Jaz Joyner

We all love a good rooftop bar–with the breeze, the booze and that picture-perfect sunset glow that renders Instagram filters functionless. But nothing ruins a night out with some sweet summer drinks in NYC like an obnoxious crowd—that’s where the city’s best non-douchey rooftop bars come in. Here are some of the best outdoor bars that boast lofty views and not a jerk in sight. RECOMMENDED: Find more things to do on NYC rooftops

One of the best things about the city that never sleeps? You also never have to grow up. We’ve rounded up tons of cool activities most associated with kids that are oh-so-awesome to enjoy as an adult. NYC invites you to pair skee-ball, shuffleboard and ping pong with booze at its many bars with games. Or how about an adult sleepover (no, not that kind of adult sleepover) in one of our cool NYC parks? Or perhaps you’d like to embrace your inner-child on the raceway while visiting one of the best New York beaches. NYC really is a true playground for adults. Recapture some of that youthfulness with these great activities.

Our dear friends, your dream of owning a ferret has indeed been crushed. The New York City Board of Health announced this morning, after a scheduled vote, that the New York ferret ban, in practice since 1959, will continue. New York Times reporter Mike Grynbaum broke the news on Twitter, and ferret-lovers everywhere bowed their heads in distress. But of course, if you feel anything like former Mayor Rudy Giuliani on the topic, you're probably jumping for joy. Let's take a moment to reminisce about the ridiculousness that was Giuliani's ferret rant back in 1999, where he passionately attempted to school a ferret-rights activist on the fundamental stupidity of owning a ferret. Don't remember? Just hit play. 

Mon July 14 Coney Island Flicks on the Beach: E.T.; Coney Island Yes, this famed stretch of sand has more to offer than hot dogs and sideshow freaks. It also has adorable aliens who are addicted to chocolate. French Restaurant Week ; Various Locations French cuisine is a lot more than frog legs and catty waiters. It's quite FRANCly delicious. See what we did there? Franc? Hey, these captions can't all be home runs, people. Rosas/Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker; Gerard W. Lynch Theater (at John Jay College) 
Belgium-based Anna Teresa De Keersmaeker revisits four earlier iconic dance works. HOT! Festival; Dixon Place
 This festival will be HOT!, in all caps, with an exclamation point, so you know damn well it's gonna be a good party. Get your groove on with your pants on (or off), as seems appropriate. Taste of the Terminal; Grand Central Terminal Ever wonder what Grand Central Terminal tastes like? Enjoy free tastings from select Grand Central shops and restaurants every Monday in July. Kegs & Kluckers; Brooklyn Brewery Show your love for local home brewers and chicken keepers at this egg-cellent event. We’re so punny! Night Train with Wyatt Cenac; Littlefield This weekly stand-up showcase is hosted with a cool head and a warm heart by former Daily Show correspondent Wyatt Cenac. Bruno Mars + Pharrell Williams; Madison Square Garden (Jul 14-15) Two singers that you and your mom can agree on will be performing under the same roof. Need we say more?   Tues July 15 Sunset Salsa; Hudso

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade; It's one of those wonderfully tourist-y things New Yorkers secretly would like to try, but never actually do. We get it. Heading to a parade that 3.5 million people attended last year can be super intimidating, let alone trying to find a good view once you get there. Don't let the crowds get you down! We've compiled 10 genius tips so that you can finally enjoy the parade minus the anxiety. You're welcome.   RECOMMENDED: The guide to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 1. Travel underground. Sure, hopping in a cab is a great way to escape the cold, but you can’t escape the traffic. Brave the subway to get to your perfect inflatable-Snoopy viewing spot. 2. Columbus Circle is the place to be. Thanks to the roundabout’s proximity to the streets and Central Park, you can expect to be especially dazzled by the view here. Hop on the A/B/C/D/1 to 59th St Columbus Circle to get straight there. 3. Don’t be tardy to the party. Last year, Macy’s advised 3.5 million guests to show up no later than 6am (the parade begins at 9am). One-up your competition by getting there even earlier, like 4am. No, we’re not joking. It’s legal to sit on sidewalk benches for as long as you like. Hint, hint. 4. Stay in the first place you find. One large head slightly blocking your view sounds way better than missing the whole show searching for a better location. Park it, buddy. 5. Stay away from Macy’s on 34th Street. This may seem counterintuitive since you’re at a Macy’s

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your 13 tons of branches. No, seriously—this year's tree at Rockefeller Center weighs approximately 13 tons and is 85 feet tall, which is all the more reason to head to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree-Lighting tonight at 7pm to see the ginormous holiday spectacle in person. You may be going for the lights, but you can also catch musical performances by prominent artists including Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, Cyndi Lauper, Idina Menzel and of course the merry Rockettes. In case you're worried this tree is going to waste after all the festivities, don't you fret: The evergreen will be made into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity after it is taken town, and eventually help create a home for someone in need. So go be dazzled by one of New York's most striking traditions guilt-free.  And in case you can't make it tonight, the tree will stay lit from 5:30am–11:30pm each day until 8pm January 7.  

