Mega popular YouTube series Hot Ones is known “the show with hot questions and even hotter wings.” Sean Evans interviews celebrities while they try to eat incredibly spicy wings, but now he’ll be the one answering the questions during this fun event at The Paley Museum in midtown.
If you haven’t seen Hot Ones, here’s how it works: Evans sits at a table with a celebrity and they talk while they eat progressively hotter wings. Stars have been known to curse and cry as the wings get hotter—and somehow Evans maintains his composure the entire time. Featured stars have included Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Hart, Conan O’Brien, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, and more.
So far, Hot Ones has produced more than 300 episodes since 2015, and viewers, well, eat them up. Hot Ones has racked up more than 27 billion minutes of views, making the series a true pop culture phenomenon. The show was even featured in a Saturday Night Live skit recently.
The Paley Museum event will include a sneak peek screening of an upcoming episode, followed by a conversation about the show’s secret sauce for success. In addition to Evans, other Hot Ones speakers include the show’s senior producer Domonique Burroughs and its creator Chris Schonberger.
Photograph: Courtesy of First We Feast | Sean Evans and Chris Schonberger.
“Hot Ones is an entertainment phenomenon that also serves as a perfect example of why YouTube continues to be a leading destination for viewers seeking the most buzz-worthy shows,” Maureen J. Reidy, The Paley Center for Media’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “We look forward to what promises to be a sizzling evening.”
Last September, Prospect Park Zoo announced that it was closing indefinitely after tropical storm Ophelia filled the basements of two on-site buildings with 25 feet of water and damaged its heating and power systems.
Over the weekend, the zoo said it is reopening to the public next Saturday, May 25. Woohoo!
The day before the official reopening, on May 24, the zoo will host a special preview event for Wildlife Conservation Society members.
Although guests will be able to visit the destination again, they should expect continued repair work to take place on-premise for a while still, including measures to prevent future flooding that will end up costing the zoo up to $20 million, per Gothamist.
The zoo is now back on the electrical grid and the main electrical room has been relocated from the basement to the ground level.
“While this reopening of Prospect Park Zoo is a major milestone, we have a long way to go before the zoo is fully restored,” Craig Piper, the Vice President and Director of City Zoos for the Wildlife Conservation Society, said in an official statement. “We continue to work with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and other city, state, and federal agencies on full restoration and mitigation to prevent flooding from future storm events.”
Piper added that the 12-acre zoo was also severely damaged during storms Henry and Ida in previous years, hinting at larger structural issues that had been plaguing the premises for years.
As a reminder, none of the over 400 animals at the zoo were harmed as a result of the flooding. The staff was actually able to continue taking care of them, mostly thanks to President Joe Biden’s decision to issue a Federal Disaster Declaration earlier this year, which allowed the zoo to receive FEMA recovery assistance.
The Prospect Park Zoo doesn’t get a lot of love when it comes to destinations of the sort around town—its cousins in Central Park and the Bronx tend to be championed above all others—but there are actually some pretty emblematic species that call the small Brooklyn space home, including California sea lions, dingoes, North American river otters, red pandas, sand cats and more.
You can reserve your tickets ahead of the zoo’s reopening here.
“Zero-ABV,” “spirit-free,” “mocktails” or “soft cocktails”—whatever you want to call it, no-booze imbibing has been on the rise in New York City for years now, with some of Gotham’s best bars pouring out nonalcoholic cocktails well beyond Dry January.
Whether you abstain from alcohol year-round or simply want a break from drinking the hard stuff, you’re invited to “the biggest booze-free party on the planet,” a.k.a. The Great Curious Cocktail Party, a one-night-only, multicity celebration by the booze-free craft cocktail brand Curious Elixirs.
On Wednesday, May 15, The Great Curious Cocktail Party will go live with 100 parties in 100 cities all over the country—a bump-up from last year’s 50-parties-in-50-cities campaign—with friends gathering for “intimate hangs, larger groups, wild ragers, cozy indoor and springy outdoor parties,” as long as they’re booze-free. And in New York City, one such sober shindig will take place at Club Curious, Curious Elixirs’ sober speakeasy and cultural salon located inside a 1901 Victorian brownstone in Williamsburg. The NYC event will be hosted alongside Absence of Proof, a no-alcohol pop-up bar experience that hosts booze-free gatherings and activations throughout the city.
