the show’s North American tour, before joining
how real we make it.” (Spoiler alert: the scene is pretty emotional for the audience, too. Fortunately, when it comes to musical comedy, something distracting and/or upbeat is just a song away.)
Offstage, though, is where the two bonded over their love of games. “Cody regularly plays in my Dungeons & Dragons campaign that I run, along with countless other game nights,” says Clay, who grew up watching South Park on the Q.T. (”My parents certainly didn’t know!”) and remains in awe of the time
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 LevyIn Lower Manhattan don’t miss the soaring, cathedral-like space that defines the Oculus The world-class collection of shops here is definitely about time—or it will be, when you peruse the selection of timepieces at Breitling, Tissot, and Longines. You’ll also find the perfect writing implement at Mont Blanc along with major players like Apple and Banana Republic.
Across the street is a true New York shopping legend, Century 21. The doors to their Cortlandt Street flagship have recently reopened, revealing 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.
A little ways north is the perennially chic45 (“South of Houston”), a low-rise neighborhood which retains its cult status with a focus on the cutting edge. French fashion house Chloé is here, as are local label Rag & Bone and a Prada flagship.
To the east of SoHo is Nolita (“North of Little Italy”), a small-scale neighborhood with boutiques like Love Adorned, with jewelry and home goods, and Supreme, known for its collaborations with musicians and designers.
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.
Moving up Manhattan, on the west side along the Hudson you’ll reach the High Line, Chelsea, and the upmarket shopping of the Meatpacking District. Women’s fashion can be found at Alice + Olivia, perfume at Bond No 9, and boutique picks at Marni Meatpacking Market. You can find the Diane von Furstenberg flagship here as well.
Continue north and you’ll pass Herald Square, home of the Macy’s flagship, and then Times Square. Nearby Cockpit USA has been reproducing genuine, contemporary versions of iconic American-made aviator clothing for nearly half a century. 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. 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.
Across town on the east side are two of
the most famous shopping streets in the world. Fifth Avenue is arguably New York’s most famous street, with a who’s who of designer fashion. From Bulgari to Cartier, Tiffany to Gucci, the storied street never goes out of fashion—much like its stores. Madison Avenue’s names include Fendi, Giorgio Armani, and Berluti. Another Midtown East titan is Bloomingdale’s 59th Street, the luxury department store legend, which is nearby on Lexington Avenue.
Just a blink from NYC on the New Jersey side you’ll find American Dream, with the largest indoor theme park in North America plus skiing, skating, mini golf, luxury retailers, and even an aquarium. 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. New round-trip bus service is now available directly from Manhattan, with quick, convenient service leaving daily from 43rd Street and Eighth Avenue.
No matter what you’re searching for, you can track it down in NYC!
Eclectic and essential finds are omnipresent in the big city, with its tempting boutiques, worldfamous department stores, and legendary shopping districts. Brookfield Place, Hudson Yards, 57th Street, Madison Avenue, NoHo, and SoHo are all filled with precious merchandise to excite and delight newbies and shopoholics alike. –Wendy Tittel
SHOP LIKE A ROYAL : : Give Dad (or another important man in your world) a three-fold olfactory experience with top notes (bergamot, oregano, pimento berry), heart notes (rose/frankincense), and base notes (leather, agarwood, patchouli, sandalwood) all emanating from Interlude 53 for Men ($520/100 ml). Shop in good company at the perfum house of Amouage—founded by the Sultanate of Oman in 1983 to be “The Gift of Kings.”. What a great way to use your strongest sense to gift to those most deserving. Discover it on your journey through American Dream.