On Saturday over sixty thousand supporters rocked out for a good cause at Central Park's Great Lawn for this year's Global Citizen Festival. With musical guests like The Roots, fun. and Alicia Keys, we're not surprised this concert for poverty awareness was a huge success. Celebs like Dianna Agron took the stage, and numerous world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and even President Barack Obama via satellite, spoke about our collective move towards ending world hunger. Talk about the power of music. The night was damn near perfect, from Gwen reuniting with No Doubt for an amazing 45 minute set, to the queen of queens Beyoncé's surprise appearance with her "bae" Jay Z for the epic finale. It was so great, in fact, we decided to round up some of our favorite moments.  RECOMMENDED: Full coverage of Global Citizen Festival in NYC   This is what 66,000 people looks like.   Hugh Jackman with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.   Gwen Stefani being a badass. fun. was so much fun! C'mon, it had to be said.   Fans show their support for the cause with #ShowYourSelfie cut-outs.   The Roots hype up the crowd.   The Global Citizen Festival staff gather for a group pic.   Getting late, but the crowd's still going strong. Beyoncé getting down.   The king and queen exit the stage.

It's been a pretty nice fall season, right friends? Though it seems an early polar vortex may be heading our way (say it ain't so!), the nice weather isn't quite over yet. So before you throw on your massive winter coat and debilitating leather gloves in preparation for those wicked winter chills, check out these seven wonderfully outdoors-y events before it's too late. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to things to do outside in NYC Check out the Out to See Festival (South Street Seaport, Financial District, Nov 15–16 & Nov 22–23. Free) For the next two weekends you can enjoy local crafters, artisan pop-up shops, live music and delicious food in South Street Seaport district. See some art at Pier 54 (The High Line, Through December 13. Free.) This woman-centric art exhibit displays work from 27 prominent female artists, all on the beautiful High Line at 120 Eleventh Avenue at West 20th Street. Chow down at Smorgasburg (East River State Park & Brooklyn Bridge Park, Nov 15–16 & Nov 22–23, Free.) Satisfy your munchies at these outdoor-food markets before they freeze over this winter season. You've got two more weekends to browse the offerings before everything moves indoors.  Get in that last Citi Bike ride on one of NYC's best cycle-friendly routes. The weather's been lovely, so go ahead and take that roll through Central Park you've always said you'd do. Soon, this crisp autumn breeze will turn into a painfully cold gale, and your hands and nose will not be pleased. See the sc

Spring is here and even though it may seem far off, the weather is slowly warming up enough to spend actual time outdoors! How about you putt putt into the season with some mini golf? That's right, starting Friday, April 3 through the month of April from 2pm-9:30pm every day you can get your mini Caddy Shack on at Putt Putt Park pop up at Hudson New York Hotel. The pop up offers food like moon pie sundaes, pimento grilled cheeses and southern fried chicken, plus drinks for a sober game or a tipsy one, depending on your mood. Tickets are just $10 and include one full game, balls and clubs.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to things to do outside in NYC This isn't your grandpa's mini golf course. Check out these photos of the fun spot to give you an idea of how awesome a date spot this could be. Hint, hint. Putt Putt Park   Putt Putt Park at night             Golf club and balls available with $10 ticket   Day time at Putt Putt Park   Putt Putt Park  

You know how you finally decide to work out and then crave something sweet immediately after? Well, on Saturday, October 18th at New York City Cupcake Run in Astoria Park you can get piece of mind while running (or walking) a 5k for charity and eat cupcakes at the same time! We kid you not. There'll be three, delicious cupcake stops throughout the run, plus a cupcake goodie bag when you finish. It's kind of like last year's pizza run, only with cupcakes. Basically, for 50 bucks to charity you get free cupcakes (nom),  a bib for the frosted goodness you'll be eating on your run, a gift bag full of bakery-centric prizes, and a free meal with a drink courtesy Rocky McBride's pub after the race. This run is in support of New York Cares, the largest volunteer managed organization in New York City (founded in the late 1980s) full of do-gooders who host hundreds of community outreach programs with the goal of simply making New York a better place. It's hard to imagine a volunteer-run company lasting this long, and we're guessing it's probably due to awesome events like say, cupcake marathons, that keep it going. Hey, we're always running around in NYC. Why not get a few cupcakes out of it? Last year's run sold out extremely fast, so don't be that guy wishing you could get your cupcake on but don't have a ticket. Sucks to be that guy. All you have to do is register on NYC Cupcake Run's site and get ready to pig out on sweets while running for a good cause. Here's to happily upset sto

