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Here’s how to score 2-for-1 tickets to more than 60 of NYC’s best cultural attractions
New York City is packed with world-renowned museums and cultural attractions, of course, but visiting them comes at a price. Unlike our neighbors in Washington, D.C., we’ve got to pay to get inside these institutions.
But thankfully, New Yorkers (and visitors, too!) can get discounted tickets right now through NYC Must-See Week. This week (well, technically three weeks, but we’re not complaining) runs from January 21-February 9 with two-for-one tickets to attractions, museums, performing arts, and tours across the five boroughs. Booking is now open here.
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We scoured the list of 63 featured attractions. While all are incredibly worthy in their own right, we’re going to highlight 10 of our absolute must-dos, with a focus on spots that rarely offer other cheap admission deals.
- Dizzy’s Club: Tap your toes to the sounds of jazz during a night at Dizzy’s Club. This cozy club in Columbus Circle offers skyline views and incredible performances every night of the week.
- Steve Cohen’s Chamber Magic: This jaw-dropping magic show absolutely dazzles. Steve Cohen, dubbed the Millionaire’s Magician, shows off trick after trick inside the fancy Lotte Palace New York. Tickets start around $175, so score this deal while you can.
- Life and Trust: If you’re mourning the loss of legendary immersive theater show Sleep No More, then get yourself to Life and Trust. The show begins on the eve of the Stock Market Crash of 1929, then flashes back to the Gilded Age.
- Banksy Museum: You’ve probably got an opinion about this controversial artist. Love ’em or hate ’em, the Banksy Museum’s collection of 160 pieces by the street artist is worth checking out on a cold winter afternoon.
- Empire State Building Observatory: Yes, native New Yorkers, this one is even on the list for you. The Empire State Building Observatory isn’t just extraordinarily beautiful, its exhibits dig into the fascinating history and pop culture of our city.
- New York Botanical Garden: Need a tropical escape this winter? Go to the Bronx. Seriously. New York Botanical Garden offers a breath of fresh air amid cacti and tropical plants that’ll make you feel like you’re by the equator.
- Mercer Labs: One of the newest spots on the list, Mercer Labs: Museum of Art and Technology isn’t your typical museum. Instead, it’s packed with 15 interactive exhibition spaces and immersive installations that are supremely Instagrammable.
- QC NY: One of the few wellness experiences on the list, QC NY spa on Governors Island offers a chance to pamper yourself. Expect saunas, steam rooms, relaxation areas, outdoor gardens, and water therapies, all designed to relax the body and soul.
- NYC Bagel Tours: Several excellent tours are on the Must-See Week list, including a delectable bagel tour where you can eat your way through the city while learning cool history.
- New York City Ballet: The ballet is one of those things you have to see to believe. The artistry, the costumes, the athleticism—on pointe, no less! Now’s a good chance to see these incredible dancers for a discounted rate.
NYC Must-See Week is hosted by New York City Tourism + Conventions, the city’s tourism bureau. The organization also hosts Hotel Week, which offers a 25% discount on nights at participating hotels, and Broadway Week with deals on theater shows. Combine them all and you can make an excellent, super cheap NYC itinerary. Think of it like extreme couponing but for NYC.
Here’s the deal with that ‘Severance’ pop-up at Grand Central
If you’ve been on social media at all in the past day, then you’ve likely seen the viral videos of the Severance actors reenacting the popular show inside a glass cubicle smack-dab in the middle of Grand Central Terminal.
The good news is that if you missed the iconic moment, you can still catch a glimpse of the activation at Vanderbilt Hall today. The bad news? The exhibition-slash-marketing ploy will officially shut down tonight at 8pm.
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This is all happening ahead of the release of the second season of Severance, which is premiering on January 17 on Apple TV+. In the psychological thriller starring Adam Scott, John Turturro and Patricia Arquette, a company implants chips inside its employees’ brains that basically split their personalities into at-work and outside-of-work ones.
