The best things to do in NYC this week

One of the most visited historical sites in Europe, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, has opened an exhibition in New York for the first time. Find it at the Center for Jewish History in the Flatiron District through April 30, 2025.

New Yorkers can now walk through a full-scale re-creation of the rooms where Anne Frank, her parents Otto and Edith, her sister Margot, the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer (all Jews) spent two years in hiding from the Nazis during World War II. Inside the re-created annex itself, every object displayed in glass cases is original—things that Anne, her family and fellow hideout Jews touched and used daily, alongside exact replicas of other items.

Brace yourself for a deeply emotional experience.

Head to Washington Square Park for the debut of artist Ryan Van Der Hout’s "To Reflect Everything," a 7-foot mirrored sculpture resembling a disco ball. The piece invites viewers to explore themes of reflection, connection and transformation through its unique form and structure.

It's on view through March 30.

ARTECHOUSE, the immersive art experience in Chelsea, typically features the work of a single artist exploring a single topic, such as Afrofuturism, AI·magination and outer space. But for their new installation, ARTECHOUSE has turned over the venue to dozens of emerging artists for a wide-ranging, year-long art extravaganza.

Titled “Submerge,” the show will feature more than 100 artists over the course of 2025. The work of artists from across the globe will rotate every four months amid an open call for submissions. Expect to see everything from 3D animation to AI innovation to multimedia storytelling—anything that takes creativity out of confines of computer screens and onto an IRL canvas. Submerge is open to all ages through December 31 with tickets starting at $23.85. 

Want to feel like you can practically defy gravity? You can do just that at Lush Spa with their Wicked-themed book-a-bath experience. 

In partnership with Universal Studios, the Upper East Side spa is completely decked out with Wicked vibes. There's vivid green and glimmering gold decor, including taper candles and even wallpaper that says Oz. During the bath, you’ll get to enjoy a pink-and-green bath bomb, a soap shaped like the Emerald City, and a cleanser picked for your skin type. Instrumental versions of the Wicked soundtrack will play while you relax in the tub. 

It's bookable now for $75 with appointments through late 2025.

The sober curious movement is here to stay, and we couldn't be happier. No longer relegated to sparkling waters and whatever soda is on tap, sober and sober-ish individuals have finally been able to indulge, thanks to a surge of spirit-free cocktails, apertifs and spirits. Plenty of bartenders across New York have been shaking up tipples sans booze, with full menus dedicated to the art of the mocktail. Want to learn how to make them at home? Third Place Bar has a class for you. 

On January 28, the pop-up bar concept is hosting a zero-proof mixology glass. During the two-hour class, you'll learn the basic rules of cocktail making while sampling several non-alcoholic spirits. Put your newfound knowledge to the test, as you shake up your own cocktail, sans booze. So come solo or bring a sober curious friend for an evening of hangover-free fun. 

A massive, 150-foot interactive snake sculpture that will live at The Oculus from January 29 through February 12 in honor of Lunar New Year.

The sculpture, called Infinite Harmony, will undulate between four and seven feet high as it snakes its way through the main concourse at the Oculus, revealing itself as you walk along it. The sculpture is built from two identical parts, symbolizing the harmonious concepts of yin and yang.

Visitors will be able to interact with the sculpture when they scan a QR code, which will allow them to control the movements of an animated overlay of a snake. 

There's nothing quite like a steamy, sizzling hot pot to get your mind off this cold, and there's no better season to have it than during the Lunar New Year. If you've ever wanted to learn how to assemble your own hot pot—including how to concoct that iconic broth—James Beard Award finalist chef Natasha Pickowicz is teaching a class on January 28 on how to do just that at PLATFORM, located inside Pier 57. After fulfilling their hot pot fix, guests will be able to sample Ming River Sichuan baijiu, a traditional Chinese grain spirit. Whether it's off the heat or the liqour, we'll bet your head will be spinning afterwards. 

In the Lunar calendar, the year of the snake symbolizes wisdom, agility and growth, and the Ace Hotel in Brooklyn is throwing a celebration worthy of the snake's auspicious nature. Design studio A+A+A is partnering with NEW INC to host an event involving a mahjong tournament with prices that will include a coveted New Museum membership. The gags won't end there, though: Artist Trevor Van de Velde will conduct a mini synth-orchestra using rice cookers; a DJ and saxophone duo belt out sick beats; and did we mention there will be food and a craft making station, too? What more could you ask for.

Depending on what you learned in high school history class, you might be surprised to discover that Brooklyn—an area firmly in the northern Union states—actually has significant ties to slavery. A new exhibit coming to the borough digs into that painful history.

Titled "Trace/s: Family History Research and the Legacy of Slavery in Brooklyn," the exhibit will open at the Center for Brooklyn History on January 30. While there are few firsthand testimonies from enslaved people in Brooklyn, the exhibit offers clues to what they endured. It also sheds light on the often-overlooked narratives of enslaved individuals in Kings County and the generational legacies of inequality. The exhibit is free to visit through August 30 in the center's Fransioli Gallery.

Expect to see archival documents, rare personal accounts from enslaved Brooklynites and artwork that helps visitors visualize this period in Brooklyn's development. The exhibit also delves into genealogy and celebrates the work of family historians, researchers, and artists who trace their roots through this difficult past.

Known for its thumping dance parties at the break of dawn is the morning movement, Daybreaker. For the past 10 years, the community has held sober daytime events across the globe, from sunrise yoga at the Edge to silent discos at Rockefeller Center. For the first time ever, the daytime party is going dark, bringing the club vibes to one of New York's finest self-care sanctuaries. 

Daybreaker is marking the end of Dry January by popping up at Othership, Flatiron's otherwordly home for wellness. Going down on January 31, the evening starts relaxation first, as guests will have access to all the facilities. We're talking sauna rooms and all the cold plunges you can bear to take. The party continues with a dance party spun by DJ The Scumfrong until midnight. Partnering with Function Health, the personalized health management platform, members can receive early access to the event. For the rest of us, tickets are $79. So break out your favorite swimsuit, the sauna is calling. 

