Weekly happenings: July 29 - August 4
Restaurant week is a bad deal
A Reddit user summarized it better than I can: Restaurant week seems to have evolved into choosing an app and an entree that I don’t really want and getting a free dessert that I don’t really want either. You end up getting restaurants turning their kitchens into a bulk assembly line without as much attention to detail or flavor. I’d rather spend half as much on a single on-menu item that I actually like. Maybe its only redeeming quality is that some hard to get reservations open up capacity for lunch. Anyway, you won’t be finding any of those recommendations in my letter.
If you do think you found a good Restaurant Week deal, let me know.
Monday July 29
Author Talk: The Fiancé Dilemma
Strand Book Store | 7-8:30pm at 828 Broadway, Manhattan
New York Times best-selling romance author Elena Armas will be having an author talk at the Strand Book Store. The Fiancé Dilemma takes you on the story of a fake engagement, second chances, and newfound family members. These types of books are my guilty pleasure and what I use to get back into reading after a long break. Tickets are $25 and include a copy of the book. There will also be walk ins available.
Movie Night: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Astoria Park | 8pm at Astoria Great Lawn, Queens
Joining the many parks with free outdoor movies, Astoria Park kicks off their monthlong series of summer movies today with a showing of Breakfast at Tiffanys. Over the next 3 weeks catch Barbie, Black Panther, and Migration. No RSVP required, seating is first come first served. Bring your own blanket.
Sound Experience
Sage + Sound | 8-9pm at 1481 3rd Ave, Manhattan
Sage + Sound is a really beautiful wellness center where, in addition to getting services, you can participate in classes or experiences. Tonight they have a Sound Experience where you’ll be guided through a meditation using sound as a mechanism to focus. RSVP here.
Tuesday July 30
Olympics Viewing & Meet Up
Café Recupé Pop-up | Afternoon at Hudson Yards, Manhattan
Hudson Yards’ Gardens has a huge screen showing olympic events through August 11th, but today you can enjoy sweets at the Parisian-inspired Café Recupé Pop-up and meet olympic gold medalists Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld. Swing by, no RSVP required.
👅 The Mindfuck of Fame
Lectures on Tap | 6:30pm in Tribeca (exact location released upon RSVP)
Recently discovered Lectures on Tap, an organization that hosts 40 minute lectures by professors or other storytellers in bars all over NYC. They have lots of cool topics coming up covering topics like AI, Politics, Culture Identity, and more. During this premium edition, Professor Kathy Iandoli delves into the captivating yet dangerous world of fame and the psychology of celebrity. Tickets are $69 and include a drink. They don’t have the location publicly listed but they do say it’s taking place in a private social club in Tribeca.
Creative Journaling Evening
Visionary Projects | 6:30-8:30pm at 180 Maiden Ln, Manhattan
Visionary Projects is a global art platform that focuses on bringing together community over art. They’re hosting a night of journaling in their Seaport gallery. Oil pastels and wine will be provided and you’ll get to take home a mini piece of art from the card deck of artists in the current exhibition. You’ll be guided through the evening with a few creative prompts, which could involve coloring, a poem, a note, or even making origami with your journal paper. Tickets are $25.
Wednesday July 31
Dumbo Drink & Draw
Creatively Wild Art Studio | 6-8pm at the Dumbo Archway, Brooklyn
One of the last few Dumbo Drink and Draws of the summer is presented by Billie Elise Studio & Gallery and run by cartoonist Christian “Kiffy” Williams. Designed for artists of any level, you’ll paint while enjoying summer cocktails under the Dumbo Archway. Tickets are $20.
⭐ Chef Isabel Lee Pop Up
Orange Glou | Multiple Seatings at 264 Broome St, Manhattan
Orange Glou is probably my favorite summer wine shop. They always have free tastings, excellent orange wine curation, and really friendly staff that helps with recommendations. They’re hosting Chef Isabel Lee for a pop up where you can enjoy a four course dinner menu paired with a wine for each dish. She’ll be showcasing dishes with influences from her Chinese and Thai background as well as her California upbringing. Think honey ricotta dip, papaya esquites salad, larb meatballs, cheesecake, and more. Tickets are $71 and there are 3 seatings for the evening.