The Grand Central Terminal cubicle is pretty impressive: it looks exactly like the offices seen on the show, complete with those uniquely futuristic computers. Yesterday, actual Severance actors were inside the spaces but, today, more “generic” folks can be seen inside arguing, working and having conversations. Just a regular day at the office in the middle of one of NYC’s most trafficked transportation hubs. We are, of course, still holding out for the possibility that there will be more surprises today.
Heads up: trying to chat with on-site security personnel and some of the commuters might… surprise you? Let’s just say, the Severance universe extends beyond the confines of the glass cubicle.
The owner of the ’Sex and the City’ stoop will install a gate to stop tourists from trespassing
Among the city’s many popular addresses is 66 Perry Street, the Gilded Age West Village brownstone that gained its own celebrity status when cast as the exterior setting for Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment in Sex and the City.
The show’s official wrap-up in 2004 has not stopped fans from visiting the instantly recognizable structure and, it turns out, that never-ending popularity has actually hurt the building’s owner Barbara Lorber. She just received approval by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to build a gate in front of the stoop in the hopes of stopping trespassers from bothering the building’s residents.
“That house shouldn’t be gated but what was beautiful in the late 19th Century is unfortunately in need of more protection in our century, in our time,” Lorber said to a panel of commissioners. “I’d hoped for literally decades that this would pass but, at this point, I think even someone as stubborn as I am has to admit that this isn’t going away in the near future.”
Anyone who has walked by the property can attest to its status as a popular stop, especially with the rise of social media (it makes for a visually arresting scene!) and the 2021 semi-return of the iconic TV show in the form of the spinoff And Just Like That… on HBO. Still, we can’t help but wonder: is a gate truly necessary? Isn’t part of New York’s charm its adjacency to fame? Shouldn’t we be allowed to respectfully celebrate the pockets of the city that resonate across our culture—whether in TV shows, books or art?
However, at least according one of Lorber’s neighbors who testified in support of the gate, things have been getting out of hand. According to The New York Times, the neighbor described the situation at the famous staircase as “one of the most egregious cases of personal property being attacked all day, every day.” Lorber herself mentioned that people have even tried climbing into the windows, likely hoping to peek inside what they assume was Bradshaw’s apartment on the TV show. Ironically, while the Perry Street address served as the exterior for the apartment, the interior was actually a set built at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City.
As for what the gate will actually look like, The New York Times reports that architect Isidoro Cruz attended the meeting as well and presented a design for a steel and cast-iron gate. No official design has been approved yet, so you’ll have to wait and see about specifics.
Not to add to Lorber’s stress, but if you plan to visit the iconic site, you might want to do so in the next few weeks, before it starts to look a little different from what fans of the show are used to. Please, though, be respectful: quietly snap a photo and then go about your business.
Let Me Tell You—these are the NYC Restaurant openings I’m excited for in 2025
“Let Me Tell You” is a series of columns from our expert editors about NYC living, including the best things to do, where to eat and drink, and what to see at the theater. They publish each Tuesday so you’re hearing from us each week. Last time, Food & Drink Editor Morgan Carter told us how the sausage got made at this part-butchery, part-class in Prospect Heights.
We’ve finally reached the new year and what better way to celebrate a new you than by finally whittling down that list of restaurants you say want to visit? I get it—the weather outside hurts your face, mine too. But with a slew of classic establishments alongside some of the city’s best participating in Restaurant Week right around the corner, I implore you to dig out that scarf and get exploring.
If that wasn’t enough, a new class of restaurants is set to land this year. So perhaps it’s best to visit at least one restaurant to make room for the new spots coming down the road. From a Caribbean-inspired tasting menu to Dominique Ansel’s latest bakery, here are 11 restaurants I am looking forward to in 2025.
1. Bar Kabawa and Kabawa
Opening: February
Chef Paul Carmichael was cooking Caribbean at the highest level, albeit in Australia at the now closed Momofuku Seibo, the first Momofuku restaurant outside New York City. Now, the chef is coming back stateside to take over the former Momofuku Ko space in the East Village. His restaurant will showcase his upbringing in Barbados via a tasting menu, but for a more casual fete, Bar Kabawa will be home to patties and many (many) daiquiris.