For Sophia Allison, the journey from bedroom pop idealist to full-fledged rockstar happened slowly, then all at once. In the nearly 10 years since Allison began posting demos on Bandcamp under the name Soccer Mommy, her '90s-indebted indie pop has led to performances on The Tonight Show and on tours opening for Paramore, Wilco and Phoebe Bridgers. On her latest album, Evergreen, Allison returns to the laidback instrumentation of her earliest songs.

After testing out the new album by touring overseas, Soccer Mommy returns to Brooklyn on January 30 at Brooklyn Steel. The show is certain to contain fan favorites like “Still Clean,” “Crawling in My Skin” and Allison’s breakthrough single “Your Dog.” Opening is the amorphous experimental pop musician L’Rain, whose fuzzy, electric album I Killed Your Dog was one of the most acclaimed of 2023. 

Stroll through the Flatiron-NoMad area to see two colorful, interactive pieces of public art. "The Diamonds" by Perséides Studio and "Spectrum" by Mirari will be on display from January 16 through February 28.

"The Diamonds" is an interactive work composed of three luminous structures that light up when spun around by passerby. The trio of 13-foot-tall rotating sculptures work together to harmonize light, music and motion to create a mesmerizing symphony of sensory experiences aided by the slew of diamonds that make up the actual work. Each diamond will also play its own music—original melodies composed by musician Stefie Shock. 

"Spectrum," on the other hand, will focus on the act of communication: pedestrians will be invited to speak across a series of rings, observe their voices travel through space and light up various portions of the sculpture.

Shea Gomez's online community platform and podcast, "No Booze Babes" is all about socializing, no alcohol required. For the driest month of the year, she has partnered up with New York’s largest cannabis dispensary, The Travel Agency, for a fun and booze-free event series. 

This month, you can catch Gomez at various locations of The Travel Agency for her pop-up series, Cali Sober Sips. Discover your next favorite spirit-free sensation as Gomez has curated line-up of non-alcoholic drinks. But for those of us who lean more into the "Cali Sober" side of things, the events will also feature low-dose, cannabis-infused drinks for the tasting. Whether you are sober or simply curious, this alcohol-free happy hour is the place to sip and schmooze with like-minded individuals. The event will be popping up at The Travel Agency at the Fifth Avenue location (January 16), the Downtown Brooklyn location (January 23) and the Union Square location (January 30). The event is 21 plus, ID is required. 

Swap your ice skates for dancing shoes during Bryant Park's Winter Dance at The Lodge this winter. Learn from New York City's best dance instructors, then take your skills to the dancefloor. 

Sessions run on Wednesday nights through February 19 (except February 5), from 6-8pm. Each week features a different theme, from salsa to bachata to west coast swing. It makes for a perfect date night if you have a plus-one to bring, but it's also a great spot if you're in the market to dance with someone new!

Find Winter Dance at The Lodge on the northwest corner of The Rink. Check the full schedule for weekly themes here. It's free to attend with no tickets required.

Here's a winter-time must in NYC: a round of bumper cars on ice at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. 

Officially back for the season, the activity is, as usual, suitable for everyone who is 7 or older and looking to have some laugh-out-loud fun.

The program is open from 2pm to 10pm on Sundays through Fridays and 9:20am to 5:20pm on Saturdays. Given the popularity of the destination, we suggest you buy tickets in advance of your visit right here.

A Complete Unknown, the much talked-about Bob Dylan origin story starring Timothée Chalamet, is officially out in theaters. New Yorkers have a chance to experience the film in a unique way on a movie sites walking tour currently offered by On Locations Tours.

"This immersive walking tour takes you through the real-life locations featured in A Complete Unknown, showcasing the places where Bob Dylan’s journey from a budding songwriter to a cultural icon unfolded," reads an official description of the activity.

Tickets for the experience, which costs $40 per adult, are currently available right here.

You won't believe how seamlessly good comedy can work with pole dancing (you can read about it here). While stellar stand-ups deliver sets, pro dancers give the crowd something stare at. Think of it as a full-brain experience. Comics Dan Goodman, Joanna Ross and special guests will welcome talented pole dancers and comedians from across NYC. 

Each show features a different musical theme, and each one is full of surprises. This time, on Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25, the show is celebrating its its 12th anniversary with U2 theme. Think "With or Without You," "Beautiful Day," and more.

Expect to hear jokes from five comics and see performances by five dancers. "They're not strippers, it’s not burlesque. It’s aerial dance with a side of crazy gymnastics, and death defying tricks that make your jaw drop," event planners explain.

As the event organizers say: "If you don't see shows like this, why are you even paying the NYC rents?" See it at Drom in the East Village.

Perhaps your idea of "curling" in the winter involves curling up on the couch with a mug of hot cocoa and a good book. Honestly, same. But New Yorkers are now invited to shed their blanket cocoons and go curling at Edge in Hudson Yards.

The new pop-up for the winter sport, where players slide stones on a sheet of ice, welcomes all to get their adrenaline flowing from the game—and from the stunning views at the city's highest indoor/outdoor sky deck. In addition to curling, guests at Edge's Sky Chalet can enjoy specialty cocktails and seasonal treats at this wintry escape, which is open from January 17 through March 16.

Tickets, bookable here, include a 50-minute curling session on a private lane, plus access to Edge after your session. Whether you're a beginner or a curling pro, the team at Edge promises you'll pick up the game quickly.

New York City Restaurant Week is among the five boroughs’ best food holidays. New Yorkers (and a few lucky tourists) clear their dining schedules and make reservations at the city’s best spots. Hundreds of destinations participate citywide, with menu prices below their typical tabs. 

New York City Restaurant Week actually comes twice a year, in summer and in winter, and each edition lasts for about a month. Restaurants curate their menus and produce prix fixe selections for brunch, lunch, dinner and sometimes all three. Saturdays are formally excluded and Sundays are discretionary, so expect regular menu prices at those times unless otherwise stated. 

The winter campaign runs from Tuesday, January 21 through Sunday, February 9. That's nearly a month to choose from oodles of NYC classics and recent culinary additions. 

Walk through 5,000 years of art and design at The Winter Show, the city's premier art and antiques fair. Art lovers won't want to miss this event, which is returning for its 71st edition at the Park Avenue Armory from January 24 to February 2. Explore booths from more than 70 exhibitors who will showcase museum-quality works from ancient to contemporary, including rare masterpieces from Europe and the Americas.