1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ, 833-263-7326, americandream.com
IT’S HIP TO BE SQUARE : : The American Folk Art Museum’s collection is top rate—and that applies heartily to their gift items. Extend that folksy fun when you leave with this pretty memento in painted 100% Argentinian leather. “Rainbow” offers colorful squares and a touch of whimsy even on the gloomiest day back at the office. It’s lightweight and comfortable, making it an indispensable piece for travel and leisure. Measures a generous 34” long ($150). 2 Lincoln Sq., 212-595-9533, folkartmuseum.org
WHEN THE PAPARAZZI SHOW UP : : You’ll be ready and right in fashion as the cameras roll in these timeless ZETZ Sun series frames ($350) from Moscot. With a location conveniently located inside Chelsea Market in the Meatpacking District, this optical fashion store offers a host of cool frames to try on and alter your personality. Shop five generations of NYC know-how. 75 Ninth Ave., 646-380-2586, moscot.com
STREET FEET : : The ultimate guide to that pinnacle of comfort and New York City fashion, the sneaker, is Sneaker Freaker: The Ultimate Sneaker Book ($60), a 15-year anthology of cult magazine Sneaker Freaker. This powerful book offers incredible imagery; you’ll want to browse this one
OPEN TOE SEASON : : A summertime must for fashion shows up this season in a new soft denim blue. The Zimmermann Sol Espadrille 95 from Natura, their spring 2024 collection. The wedge heel cotton denim espadrille featuring a stripe grosgrain ankle tie is made in Spain and sports a do-able 95mm heel and a soft toe to round it all out ($475). 652 Hudson St., 212-913-9015, zimmermann.com
WHAT I LEICA ‘BOUT YOU : : Photographers take note! The iconic M6 analog film camera ($5,295) from the Leica Store and Gallery Meatpacking District is your must-have for discreetly getting up close and personal to real New York street action. Before you prowl the neighborhood for new subjects, get inspired in the Leica store gallery, spotlighting the work of both local and globally acclaimed photographers. 406 W. 13th St., 332-222-1690, leicacamerausa.com
THIS WAY TO LONDON : : Make a stunning addition to your daily desktop view with a faithful recreation of the Concorde designed. Heralded as the only supersonic passenger aircraft ever made, this engineering marvel once whisked passengers from London to New York in three hours, heralding a new era with its sleek and elegant shape. Enjoy a precision-crafted takeaway from your trip to the Intrepid Museum. The model is a memento from the history of luxury travel, reminiscent of the original models proudly displayed at the top travel agents of British Airways and Air France. Made of a highly polished silver metal. Size: 18.1” l x 6.9” w x 8.3” h ($200). Pier 86, W. 46th St., 212-245-0072, intrepidmuseum.org
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
1560 Broadway (btw. 46th & 47th Sts.), 646-666-0025, pelesoccer.com
Times Square’s Pelé Soccer is The World’s Greatest Soccer Store, from soccer legend Pelé. You can shop—and personalize—official jerseys and fan gear from 100+ teams and players around the world. There’s also 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.
Trusted recommendations for goods and services around New York City
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.
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.
59 E. 54th St. (btw. Park & Madison Aves.), 212-355-0940, schumerswines.com
For more than 40 years, Schumer’s Wines & Liquors has been 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.
For more on shopping, including the best discounts in the city, check out cityguideny.com/shopping on your desktop, tablet, or phone.
Welcome to summer in the Big Apple where the heat is turned up high—and it has nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with Broadway!
The world’s most celebrated theatre district is famously white-hot when it comes to tickets for Tony-winning “Best of Shows,” both new (2024’s recently christened titleholders), and long-running (seven megahits spanning three decades).
It’s the 1920s—a decade in which thumbing your nose at Prohibition was a favorite national pastime, all the rage in Speakeasies and at extravagant Jazz Age parties, the latter thrown by people like Jay Gatsby, the millionaire/ titular fulcrum of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous novel and Broadway’s gorgeously flamboyant musical, The Great Gatsby
Jeremy Jordan, who plays the enigmatic Mr. Gatsby, says he was able to put his individual stamp on the role through collaboration with the show’s creators, Kait Kerrigan (Book), Jason Howland (Music), and Nathan Tysen (Lyrics). “That was an incredible advantage in putting together my character,” he says, adding, “It’s exciting that I get to show a different color of Gatsby from the movies—a version that’s never been seen before.”
Indeed, when it comes to Fitzgerald’s stable of beautifully drawn, hopelessly flawed characters, the musical achieves focus as the perfect showcase.
[FYI: The Great Gatsby is clearly a theatregoer favorite, having picked up three significant 2024 Audience Choice Awards (the only major theatre honors decided by the fans): Favorite New Musical, Favorite Leading Actor in a Musical (Jordan), and Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical (Eva Noblezada).
In a U.S. election year, it’s natural to home in on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s cultural phenom of a musical about an American Founding Father: Hamilton. Spinning a web of success from its Public Theater debut to its transfer to Broadway to its windfall of ecstatic reviews to
its 11 Tony awards to year-after-year of sold-out houses, the mega-hit ignited the musical landscape and, I am happy to report, its glow has not dimmed with age.
As it approaches its 9th Broadway birthday on August 6th, the show’s current cast cuts to the core of Miranda’s epic script and score, starting with Trey Curtis’s Alexander Hamilton, whose relationships with Aaron Burr (Jared Dixon), Angelica Schuyler (Jennie Harney-Fleming), and wife Eliza (Stephanie Jae Park) drive the passion behind the politics. As for Jarrod Spector’s scene-stealing King George? Brocade and velvet icing on the blockbuster cake. And for the record, the “room” where it all happens is Broadway’s Richard Rodger Theatre.