2. Bong
Opening: 2025
Chef Chinchakriya Un attracted quite the following over the past eight years, popping up all around New York State to bring Cambodian food to the masses. While the space is still being built out, the casual restaurant will focus on Cambodian staples, like the noodle soup Kuy Teav and Cambodia’s version of a bánh mì, Num Pang Paté.
3. Cafe Zaffri, Union Square
Opening: February 7
The all-female team from Raf’s and the Michelin-starred The Musket Room is set to open Cafe Zaffri inside The Twenty Two. Here, the team will explore chef Mary Attea’s Lebanese heritage, from Jerusalem Bagels in the mornings to Skewer Service in the evenings.
4. Golden Hof and NY Kimchi
Opening: Early 2025
Of Golden Diner fame, Sam Yoo’s next act is going back, way back. Housed in his family’s previous restaurant space, Yoo’s two in one concept will include a Korean pub, Golden Hof, and Korean raw bar and steakhouse, New York Kimchi (which also bears the same name as his family’s closed restaurant).
5. I Cavallini, Williamsburg
Opening: 2025
With a decade of service coming up, The Four Horseman decided it was due time to stretch their wings. Just a few skips down the way from their home base on Grand Street, the team will soon open I Cavallini. Nick Curtola will also lead the kitchen, this time leaning on Italian cuisine with wine and cocktails to come.
6. Maison Passerelle, Financial District
Opening: March
Top Chef finalist and James Beard Award winner chef Gregory Gourdet is coming back to his native home of New York City to open Maison Passerelle as part of Printemps, marking the French luxury retailer’s first US outpost. Powered by Kent Hospitality, the fine-dining restaurant will bridge New York to France’s colonial legacy, peppered in with Gourdet’s world-class inspirations. Think, dry-aged NY strip steak rubbed in a blend of Haitian coffee and spice and West-African stews topped with duck confit.
7. Papa d’Amour, West Village
Opening: Spring 2025
Dominique Ansel has continued to wow New York’s pastry scene (and really, the world), first with his invention of the Cronut, following up with cookie shots. His next project is a personal one, dedicated to his kids’ Asian and French heritage. Landing in the West Village, his coming bakery will focus on steamed buns and milk breads with a huge focus on egg tarts.
8. Papa San, Hudson Yards
Opening: February 18
Juan Correa and chef Erik Ramirez have been bringing New Yorkers a taste of Peruvian cuisine, first with Brooklyn’s Llama Inn, following up with Peruvian Nikkei cuisine at Llama San. Their latest, Papa San, will explore Nikkei-style izakaya cuisine paired with cocktails imported from the team behind the Buenos Aires-based punk bar, Tres Monos.
9. RAON, Midtown East
Opening: January 2025
Husband-and-wife team chef Soogil Lim and Sasook Youn have already created a name for themselves with their Korean contemporary restaurant, Soogil. Adding to their repertoire comes RAON. The 14-seat chef’s counter will be dedicated to one of Korea’s favorite dishes, kimchi.
10. The View, Times Square
Opening: February
The View is one of the few remaining vestiges of the past, holding the title of New York’s only revolving restaurant. As reported last year, Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality will be giving the restaurant a much needed revamp. Soon to be spinning this February, the new restaurant will feature raw bar specialties, small plates and supper club eats that draw on American nostalgia.
11. Seahorse, Union Square
Opening: Spring 2025
Lure Fishbar’s little sister is soon to make a splash at the W New York – Union Square Hotel. Formerly of Daniel and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, chef Paul Hargrove will steer the ship here, specializing in seafood with a full raw bar complemented with produce sourced from Union Square Greenmarket.
Country music star Orville Peck to take on the role of the Emcee in ‘Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club’
As previously announced, Adam Lambert and Auli‘i Cravalho are scheduled to play their final performances in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club on March 29. Country music star Orville Peck and Tony award nominee Eva Noblezada will officially take on the roles of Emcee and Sally Bowles at the August Wilson Theatre starting March 31 for a limited, 16-week engagement that will wrap up on July 20.