For four more aggravatingly long weeks, there will be no (zilch, nil, none at all) service to Greenpoint Ave. via the G train. Lucky for you, we've compiled some cool events, new foodie spots and awesome places to go in Greenpoint, Brooklyn to make your life just a wee bit easier, because we obviously love you more than the G train.   No-frills bar Broken Land just opened, and they've got alcoholic beverages named after Simpson's jokes. Yes, the Vassar Basher drink is now in existence. Brooklyn Night Bazaar; This beloved pop-up market/food hub is open every Friday and Saturday night in your hood. Male cat-lovers are totally a thing. David Yow drew an entire book on the subject called David Yow: Copy Cat, and he wants to tell you about it at WORD in Greenpoint. If you've never had a paczki, now's the time to try it. Greenpoint's large Polish population makes it the best place to taste one of these fruit (or custard)-filled treats native to Poland.  Luluc + Secret Someones + The Prettiots + Poor Remy are performing at Brooklyn Night Bazaar. Boy-girl duo, Luluc will play some of their folksy hits from their new album Passerby. Williamsburg staple Beacon's Closet is moving to Greenpoint. It's not the only hot shopping spot that just landed in your area. Apparently Greenpoint is becoming a hub for all the good indie boutiques. Glasserie is a Mediterranean restaurant and it just opened in Greenpoint. Lamb tartare? Yes, yes. Go to The Broken Comedy Show at Bar Matchl

We all love a good rooftop bar, what with the breeze, the booze and that picture-perfect sunset glow that renders Instagram filters functionless. But nothing ruins a night out or a nice bit of rooftop day drinking like an obnoxious crowd. You know the kind—the Beckys and Chads of the world. Lucky for us, non-douchey rooftop bars actually do exist. Here are 10 of the best ones for you to check out, asshole-free™. 1. Northern Territory in Greenpoint Photograph: Evelyn Derico Aussie-born co-owner Jamie Toll couldn't take all those kangaroo attacks (we kid) so he brought a little bit of Down Under to Brooklyn. There's Australian cuisine (meat pies, skewered shrimp on the barbie), plus authentic Oz-bred beers at this pub created by the same folks that brought you Berry Park. 2. Roof at Park South in Flatiron Photograph: Filip Wolak A cocktail bar without a cocky 'tude. Along with the first-rate quaffs, this rooftop number from Tim and Nancy Cushman (the husband-and-wife team behind Boston critical darling O Ya) offers sublime views—you can see the lower Manhattan skyline from here. 3. Empire Hotel Rooftop in Columbus Circle You can pretend you're a successful business tycoon as you stare from the top of the Empire Hotel at all the little people below before marveling at the amazing sunset. Then you can buy me a drink because you can afford it.   4. The Heights Bar & Grill in Upper West Side   Expect over-stuffed burritos and frozen margaritas at this friendly uptown bar. If

COOL THINGS TO DO May 1, 2Bike Expo New York; Pier 36 at Basketball CityCyclists gather round at this annual fest for two-wheeler enthusiasts in downtown Manhattan. Whether you want to get started with urban cycling, learn how to fix a flat tire, or just gawk at top-shelf bikes, this expo is a one-stop shop. May 5–10RadioLoveFest; Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)The unapologetically nerdy event features live tapings of some of your favorite podcasts like Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, plus panel discussions with several on-air personalities. May 8Night Lights; Wave Hill Fun fact: Did you know 2015 was named International Year of Light? This year's show features Chris Doyle's new, luminous outdoor installation, The Lightening: A Project for Wave Hill’s Aquatic Garden. May 18Ask Me Another; The Bell HouseThe NPR quiz podcast hosts a live taping at the Bell House that's sure to boggle your mind with trivia, puzzles and wordplay.  May 27Shakespeare in the Park; Delacorte TheaterHear, hear—the free outdoor series returns! This year features the lovable Sam Waterston of The Newsroom in the lead role of Prospero in The Tempest, and award-winning director of last year's King Lear, Daniel Sullivan, for Cymbeline.  AWESOME THINGS TO SEE May 1Avengers: Age of Ultron; opens in theaters The Marvelverse expands yet further, in the summer’s first blockbuster. May 5The Flick; Barrow Street TheatreIt won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013, and now Annie Baker’s offbeat but tender portrait of movie-theater

Aug 4 Shakespeare in the Park; Delacorte Theater Would you see Shakespeare in the park? Would you see Shakespeare on a lark? Would you enjoy a good King Lear? Would you enjoy it in your ear? Wait, this has nothing to do with Dr Seuss.  Flicks on the Beach: American Hustle; Coney Island BeachWhere do bell-bottoms, comb overs and con artists rule the land? No, not your bedroom. American Hustle, that's where. The best bit about this screening being at a beach is you get to come in your swimsuit, which is basically just socially acceptable underwear. Comedy at the Grocery; Arlene's GroceryEggs…milk…laughter. Arlene's Grocery isn't actually a grocery store but a venue. We had you going there for a second, didn't we folks?  HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival Presents The Karate Kid; Bryant ParkMr. Miyagi gives us a refresher on the correct way to wax on and wax off in The Karate Kid smack-dab in the middle of Bryant Park. Ha! The Musical; Stage 72Can't decide between stand-up or musicals? Do both! This show, directed by Lion King helmer Darren Katz, features stand-ups like Big Jay Oakerson, Kevin Farley, Bill Dawes and Christian Finnegan. All comics will do stand up as well as a song and dance number. Basically, it's the weirdest hybrid since the cronut, so pay someone to stand on line for you now. Aug 5 Stargazing on the Highline; The High Line This dreamy affair lets you get astronaut-worthy view of the stars from high-powered telescopes, and the Amateur Astronomer Association