From 7 to 10pm, teetotal revelers can enjoy music by party legends Matinée Social Club and a scintillating performance byPearls Daily, NYC’s Queen of Burlesque, as well as delicious grub from Smorgasburg Williamsburg vendor Gotcha Focaccia. “Thiswill be the magical epicenter of the largest sober-curious shindig in history, so don’t miss it,” proclaims organizers—guests can reserve their spot by RSVPing over at Eventbrite. And in true speakeasy style, ticket buyers will only receive the exact location of Club Curious after purchase.
One hundred percent of proceeds from The Great Curious Cocktail Party will support Cooks Who Care, a food and beverage mental health advocacy group that supports mental health care for hospitality workers, and Ben’s Friends, an organization that helps industry folks who’ve gotten sober.
The Arlo Hotel group is cranking out new restaurants of late: first, we got the splashy Italian-inflected spot Sungold over at the Arlo Williamsburg location and now its Manhattan sibling, the Arlo NoMad (11 E 31st Street), is welcoming a new all-day eatery to the property: The NoMad Diner.
Helped by chef Fred Maurer (BKLYN Larder, Bar Boulud), the reimagined diner concept will be serving up nostalgic classics that “are equal parts comfort food and innovation,” per a press release. On the breakfast menu, you’ll find homey stuff like vegan biscuits and gravy ($22), cornmeal pancakes ($16), and shrimp and grits ($22). In the afternoons and evenings, meals kick off with appetizers like deviled eggs with togarashi, furikake and trout roe ($12); disco fries with Gournay cheese, chicken gravy and chives ($15); and Grandma’s Ham salad, served with good-old Ritz crackers ($12). There will also be classic bowls like matzo ball soup and creamy tomato bisque.
The newfangled diner vibes continue with dishes like a spaetzle mac and cheese with smoked gouda ($22), a truffle chicken salad with toasted sourdough ($18); a Sloppy Joe made with vegan chorizo, pickled onion and queso fresco ($18); and an Arlo Dog loaded with kimchi, crispy shallots and kewpie mayo on brioche ($15). (Fun fact: Chef Mauer was dubbed the “Hot Dog Boyfriend” for his work as Chef Charcutier at Dickson’s Farmstand Meats.) Heartier entrees include a half roast chicken with rainbow Swiss chard ($34); steelhead trout with sunchokes and beurre blanc ($31); and a meatloaf plate with mashed potatoes, gravy and Obie’s Favorite peas ($26).
Further elevating the usually Formica-laden diner concept is a room dressed up with rich wood tones with metals and elegant marble stone, framed photography from Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary artist Hayley Eichenbaum, and handcrafted cocktails from mixologist Megan Grauer. On the drinks line-up, you’ll find options like “The Green Door” (honey vodka, pistachio orgeat, rosewater, orange blossom, lime and egg white for $17), the “Mack the Knife (parmesan cheese-infused vodka, caper brine and dry vermouth for $19) and the “Around the Clock (brown butter-washed bourbon, chocolate bitters and maple syrup for $17).
Check out some of the dishes and digs at The NoMad Diner below:
Photograph: courtesy of Arlo Hotels | The NoMad DinerPhotograph: courtesy of Arlo Hotels | The NoMad DinerPhotograph: courtesy of Arlo Hotels | The NoMad DinerPhotograph: courtesy of Arlo Hotels | The NoMad DinerPhotograph: courtesy of Arlo Hotels | The NoMad Diner
My mom is a Southern belle who would choose The Beach over The City any day. When I asked her for three words to describe New York, she paused and said: “Little bit crazy.”
Before we took off on a Norwegian Joy cruise from Pier 88, I had cobbled together a midtown sightseeing tour for her with almost no planning: pictures in Times Square, a visit to Margaritaville, a walk by Fox News (she wanted a picture), and a walk by The New York Times (I wanted to force her to take a picture). I even managed to cross some things off my own New York to-do list: the luxurious Bryant Park public restrooms and the New York Public Library’s original Winnie the Pooh (both pooh-related).
We retreated to our hotel oasis in the chaos of midtown. Withcrisp sheets, so many pillows, and a tray of sweets including white chocolate in the shape of its signature guitar, the Hard Rock Hotel was surprisingly sophisticated given you might recognize the name from their kitschy Cafe. We dressed for dinner, and enjoyed snacks and sites at RT60, the Hard Rock Hotel’s chic rooftop bar, with views overlooking midtown. After seven years in New York, I was impressed by my pseudo-tour guide abilities. Of course, the easiest way to please a tourist in New York is to show them tall buildings. When we returned to our room, we realized we weren’t alone: on the wooden door that opened to the bathroom was a large black-and-white picture of The Boss. When we used the loo, Bruce watched, too.