A few highlights include a drawing of a sailboat made by a young King Charles III around 1957; a selection from the world's largest collection of playing cards; an assortment of rare
works by Auguste Rodin; and an antique clock made from duck eggs, which measures not only time but also phases of the moon and the schedule of the tide.

Special events during the show include the Opening Night Party on January 23 and Young Collectors Night on January 30. DIAGEO will present an immersive exhibit of the 2024 Special Releases Collection, including rare Scotch whiskies aged in carefully selected casks from around the world, including Oban and Lagavulin. 

Think pink at Watermark, the classic American restaurant on Pier 15 by the Seaport, is turning into an immersive pink wonderland this month. It's just in time for the peak of New York winter and for Valentine's Day celebrations.

The 10,000 square-foot outdoor bar and restaurant will be lit up in pink hues and be decorated with red flowers, heart installations and mesmerizing twinkling lights. Pink Pier will be until mid-April.

The wickedly talented Adele Dazeem—sorry, we mean Idina Menzel—returns to Broadway as the star of an original musical that she conceived with the highly creative director Tina Landau (SpongeBob Squarepants), who has also written the show's book and co-written its lyrics with composer Kate Diaz.

Menzel plays a woman who goes into the woods of Northern California as a means of coping with the death of her adult son. The cast of five also includes De’Adre Aziza as Menzel's wife>, Zachary Noah Piser as their late child, and Michael Park and Khaila Wilcoxon as a pair of tree huggers who help her climb to healing.

The idea of climbing into your swimsuit when it’s freezing outside might not sound appealing, but hear us out. These winter spas in NYC make it worth it to brave the cold (briefly) in your swimwear.

With Scandinavian-inspired ethos and design, The Winter Pool House at The Rockaway Hotel and the Winter Spa at The William Vale will help you get into the Nordic hygge spirit for a relaxing escape.

Sanaz Toossi's absorbing and thoughtful drama about adult students learning English in Iran won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Now the Roundabout brings it to Broadway with the same terrific five-person cast as its Off Broadway debut at the Atlantic Theatre Company: Tala Ashe, Ava Lalezarzadeh, Pooya Mohseni, Marjan Neshat and Hadi Tabbal. Knud Adams (Paris) once again directs.

The Urban Bush Women dance company is celebrating 40 years of “building community and taking risks that push the culture forward.” To honor the momentous occasion, the troupe has put together a (very) full calendar of performances, special events, digital content, and opportunities to gather. Here's what's coming up: 

— January 10-March 27, 2025 - Lineage Legacy and Liberation: An Examination of Urban Bush Women’s Art-making and Community Organizing Praxis in NYC, exhibit at the Apollo Theatre

— February 5-8: SCAT!...The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar

As the world commemorates the centennial of James Baldwin's birth, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) presents Turkey Saved My Life - Baldwin in Istanbul, 1961–1971, a landmark exhibition featuring rare photographs of the iconic writer by Turkish photographer Sedat Pakay.

Running between through February 28, 2025 in the Grand Lobby of the Central Library, this exhibition offers an unprecedented glimpse into Baldwin’s transformative years in Istanbul from 1961 to 1971, when the author-activist moved to Istanbul seeking refuge from the entrenched racism and homophobia he experienced in America. The exhibition will be accompanied by public programs, including panel discussions, film screenings, and readings that further explore Baldwin’s unique connection to Turkey.

The Camp store does it again (and even better this time around!): the popular toy store recently launched its newest immersive experience, this year dedicated to the Australian animated TV series Bluey, and, although previous on-site activations (Encanto, Trolls) certainly delivered, this one feels like a notch above the rest. 

The entire space is transformed into Bluey’s home, the prevalent setting on the cartoon, so guests actually feel like they’ve been catapulted into the cute puppy’s very life with his family. Inside, you won’t just get to play around Bluey’s house (complete with a cardboard box castle with a slide, a pillow fort, tons of toys and shopping opportunities) but also look for the characters, listen to a story and try to cook some food in the kitchen.

On Location Tours and GetYourGuide has a new NYC guided tour for Swift fans. Led by “ultimate Swiftie” Hannah Kulawiak, it encompasses 13 spots, including Housing Works, Washington Square Park and Electric Lady Studios, the Greenwich Village recording studio commissioned by rock legend Jimi Hendrix.

When it first started in 2018, Raw Like Sushi was a way for sushi chef/DJ Fresh Rollman to combine his passion for music with his culinary expertise. These biweekly events have combined sushi with slinking grooves across New York. You can attend one at Manhattan’s Studio 151 on Monday nights or each Thursday at The Last Call in Williamsburg.

If you’re not into sushi, this might not be the night for you, but the Williamsburg bar also offers chili cheese fries and chicken wings on sushi and vinyl nights. Plus, on a lucky night, you might run into legends like Anderson .Paak or Statik Selektah. Between the variety of options to nosh on and beats booming throughout the night, you can’t miss Raw Like Sushi. 

Step inside Common Country, a spanking new 3,400-square-foot country-themed bar in the middle of Manhattan at 344 Third Avenue in Kips Bay. Common Country’s interior details will make you feel like you’re somewhere in the south, complete with real deer taxidermy mounts and farmhouse beams imported from Kentucky. 

Their menu will transport your tastes buds, too: the drinks focus on a selection of Tennessee and Kentucky-forward whiskey, craft beer and cocktails inspired by the South, including Spiked Sweet Tea. There’s also a selection of Tex-Mex food, including elote fritters, cornbread, bloomin’ onion, and Texas twinkies, which are breaded jalapeños stuffed with cheese. 

Hudson Square is often outshined by Soho, Tribeca and the West Village. Once the printing district of the city, the former industrial site will soon undergo its own revitalization as Google and Disney are set to make their headquarters there. But a recent restaurant opening has given us plenty of reasons to visit the area now.

Namely, the arrival of Kiko (307 Spring Street). Translating to “hope” in Japanese, Kiko comes from a husband-and-wife team, who are two powerhouses in their own right. Sommelier Lina Goujjane has hospitality in her blood. Her family were long-time owners of the beloved West Village restaurant, One if by Land, Two if by Sea, consistently named as one of the most romantic spots in the country. Beginning her career working at the restaurant at the age of 14, Goujjane has staked her claim in the industry, working as a sommelier at some of the city's top spots, including Sushi Noz and Momofuku Group.