Continued
TKTS: 25-50% Off Tickets (the day of the show)
40 & Juliet (Stephen Sondheim Theatre)
39 Aladdin (New Amsterdam)
30 Appropriate (Belasco Theatre)
7 Back to the Future: The Musical (Winter Garden Theatre)
33 A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical (Broadhurst Theatre)
17 Ben Platt: Live at the Palace (Palace Theatre)
10 The Book of Mormon (Eugene O’Neill)
4 Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (August Wilson Theatre)
11 Chicago (Ambassador)
9 Empire (New World Stages, Off-Broadway)
8 An Enemy of the People (Circle in the Square Theatre)
3 The Great Gatsby (Broadway Theatre)
12 Hadestown (Walter Kerr)
19 Hamilton (Richard Rodgers)
37 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Lyric)
13 The Heart of Rock and Roll (James Earl Jones Theatre)
32 Hell’s Kitchen (Shubert Theatre)
38 Home (Todd Haimes Theatre)
36 Illinoise (St. James Theatre)
28 The Lion King (Minskoff)
14 Mary Jane (Samuel J. Friedman Theatre)
31 Merrily We Roll Along (Hudson Theatre)
5 MJ the Musical (Neil Simon Theatre)
35 Mother Play (Helen Hayes Theatre)
23 Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Al Hirschfeld)
26 The Notebook (Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre)
29 Oh, Mary! (Lyceum Theatre)
25 The Outsiders (Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre)
15 Patriots (Ethel Barrymore Theatre)
16 SIX (Lena Horne Theatre)
24 Stereophonic (Golden Theatre)
21 Suffs (Music Box Theatre)
1 Uncle Vanya (Lincoln Center Theater’s Vivian Beaumont Theater)
22 Water for Elephants (Imperial Theatre)
41 The Who’s Tommy (Nederlander Theatre)
6 Wicked (Gershwin Theatre)
20 The Wiz (Marquis Theatre)
Continued from p. 41
WIZARDS & WITCHES & GENIE, OH MY!
If surrendering yourself to the fantastical is on your Broadway wish list, have I got the shows for you—three, in fact, all as popular with grown-ups as they are kids. Who knew, right? And all you need to do to achieve optimum Broadway magic is to follow these two simple steps: 1) suspend disbelief, and 2) conjure tickets.
In case your owl was late delivering the news, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (HPCC) is now the 5th longest running play in Broadway history. But this is just the latest in the show’s litany of achievements that span everything from six Tonys (including Best Play) to being named highestgrossing non-musical play in Broadway history by the Guinness World Records.
A visual stunner packed with mind-blowing magic and special effects, the show introduces audiences to a new generation of characters, the two key players being Harry’s (Steve Haggard youngest son, Albus (Joel Meyers), and Draco Malfoy’s (Aaron Bartz) only child, the socially awkward Scorpius (Erik Christopher Peterson). Together the two junior wizards haphazardly hurdle through time-triggering spellbinding havoc. And although Hogwartsian plot twists and Dementors are part of the heart-pounding fun, script writer Jack Thorne smartly interjected familial love and conflict into the play—themes common to everyone, muggles included.
while uncovering some unsavory truths about the school and a couple of Ozian VIPs.
Both a prequel and sequel to The Wizard of Oz (with a number of strategically placed references and Easter eggs), the show’s current cast boasts several noteworthy Broadway veterans, including Tony winner Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line), who plays Madame Morrible, Tony nominee Brad Oscar (Something Rotten!; The Producers) as The Wizard, and William Youmans, who’s back at the Gershwin Theatre in the role he originated in 2003—Doctor Dillamond.
Featuring a book by Winnie Holzman and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, this utterly bewitching musical has crossed the coveted generational divide that finds young fans now grown and sharing this wickedly wonderful show with their own children, often multiple times—it’s that captivating. Splashes of color— reds, yellows, purples, blues, greens, both muted and vibrant—enliven the bustling marketplace
Meanwhile, over at the ultra “Pop-u-lar” musical Wicked, two young witches—Elphaba (Mary Kate Morrissey), the misunderstood, green-skinned, bookworm, shunned by her governor of Munchkinland dad, and the bubbly, self-absorbed blonde who turns out to be “Glinda the Good” (Alexandra Socha)—seem ill-suited college roommates until they bond
Aladdin’s fictional town of Agrabah, where dervishes dance, merchants merch, and the handsome title hero (Adi Roy) and his buddies hang. Broke and not unfamiliar with five-finger discounts, the foursome are magnets for trouble until a close encounter with Princess Jasmine (Sonya Balsara) spells romance, along with an intro to the villainous Jafar (Dennis Stowe), the Sultan’s Grand Vizier. It all leads up to the life-changing Aladdin-Genie (Michael James Scott) rendezvous and Broadway’s most spectacular, pyrotechnical, showstopping number, “Friend Like Me.”
