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We saw a lot of change in New York this year. We went from a rat-ridden city to not the rattiest city in the U.S. and were actually named as the best city in the world. We took a big step and finally decided J.Lo doesn’t speak for us and ditched those dating apps.
We experienced some crazy atmospheric events, from tornado watches and snowstorms to the great solar eclipse! We lost Flaco the owl, went through a full Brat summer and witnessed the birth of another Lin-Manuel Miranda project (Warriors).
RECOMMENDED: Best of the City: The 17 best things Time Out New York editors saw, ate and visited in 2024
A lot happened this year, so we are marking 2024 with this year’s 10 most popular, clicked-on news stories from Time Out New York below.
1. A massive snowstorm is expected to hit New York this weekend
At the top of 2024, New Yorkers were faced with the year’s first snow. It turns out it wasn’t major, but New Yorkers are always watching the weather.
2. The longest outdoor mountain coaster in the U.S is now open in NY
Every year, New Yorkers love to find out when the Cliffside Coaster in Lake Placid, New York opens because it is both a thrilling ride through the forest and a unique way to see the leaves when they change.
3. A new tunnel will soon connect New York and New Jersey
New infrastructure is exciting, especially when it might alleviate traffic in and out of the city. This year, the Biden-Harris administration announced the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project, a plan that includes the debut of a new rail tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey.
4. This NY suburb was just voted one of the best places to live for families in the U.S.
We love a ranking and we love a family-friendly neighborhood. This Long Island town east of Queens got a lot of press for being voted the “best place to live for families in the U.S.,” which boasts a lot of homes in the millions (so of course it’s nice), but has a few smaller homes in the six figures.
5. Tornadoes might hit New York today
Tornadoes in NYC? It used to sound like a joke but now it’s a reality thanks to climate change. This storm threatened some ’naders but thankfully nothing formed in the sky.
6. This NYC pizzeria was again named the best one in the U.S.
Tell us about a great pizza spot and we’re there, especially if it’s said to be the “best” anywhere. This spot continuously gets placed at the top.
7. I went to Johnny Depp’s exhibit in Chelsea and felt like I was inside the actor’s brain
Our Senior News Editor Anna Rahmanan checked out Depp’s art show and felt weird about seeing into his inner life through art…like peeking behind the curtain in Emerald City, perhaps.
8. An affordable housing lottery just opened on the Upper West Side near Central Park
Living near Central Park is usually reserved for the very wealthy, but sometimes (thanks to the city’s affordable housing lotteries) it is possible. This listing was one of those flash-in-the-pan opportunities.
9. A first look at the enchanting Alice in Wonderland exhibit at New York Botanical Garden
NYBG really hit it out of the park this year with its exhibits, from this lovely Alice in Wonderland exhibit complete with a whimsical tea party, and later, its Nightmare Before Christmas-themed show.
10. 100 life-size elephants have taken over NYC
One of the best public artworks this year was “The Great Migration” in the Meatpacking District. One hundred life-sized elephants made of natural materials, each one with a name and created by indigenous artists from India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, was incredible to behold.
And while we’re at it, here are our favorite long-reads of 2024
Artist Danny Cortes is recreating iconic NYC landmarks in miniature form
Out Late: Inside a secret rave that happens in a Bronx bodega
10 secrets of New York City in the 1920s
I saw the solar eclipse in totality Upstate—and it was unforgettable
Out Late: Empanada Mama’s flagship restaurant is the hottest gay bar in the city
9 tips and tricks on how to win an affordable housing lottery in NYC
Let me tell you—you should go jet skiing on the Hudson River as soon as possible
Review: Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Let Me Tell You—New York’s roller skaters deserve a spot at Pier 76, too
Here’s what it’s like to go behind the scenes of the Roosevelt Island tram
This New Yorker has photographed every Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for 25 years
Let me tell you—Broadway in April is too damn crowded
How to compost, recycle and get rid of anything in NYC
Are we really ready for The Portal’s ‘pure window’ into different cultures?
Here’s how artists carve thousands of pumpkins every fall for the Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze
Broadway Q&A: Illinoise director and choreographer Justin Peck
This pop-up mobile stand connects New Yorkers with grandmas all over the world to talk about life
See inside the brand-new Louis Vuitton cafe opening on Fifth Avenue tomorrow
10 behind-the-scenes Cirque du Soleil secrets that will delight you
See you in 2025!