Queens Botanical Garden has a beautiful light show you’ll want to see this year called “Luminosa: A Festival of Lights.” With over 1 million LED lights, this illuminated trail imitates a lush garden with giant lanterns—including 40 stunning lamp scenes crafted by 150 artisans using 120 tons of steel and 150,000 feet of silk—and brings it to life with acrobatic performers, stone-carving, an artisan market and ambient music.

In the 1950 film masterpiece Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood glamour is a dead-end street. Stalled there with no one coming to find her—except perhaps to use her car—is Norma Desmond: a former silent-screen goddess who is now all but forgotten. Secluded and deluded, she haunts her own house and plots her grand return to the pictures; blinded by the spotlight in her mind, she is unaware that what she imagines to be a hungry audience out there in the dark is really just the dark.

Back in 1987, an art amusement park—featuring works from Keith Haring, Salvador Dalí, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and more—delighted visitors in Germany. There were plans for a world tour, but it never happened, and the art was abandoned. Until now, that is.

Now, you can walk through Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy, a wonderland featuring a Basquiat Ferris wheel, a Haring carousel, a Lichtenstein labyrinth, puppets and other immersive experiences in this limited-time installation at The Shed. Luna Luna is, hands down, the coolest art exhibition to open in New York City this year, and it's on view through February 23, 2025 with tickets starting at $44/person.

Get a new perspective at American Dream at the Paradox Experience, where you explore a collection of family-friendly exhibits where “nothing seems logical, yet all is utterly real,” including an Infinity Well, where you’ll “fly through an abyss.” The Paradox Sofa will have you questioning reality and the Paradox Tunnel will make it hard to walk a straight line. According to Fever, each exhibit inspires and challenges with ultimate creativity. Plus, it makes for trippy IG photos!

When you think of Franz Kafka, there are a few words that likely come to mind: Lonely, tortured, isolated. But this depiction doesn’t actually tell the full story of Kafka, a new exhibit at The Morgan Library & Museum argues. Yes, the Czech writer known for his surrealist literary masterpieces like The Metamorphosis, did have a difficult life before dying at the age of 40 from tuberculosis.

But he was also known to be funny, a brilliant love letter writer, a good friend, and even a playful spirit. In fact, many of the solo photos we see of Kafka were really photos with other people who have been cut out of the scene over the years, Sal Robinson, curator at The Morgan explained during a tour of the new exhibit. The show, simply titled "Franz Kafka," is now on view through April 13, 2025.

A new exhibit at the New-York Historical Society showcases the ways the role of our furry friends has changed since the 1700s, becoming ingrained in the city’s evolution from the wilderness to an urban environment. 

The exhibit, titled “Pets and the City,” gathers together countless works of art, documents and memorabilia in order to paint a complete picture of New York’s animal history through the years. Brought together by Roberta J.M. Olson, the museum’s curator of drawings emerita, this show brings you to early portraits of our favorite pets and their owners and images that capture the expanding definition of household animals and pop culture’s fascination with our four-legged friends. 

An exhibit that tells the story of Paris' Notre-Dame cathedral has landed in New York. History fanatics and art buffs can make their way to Morningside Heights' massive Cathedral of St. John the Divine to experience this multimedia event. 

As a part of the church's art collection this winter, "Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition" promises an interactive tour of crucial moments in the cathedral’s 850-year history, from its inception in 1163 to the current process of restoration after the 2019 fire. 

Admission to the exhibit costs $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $10 for children, with hours every day from 10am to 5pm.

If Netflix’s Squid Game is one of your favorite shows, you’ll want to try your hand at some of the challeneges at Squid Game: The Experience here in NYC.

Set within Manhattan Mall (100 West 33rd Street by Sixth Avenue), you get into teams of up to 24 people each to complete challenges across 60 minutes, including those that appeared on the TV show (yes, you’ll get to try your hand at the iconic Red Light Green Light) plus a number of brand-new ones built specifically for the experience. Once done playing, you can enjoy a night market offering a variety of Korean and international sweet and savory foods, plus drinks.

Explore the legacy of Belle da Costa Greene (1879–1950). The Morgan’s first director, she is one of the most prominent librarians in American history. American financier J. Pierpont Morgan hired her as his personal librarian in 1905. After Morgan’s death in 1913, Greene continued as the librarian of his son and heir, J. P. Morgan Jr., who transformed his father’s library into the public institution we know today.

A new exhibition about her, "Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian's Legacy" runs through May 4, 2025 at The Morgan. 

The world's most famous ice rink, The Rink at Rockefeller Center, is back for the season. The iconic Manhattan ice rink, a fixture in countless movies and TV shows, is celebrating 88 years in New York City this fall and winter. 

Tickets to the rink start at $21 per person and go up to $114 per person, depending on the date, time and skater's age. Skate rentals are not included and cost about $12. 

On October 27, 1904, New Yorkers dressed in their finest clothing and hosted dinner parties to celebrate the big news of the year. After four years of messy, sometimes controversial construction, a subway had opened in New York City. Officials didn't know if people would show up for its debut, but more than 100,000 people descended beneath the ground that evening to traverse the system's 9 miles and 28 stations. The next day, a Sunday, more than 1 million people showed up on the subway's first full open day. 

It may not seem like a big deal to us now, but the subway was revolutionary—and it still is. A fascinating new exhibit at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn digs into the history and the future of our underground rail system. Titled "The Subway Is...," the exhibition brings together artifacts, photos, multimedia installations, old advertisements, train models and more to tell the story of our city's subway system. 

As the Revolutionary War came to a close, British Loyalists and soldiers evacuated the colonies in droves. But the evacuation was more complicated for Black Loyalists, some of whom joined the British cause in response to offers of freedom. 

In 1783, the new government formed a special committee to review the eligibility of some Black Loyalists to evacuate with the British Army, and that committee met at Fraunces Tavern in Lower Manhattan. A new permanent exhibit at the Fraunces Tavern Museum explores this important moment in history. 

The exhibition first opened last year, and officials are now moving it to a larger permanent gallery within the museum. The new space will offer a chance to include recent new discoveries of significant information concerning the identities of individuals participating in the Birch Trials and their inclusion in the Book of Negroes.

