Little Grenjai first got on our radar with its Thai and American mash-up, the Krapow Smash Burger—a gushed-about item from their summer pop-up days. The smash burger is still one of its most popular bites, so much so that the phrase, “Burger is only available for lunch” is stamped all over its website. And it is no surprise why. Here, the burger is seasoned with chili, basil, and oyster sauce before it’s smashed and dressed with a lemongrass and bird’s eye chili giardiniera. One bite, and we were sold. But something tells us that its upcoming collaboration with a local Detrioit-style eatery will have us hooked, too.
This Friday, Little Grenjai is partnering with Ace Pizza for a Thai-meets-Detroit mash-up like no other.
Going on at the pizzeria’s Williamsburg location, the pop-up will include two pizza specials: The Chiangmai Chi Pie and the Grenjai Clam Pie.
Topped with handmade Thai sausage cups, the Chiangmai Chi Pie is a Detrioit-styled pizza lashed with a spicy Chiangmai relish, sport peppers, yellow mustard and dill pickles for a balance of savory and spice. Are you a lover of all things clams and pizza? Try Little Grenjai’s spin on the classic by ordering the Grenjai Clam Pie. Livened up with a drizzle of nam jim—one of Thailand’s classic dipping sauces—this pizza has an added crunch thanks to a topping of chili crunch and Ace’s zesty breadcrumbs. And if you just can’t stand a visit to Little Grenjai without securing its famous burger, chef-owner Trevor Lombaer will be on the grill smashing up patties to fill that void in your heart (and stomach).
As for refreshments, cool off with the rum-forward frozen cocktail, Scorpion Kiss (a blend of rum, gin, and brandy with lemongrass orgeat, exotic fruit juices, and coconut) or a selection of wines by the glass or bottle from wine pop-up, @bardubois.
It all goes down at 3pm, a perfect way to start your summer Friday.
The first day of summer hit us with a scorching heat wave, and with NYC currently under a Red Alert as well as a Heat Advisory now through Sunday, June 23rd at 8 pm, several school districts around NYC will dismiss students early today, Friday, June 21st.
The full list is as follows:
Dutchess County
Arlington Central School District – Middle schools dismissed at 10 am, elementary schools dismissed at 11:30 am
Beacon City School District – RMS dismissed at 11:30 am, ES dismissed at 12:30 pm
Carmel Central School District – CHS dismissed at 10:45 am, GFMS dismissed at 11 am, elementary dismissed at noon
Dover Union Free School District – Wingdale & Dover elementary schools have a half-day. Dover Middle School has a normal schedule
Pawling Central School District – Pre-K-8 has a 2-hour early dismissal
Pine Plains Central School District – ES students dismissed at noon
Wappingers Central School District – Junior HS dismissed at 10:25 am, ES dismissed at 11:25 am
Orange County
Florida Union Free School District – Seward 6th grade dismissed at 10:30 am, Golden Hill PreK-5 dismissed at 11:30 am, Golden Hill Club Kids canceled
Goshen Central School District – SAS dismissed at regular time, GIS dismissed at 11:30 am, CJH dismissed at 10:30 am
Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District – Pre-K and K-8 have a half-day
Minisink Valley Central School District – MS dismissed at 11:30 am, ES dismissed at 12:40 pm
Monroe-Woodbury Central School District – Early dismissal
Port Jervis City School District – K-8 have a half-day
Valley Central School District – MS dismissed at 11:50 am, ES dismissed at 12:30 pm, ALC dismissed at 12:15 pm
Wallkill Central School District – MS dismissed at 11:05 am, ES dismissed at noon
Unsplash / kyo azuma
Putnam County
Haldane Central School District – ES and MS have a half-day
Ulster County
Kingston City School District – K-8 have an early dismissal, Pre-K-4 dismissed at noon, Grades 5-8 dismissed at 11 am
Marlboro Central School District – MMS dismissed at 10:30 am, MES dismissed at 11:30 am
Westchester County
Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District – Todd Elementary dismissed at 11:15 am
Eastchester Union Free School District – MS dismissed at 10:50 am, AH/GV dismissed at 11:30 am, WV dismissed at 11:40 am
Elmsford Union Free School District – Alice E. Grady Elementary School dismissed at 11:15 am, Carl L. Dixson Primary School dismissed at 11:35 am
Pelham Union Free School District – Colonial, Prospect Hill, and Siwanoy dismissed at noon
Poughkeepsie City School District – ES has a half-day, MS had an early release
Yonkers Public Schools – Pre-K-8 has a half-day, Schools starting at 8:35 a.m. will dismiss at 12 pm, Schools starting at 7:35 a.m. will dismiss at 11 am
Starting next month on July 3, New Yorkers will be able to satisfy their hunger pangs at a new Smorgasburg market at The Shed by Hudson Yards.
