Believe it or not, the holidays are around the corner already, which means Bryant Park’s iconic Winter Village is about to come back. 

Although the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park doesn’t open until October 25, you can actually make your reservations online now to avoid missing out on some of the most popular activities. Here’s how.

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First thing’s first: You don’t need to make a reservation to actually attend the market and enjoy the more than 170 small businesses that will be selling holiday-related wares at the Village. But you do need to reserve tickets for ice skating, booking an igloo, or snatching your spot at the coveted Curling Café, where for $338 dollars you can play iceless curling, eat and drink with three other people and then cozy up in your own private heated dome.

Ice skating at the rink with rental equipment will cost you anywhere between $25-$30—or free if you bring your own skates. Meanwhile, the igloos, which are heated and perfect for intimate gatherings like small birthday parties, will cost you $242.69 per group of 4, or $485.36 for a group of 5 to 8 people. You can reserve your spot for any of those activities here. 

Next to the famous 17,000-square-foot skating rink, The Lodge, a big food hall and bar, will offer seasonal food and beverages like apple cider. The Lodge will also have two full-service bars with festive cocktails and major holidays vibes next to the rink. 

The Winter Village will be open from 8am until 10pm from October 25 until March 2, 2025. Ice skating will be available rain or shine, except in the case of heavy rain or extreme weather. Bryant Park recommends booking an ice skating session in the early morning during weekdays, before Thanksgiving or after New Year to avoid the worst of the holiday crowds. 

* This article was originally published here

Ready the streamers and balloons: Serendipity3, NYC’s beloved dessert spot, is turning 70.

What better way to celebrate than honoring how it all began? The Upper East Side eatery decided to throw things back to the good ‘ol days with a $1 price tag for its iconic dessert, and the one-day-only perk will take place on Wednesday, September 18th.

The famed treat from 1954 is unlike the rest of the hot chocolate in NYC…for obvious reasons. Needless to say, it’s a chilled version of the wintertime staple served with whipped cream and chocolate shavings — a meal in itself.

But according to Forbes, it’s truly unlike the rest: It’s been served more than 25,000,000 times (no, that’s not a typo), and it’s a favorite amongst celebs like Cher and Marilyn Monroe. Even though the dessert has garnered an A-list clientele, if you can believe it, Jackie Kennedy was denied the secret recipe!

Since the dessert is so beloved and iconic, why not enjoy it at a discount? Plus, it’s the perfect sweet drink to sip during this time of year when we’re in between seasons.

Here’s how to get Serendipity3 NYC’s $1 Frrrozen Hot Chocolate

A few things to note if you’re thinking about taking part in the birthday festivities:

• Book a reservation on Wednesday, September 18th at either the Times Square or UES locations
• Order any entrée.⁠
• Receive a $1 Frrrozen Hot Chocolate with your meal

If you’re on the go like any good New Yorker and can’t sit down for a meal, you can get the $1 perk on Resy for the original Upper East Side location or the new Times Square location. But don’t delay, as spots are filling up quickly.

Oh yeah, and did we forget to mention there’s now a second location in Times Square? Two times the opportunity to enjoy something sweet, if you ask us!

Upper East Side: 225 E. 60th Street
Times Square: 157 W. 47th Street

The post Sip $1 Frrrozen Hot Chocolates For Serendipity3’s 70th Anniversary appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

I know, I know, we think we’re the best at everything—but we really are! And a forecast from AccuWeather exclaiming that Upstate New York will have the best fall foliage on the Northeast only further proves our point. So forget about your cottage trip to Vermont, and book a cozy Airbnb in none other than New York State!

In their fall foliage forecast, AccuWeather confirms that Upstate New York, alongside Northern Pennsylvania, will show the most beautiful fall colors along the Northeast, especially in areas like the Adirondacks and the Finger Lakes.

So what makes for great fall foliage? According to AccuWeather, the perfect ingredients for beautiful fall foliage start with rainfall and sunshine. Precipitation is kind of a Goldilocks situation: too little rain can cause a drought, which can result in dull leaf colors and early shedding, while too much rain can lead to mold growth and a surplus of insects. Moreover, sunny days and cool nights make for the most vibrant colors as this combination accelerates the breakdown of green chlorophyll, which is responsible for a leaf’s gorgeous colors.

Fall foliage only remains at its peak for a very short period of time so it’s important to catch the colors while you can. “Plan your trip ahead of time. Get to those places because they fill up fast,” advises meteorologist Paul Pastelok. “Beating the crowds is also key, so experts suggest arriving at parks and hiking trails early in the day.”

Experts continue to predict that New York’s fall colors will reach peak foliage as soon as late September through mid-October. However, NYC tends to be on the later end of the spectrum, with peak colors as late as early November. You can track the status of NYC’s fall foliage with I Love NY’s weekly foliage reports.

The forecast also suggests which areas of the country will experience less color change. With their prediction of a “second summer” across the eastern states, New England through the southern Appalachians are expected to lack their usual luster of autumn colors this year. The humid conditions and tropical moisture could likely cause the aforementioned mold and insects, echoed Pastelok.