The clothes we put on our bodies every day don't just keep us warm or covered or in fashion. They also say something. Clothing conveys meaning—sometimes in direct ways like "I'm mourning" and sometimes in indirect ways like "screw the status quo." 

A new exhibit titled "Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore" at the New-York Historical Society digs into how clothing has played a crucial role in the lives of everyday women. The exhibit, on view through June 22, 2025, explores how women have influenced, adapted and defied societal expectations through clothing. See a wide array of women's clothing, from a Depression-era house dress to a psychedelic micro mini to an Abercrombie & Fitch wool suit from in 1917. Unlike most other women's fashion exhibitions, there's not a ball gown in sight, and that's exactly what makes this show so special. 

Edges of Ailey is the first large-scale museum exhibition to reflect on the life, work and legacy of the visionary artist Alvin Ailey. Ailey founded his eponymous dance company in 1958, creating a platform for modern dance through his innovative repertoire and the unflinching support of other dancers and choreographers. His creative pursuits even extended far beyond dance.

This multimedia cross-disciplinary exhibition—presented in the museum’s 18,000+ square-foot fifth-floor galleries—brings together painting, sculpture, photography, drawings, print, and video made before, during, and after the artist's lifetime (1931-1989). It crystallizes his incredible influence on the contemporary art world and establishes him as one of the great polymaths and earliest, most celebrated multi-hyphenates of the 20th century. 

See it through February 9, 2025 at The Whitney.

Just Do It. Er, Just Frame It. That's the motto of this exhibition at Poster House, a museum in Chelsea that's dedicated to posters. 

"Just Frame It: How Nike Turned Sports Stars into Superheroes" explores how one company paved the way for modern sports advertising. During the 20th century, it became a rite of passage for a professional athlete to cement their icon status by having their persona memorialized on a Nike poster. Today, in an age where athletes’ images are much more accessible and "just like us," these 60 posters may seem quaint—but they’re also larger-than-life and undeniably entertaining, just like the stars they depict.

Photographers featured in the exhibit include Chuck Kuhn, Bob Peterson, Gary Nolton, Ancil Nance, John Terence Turner, Chuck Rodgers, Harry De Zitter, Bill Sumners, Jean Moss, Pete Stone, Richard Noble, Cliff Watts, and Peggy Sirota. See it from September 26, 2024-February 23, 2025.

Heading to Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks play is an iconic night out in NYC. The basketball team made the playoffs recently in the 2020-21 season led by forward Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. 

Catch them at MSG now!

When Robert A. Caro's The Power Broker was first published 50 years ago, the book's release was met with great anticipation. Excerpts in The New Yorker gained lots of attention—including from the biography's subject, NYC government official Robert Moses, who described the deeply researched book as "venomous." Even so, it was impossible to predict whether a 700,000-word biography would resonate with readers. 

The book quickly earned acclaim, winning the Pulitzer Prize and finding a home on bookshelves across America, especially among New Yorkers. Now, five decades later, the monumental work still resonates for its look at NYC’s past and the lessons it holds for our future. The book and its tenacious author are the subject of a new exhibit at New-York Historical Society Museum & Library titled “Robert Caro’s The Power Broker at 50." See it at the Upper West Side museum through February 2, 2025. 

Need some writing inspo? Gather with fellow writers for this unique writing prompt series that takes place every Tuesday in the back of Pete’s Candy Store.

The event kicks off with a guest lecturer who reads a piece of literature meant to inspire and serve as a springboard for writers. Everyone has 30-45 minutes to write and can share what they come up with if they want to. 

The free event meets at 5pm every Tuesday.

You may just miss Hell’s Kitchen’s latest lounge. Tucked away off 52nd Street and 8th Avenue, you’ll find a red light and a blue door marked with red graffiti of a martini and a piano. Once the light flicks on, duck inside to find the city’s latest piano bar and supper club. Follow the red light to So & So’s Piano Bar. A part of the Romer Hell’s Kitchen hotel, the piano bar and supper club is an ideal escape for locals and theater industry vets alike. Illuminated by stunning marquee lights, the stage will host up-and-coming local acts alongside Broadway legends, and has already been graced by Darren Criss and Noah Cyrus.

Start your weekend off right at Time Out Market New York’s stunning rooftop! Friday Night Vibes gets the party going on the fifth floor at 7pm with tunes from DJ Stretch (on the first and third Friday of every month) and DJ Price Is Right (on the second and fourth Friday).

Dance the night away with specialty cocktails from the Market’s awesome bar and grab bites from one of two dozen kitchens including, Jacob’s Pickles, Bark Barbecue and Wayla. Enjoy it all to the incredible views of the East River, the NYC skyline and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. 

The Only Murders in the Building Escape Game, created by Hulu and The Escape Game, is now open in NYC.

The escape room will be inspired by season four of the comedy series. Just like the comedic crew trying to solve mysteries on the screen, escape room participants will try to solve a mystery as well. Prepare for hidden bookcase doorways, secret passageways and immersive elements that reflect key aspects of the show’s characters and storylines.

During this hour-long experience, you’ll need to use problem-solving skills to uncover the latest secrets of the Arconia’s residents. Expect to interact with familiar props and discover Easter eggs from the show.

“Recording the Ride: The Rise of Street-Style Skate Videos“ will honor DIY filmmaking with videos, vintage skate decks and other objects related to the formative years of the skate video in the 1980s and 1990s.

See it in Astoria through January 26, 2025. The videos circulated among skaters and in skate shops serving as both inspiration and instruction. They became a form of proto social media that knitted the community together. Skating and skating videos became linked as complementary forms or artistic expression.

The legendary Shirley Chisholm is deservedly getting a major museum presentation courtesy of the Museum of the City of New York and the Shirley Chisholm Project at Brooklyn College. Running through July 20, 2025, Changing the Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100 will delve into the life and legacy of the native New Yorker and barrier-breaking politician, who was the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first woman to run for president on a major party ticket.

Marking the centennial of the late Chisholm’s birth, her first major exhibition will take over the museum's second-floor North Gallery and tell the multi-dimensional story of the American icon in three sections—Brooklyn Life, Political Career, and Legacy—using historical artifacts, photographs, archival footage, and art pieces.

It's finally sweater weather—and there are no better places to go shopping than the best sample sales in NYC, where you can snag quality pieces for a fraction of their original prices.