Musical bios are tricky. They need an angle to frame their subject, and they need to present a viable glimpse into a celebrity’s backstory. In the case of MJ The Musical, two-time Pulitzer
by Matthew
Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage has ingeniously finessed the fine line separating various aspects of Michael Jackson’s childhood and the days leading up to his 1992 Dangerous Tour by introducing an MTV crew documenting the star’s process. Once activated, the interview segments segue into flashbacks that shine a fascinating light on Jackson’s childhood as the Jackson Five’s lead singer as well as episodic takes on the years that followed.
The musical pulse of decades past reverberates throughout the show’s more than 25 songs and Tony-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s electrifying dance numbers that seem to effortlessly capture the King of Pop’s stylized moves and persona.
In the pedal-to-the-metal role of Jackson, Elijah Rhea Johnson proves himself up to the challenge of taking Broadway by storm. In addition, he doesn’t shy from the bittersweet poignancy surrounding his character, something that hits home, especially at the end when he recounts a tough crowd that he and brothers faced one amateur night at the Apollo. “[T]hat night we got more applause than I thought was possible. And that feeling on stage, making music, it was like catching the holy spirit in church. That feeling, it felt like—love”.
Orlando, Florida. Instead, he’s horrified to learn he’s headed to Uganda alongside dorky, superstoked Elder Cunningham (Cody Jaison Strand), who screams, “You and me, for two years in Uganda! This is going to be awesome!”
This being a musical comedy created by South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Avenue Q’s Robert Lopez, it is awesome— hilariously, irreverently awesome. If you just remember to check any prudish inhibitions at the door, you’ll do fine.
“Nants ingonyama bagithi baba” (“Here comes a lion”), the opening chant from Disney’s The Lion King sung by the shaman Rafiki (Tshidi ), has become, quite literally, its calling card, beckoning audiences to the majesty of the moment as the animals of South Africa’s savanna amble, stride, and flutter onto the Minskoff Theatre’s vast stage.
At the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, The Book of Mormon’s newly minted gaggle of missionaries have taken the stage (“Hello!” “Hello!” “Hello!”) and, having perfected their salvation pitch, are officially ready to be paired up and shipped off to their first detail. Maybe France… Japan…Australia…San Francisco…
Described in The Book of Mormon script as “young,” “dashing,” and wearing a big smile, Elder Price (Kevin Clay) is a winner, confident that he’ll be assigned to his dream destination:
It’s these beasts and birds—exquisitely brought into being by creature-defining masks and puppets designed by Michael Curry in collaboration with the show’s director, Julie Taymor—who inhabit the Pride Lands where the musical unfolds. Their arrival demonstrates loyalty to the royal parents, while honoring the future king, the lion cub Simba. The story is his story…a coming-of-age tale tinged with both light and darkness.
If you’ve yet to experience The Lion King, I recommend giving yourself over to it completely. If you do, you can expect to be swept up in an anthropomorphized microcosm of family, friends, enemies, and emotions, played out to perfection by a stellar cast that includes Stephen Carlile (Scar), Vincent Jamal Hooper (Simba), L. Steven Taylor (Mufasa), Pearl Khwezi (Nala), Ben Jeffrey (Pumbaa), Fred Berman (Timon), and Cameron Pow (Zazu).
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.
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.
Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; appropriateplay.com
(2hrs., 30 mins.) Sarah Paulson stars in this darkly comic family drama about siblings returning to their Arkansas home to deal with their father’s estate. Limited engagement thru 6/30.
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.
Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; abeautifulnoisethemusical.com (2 hrs., 15 mins.) This electrifying musical shows how a poor Jewish kid from Brooklyn become one of the most adored showmen of all time. Thru 6/30.
Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway, 844-753-7397; broadwaydirect.com
Tony winner Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen; Parade) celebrates the release of his album “Honeymind” in concert. Limited engagement thru 6/15.
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 comes from the hilariously irreverent minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park). The show follows two wide-eyed Mormon missionaries, whose first official assignment is a remote village in Uganda. Divinely profane in all the right places!