And in case you’re wondering what weather to expect for winter, let’s just say it’ll be…well, something.

The post New York To Top New England For The Best Fall Foliage In The Northeast, Meteorologists Say appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

In July, the Northern Lights were visible from across large swaths of the U.S. thanks to a massive and rare solar flare. If you missed your opportunity to see them and gave yourself a hard time about it, we have some good news: The Northern Lights might be visible again from New York City throughout the week.

That’s because the sun is currently going through something called Solar Cycle 25, which means there will be intense flares that result in more wide reaching northern light displays. Of course, like most celestial phenomena in light-polluted New York, you’re going to have to plan and put some intention and effort in if you really want to see the northern lights. Here’s everything you need to know about how to see this rare and coveted natural occurrence.

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Where can you see the Northern Lights in New York?

Although the strongest of the magnetic storm happened on Sunday and Monday nights, the effects of the storm could still be visible tonight and for the next couple of days. In New York state, you’re more likely to see them more clearly the further north you go. The northern lights will also be visible throughout Wisconsin and other northern states. 

When will they be visible again?

The northern lights are most likely to be visible between 10pm and 2am, according to NOAA. Your best bet is to try to find a park, beach, or somewhere as far as possible from bright city lights. Once you find a spot, give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. 

There is a chance of overcast skies over New York City tonight, which would further reduce the chances of seeing northern lights. It’s worthwhile to note that even if you do get a glimpse, they won’t look exactly like they do in pictures that were taken in places like Alaska or Iceland—If you try to see them in New York, they’re likely to appear pretty faint with the naked eye.

However, this is likely not the last time we’ll get a chance to see the northern lights in the city. Solar Cycle 25, which is seeing extensive sunspot activity, is peaking now and will remain powerful until summer 2025, per the Space Weather Prediction Center. Be on the lookout for latest news on solar flares and when the northern lights might be visible again on NOAA’s website. 

* This article was originally published here

Are you afraid of the dark? After exploring Dark Matter, a new immersive art exhibition at Mercer Labs in Lower Manhattan, you just might be. 

The exhibition, running on select evenings from October 4 to 30, is the brainchild of experimental artist Roy Nachum, Mercer Lab’s co-founder and creative director. Through immersive visuals, interactive displays, audio installations, oil painting and robots, Dark Matter explores the depths and darkness of the human psyche and paranormal expression. The show is available from 8pm-midnight in October; get tickets here for $52/adult.

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In creating the exhibition, Nachum drew on his own nightmares for inspiration; “the exhibit explores surreal and hypnotic themes of darkness and the human psyche and the unsettling realm of nightmares, inner demons and paranormal occurrences,” he tells Time Out.

“Since the beginning of human existence, darkness has been a constant presence,” he continues. “Nightmares are manifested fears, where the subconscious grapples with panic, uncertainty and the unknown, a universal phenomenon we share as humans. Inspiration is both personal and has a foundation in art and art history. The nightmare and the supernatural drive the powerful audio-visual narratives, inviting visitors to confront their fears, explore darkness and to understand how darkness has shaped art, culture and the human experience.”

So, yes, expect this to be scarier than your traditional haunted house with ghosts and jump scares. 

The multi-sensory, PG-13 experience consists of 15 diverse installations. Throughout Dark Matter, an audio-visual dialogue highlights strong contrasts between light and dark, through the use of groundbreaking technology, 8K projections, infinity installations, painting and robotics. A series of compelling works and immersive installations, invite “a contemplative trip into the unseen, to face our deepest fears and imaginations,” Nachum said. 

Since the beginning of human existence, darkness has been a constant presence.

Budget about 60-90 minutes for the walk-through museum experience. 

Dark Matter dives into the concept of darkness through many facets: The darkness that resides with in us all, the subconscious, and the intangible phenomenon of dark matter or invisible forces. That concept, both unsettling and fascinating, fits into the mission of Mercer Labs, NYC’s newest immersive experience space. 

With 36,000-square feet of space, Mercer Labs opened in early 2024 at 21 Dey Street inside a bank building that used to be part of the now-nextdoor Century 21. Nachum, the artist behind Rihanna’s famous 2016 “Anti” album cover, created Mercer Labs with his business partner Michael Cayre, a real estate developer. The boundary-pushing space focuses on interactive and thought-provoking programming. 

“The exhibition’s exploration of fear and the unknown also taps into the museum’s mission of creating immersive, reflective, and transformative experiences encouraging deeper connections between art, technology, and human emotions,” Nachum adds. “By presenting these complex themes in a way that stimulates both intellectual curiosity and emotional responses, Dark Matter fulfills the museum’s goal of expanding the visitor’s understanding of art while challenging their perceptions of reality through advanced technology and creative expression.” 

In addition to Dark Matter, Mercer Labs continues to feature Limitless, Nachum’s inaugural exhibition. Open daily, Limitless delves into the intricate relationship between narrative and abstraction, inviting visitors to discover a new dimension of artistic interaction through technology and conceptual elements. The evolving experience invites participants to explore the world through another point of view. 

* This article was originally published here