As we await for season 2 of HBO’s House of the Dragon to debut this Sunday (June 16), there’s been a full NYC takeover that’s even seen some banners fly across the Big Apple! Whether you’re #TeamGreen or #TeamBlack, there’s plenty of ways for fans to support their side as many NYC businesses are offering collaborative specials leading into the new season. Check out all of the amazing limited-time activations that are happening this week…including food and drink specials and interactive experiences.

1. The Empire State Building

From now until June 18, the Empire State Building is inviting fans to experience a House of the Dragon takeover…and a chance to choose their alliance. With the World’s Most Famous Building choosing allegiance to Team Green, fans are welcome to come take a photo on the iconic Iron Throne as well as experience Zynga’s “Game of Thrones: Legends” mobile game and transport themselves into the “Game of Thrones” universe. Plus, all 21+ guests will get to try out a House of the Dragon-inspired dragon fruit sorbet with tequila and orange liquor, included in admission. Learn more about the massive ESB takeover and how to book a spot here!

2. Gray’s Papaya

Pledge your allegiance to the Rightful Queen at Gray’s Papaya, who’s serving up the Dragonstone Dog from now until June 16. The special menu item “topped with a little extra dragon heat” is their classic hotdog topped with a spicy jalapeño crunchy topper.

Where: 2090 Broadway

3. Leon’s Bagels

Get your House of Dragons-themed bagel fix at Leon’s Bagels, where they’re serving a funky green Bacon, Aegon & Cheese bagel through June 16! It comes served on a green bagel and topped with Zab’s hot sauce for $13. You can also upgrade it to a Green Council Breakfast for $2 more by adding a matcha (iced or hot)

Where: 169 Thompson St Suite B

4. Roberta’s

Roberta’s is #TeamBlack and from now until June 16, you can try out their A Slice of the Seven Kingdoms, which is a pizza topped with smoked mozzarella, calabrian chili, basil, and tellicherry pepper. It’s happening at both of their locations this week!

Where: 261 Moore St & 6 Grand St, Brooklyn (2 separate locations)

5. Mile End Deli

Mile End Deli is offering a trio of special menu items this week, including an All Must Cheese burger which is deemed “a cheeseburger worth raising your banner for.” There’s also some Team Green Fire Poutine, which are hand cut fries topped in cheese curds, smoked chicken, salsa verde, and cilantro. And for dessert, there’s Valyrian Cheesecake…served with some tasty allegiance badges.

Where: 97A Hoyt St, Brooklyn

6. Murray’s Bagels

For our bagel fans supporting #TeamBlack, stop by Murray’s Bagels and order the Dragonstone’s Delight, a midnight everything bagel with smoked lox, kairn scottish salmon, a achemear of plain creem cheese, beefsteak tomatoes, red onions, and black tobiko “Dragon Egg” caviar. It’s available through June 16.

Where: 500 6th Ave

7. John’s of Bleecker Street

Feast on Vhagar’s Pie at John’s of Bleecker Street, which is a pie of mozzarella, cherry peppers, pepperoni, garlic, and red pepper! It even comes served in a limited-edition House of Dragons-themed box! It’s available on their special menu until June 16.

Where: 278 Bleecker St

8. Ray’s

Lower East Side staple Ray’s is serving a speciality cocktail this week in honor of the Season 2 launch, dubbed the Team Black Targa-Ray-Ta…a twist on Ray’s Marga-Tay-Ta paying homage to House Targaryen. It’s tequila, lime, blackberries and thyme, and it’ll run you $18.

Where: 177 Chrystie St

9. The Flower Shop

The Flower Shop is serving up a #TeamGreen cocktail called the Team Green Targarita...consisting of mezcal, cucumbers, fresh lime with fiery jalapenos and a dragon burnt lime wheel. It’s available this week and will cost you $16!

Where: 107 Eldridge St

10. Citi Field / New York Mets

The New York Mets are hosting House of the Dragon Night on Friday, June 14 against the San Diego Padres! Fans can purchase themed ticket packages for the game which include collectibles like a limited-edition t-shirt and access to take a photo on the Iron Throne! Learn more here.

Where: Citi Field

11. Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is #TeamBlack as they’ve hoisted physical House of the Dragon Banners along the iconic facade of the Midtown building from now through the weekend! Stop by and snap a picture if you’re in the area.