Buy trendy shoes, top-notch clothes and beautiful furniture at a deep discount at the best sample sales in NYC this week.

Basically a massive maze made of ropes, this new exhibit allows attendees to jump inside, climb, relax and even get lost in the whole webbed arrangement that’s comprised of 80,000 feet of handwoven rope, which is part of a 400-square-foot interactive artwork created by Treenet Collective, a net expert company. 

Find "The INTERnet" at INTER_, the interactive art center at 415 Broadway by Canal Street in Soho.

The installation, which accommodates 15 people at once, boasts a variety of different weaving styles, each one creating a "setting" for folks to dive into, including the "quantum leap," where guests can play in mid-air, and the "social network," a more serene space that will feel like you are floating above everyone else.

This museum serves as a love letter to the enigmatic street artist known only as Banksy. The Lower Manhattan venue features the largest collection of Banksy’s life-sized murals and artwork in the world. 

After passing through an industrial door, you'll see a city of walls a.k.a. Banksy's ideal canvas. By its nature, street art is impermanent, but this museum offers a long-term space for the ephemeral. Many of the re-creations at the museum no longer exist on the street. Expect to see more than 160 works on display in this celebration of the artist.

Just a programming note: The production at the museum is unauthorized and unaffiliated with the artist.

If you’re on Foodie-Tok, chances are that you’ve come across a video of The Lavaux, a romantic Swiss restaurant and wine bar in the West Village that has some of the best Swiss cheese offerings in the city. But recently, it’s gone viral on TikTok for its “Secret Message Party,” where they encourage strangers to send each other anonymous notes on Tuesday nights.

The note-passing party is the baby of general manager Christian Stemmer, who got the idea two years ago while traveling through his native Switzerland and ate at a restaurant where people were sending notes to other tables. He decided that something like that would probably do very well in New York, where most of us are starved for deeper human connection. “New Yorkers are all about new experiences,” Stemmer tells Time Out. 

Every Monday at 7:30pm in the Parkside Lounge on East Houston Street, the NYC Talent Show highlights unconventional talent from the worlds of comedy, music, dance, spoken word, and more. Audience members are also welcome to show their talent if they choose to participate, creating an environment that feels truly dynamic and collaborative. Tickets are $45 with a 60% off early bird discount if you buy prior to midnight the Friday before the event with the promo code PHILOPYGUS.

At Sip & Stitch, create your very own custom handbag with the guidance of purse pro Anthony Luciano. As a longtime handbag artisan and a fashion expert, Luciano will share tips and tricks for making a handbag that's perfect for your personal style. 

The lively workshops are held in Luciano’s Garment District studio, which is packed with vintage ephemera, beautiful decor, and plenty of purses to spark your inspiration. The class begins with a chance to pick a leather color and texture of your choosing—just nothing boring, as Luciano admonishes. Once that’s sorted, he’ll guide you through each step of the process, from cutting to gluing to making final touches. While the workshop is called Sip & Stitch, there’s technically no “stitching” involved, so don’t be intimidated. Even if you’re not a crafty person, Luciano and his team will make sure you leave with a handbag you’re proud to carry. 

Several workshops fall under the Sip & Stitch umbrella, from a classic handbag to a unisex option. Prices range from $175 to $275, with adult beverages and snacks provided at the higher price point. The team plays pop and disco tunes in the background, making a fun and fashionable night for all.

Mercer Labs, Museum of Art and Technology, a new immersive museum is now open. It's the brainchild of Roy Nachum, the artist behind Rihanna’s famous 2016 “Anti” album cover, and his business partner Michael Cayre, a real estate developer. 

The 36,000-square-foot space is located at 21 Dey Street, inside the bank building that used to be part of the now-nextdoor Century 21. It's filled with room after room of immersive fun.

The first of 15 experiences, for example, will take you through a giant room equipped with 26-foot-high projectors that blast a series of images all around that will have you feel like you've just taken a swim inside the sorts of motifs that Nachum explores throughout his work. You will quite literally land inside his art pieces.

In another room, which is being branded as one of only three 4D sound studios in the world, guests are asked to wear a blindfold and lay on the floor to properly enjoy the sounds blasting out of the 36 speakers that are embedded under the elevated floor.

If you're looking for some good laughs in Bushwick while sticking to a budget, then your best bet is to head to Starr Bar's free stand up comedy shows every Wednesday at 10pm. Hosts James Donlon, Aditya Mayya, and Paddy DeFino will showcase new sets of comedians every week with no cover charge, drink minimum or ticket fee. 

There's a reason Chamber Magic has remained a staple in NYC's magic scene for more than two decades: It dazzles, show after show, with tricks that'll still leave you awestruck days later. 

The charming Steve Cohen, billed as the Millionaires’ Magician, conjures high-class parlor magic in the marble-columned Madison Room at the swank Lotte New York Palace. Dress to be impressed (cocktail attire is required); tickets start at $125, with an option to pay more for meet-and-greet time and extra tricks with Cohen after the show. If you've come to see a classic-style magic act, you get what you pay for.

Sporting a tuxedo and bright rust hair, the magician delivers routines that he has buffed to a patent-leather gleam: In addition to his signature act—"Think-a-Drink," involving a kettle that pours liquids by request—highlights include a lulu of levitation trick and a card-trick finale that leaves you feeling like, well, a million bucks.

Support up-and-coming sketch comedians as they perform a medley of new sketches at this show at The PIT. The show's called "BoogieManja: A Sketch Comedy Collective" and it promises an hour of sketch comedy that changes every show. 

BoogieManja performs on most Wednesdays. Performers include Nothing Bagel, Both Hands, The Right Stuff, Attainable Crush, EZ Pass, and Cliff Hanger.

Head to a beloved West Village music shop for a banging musical comedy blowout every Friday night. This variety show mixes music, comedy, and characters with appearances by Stephen Sihelnik (NY Comedy Festival), Natan Badalov (Adult Swim), Alexander Payne (Netflix), and surprise guests.

Fun fact: The event's set in New York's oldest continually-run music and record store, Music Inn World Instruments. It's been in operation since 1958 and has been heavily featured in the first two seasons of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

Show up early, save a seat and BYOB: You're in for a party.