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CABARET AT THE KIT KAT CLUB
August Wilson Theatre, 245 W. 52nd St., 888-985-9421; kitkat.club
(2 hrs., 45 mins.) In-the-round revival of Kander & Ebb’s classic set in Berlin at the start of WWII. Starring Eddie Redmayne (MC) and Gayle Rankin (Sally Bowles).
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.
AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
Circle in the Square Theatre, 235 W. 50th St., 212-239-6200; anenemyofthepeopleplay.com
(2 hrs., 15 mins.) When a doctor (Jeremy Strong) raises an alarm, those in power try to silence and destroy him. Costarring Michael Imperioli. Limited engagement thru 6/23.
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.
Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th St., 800-745-3000; hadestown.com
2019 Tony, Best Musical (2 hrs., 30 mins.) Follows the overlapping mythical love stories of Orpheus & Eurydice and Hades & Persephone. The action unfolds in both a stylized New Orleans setting and Hades’ stomping ground, The Underworld. As for the score, think New Orleans jazz melded with American folk music.
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 Prize-winning production relating the story behind orphan/war hero/Treasury head/ founding father Alexander Hamilton has also scooped up Tony, Olivier, and Grammy Awards.
Lyric Theatre, 214 W. 43rd St., 212-305-4100; broadway.harrypottertheplay.com
2018 Tony, Best Play (3 hrs., 30 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 mustsee for fans (the program has a full summary and wizarding world crash course for HP neophytes).
The cast of MJ: The MusicalJames Earl Jones Theatre, 138 W. 48th St., 212-239-6200; theheartofrockandrollmusical.com
(2 hrs., 20 mins.) Huey Lewis and the News hits score this musical about two 30-somethings who know what they want—until they find each other.
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.
Todd Haimes Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., 212-239-6100; roundabouttheatre.org
In this coming-of-age story, Cephus Miles has the world in his hands until his sweetheart marries another man. Limited engagement thru 7/21.
St. James Theatre, 246 W. 44th St., 888-506-4101; illinoiseonstage.com (90 mins., no intermission) Sufjan Stevens’ concept album, brought to the stage with new arrangements, takes us from campfire stories to the edges of the cosmos. Limited engagement thru 8/10.
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, The Lion King is a treasure trove of stunning visual magic created by Tony-winner Julie Taymor. Set in the flourishing African Pride Land, the story follows the lion prince, Simba, and his journey from precocious cub to king of the jungle.
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., 212-239-6200; manhattantheatreclub.com
(90 minutes, no intermission) Rachel McAdams as a single mother relying on humor and the women around her. Limited engagement thru 6/30.
Hudson Theatre, 141 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; merrilyonbroadway.com (2 hrs., 30 mins.) This all-star Sondheim musical revival charts the turbulent relationship between a composer and his two lifelong friends. Thru 7/7.
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. With over 25 of The King of Pop’s hits, as well as his signature moves and sound, the show comes with a staggeringly impressive pedigree: book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and direction and choreography by Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon.
Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St., 212-541-4516; 2st.com (105 mins., no intermission) In this Paula Vogel play set in 1962, Phyllis (Jessica Lange) and her teenage kids (Jim Parsons and Celia Keenan-Bolger) move into a new apartment. Thru 6/16.
Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; 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, featuring a love triangle, Toulouse-Lautrec, and over 70 songs.
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; notebookmusical.com mins.) Based on Nicolas Sparks’ bestseller: a musical romance about Allie & Noah, from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite forces that threaten to pull them apart.
Lyceum Theatre, 145 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; ohmaryplay.com
(80 mins., no intermission) Writer/actor Cole Escola plays Mary Todd Lincoln, examining her forgotten life and dreams through the lens of an idiot. In previews for a 7/11 opening; limited engagement thru 9/15.
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; outsidersmusical.com (2 hrs., 30 mins.) Oklahoma, 1967: Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade, and their chosen family of “outsiders” fight for survival in a world of haves and have nots. Based on the 1983 Tom Cruise-Patrick Swayze film.
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 W. 47th St., 212-239-6200; patriotsbroadway.com (2 hrs., 30 mins.) Billionaire Boris Berezovsky’s choice of Vladimir Putin to lead post–Soviet Russia ultimately triggers a confrontation. Limited engagement thru 6/23.
Lena Horne Theatre, 256 W. 47th St., 877-250-2929; sixonbroadway.com (80 mins., no intermission) Henry VIII’s six wives take the mic to remix historical heartbreak into girl power.
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Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; stereophonicplay.com
(3 hrs., 5 mins.) A play with music set in 1976, as a rock band hits the brink of superstardom. With songs by Grammy winner Will Butler. Limited engagement thru 8/18.
Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; suffsmusical.com
(2 hrs., 30 mins.) Set in 1913, Shaina Taub’s new musical explores the victories and failures of the women’s movement and its pursuit of voting rights.
Lincoln Center Theater’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 W. 65th St., 212-239-6200; lct.org
(2 hrs., 25 mins.) Steven Carell plays the title role in this new translation of Chekhov’s classic about love, desire, and resentment set in rural Russia. Limited engagement thru 6/16.
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 spectaclefilled new musical based on the bestselling novel.
Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st St., 844-753-7397; tommythemusical.com
(2 hrs., 15 mins.) Tommy, a traumatized child, turns into a celebrity savior as a “pinball wizard.” Based on The Who’s 1969 rock opera.
Gershwin Theatre, 222 W. 51st St., 877-250-2929; wickedthemusical.com
(2 hrs., 45 mins.) One of Broadway’s biggest success stories, this fantasy musical, based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire, 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.
Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway, 844-753-7397; wizmusical.com
(2 hrs., 30 mins.) This first Broadway revival invites you to ease on down the yellow brick road with Dorothy and company. Limited engagement thru 8/18.
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.
New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., 212-239-6200; empirethemusical.com
(2 hr., 30 mins.) This elevated new musical celebrates the world’s most iconic building: the Empire State Building. Told through the lens of three generations of dreamers and doers, and spanning New York City in the Roaring ‘20s, the Great Depression, and the 1976 Bicentennial, the show shines with dramatic tales, spectacular choreography, foot-tapping music, and unforgettable characters. Limited engagement from 7/1 thru 9/22.
The Parkside Lounge, 317 E. Houston St., 212-673-6270; nyctalentshow.com
A Monday night platform where hosts Victor Varnado and Pam Wess invite performers from various backgrounds and talents to take the stage for an evening of the gritty charm, humor, and energy emblematic of NYC. Serving up the unexpected and audacious, the show has been a playground for Jim Gaffigan, Kristen Schaal, Colin Quinn, Janeane Garafolo, and many more.
NYC is a world-class destination for foodies. It’s also home to local legends that have earned those Instagram snaps across decades of service. You’ve got questions about dining out? We’ve got answers.
hIconic meals in Times Square?
Awe-inspiring rock memorabilia lines the walls at the Hard Rock Cafe, where you can dine down on the likes of Legendary Steak Burgers, baby back ribs, and grilled chicken Caesar salads. You’ll be surrounded by priceless rock relics, including pieces from artists with New York ties like John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, The Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, and Blondie. Iconic Ts and other merchandise make this a great spot for souvenir shopping as well!
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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.
Just a blink from Manhattan on the Jersey side you’ll find entertainment, shopping, and a world of great dining at American Dream mall. Highlights include the classic rock ambiance of Yard House, upscale Italian at Carpaccio, (above), Asian specialties at the H Mart Food Hall, and chef-driven creations like Marcus Live! Bar & Grille by Marcus Samuelsson and Michelin-star chef Gastón Acurio’s Jarana.
iWhere can I find a refined experience and a real getaway?
Nerai brings a taste of Greece to Midtown East. Diners here experience the fresh flavors of the Aegean with a range of refined seafood dishes, hummus, housemade feta, and grilled pita bread. (Nerai’s wine program holds the prestigious Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.) Don’t miss enchanted courtyard dining.
fWhere can I be transported in
Havana Central serves home-cooked Cuban food in a friendly setting in the center of everything. Before a Broadway show, or after a stop at 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 with the purchase of drink. Live Latin music plays every Thursday from 6-9pm and Fridays from 7-10pm!
gWhere can I experience an amazing antipasto bar?
Cafe Fiorello on Broadway is a New Yorker goto for visits to Lincoln Center. An Upper West Side legend, it’s finished in warm wood, brass, and mirrors. Updated Italian classics from the kitchen begin with the 50-item hot and cold antipasto bar, freshly made and full of temptations. (For entrees, Fiorello excels in seafood, steak, veal, and pasta.)
h Where 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.
i A high-energy spot in Times Square?
Pink Taco serves imaginative Mexicaninspired fare amid rock ‘n’ roll vibes. You’ll find tacos with attitude, perfectly shaken margaritas, and signature cocktails like the Ranch Water, made with Herradura Blanco, Topo Chico, and fresh lime juice. On the weekends don’t miss Hangover Brunch— think Pink Churro Pancakes, Mexican Bread Pudding French Toast, chilaquiles verdes, and Rainbow Mimosas.
fWhere 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 dine-in 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 famous for: pretzel crabcake rafts, bison short ribs with coffee BBQ essence, Angry Alaskan King Crab Legs, and Clothesline Bacon.