Featuring a total of 30 vendors spread across two days—Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 6pm through August 22—the summer pop-up will take over The Shed’s outdoor public plaza while the structure’s iconic shell is retracted for the season.
Photograph: Grace Jeon
Just as is the case across other Smorgasburgs, the on-site culinary offerings will run the gamut in terms of form and function.
Among the confirmed vendors are BiBi Bakery, a purveyor of “reimagined Iranian-inspired desserts,” Black Rican Vegan, Red Hook Lobster Pounds (a vendor since Smorgasburg first launched in 2011!) and Home Frite. A number of new businesses have also joined the market, including 88 Coffee Company, Hibiscus Brew and Kalihi.
Photograph: Grace Jeon
The launch of Smorgasburg at The Shed brings the total number of market locations to four (World Trade Center, Williamsburg and Prospect Park are the other three), with New Yorkers now able to shop from at least one of them five days a week—a pretty important mark.
“Having the opportunity to now offer our vendors five days of weekly markets plus partnering with a cultural icon like the Shed is as cool as a Hudson River summertime breeze,” said Smorgasburg president and co-founder Eric Demby in an official statement. “We can’t wait to meet new friends from Hudson Yards and the High Line, and hope to come back for more next year.”
While you’re in Hudson Yards, you might as well peruse through the relatively new neighborhood at your own leisure. There are a lot of things to do on site: from visiting the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere to dissecting the monstrosity that is the Vessel, a 60-ton sculpture that resembles a honeycomb but really reminds us of a waste can. Perhaps, you might want to grab some fare at Smorgasburg and then spend time just staring at the structure to figure out how you feel about it yourself.
One of the things we love most about New York nightlife is that it embraces everyone.
Whether you’re a self-proclaimed bro who loves sports bars, a fashion girlie who prefers to sip martinis at bougie hotels or a techno head who gravitates towards Berghain-inspired basements, there’s a “going-out community” somewhere in the city waiting for you to join.
The challenge with nightlife is, of course, that the city is always evolving: venues shut down, parties die and legendary promoters retire. In order to know about the best parties, you really do have to be in conversation with the people who are going out in the city right now, especially because the places that are considered cool at any given moment are constantly shifting.
To celebrate the diversity and vitality of our city’s nightlife, we recently asked Time Out readers to tell us about their favorite going out neighborhoods. There were the obvious contenders—the Lower East Side, Williamsburg and Bushwick were mentioned the most—but there were also other less expected nominations that absolutely hold their own weight and deserve the attention, including Harlem and Long Island City.
Here are the areas Time Out readers like to go out in, along with some of our own recommendations for where to hang out in those neighborhoods.
Against all odds and raising prices, the Lower East Side has held out as one of the city’s best neighborhoods for nightlife. We recommend starting out your night with dinner at Flower Shop before heading down to its basement, where the party usually happens. If you’re looking for a fancier dinner before drinks, the newly renovated CASINO offers great food and is located right next to the legendary 169 Bar, where you can get trashy and easily make friends. If you’re looking to dance, head over to The Delancey, Mehanata or, if you’re feeling brave, Pianos.
Williamsburg
You won’t find the most subversive nightlife here, but there are still some great options. The most notable recent opening in the neighborhood is Gabriela, a two-story bar opened by nightlife legend Eli Escobar and friends. For a fancy rooftop moment with breathtaking views of Manhattan, head over to Westlight atop the William Vale Hotel. For an authentic Williamsburg experience that will give you a glimpse of what the area was like pre-hyper gentrification, head over to Caribbean Social Club, where you can get cheap drinks and listen to Spanish music all night.
Bushwick/East Williamsburg
This is a no-brainer, especially for those who love a good rave. But beyond the obvious venues like Elsewhere, Bossa Nova Civic Club and House of Yes, there are many destinations that have breathed new life into the area. Among them is Red Pavilion, a bar and clubspace that opened in 2023 and is inspired by Wong Kar-wai films. They have Chinese herbal medicine-inspired cocktails, Chinese jazz, as well as the occasional all-Asian drag shows. There’s also the recently remodeled old airplane hangar that turned into SILO, a 500-capacity space that holds reggaeton parties. Paragon, which opened right after the pandemic, now hosts world-class DJs. Trans-Pecos is having a techno revolution and Market Hotel is also seeing a sort of rebirth with new parties that have taken over the space.
Hells Kitchen
Whether you’re going to Hush, Industry, Boxers, The Ritz, or Flaming Saddles, this continues to be the epicenter of traditional gay clubbing in the city. After a night out, make sure to head over to the 24/7 Empanada Mama on 9th Ave, which is a gay club in its own right.
Greenpoint
Greenpoint has been a hot area since the early 2000s, but now that the park under the K Bridge has been converted into a giant event space, the neighborhood feels new. Recently, Bjork performed a DJ set under the bridge, which should tell you everything you need to know.