Beneath the cobblestone streets of the Seaport, secrets hid underground for decades—until now, that is. A new walking tour led by the South Street Seaport Museum unearths the neighborhood's freaky and fascinating facts.

The museum's "Sinister Secrets of the Seaport" whisks visitors back in time for a 90-minute walking tour full of true crime tales about theft, organized crime, murder and even pirates. Tours are available for $30-$40/adult. Whether you're a true crime buff or you're just always in the Halloween spirit, these tours make for a memorable afternoon in a historic neighborhood. 

The tour takes on the scandalous, dubious and sinister tales lurking throughout this historic district. While many stories come from the area's crime heyday in the 1800s, some stories stretch back to the 1790s and others up to the 1990s. It's grim subject matter, of course, but it's delivered in a lighthearted way. You'll never see the Seaport in the same way again.

Beautiful, buoyant, beguiling bubbles are back at the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) in Queens. The beloved bubbles exhibit, which has been closed for five years, will return bigger, better and bubblier than ever.

The Big Bubble Experiment encourages kids of all ages to experiment and discover through the joy of playing with bubbles. That includes blowing, stretching, popping and looking closely to see what happens at each move. 

The exhibit features 10 stations, each one with different tools and methods for exploring bubble solution.

Majestic, incredible elephants are getting the spotlight in a new exhibit at The American Museum of Natural History. "The Secret World of Elephants" showcases both modern and ancient elephants, offering visitors a chance to see a full-scale model of a woolly mammoth, learn about what elephants eat, touch an elephant's tooth, listen to elephant calls and more.

The exhibition is now open in the museum’s LeFrak Family Gallery. An additional ticket is required to visit the exhibit; museum members can visit for free.

Eighty years ago, as World War II raged on, Danish citizens worked together to ferry 7,000 Jewish people to safety, keeping them out of concentration camps. 

Now, New York City’s Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is commemorating that anniversary, known as one of the most effective examples of mass resistance in modern history. "Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark," the museum’s first exhibition developed for elementary-age students, is now open.

The exhibit focuses on themes of separation, bravery and resilience to help children ages 9+ reflect on the dangers of prejudice and on their own potential for courageous collective action. 

In New York City, it can be hard to find an apartment with a nice bathtub you'd actually want to soak in. Heck, it can be hard to find an apartment where the shower isn't in a closet in the living room (ahem, this $1.25 million StreetEasy listing).

But now cosmetics company LUSH is solving that very New York problem with a new book-a-bath service just launched this week. In addition to indulgent baths, LUSH Spa Lexington also offers massage treatments and facials, creating a calming oasis near hectic midtown. Find the newly opened spa on the Upper East Side at Lexington Avenue and East 61st Street.

Given the fact that LUSH invented the bath bomb, they’re pros when it comes to bathing. For the book-a-bath experience, head through the store and climb the stairs to the spa. Inside a petite pink-and-white bathroom, a clawfoot tub beckons. Before your bath, a staff member will prepare the water with a Snow Fairy bath bomb, which creates glittery pastel pink water. Plus, they’ll offer a fresh face mask tailored for your skin, a curated playlist and a cup of vegan hot chocolate. 

Running every Monday since 2014—which might make it the longest-running bar show in Brooklyn, but don’t quote them (except we just did)—Lobby Comedy brings together a curated and very funny lineup of international and national touring comedians as well as up-and-coming local acts.

Co-hosted by real-life BFFs and stand-up comics Matt Pavich and Dan Davies, the weekly series is currently held at Williamsburg’s Freehold bar. Grab a booth or a cozy armchair, enjoy the espresso martini that comes with every $10 ticket (and considering that espresso martinis alone are well worth more than $10, consider it a very good deal!) and sit back for 90 minutes of fresh comedy.

"All you have to do is show-up and laugh your *** off," organizers promise. 

America’s first Black popular music icon is getting his due with a massive new center that houses a 60,000-piece collection and a venue for live music, lectures and screenings.

NYC’s Louis Armstrong House Museum has now opened its new facility, the Louis Armstrong Center—and it’s a big deal!

The space acts as a permanent home for the 60,000-piece Louis Armstrong Archive (the world’s largest for a jazz musician containing photos, recordings, manuscripts, letters & mementos) and a 75-seat venue for performances, lectures, films, and educational experiences, according to a release.

The Center and the historic house are now open to the public Thursdays through Saturdays. Tickets can be purchased at louisarmstronghouse.org. Tours have limited capacity, so book in advance.

On a typical visit to the Museum of Modern Art, crowds surround the most precious paintings, and it can be tough to squeeze your way in for a photo, let alone to admire the artwork’s brushstrokes. But now, thanks to these new exclusive tours by GetYourGuide, you can get in before the museum opens for a guided tour of amazing artwork. 

The new MoMA Before Hours Tour with Art Expert is now available. Tickets are on sale here for $99/person. Few New York City experiences compare to the absolute thrill of gazing at famed works of art uninterrupted for as long as you like.  

Many museums start with some kind of orientation, like a map or remarks from a docent. But not The House of Cannabis (a.k.a. THC NYC), the new weed museum now open in Soho. Instead, this museum starts, quite fittingly, with a trippy “Disorientation Room.”

While the museum boasts plenty of mind-bending multi-sensory bells and whistles, it also showcases art, highlights science and confronts the social justice issues baked into cannabis prosecution. The museum, the first of its kind at this scale, packs every inch of its four-story, 25,000-square-foot space at 427 Broadway with fascinating facts and delightful immersive experiences fit to entertain both tokers and non-smokers alike. Tickets ($45/adult) are on sale now.

Find your latest read at The Free Black Women’s Library, a new free library in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood, which also serves as a social art project, a reading room, a co-working space and a community gathering center. The library "celebrates the brilliance, diversity and imagination of Black women and Black non-binary authors." All 5,000 books in the library's collection are written by Black women and non-binary authors.

Here's how it works: Anybody can visit the space to read, work or hang out. If you want to take a book home, simply bring a book written by a Black woman or Black non-binary author, and you can trade. Whether you decide to bring the book back after you're done reading or keep it for your collection is up to you.

The library is currently open four days per week (Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) at 226 Marcus Garvey Boulevard. In addition to offering a space to read or work, the library has also hosts a book club, art shows and workshops on topics like writing, drawing, poetry, painting and sewing. All are welcome. 