Meatpacking
Gramercy Park
Midtown West
Midtown East
Theater District
Times Square
Upper East Side
Upper West Side
New Jersey
$ Inexpensive/Mostly $20 & under
$$ Mostly $20-$40
$$$ Mostly $50 +
CAFE FIORELLO UWS $$
1900 Broadway (63rd-64th Sts.), 212-595-5330, cafefiorello.com | ITALIAN
New Yorkers’ go-to for visits to Lincoln Center. Upper West Side legend features a lively outdoor cafe and a timeless interior finished in warm wood, brass, and mirrors. Updated Italian classics from the kitchen begin with a 50-item hot and cold antipasto bar. Excels in seafood, steak, veal, and pasta.
THE CONSULATE UWS $$$
519 Columbus Ave. (85th St.), 646-781-9288, theconsulate.nyc | FRENCH AMERICAN
Take your tastebuds on an international trip. Restaurant and cocktail bar inspires patrons with a unique rotating monthly menu that highlights different countries’ cultures. French American standouts include sumptuous short rib cavatelli, perfectly seared steaks, roasted herb chicken, and locally sourced seafood dishes like seared branzino and scallop tartare with crispy shallots. Classic eggs Benedict and blueberry cast-iron pancakes headline brunches. Lunch/Dinner 7 days. Happy Hour Mon.-Fri. 3:30-6pm. Brunch Sat./Sun. Open from 7:30am Mon.-Fri., from 10am Sat./Sun.
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 rustic-chic space inside the stylish Deco confines of the Hotel Edison. Open Sun.-Thurs. 7am-10pm, Fri-Sat. 7am-11pm.
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.
44 W. 56th St. (5th-6th Aves.), 646-850-1100, theconsulate.nyc | FRENCH AMERICAN
A global French Modern American menu created by renowned chef Alan Vargas takes diners on an international journey of cuisines. Look for sumptuous short rib cavatelli, perfectly seared steaks, roasted herb chicken, and locally sourced seafood dishes like seared branzino or scallop tartare with crispy shallots. Classic eggs Benedict and blueberry cast-iron pancakes highlight brunches. Don’t miss NYC’s best Mon.-Fri. lunch special: $24.95! Lunch/dinner 7 days, Sat./Sun. brunch, happy hour Mon.-Fri. 3:30-6pm.
1221 Ave. of the Americas (48th-49th Sts.), 212-575-5129, delfriscos.com | STEAKHOUSE
Energetic and luxurious three-story steakhouse in the heart of midtown, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of Sixth Avenue and Rockefeller Center. Treats guests to an exceptional experience through chef-driven cuisine, world-class wines, and unparalleled hospitality.
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
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. Live Latin music Thurs. 6-9pm, Fri. 7-10pm.
Keep up with the latest NYC restaurant openings and news, visit: cityguideny.com
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 the Puglia region of Italy, utilizing the freshest natural ingredients for simple, authentic pastas, risottos, and meat and fish dishes. Warm, inviting decor blends rural Italian style, nostalgia, and charm, complementing their exceptional cuisine and wine list. Among the most popular restaurants in the Theater District. Seven days lunch/dinner.
MASSERIA DEI VINI TD $$$
887 9th Ave. (57th-58th Sts.), 212-315-2888, masseriadeivini.com | ITALIAN
A first-rate Italian menu blends traditional and modern. Beautiful dishes from Puglia, many of which incorporate seafood and fresh homemade pastas. Gourmet pizza Neapolitan style from a Ferrara woodburning pizza oven. Extensive wine by the glass and a large selection of bottles, mainly from Italy, but without ignoring the rest of the world.
PATSY’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT TD $$
236 W. 56th St. (Broadway-8th Ave.), 212-247-3491, patsys.com | ITALIAN
A Theater District “must go” renowned for its celebrity clientele (Frank Sinatra’s favorite), family run since 1944. Highly rated authentic Neapolitan cuisine is heavenly, including sausages pizzaiola with peppers, spicy shrimp Fra Diavolo, artichoke hearts oreganata, eggplant Parmigiana, and calamari stuffed with seafood. Prix fixe luncheon and pre-theatre menus. Tues.-Sun., noon-9:30pm (check patsys.com for updated hours). All cards.
$$
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 great-tasting chicken finger meal served hot and fresh every time.
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!
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.
694 8th Ave. (44th St.), 347-721-9066, sugarfactory.com/time-square-ny | AMERICAN Celebrity hotspot adds more glamour to Times Square. First floor cafe with milkshake bar, coffees, and pastries, flowing into the retail store. Take in the floor-toceiling candy wall before heading upstairs to the roomy restaurant and bar. Brunch, Monster Burgers, sundaes, cocktails, sparkly Couture Pops lollipops, and signature, celebrity-endorsed smoking candy goblets (with or without alcohol) headline the specialties.