Photograph: courtesy of Zach Zimmerman | Zach braved Times Square to take mom’s photo there.
The bulk of my time with Mom, though, wouldn’t actually be in New York. In addition to falling back in love with the city, I’ve been trying to heal some old family wounds. My latest theory is that new, shared experiences together might do the trick, or at least push the past far enough back it doesn’t sting as sharply. The selected experience was a week-long cruise: 144 consecutive hours in a balcony stateroom with the woman who made me.
If you don’t spend your days staring at the Hudson, you might not realize New York is the home to a bustling cruise ship terminal. Blocks from Times Square is your ticket to tropical destinations without stepping foot on a plane.
The Norwegian Joy welcomed Mom and me on board for a week of food, fun, and the healing of all familial wounds. (As my therapist warned me, “Don’t expect an after-school special.”) Our balcony stateroom started with one bed, which our room steward quickly and kindly separated—an ironic start for a trip that was supposed to bring us together.
We explored the majestic ship on our sea days. A lively casino (who knew my mother gambled?), tasty cocktails (Mom doesn’t drink, but I had my first Black Manhattan, which has quickly become my favorite drink), and nightly delicious, four-course dinners. “This is the best lobster I’ve ever had,” Mom said, “and I worked at Red Lobster for 38-and-a-half years.” We both agreed to be open to new things during the adventure. Mom tried escargot, I tried her Cagney’s steak (as a vegetarian, don’t judge me). She didn’t care for the spicy Indian food from the buffet which I loved.
Photograph: courtesy of Zach Zimmerman
A highlight of the cruise for both of us was the new Thermal Suite in the Mandara Spa. A hot tub, steam room, ice room (Mom and I had a mini-snowball fight), sauna and our mutual nemesis: the cold plunge. After 15 minutes of sweating and chatting in the sauna, we decided to step up and do the frigid cold plunge to cool down. Mom lasted about seven seconds, six of which were spent screaming; I managed to last three minutes with plenty of encouragement.
“Breathe. Breathe,” Mom said.
“This must be what it’s like to give birth,” I said.
“This is nothing what it’s like to give birth,” she said.
We relaxed in one of the many heated lounge chairs, enjoying some quiet time away from the more energetic parts of the ship, and shared memories of childhood vacations, some of which I’d never heard before.
Being in a new environment helped us learn we have similar rhythms: we both wake up around 9am, we’re not hungry until the afternoon, and we enjoy a late-night sweet treat or two or four. Luckily, freestyle cruising is perfect for our delayed hunger and night owl sensibilities.
Photograph: courtesy of Zach Zimmerman
With multiple overnights in Bermuda, we had plenty of time to adjust to island life, too. A sunset catamaran ride with unlimited rum swizzles, a tour into the majestic Crystal Caves, discovered by two boys looking for their cricket ball, and a must-see visit to the pink-sand beach Horseshoe Bay. My mom has always loved the ocean, but now I’m a bit worried I’ve ruined her home of Myrtle Beach. After seeing the bluest blue water in Bermuda and the white sand that never got hot, how can she go back? “Bermuda is the last stop before Heaven,” our cab driver told us, which seemed a bit ominous to say while he was driving us down a very thin road.
Fast, unlimited Wi-Fi kept us connected at home (potentially too much, as my dad seemed to call and text 5 times a day), but helped us share photos and texts of our experience—or be a lifeline if we found ourselves arguing. But the biggest surprise of the cruise was that we got along very well. Maybe we were both on our best behavior, or maybe it’s easy to get along on a cloud, but the cruise was a fun and healing week for us. If we had to plan a vacation together, we would have fought I’m sure, but having so much taken care of for us, needing only to pick from a menu of food, activities, and excursions, stress was at an all-time low and opened the door for some meaningful conversations. The exact things that I thought might be risky—sharing close quarters, a week of prolonged contact—yielded the best results. Some conversations only happen in the early morning hours in bed or in the 144th consecutive hour of someone’s company.
Photograph: courtesy of Zach Zimmerman
We did learn we have one new, fundamental disagreement, though: coffee. Mom brought a Stanley Tumbler on board to make her coffee milkshakes full of so much milk and Splenda, while I continued to swear by my daily black Starbucks cold brew. Yes, there’s a Starbucks on board Norwegian for a taste of home while at sea. We tried each other’s concoctions—Mom grimaced at mine, and hers was so sweet as to ruin mine—before returning to our own. You don’t have to agree on everything to enjoy a cup of coffee next to someone.