New York City is full of free outdoor art that you don't even have to go to a museum to see. Sculptures, murals and photographs can be found in its parks, sidewalks and on its buildings! 

An outdoor artwalk makes for a perfect fall activity, and there's no shortage of art to check out right now. Best of all, it costs you nothing to pay a visit.

The name really says it all: Make bonsai in a bar! These teeny tiny trees are the definition of "happy little trees." 

The pros from Bonsai Bar will teach you the fundamental skills and techniques behind the art of bonsai while you sip your drink and have some fun with your friends. The teachers will also help you as you pot, prune and design your very own bonsai tree. 

Bonsai Bar events pop up all over the city at locations like Brooklyn Brewery, the Bronx Brewery and SingleCut Beersmiths Queens Taproom.

The New York Public Library dug through its expansive and centuries-spanning archive to stage an impressive free exhibition filled with cultural artifacts. "The Polonsky Exhibition of New York Public Library’s Treasures" spans 4,000 years of history and includes a wide range of history-making pieces, including the only surviving letter from Christoper Columbus announcing his “discovery” of the Americas to King Ferdinand’s court and the first Gutenberg Bible brought over to the Americas.

New treasures were just added to the exhibit this fall, including a signed, first edition copy of "Passing" by Nella Larsen, a selection of manuscript pages from "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot, and a miniature early 19th-century Qur’an, produced in Turkey.

Swingers NoMad, a "crazy mini-golf course" and entertainment complex straight from London, offers three nine-hole golf courses across 23,000 square feet under 20-foot-high ceilings.

"Crazy golf" is a British spin on mini-golf, but it's for a 21-and-over audience since craft cocktails are served by caddies on the course. Take your pick from six cocktail bars with signature classic cocktails, as well as 12 cocktails created specifically for Swingers NoMad. Plus, you can rent private rooms, check out an opulent clubhouse and enjoy four gourmet street food vendors—Sauce Pizzeria, Miznon, Fonda and Mah Ze Dahr Bakery.

For the holiday season, Swingers is offering a fun twist on the festivities: Spin a Naughty-or-Nice Prize Wheel to decide whether you're ordering the "Naughty" Sex on the Green shot or the "Nice" Festive Dessert. In addition to the game, there's also seasonal decor and even more holiday drinks.

Join Josh Johnson (Comedy Central's The Daily Show), Lucas Connolly (Comedy Central), and Brittany Cardwell (Drule, New York Comedy Fest) for stacked lineups of top comics from NYC and beyond every Wednesday at 7:30pm. 

Plus you can enjoy free beer from 7:30 to 8pm and there's a pizza raffle if you RSVP. What's not to love? Show up to Two Boots Williamsburg for the show.

Artshack Cafe offers everything on its menu on ceramic pieces made in-house. What’s more, according to an official statement by the cafe, patrons are asked to “help reduce waste by bringing their own cups.” Looking for a coffee to-go? Expect it served in a ceramic to-go cup. The cafe is part of Artshack Brooklyn, a community-based ceramics studio that offers both free and subsidized programming for adults and children alike. In addition to not using single-use products, standout features of the Bed-Stuy cafe at 1129 Bedford Avenue by Monroe Street include an anti-racism library and a number of chairs shaped like bunnies that will make anyone’s selected orders from chef Silvia Barban’s menu taste that much better.

Descend into The Django (l2 6th Avenue, The Roxy Hotel, Cellar Level) and you’ll feel like you’ve entered another world. The subterranean jazz club, with its vaulted ceilings and exposed brick walls, was modeled after the boîtes of Paris. The venue consists of two cocktail bars, an open dining space, and a stage for live performances with a state-of-the-art sound system. The Django offers a full dinner menu and handcrafted cocktails, all partnered with a brilliant entertainment lineup. Check out the schedule here.

Superstorm Sandy devastated New York City, destroying homes and businesses, but it also flooded the New York Aquarium so badly that parts of it have been closed to the public for the past decade. Now, after completely rebuilding these galleries with help from FEMA, New York State and New York City, NY Aquarium is open in full—you can see all of it—"Spineless," the PlayQuarium, "Ocean Wonders: Sharks!" Glover’s Reef, the Conservation Hall, the Sea Cliffs, the Aquatheater, the Seaside Café and more.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's "Date Nights" give visitors an opportunity to become acquainted with artwork with informal drop-in gallery chats, listen in on gorgeous live music and sip on yummy cocktails.

"Date Nights" are held every Friday and Saturday night in the American Wing Café from 5pm to 9pm. Make it a night out with The Met's buy-one-get-one drink special and snack on light bites in the American Wing Café. More details can be found at metmuseum.org/datenight. 

There's literally no excuse not to go—the date nights come with museum admission, which is always pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and NY, NJ, and CT students with valid ID. And this time, advance tickets are not required. 

The luxurious Italian wellness spa QC NY has opened to the public, bringing the elegance and rejuvenation of a European spa to Governors Island, but with New York City flavor. It's immediately clear when you enter the spa that it was made to feel like home. From its cozy reception area decorated with custom-made furniture from Italy to its welcoming relaxation spaces with plush leather chairs and massive pillows you can sprawl out on, it feels like you're staying at a retreat with New York Harbor views. Since it's on the edge of the island, a short walk from Soissons Landing, looking out the windows offers gorgeous blue water views and glimpses of the city skyline. Because of its layout, the spa feels secluded from the rest of the island. Click through to read more about the new spa.

A new audio tour by the Brooklyn Public Library seeks to explore the lives of the characters and authors that call the borough home in fiction and in real life. From Patti Smith to Biggie Smalls, Howard Zinn to Tanwi Nandini Islam, the guide covers a total of 16 writers over eight miles of Brooklyn. You can also expect to stop at important public libraries the likes of Washington Irving and Clinton Hill, which, according to an official press release, "played an important role in the lives of the featured author[s]." Expect the entire tour, which can virtually start off from anywhere in Brooklyn, to take at least two hours to complete, depending on how many stops you wish to make along the way.

The weather outside might be freezing, but the best things to do in winter in NYC will keep you cheery.

Want to know what’s happening in New York today, this weekend or in the coming months? Use our NYC events calendar for 2024 as your guide to find the best things to do around town.