Hamburger America and Beyond
James Beard Foundation | 7pm at 25 11th Ave, Manhattan
This James Beard Foundation dinner will take you on a culinary roadtrip highlighting the American Foodscape with James Beard Nominee George Motz. Motz is the owner of Hamburger America (one of my favorite burgers) and he is truly a burger expert - he’s written a book about burgers and even documented details of the country’s foremost burgers state-by-state. The menu is 7 courses and tickets are $170.
Thursday August 1
Author Event: Marc Guggenheim
Bibliotheque | 6:30pm at 54 Mercer St, Manhattan
Emmy award-winning screenwriter, producer, and comic book writer Marc Guggenheim is releasing his novel In Any Lifetime and will be hosting a conversation at Bibliotheque. The book recounts the story of a devoted husband who defies fate and risks everything to find the one universe where his beloved wife is still alive. Tickets range from $10-$50 depending on whether you include the thematically paired flight of wine and the book.
Uptown Bounce
El Museo del Barrio | 6-9pm at 1230 5th Ave, Manhattan
The last summer block party for El Museo del Barrio’s Uptown Bounce series is an East Harlem celebration with DJ Ted Smooth. Come for free and enjoy music, treats, special speakers, and more.
Friday August 2
⭐ Summer Sway: Ladies of Hip Hop
The Shed | 5pm-Sunset at The Shed Plaza, Manhattan
Summer Sway is an installation on the Plaza of The Shed that celebrates the evolution of hip hop, tracing the past into the present NYC, where hip hop was born. On select Friday’s they also have special performances. This week street dancer and art activist Michele Byrd-Mcphee is performing a special Ladies of Hip Hop edition. She works to decolonize hip hop culture along gender, sex, and cultural lines. The show is free. Optional RSVPs here.
Bite the Power
Black Food Fridays x James Beard Media | 7-9pm at 252 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn
Bite the Power is the first traveling storytelling event focused on Black food and the people who love it. Each of the presenters has 8 minutes to tell the Black food story of their choice, whether it be something inspirational, informative, or funny. They were the 2024 James Beard Media winner for the best social media account and give Black people the opportunity to talk about food from their unique experience. Tickets are available through the Ace Hotel.
Artists on Art
Rubin Museum | 6-7pm at 150 W 17th St, Manhattan
This Friday you can get free admission to the Rubin Museum to see its ongoing exhibit while also joining for an artist talk led by IMAGINE (aka Sneha Shrestha), a Nepalese artist who combines her native language and aesthetics of Sanskrit scriptures with graffiti influences. Her work is in the permanent collection at multiple institutions and she has commissioned works and public walls around the world, from Kathmandu to Boston. RSVP for free.
NYC Travel Collage Workshop
Poster House | 2-3pm at 119 W 23rd St, Manhattan
As part of Poster House’s First Friday events, you can join collage artist Luis Martin for an afternoon conversation and collage session. In the hands on workshop you’ll make your own travel posters inspired by the exhibition Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel Posters. Beginners are welcome. Tickets are $10.
Saturday August 3
⭐ Music at MoMA: Eartheater and Ren G
MoMa | 4-8pm at 11 W 53rd St, Manhattan
Multi-instrumentalist, producer, and vocalist Eartheater has created a special intimate performance for the Sculpture Garden at the MoMA which will encompass material from her recent albums. She’ll be joined by a few other intrumentalists, a harpist, and a violinist who she’s previously partnered with on an EP. Ren G will also be playing a DJ set before and after the performance. The concert is free with museum admission and admission to the garden is first come, first served.
👅 Summer Open Streets
Summer Streets | From Brooklyn Bridge to West 125th St
Summer Streets is back in Manhattan, turning streets including Lafayette St, Park Ave, and more into car free zones for pedestrians and cyclists. Activities along the streets will include fitness classes, cultural performances, food trucks, artisan vendors, and more. Citi Bike (which has lowkey become prohibitively expensive without the annual membership) is running a promo that gives you unlimited 30 minute rides for a day using code CITYSUMMER24!. Open Streets in Manhattan will be happening August 3rd, 10th, and 17th. Check out the full list of sponsors and events.