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.
STRIP HOUSE STEAKHOUSE & COCKTAIL
LOUNGE EV $$$
13 E. 12th St. (University Pl.-5th Ave.), 212-328-0000, striphouse.com | STEAKHOUSE
Iconic NYC restaurant providing innovative food in a burlesque atmosphere, for a high-end steakhouse experience. Named one of New York’s best steak restaurants by Zagat and awarded four stars by Forbes, the signature menu features sizzling prime cuts of beef, fresh seafood, decadent desserts, and an extensive wine list. Limited seating is also available in the attached Speakeasy for those who prefer a more intimate dinner and cocktail experience.
DAVID BURKE TAVERN UES $$$
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
MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE ME $$$
551 5th Ave. (entrance on 45th St.), 212-972-3315, mortons.com | STEAKHOUSE
Famous for USDA prime-aged beef, fresh seafood, fine wine, and elegant desserts: the ideal place for a memorable dinner. A true blend of classic and contemporary. From our innovative cocktail culture that fuels a bustling bar scene, to the elegant, sophisticated dining rooms, Morton’s can accommodate large parties or an intimate dinner. Look for raw bar specials and butcher-cut features like the tomahawk ribeye, dry-aged bone-in K.C. strip, and wagyu filet.
NERAI ME $$$
55 E. 54th St. (Park-Madison Aves), 212-759-5554, NeraiNYC.com | GREEK/SEAFOOD
Refined and sophisticated Greek cuisine in the heart of midtown. Our impressive culinary team turns out a variety of delectable Greek and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Be transported from the streets of NYC to the shores of Greece. As a Wine Spectator Award recipient, we invite you to experience our impeccable attention to service and genuine hospitality.
BY DAVID BURKE ME $$$
514 Lexington Ave. (48th St.), 646-847-4166; parkavekitchenbydb.com | AMERICAN
Bringing together delicious, authentic American fare with top-notch service in a fun atmosphere. David Burke is one of the best known and most respected chefs in Modern American cuisine with his signature whimsical, boundlessly creative approach. Formal dine-in Brasserie on one side of restaurant and a tostay area with a take-out option concept on the other. Daily lunch/dinner. Bar open daily 11am- midnight.
CITY CRUISES CH $$-$$$
Chelsea Piers, Pier 61 (W. 23rd St. & 12th Ave.), 866-817-3463; citycruises.com/newyork
Offers brunch, lunch, and dining cruises throughout the year. Choose from buffets or elegant plated experiences on the glass-enclosed deck of the Europeaninspired Bateaux. Four convenient NY/NJ departures.
MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE FD $$$
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.
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.
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 (Mercury Bar in Hell’s Kitchen is a great pick for family-run hospitality, tasty bar bites, and tons of TVs for catching all the games). For a more raucous scene, check out the East Village and Lower East Side. Across the river in Brooklyn, Williamsburg has developed a nightlife realm to rival Manhattan’s.
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
The Original
NYC Talent Show shows off the eccentric talent native to NYC.
The best in jazz can be heard nightly at Dizzy’s Club.
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-price empanadas and classic mojitos and margaritas. Live Latin music plays every Thursday and Friday night.
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 The Original NYC Talent Show has recently relaunched at The Parkside Lounge on the Lower East Side. Talents as diverse as Hannibal Buress, Janeane Garafolo, Colin Quinn, and Jim Gaffigan have appeared audience members are invited to sign up and perform. Weekly on Mondays!
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.
208 W. 23rd St. (7th-8th Aves.), 212-367-9000, gothamcomedyclub.com
Midtown
Upper East Side
Upper West Side
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.
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.
The Parkside Lounge, 317 E. Houston St. (Attorney St.), 212-673-6270, nyctalentshow.com
Rare stage experience showing off the eccentric, unparalleled talent native to NYC. Recently relaunched downtown, you can catch it every Monday at 7:30pm. Talents as diverse as Hannibal Buress, Janeane Garafolo, Colin Quinn, and Jim Gaffigan have appeared and audience members are invited to sign up and perform. As Victor Varnado (who co-hosts with Pam Wess) puts it, “Every act that steps onto our stage embodies the audacious, raw, and enthralling spirit of New York.”
For a more detailed downtown map, see the Lower Manhattan map.
PHOTOS BY MATTHEW MURPHY AND EVAN ZIMMERMAN
