We’re still getting used to the summer but, apparently, some New Yorkers just can’t wait for fall to come, perhaps that’s why (or because!) bougie “secret” outdoor dinner party Le Dîner en Blanc has announced its return to NYC on September 26.

As usual, thousands of New Yorkers clad in white will migrate to a secret location, where they will indulge in a gourmet picnic complete with fancy food, fine China, silverware and loads of wine. 

“No other event generates the kind of passion and excitement of Dîner en Blanc,” reads an official press release. “It is the perfect occasion for attendees to express their unique fashion and design style—the elaborate picnic spreads, wildly creative outfits and decorative table settings are always a fabulous spectacle!”

In the past, the event has taken over iconic NYC areas like the Meatpacking District, Bryant Park, Lincoln Center and Brookfield Place. Of course, we don’t yet know where this year’s festivities will take place, but we have a few potential destinations in mind: perhaps somewhere in Brooklyn or Queens? For now, our money is on Industry City, where a ton of new activations have recently been set up.

Clearly, the premise of the massive picnic resonates: this year, the event will take place in over 75 cities across 16 countries. In the U.S. alone, 42 towns have committed to mounting their own iteration of the spectacle.

Although tickets aren’t yet available, we suggest you keep an eye on the event’s official website right here: instructions on how to sign up for the extravaganza will likely be released in upcoming weeks.

* This article was originally published here

What if we told you that you could take a trip to the Grand Canyon without having to hop on a flight to Arizona?! Well, sort of. In western New York lies Letchworth State Park, also renowned as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” and if you ask us it’s most definitely worth the 5 hour car ride from NYC.

Situated high above the canyons formed by the Genesee River just west of the Finger Lakes, Letchworth State Park is known for being one of the most scenically stunning areas in the eastern U.S., offering breathtaking views of the river as it flows north toward Rochester and Lake Ontario.

According to their website, the park was part of an ancient sea many millions of years ago and was originally inhabited by the Seneca Nation.

Lush forests make up Letchworth State Park, with three major waterfalls nestled between cliffs–some towering as high as 600 feet–and dozens of smaller ones.

And of course there’s plenty to do!

Visitors can enjoy hiking along the river banks and through the woods–66-miles-worth of trails to be exact–but thrill seekers looking for something to get their heart racing a bit more can also try their hand at  horseback riding, biking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, swimming, and even hot air ballooning, which is quite an unforgettable experience, as seen below:

And Letchworth State Park is just as stunning in the winter–once the snow starts falling visitors can enjoy snowmobiling, snow tubing, and cross-country skiing.

But whether you’re a serious outdoor enthusiast or merely a casual picnicker/relaxed sightseer, this versatile park truly offers something for everyone. Guests looking to spend more than just one day there can choose to stay at Glen Iris Inn or put their Boy Scout skills to the test at the park’s campground.

Oh, and come autumn the park has one of the most colorful fall foliage displays in the East! It truly is stunning in any season.

It makes sense why a few years back Letchworth won the USA TODAY Readers’ Choice Award for Best State Park in the United States, chosen from more than 6,000 parks across the nation!

If you ask us, we know exactly where to go on our next weekend getaway!

1 Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427

About 5 hours from NYC by car

The post This 14,000 Acre NY Park Is Known As The ‘Grand Canyon Of The East’ appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

For nearly a decade, Dishoom has paid homage to the style and ethos of Irani cafés. Opening in London’s Covent Garden in 2010, the restaurant has expanded all across the U.K., with 10 locations and counting. And while the concept is achieving chain status, owners Shamil and Kavi Thakrar carefully consider each outpost, showcasing historical eras in Bombay, from its jazzy, Art Deco era in the ’40s to the rock and roll craze found in the ’60s. And for the first time ever, the celebrated U.K. restaurant is landing in the U.S. for a collaboration like no other.

Running from August 16 to August 30, Dishoom is serving a U.S. audience for the first time. An ideal landing spot for the Indian restaurant is Pastis (52 Gansevoort Street), a iconic locale in its own right. Opened in 1999 by Keith McNally, the restaurant is a classic Parisian bistro through and through, outfitted with frosted globe lights and vintage mirror scribbled with daily specials. While the restaurant closed in 2014, Pastis 2.0 reopened in 2019, firing up escargots and steak frites aplenty.

Next month, New Yorkers can dig into Dishoom’s must-have Bombay-inspired breakfast treats. Cafe eats will include the restaurant’s signature smoky Bacon Naan Roll and the Parsi Omelette seasoned with coriander and green chili. The drinks menu will rotate through Mango Lassi and a warming House Chia made the traditional way. Even a few alcoholic tipples from the Dishoom’s all-day bar, The Permit Room, will make an appearance such as the Bloody-Gosh Mary with a savory makhani sauce.

But keep in mind: this pop-up is only available during the weekdays, no weekend dates will be available. An even smaller window, you can only catch this deal from 8am to 11am. Reservations drop on August 1 on Resy, so mark your calendars now.

* This article was originally published here

New York City: we love ya, but your name is just so….boring. Like yeah, it’s cool and all that we live in a city that many people blow their entire savings on just to visit, but at the end of the day the name is, dare we say, uninspired and lacking pizazz.

So we can’t exactly hide our jealousy when we meet an upstate dweller who gets to tell people they live in Butternuts–and yes, that’s a real place and yes, we’re strictly jealous of the name. As it turns out New York is home to some very interesting and downright peculiar town names, and these are some of our favorite ones:

1. Chili

Insert: “Hi, welcome to Chili’s!” (If you don’t get that reference you’re too young). Chili is located near Rochester, and though it’s spelt just like the food it’s apparently pronounced “CHY-ly.”

2. Coxsackie

Though it shares a name with the Coxsackievirus that produces painful mouth sores that blister (gross) Coxsackie is actually apparently pronounced “COOK-sack-ee.” It’s located in Greene County and (thankfully) won’t leave you with any debilitating symptoms like the virus would (can confirm, we’ve been there).

3. Horseheads

Located in Chemung County, New York, this one is just…peculiar, but fun to say nonetheless!

4. Wappinger

Though this town name sounds like something you’d find on the menu at Burger King, it’s actually believed that it got its name from the Algonkian word meaning “easterner.”

5. Butternuts

Now this one is something else. Located in Otsego County (best known for Cooperstown and Oneonta) as of the 2010 census 1,786 lucky residents were able to tell people they live in Butternuts, New York.

6. Triangle

Thankfully there’s no “Bermuda” in front of this town name, and as far as we know the residents don’t go missing–so that’s a plus! Triangle is located in Broome County, New York.

7. Sugarbush

To us this town kind of sounds like you’d find it in a fairytale but in reality nah, you’ll find it in Franklin County, New York!

8. Cheektowaga

We’re not quite sure why this town name gives us major Chewbacca vibes, but it just does. It’s also extremely fun to say (though we doubt we’re saying it correctly)!

9. Bath

It’s believed that New York’s Bath was named after the town in England, but whether that’s true or not it’s still a funny name for a town at the end of the day. Bath can be found out in the Western region of New York.

10. Tuxedo

Another town seemingly named after a random object, Tuxedo is located in New York’s Orange County along the Ramapo River. Similar to Wappinger, however, the name actually comes from “tucseto,” a word used by native Americans indigenous to the region–the Lenni-Lenape tribe, to be specific.

The post 10 Of The Most Bizarre Town Names In NY appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here