“The Emcee has been my dream role since I was a teenager,” the music icon said in an official statement. “The nature of the character allows for complete freedom of individual expression. It can be portrayed through such a vast range of emotions, perspectives, and performance styles. That kind of freedom is every actor’s dream. I truly cannot believe I’m getting to make my Broadway debut in one of my favorite shows and in probably my favorite role in all of musical theater.”
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Although this marks Peck’s Broadway debut, the artist was actually trained as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He even appeared in an Olivier award-nominated play on London’s West End a while back.
Noblezada, on the other hand, is wrapping up her run as Daisy Buchanan in the hit show The Great Gatsby. She’s then scheduled to join the West End production of Hadestown before joining Peck on the Cabaret stage.
“While studying musical theater in school, Cabaret always stood out,” the actress said in an official statement. “I was, and am, amazed by the lineage of theater royalty who have been in the show. And Sally Bowles to me is simply… fascinating. She is like a totally conscious child who is also completely unhinged. Almost clownish. But real and raw and in your face. And that character amidst and against that backdrop of such an evil reality is painfully surreal. I am totally psyched to start learning more.”
This NYC chef is hosting a four-course meal to raise money for L.A. fire victims
As the fires continue to rage across parts of L.A., New Yorkers have continued to step up and find ways to help. This Sunday, January 19, New York City chef and writer Magdalena O’Neal is hosting a four-course dinner open to the public through Resy bookings with all proceeds going to the victims of the L.A. wildfires.
O’Neal, who has roots in California, will be serving dishes inspired by her home state at wine bar Casetta in the Lower East Side.
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O’Neal is from Oakland but her mom was born and raised in L.A. and for the past few years, O’Neal’s traveled the world, hosting pop-ups that showcase her cooking, which is heavily influenced by her family’s Southern roots and her California upbringing. “When the fires were first happening, there was this sense of helplessness for me being based in New York,” O’Neal tells Time Out New York. “I want other New Yorkers to feel like they can do something while also reminding them why California is so important as a culinary force in the world.” She decided that the best way to help was by leaning into what she knows how to do best, which is cook.
One of the dishes you can expect on Sunday is cioppino, a tomato and seafood stew that originated in San Francisco and was a staple for working class fishermen. She’s also incorporating collard greens in a salad, fusing her Black heritage with Californian freshness.
One hundred percent of the proceeds from the dinner will go directly to GoFundMe pages from this spreadsheet, which includes families who lost homes in the Altadena wildfires. O’Neal notes the particular importance of Altadena to her own heritage: 8 out of 10 Black residents in that area own their homes, which is double the national average. For many Black and brown families, the fires presented a generational and cultural loss that goes beyond the immediate destruction.
“What I’m seeing a lot of people asking for beyond physical items as donations are money, because these people are rebuilding their entire lives, not just their wardrobes” says O’Neal. “We’re talking about a state that has been dealing with homelessness and hunger for years and people have been comfortably turning a blind eye. I would love to see this level of community organizing sustained when as we band together to rebuild these communities literally from the ground up.”
Tickets to this Sunday’s dinner are $75, plus tax, and you can get your tickets on Resy.
If you can’t make it to O’Neal’s dinner, there is a dinner from Eti.NYC later this month in the Lower East Side that will donate proceeds to the L.A. wildfires.
Looking for more ways to support the damages of the L.A. wildfires that highlight NYC’s culinary scene? Luke Haverty and Gina Bruno are hosting a 5k that ends with a bake sale featuring over 25 chefs in NYC this Saturday, January 18. Find more information here. Similarly, multiple chefs have come together for an event on Monday, January 20 that features multiple dishes and non-alcoholic cocktails at Rosso. All proceeds will go to support those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. Find more information here.
These Are The Most Loved Airbnbs In 2024, According To TikTok
2024 was the year of globetrotting, and as more travelers choose Airbnbs over hotels there are fabulous stays to choose from–from this glass-enclosed one that lets you sleep under the stars to this private geo dome in the Catskills. And with guests capturing their one-of-a-kind stays on TikTok it can be overwhelming to choose which to visit!