In the weeks since we disembarked our magical week together, we text more often, trade screenshots of our daily step counts to walk off some of the overindulgences of the week, and rehash memories of our favorite foods (Mom loved the Garden Cafe’s German Chocolate Cake and I have dreams about Ocean Blue’s Cheesecake in a Jar.)
It turns out the main risk of taking your mother on a Norwegian cruise isn’t that you might fight, it’s that she might want it to become an annual tradition.
She texted me on Mother’s Day:
“So, travel buddy, where are we going next?”
Photograph: courtesy of Zach Zimmerman
Zach Zimmerman is a queer comedian, writer, and author of Time Out New York’s “Pretend I’m A Tourist” column. A regular at the Comedy Cellar, Zach has appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden and had a debut album “Clean Comedy” debut on the Billboard Top 10. Zach’s writing has been published in The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, and The Washington Post; and Zach’s first book Is It Hot in Here? (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth?) is out now.
There’s been a full griddle’s worth of new burger options coming to New York lately, from that secret off-menu option at Le Dive to the upstate chainlet Moonburger. And now the Connecticut-based burger joint Wayback Burgers—one of the country’s fast-growing burger franchises—is coming to Manhattan for its first NYC location in Chelsea.
Set to flip patties at 295 7th Avenue beginning this October, the new, 1,700-square-foot location will offer many of the brand’s signature menu items, centered on made-to-order burgers available as a single patty or classic double patties. One fan favorite is the fittingly titled “Cheeeesy Burger,” which comes with four slices of melted American cheese and two beef patties made-to-order, sandwiched between an inverted, grilled and buttered bun.
The fast-casual menu also features cheesesteaks, crispy and grilled chicken sandwiches, veggie and Impossible Burgers, chicken tenders, fresh salads, and an array of sides, including loaded cheese curds, fried pickles, chili cheese French fries, and more. Wayback Burgers is also famous for its thick, hand-dipped milkshakes, made with Blue Bunny ice cream and milk, in flavors like “Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shake,” “Red Velvet Cupcake Shake” and “Chocolate Brownie Shake.”
“We are excited to continue our Wayback Burgers expansion with the lease signing of our first restaurant in New York City,” said Patrick Conlin, President of Wayback Burgers. “Our New York franchisee has assembled a stellar team that will provide the impeccable food and customer service our guests have come to expect. With operations in 35 states and consistent growth of our footprint nationwide, it is an exciting time to be a part of the Wayback Burgers family. We look forward to working with [franchisee] Choudhry Waseem, as we continue to introduce Wayback Burgers to new and returning guests throughout New York City.”
Check out some of Wayback Burgers’ super-cheesy food offerings below:
Photograph: courtesy of Wayback Burgers | Double Bacon Burger at Wayback BurgersPhotograph: Wayback Burgers | Cheesy Bacon Cheese Curds at Wayback BurgersPhotograph: courtesy of Wayback Burgers | Cheesy Bacon Ranch Cheesesteak at Wayback BurgersPhotograph: courtesy of Wayback Burgers | Cookie Dough Shake at Wayback Burgers
As reported by NY1, the luscious green destination has always been the site of a ton of pizza parties and picnics. However, park goers could never properly get rid of their pie boxes because of their size, which is larger than the regular trash bins featured across the park.
That’s all about to change: the Central Park Conservancy has just installed a new square bin designed specifically to hold up to 50 pizza boxes at once. On-site staff will be checking the recycling receptacle two-to-three times a day, which should suffice to keep the area clean and clear of rodents.
Currently in “pilot phase,” the project will involve the installation of additional bins should the one currently there prove to be useful and successful. Find the first new garbage can by the East Pinetum section of the park, right by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where picnics are fairly popular.
“You open the pizza box, take all the contents out, wax paper, slices, you throw it in the trash, then you close the box, place it right into the pizza box bin,” explained Jonathan Vasquez, a groundskeeper for the Central Park Conservancy, to NY1.
It’s clear that officials are finally taking the city’s trash problem seriously. This specific Central Park development isn’t necessarily tied to the rat-related issues that New Yorkers have been contending with, but it certainly goes along with the new public trash cans that were installed all over town just a few months ago.
Who knows? We might soon be crowned the cleanest city in the U.S. A girl can dream, right?