Spire Bonsai Pop Up Shop
Spire Bonsai x Ava Galerie | 12-8pm at 161 Bowery, Manhattan
Enjoy free frozen treats and gifts and a raffle while taking a look at Spire Bonsai’s upcoming collection in their 1 day pop up. RSVP for free, hosted at Ava Galerie.
Oyster Tasting
Market Price x Heaven and Earth | 5pm-sold out at 290 Nassau Ave, Brooklyn
Market Price is a mobile oyster bar and educational initiative that hosts pop ups around the city. This weekend they’re popping up at Heaven and Earth for an oyrster tasting experience that will include oysters (duh), caviar, clam dip, sake shooters, and crab rolls. You’ll snack while learning more about oysters from their team. Go early, they’ll probably sell out by 8pm.
Peanut Explorers Market
Smorgasburg | 11am-6pm at Smorgasburg Williamsburg
Curated by Chef Jon Kung and the National Peanut Board (yes this exists), 10 Smorgasburg vendors will be serving up peanut-forward dishes from around the globe. There’s even a challenge you can partake in which will include a peanut quiz and provide some recipe suggestions to inspire users to cook with more peanuts. No RSVP required.
Mindfulness in the Galleries
Noguchi | 10-11:30am at Noguchi Museum, Queens
Before the museum opens to the public, join for a meditation and mindfulness session in the galleries. You’ll reflect on one of Noguchi’s sculptures To Intrude on Nature’s Way (pictured below) throughout this guided session. No prior experience required, tickets are $8.
Sunday August 4
👅 Layla’s First Birthday
Layla | 12pm-late at 352 Bedford Ave
Layla is one of my favorite new bars in the city. They have aperitivo style cocktails and European-style share plates while maintaining a completely unpretentious atmosphere. They’re celebrating their first year being a part of the Williamsburg community with a party this Sunday. There will be magnums of wine flowing, food specials, and items being grilled up on their outdoor patio. Walk ins only.
Hot Honey Boat Party
Avant Gardner x Hot Honey Sundays | 3-8pm at 83 N River Piers, Manhattan
Hot Honey Sundays is throwing another edition of their boat party in partnership with Avant Gardner. The 3 decker boat has multiple bars and sundecks and will be cruising by lady liberty and then down the Hudson river for golden hour city views. There will be a few rotating resident DJs taking the stage as well. Tickets are $51. If you’re not into boats, there’s an afterparty at Le Bain.
Seed Swap
Smack Mellon | 3-6pm at 92 Plymouth St, Brooklyn
Join nonprofit arts organization Smack Mellon for a seed swap and plant exchange to celebrate the closing of their exhibition Spiral Time about the environment and the impact that we are having on it. There will also be an open mic where guests will share their plant stories and knowledge to all. No RSVP required.
Recs of the week
Places or shows I discovered over the last week. These are personal recommendations. If I had a cool week, they’ll be cool. If I didn’t, they won’t.
Fradei Bistro - Fort Greene restaurant scene is just really stacked. Cozy space for french food that comes kind of tapas style. I think their menu changes weekly but if they have the marinated mussels, get them. Also they get their bread daily from La Bicyclette and it is amazing.
Kalye - New York may actually be missing something: more Filipino restaurants. Casual & good. Ube pao was my highlight.
Orange Glou - Go to their pop up on Wednesday if you’re skeptical that a wine store can be truly differentiated.
Arroces Paella Party - One of you sent me this NYT article on Grilling Pop Ups, which led me to this really fun paella block party at Arroces on Sunday. The paella completely exceeded my expectations and the atmosphere was top tier. They host a lot of different pop ups so look out for their next one.
Win Son Manhattan Pop Up - Late to the party here, but I’ve never been able to make it Williamsburg early enough on a Saturday to skip the gigantic line at Win Son. Thankfully, they have a pop up through the next month at Vallata and you can preorder for pick up. The BEC was as good as they say. Top 5 breakfast sandwich in the city for sure (in my opinion - don’t come at me).
As always, message me with any events you try out or any recommendations for next week!
Legend for new readers:
👅 = events I’m attending. Come hang out with me!!!
⭐ = events I am only missing because of travel or personal conflicts
everything else = things I am still really excited about
What a week ahead !