Harlem
Harlem nightlife can be a wild card. You might stumble upon a chill block party or somehow find yourself in the wildest and most crowded apartment party you’ve ever been to. But if you’re looking for a more chill and controlled experience, head over to the Harlem Cigar Room, Harlem Nights or Lambda Lounge.
Honorable Mentions
Although few of our readers mentioned Queens, there are many blossoming neighborhoods in that borough that deserve more love. Here are our picks, and why we think they are worthy of a shoutout.
Long Island City
More and more people are moving to LIC, and it’s becoming an increasingly cool place to party. This summer, we recommend checking our MoMA PS1’s stacked DJ lineup.
Jackson Heights
Jackson Heights has an unmatched nightlife energy that feels like a trip to another city. Not only is it home to top-tier food spots that stay open late like Birria-Landia, but there are also plenty of dive bars, salsa clubs and hookah lounges that play Latin music. We recommend walking on Roosevelt Avenue and letting the sounds and vibes of the club spaces guide you. For a queer night out, definitely check out Hombres Lounge, True Colors and Friend’s Tavern.
Since its opening night in 1879, Madison Square Garden (MSG) has become a premier destination for historic championship games and legendary concerts. From the New York Knicks to Muhammad Ali and Michael Jackson, playing here is considered the pinnacle of an artist or athlete’s career. The venue is an engineering marvel, the first arena built above an active railroad station.
Background on Madison Square Garden
When they opened the present Madison Square Garden Complex in 1968, they called it Madison Square Garden Center. It was the 4th venue to bear the MSG initials. Then, it boasted the first permanent steel cable suspension roof at its construction. The circular structure was another feat that made the venue famous.
Today, MSG has become so iconic that New Yorkers often refer to it simply as ‘The Garden.’ It can accommodate over 20,000 people for concerts and live events.
Source: Unsplash
Sports fans will recognize the Garden as the home of the NHL’s New York Rangers and the NBA’s New York Knicks. The Garden has also hosted some of the most legendary boxing fights and pro wrestling events. The city’s most high-profile concerts are held here. Elvis Presley, John Lennon, The Who, Billy Joel, and Lady Gaga are among the famous artists who have played here. The venue has even hosted a mass by the Pope.
Where is Madison Square Garden and how do you get there?
Madison Square Garden stands on Seventh Avenue between West 31st and 33rd streets. There are 2 VIP entrances and 6 other entrances.
Getting here is easy:
By train: Take the 1, 2, 3, A, C, or E trains to Penn Station or the B, D, F, M, N, Q, or R trains to the 34th Street/Herald Square stop.
By bus: Take the M4, M10, M16, M34 or Q32 buses to 7th Avenue/Penn Station.
Access-A-Ride: MSG has an Access-A-Ride stop on 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue for physically disabled visitors.
From New Jersey: Visitors from Weehawken, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Belford can take the ferry to Midtown/W39th St., and a free NY Waterway shuttle will take them to the arena.
What to expect when you visit?
No two visits to MSG are the same. Whether you see a basketball court or a stage depends on ongoing events. You can take the All Access Tour to see the arena if you’re not there for a specific event. Each tour lasts about an hour. Mostly, the weekends are the most crowded. Scheduling your visit on a weekday morning should give you a more comfortable experience. MSG does not have a coat check area, so avoid carrying oversized bags.
Tickets for Madison Square Garden are available at the venue and online. Book your tickets online if you don’t want to stand in a line.
Source: Unsplash
What else can you do when you visit Madison Square Garden?
Besides marveling at the beauty of MSG, you should ideally watch a game or a concert to experience the arena’s energy. Don’t miss out on the Walk of Fame, the retired jerseys hanging from the rafters, and the merchandise stands.
If you’re hungry, grab a snack at one of the many food stalls in the venue or restaurants near the entrances. Alternatively, you could visit Madison Square Park or Bryant Park for a picnic. If you’re lucky, you could picnic during one of the free concerts held at the park. The Empire State Building is a short walk from the arena.
FAQs
Why do people visit Madison Square Garden?
Madison Square Gardens is famed as one of New York’s oldest sporting facilities. It has hosted some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment.
Who can visit Madison Square Garden?
Anyone with a ticket to a game or event can enter the venue. Those without event passes can enter with an all-access tour ticket.
Are children allowed?
Children are allowed to attend most events. Any child over the age of 2 years requires a ticket.
Visiting Madison Square Garden is a must. Locals know the excitement of cheering for the Knicks or joining a roaring crowd at a pop concert. This iconic venue, often called the world’s most famous arena, has been the heart of NYC’s cultural scene since its inception. Catch a game, enjoy a concert, or take a tour to experience its rich history. Whether you’re a sports fan or a music lover, Madison Square Garden offers unforgettable moments.