Well, before the app potentially gets banned for good, TikTok is sharing some travel inspiration with us all, highlighting eccentric stays with must-experience amenities in off-the-beaten-path destinations.
From a mid-Century shipping container situated on top of a ravine with a waterfall to a treehouse nestled smack dab in the center of a Scottish Highland cattle farm, our literal dream come true, these are some of the most loved Airbnbs in 2024 based on views, likes, comments, and shares on TikTok:
1. Private Modern Treehouse on Highland Farm – Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
Embark on a stay straight out of a fairytale in this treehouse nestled smack dab in the center of a Scottish Highland cattle farm. The space was designed as a nod to the host’s heritage, Skoghus (‘forest house’ in Norwegian) and was crafted for relaxation and reconnecting with nature. Luxury amenities include a modern kitchen, sleeping loft, and outside in the fenced-in yard you’ll find your own private hot tub, fire pit, and a lawn big enough for bocce.
Oh, and of course you’ll be able to observe and engage with the farm’s cattle when they come by right from the yard, along with deer and other animals that wander by.
5 stars
2. Oregon Treehouse Getaway – Dallas, OR
Relax, unplug, and reset at this cozy treehouse oasis. The octagonal space is totally surrounded by greenery, and even has a tree trunk right in the center! Spend time next to a cozy fire overlooking a peaceful pond, or choose to recharge indoors with stunning views from the beautiful octagonal windows.
4.95 stars
3. The Ellwood Box Hop – Rockbridge, OH
The Ellwood a single story, minimal, Mid-Century shipping container cabin that spans a ravine that sits directly over a waterfall! The perfect place to cozy up, the space has both indoor and outdoor fireplaces, a hot tub, and a glass floor in the living room so you can get a bird’s-eye view of the nature below.
4.93 stars
4. Casa en Mérida Centro – Mérida, Mexico
This stunning space is situated in the center of Mérida, and is divided into different social spaces to enjoy with family and friends. Outdoors you’ll find a stunning pool, private garden, and large mango tree, all making for an amazing outdoor view. Inside, you’ll be greeted with gleaming natural light, sleek kitchen and dining area, and contemporary architecture.
4.97 stars
5. 100+ Acres, Pool, Lazy River, Slides, & More – Beaumont, TX
Live the ultimate life of luxury at this 7,000 square-foot estate. Situated on over 100 acres of land, the expansive interior sleeps 30 people comfortably, and has its very own movie theater and chef’s kitchen. But outdoors is what we really have our eyes on. There, you’ll find a large pool with waterslides, lazy river, splash pad, putting green, basketball court, tennis/pickleball court, sand volleyball court, gourmet outdoor kitchen, and more.
5 stars
6. Liviana House, Skopelos Town – Skopelos, Greece
Conveniently situated in Skopelos traditional town, this bright, modern stay makes for the perfect choice for a summer vacation. Spread across two spacious floors, the relaxing space makes for a stunning atmosphere all around. And the white exterior and stunning sea views perfectly encapsulate the magic of the Greek island.
4.88 stars
7. Beautiful Cabin, Discover this Natural Paradise – San Julian, El Salvador
Truly understand what it means to disconnect and be one with nature at this dreamy cabin situated at the top of a lagoon in El Salvador. The cozy and quiet space is comprised of a spacious bedroom, outdoor dining area, and ample space for recreation and distraction. And of course there’s tons of opportunity to spend time in nature, whether that mean kayaking in the lagoon, hiking in the woods, horseback riding, or relaxing by the pool. And be sure to visit the neighboring villages!
4.84 stars
8. The Owl’s Nest – East Allington, United Kingdom
Travelers really seem to be loving the treehouses, and this one is nestled within a woodland in South Devon. The space is only 15 minutes from various beaches and has an easy 10 minute walk to the local pub. Though if you’re looking to have a more low-key night in, you’ll be able to do so with a hot tub amongst the treetops and a sauna with views into the forest. The tranquil location makes for the most relaxing and memorable experience.
5 stars
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