Where: Rockefeller Center

The post HBO & House of the Dragon To Bring Limited-Time Activations To NYC This Week appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Idina Menzel is (finally!) coming back to Broadway. The iconic actress is set to make her return in 2025 at a yet-to-be-announced theater in Redwood, a new original musical that she herself conceived alongside Tina Landau, who is also credited as the writer and director of the production.

The show, which premiered earlier this year at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, will be Menzel’s first Broadway role since her time on If/Then in March of 2014.

According to an official press release, Redwood stars Menzel as Jesse, “a successful businesswoman, mother and wife who seems to have it all but, inside, her heart is broken.” At a turning point in her life, Jesse gets in her car and drivers thousands of miles to the forests of Northern California, “where a chance meeting and a leap of faith change her life forever.” 

“I’m so thrilled to be returning to Broadway, and the fact that I get to do it with Redwood, a musical that means so much to me, makes it even more special,” Menzel said in an official statement. “This show has lived in my bones for fifteen years, from the very first time Tina and I discussed working together. Finally getting to do it on Broadway is really a dream come true.”

In addition to her upcoming theater work, Menzel is also gearing up for her upcoming North American tour, which includes a stop at the Beacon Theatre on August 15. If you just can’t wait to catch the star in Redwood, you might want to snag tickets to her upcoming concerts, where she’ll be performing some of her songs from the upcoming musical.

Details regarding additional Redwood cast members have not been disclosed yet but, regardless of who will join Menzel on stage, we suspect the musical will be highly scrutinized for a variety of reasons: Menzel is a Broadway darling and the show is completely new material, a breath of fresh air given the countless adaptations and revivals that have come to define the industry in recent years. 

* This article was originally published here

Lewis Latimer is one of the most important American figures that you’ve likely never heard of. Among other things, the Black inventor helped develop the telephone alongside Alexander Graham Bell, as well as the lightbulb alongside Thomas Edison. He was also responsible for developing the first iterations of the modern air conditioner and even improved the mechanism used in train bathrooms.

If you want to learn more about this icon—which to be honest, we all should—then you can head to his former home in Flushing, Queens, which is about to reopen ahead of Juneteenth. 

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The Lewis Latimer House Museum had closed temporarily while they built out a new exhibit that you’ll be able to check out starting Saturday, June 15, and they’re kicking off the opening with a big celebration from 1-4pm. That event will include a marching band, sculpture making station, ceramics workshops, an African drum and dance circle, and more. You can register for the reopening party here. 

The house museum contains five galleries, including “Light up the World,” which highlights Latimer’s influence on modern technology and culture; “A Definite Purpose,” which explores Latimer’s life in the context of history, and addresses how his Black identity created challenges throughout his career; “A Legacy of Imagination,” which explores Latimer’s family history, including their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement; and “Community at the Center,” which explores Latimer’s role in the Harlem Renaissance. 

For a more hands-on experience, the Latimer Lab gives younger visitors the chance to get hands-on lessons on science, technology and engineering. 

After Saturday, the Latimer House Museum will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. Admission is pay-as-you-wish, with a suggested donation of $5 per person. For more information, check out the museum’s website. 

* This article was originally published here

The first official day of summer is still a week away but New Yorkers are urged to prepare for extremely high temperatures starting Tuesday of next week, when a heat dome is expected to settle across the Northeast. 

The heat dome—which usually happens when a pocket of extremely hot air is quite literally “trapped” above a region—will bring 90-degrees-plus temperatures to New York City starting Tuesday, capping out at an expected 95 degrees by Thursday, according to the New York Post.

Although things can obviously change, meteorologists expect the temperatures to stay in the 90s all through next weekend as well. 

What is perhaps most noteworthy is the fact that New Yorkers will still be very hot when the sun sets: experts are forecasting temperatures in the mid-70s every night next week as well. 

The National Weather Service has issued a moderate risk of excessive heat warning through next Friday, June 21. 

Needless to say, we urge New Yorkers to take appropriate measures given the weather forecast: try to stay indoors or head to a cooling center if your home isn’t properly ventilated (you might even qualify for a free air conditioner!). If you must be outside, try to stay in the shade, drink a lot of fluids and avoid working out. Wearing light clothes and taking cool showers may help as well.

Time for another summer in New York!

* This article was originally published here