Ah, spring in New York City! It’s felt like an extremely long winter, so to say I’m excited to get out into some fresh air and explore the city, would be an understatement. As the city continues to open up, more fun things are happening. There are options for those of you who live here and are looking for activities, those visiting and things to do with kids! May is looking like it’s going to be a great month!
Here’s everything you need to see and do this month in NYC!
Rooftop Reds Pizza and Wine Movie Nights
Let’s start off with something I thin is really exciting- and that’s combining wine, pizza and movies! A few times a month, Rooftop Reds screens a movie and you can eat pizza and enjoy delicious wine all while watching on a rooftop! The views are spectacular! Check out their schedule here.
Photography: Rooftop Reds
Taste of Tribeca
Taste of Tribeca is back for it’s 26th year this month! There are 60 restaurants participating and funds will support local public schools. The event is hosted on Duane and Greenwich Streets, which is a pretty central part of Tribeca. Live music, tours of local wine shops and pubs and family-friendly activities will be taking place- so this is something you can bring your kids to! ToT will be eliminating single-use plastics this year, so everyone with a ticket will recieve a S’well water bottle to refill throughout your time there. The food will be outstanding! Tickets are available now on eventbrite!
Photography: Taste of Tribeca
Fad Market’s Mother’s Day Pop-Up
The Fad Market is at Empire Stores in Dumbo, Brooklyn this weekend just in time for Mother’s Day! If you’re looking for some last minute gifts, this is the place to go! There are over 30 local designers and small businesses to shop from and it’s a great way to learn more about shopping locally. There’s candles, shoes, jewelry, plants, sauces, skincare and so much more! The Time Out Market is there and you can hang out and dine- make a whole day of it!
Photography: Fad Market
Candytopia
Your kids are going to flip if you bring them here! This is one of the coolest things in NYC at the moment and honestly, I’d go just by myself! It’s like the real life Willy Wonka Factory, this place is an interactive candy exhibit basically that is what your childhood dreams are made of! There are over 17 interactive environments within the space. You are immediately transported into a world of candy and every room is a complete work of art– made completely out of candy! It’s open until July 31st. Tickets are available now!
Photography: Candytopia
Zum Schneider Maifest
Zum Schneider is a Bavarian Biergarten in NYC that has over 100 year old hand-made chairs by the owner’s father! They missed the last 2 years of Oktoberfest, but are excited to announce that it is back this year on May 6th and 7th! They are calling it Maifest and it’s basically Oktoberfest in May! So there will be plenty of beer, pretzels, sausages and good times! Check out their eventbrite for more info.
Photography: Zum Schneider
Celebrate Harry Potter Day
International Harry Potter Day is May 2nd and if you’re a fan, why not celebrate?! Here are some Harry Potter themed things to do in the city: The Harry Potter Experience and Store, see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, go to The Cauldron for drinks. And of course, you could always curl up on the couch and watch the movies or read the books!
Photography: Harry Potter and The Cursed Child on Broadway
The Floral Escape
The Floral Escape is here! It’s an immersive floral experience where you can go and take a bunch of pictures with their 12 floral activations! It’s about a 50 minute experience for your reserved time and it’s great to bring friends to or book for something fun like graduation photos, senior pictures or really just to have beautiful bright photos in your space. Tickets are available now and they have activations in NYC, NJ and Miami!
Photography: The Floral Escape c/o @thefloralescape on Instagram
See Billy Joel at MSG
Billy Joel is back in concert on Saturday, May 14th at Madison Square Garden! In 2013, Billy Joel was the first ever musical franchise to play at MSG, as it normally was just sports before then. It’s exciting that he is coming back to perform this month and throughout the summer! Make sure to grab your tickets now, because they do go quickly!
Photography: MSG
Celebrate Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is taking place on Sunday, May 8th this year and what better way to celebrate than go to a brunch in the city?! Here are a few ideas on where to book reservations- but make sure to book them fast because we are a week away from the big day! The Musket Room for a 3 course price fixed menu, Sunday in Brooklyn for a fantastic brunch, Bubby’s for comfort food or The Osprey for an upscale option.
Photography: Sunday in Brooklyn
Color Factory
If you aren’t familiar with the Color Factory, it’s an interactive art museum located in Soho! It’s made for everyone, but is very kid friendly, so this is a great activity to do as a family! They began as a pop-up and are open full-time now. This spot believes in inspiring its visitors through art and color, which is so fun! I personally love that it’s interactive, it’s really cool when you get to go to an art museum with your kids and be allowed to touch stuff. There are collaborators featured from all over the world, which I think is amazing! Be sure to get your hands on some tickets!
Photography: Color Factory
Picnic in Central Park
A picnic in central park is never a bad idea! Or any park for that matter, as there are plenty throughout the city. What’s really cool these days, is that if you want to have a nice gathering with friends or a kind of picnic party, you can hire a service to set up the whole picnic for you! Perfect Picnic is a great example of this! They service NYC, The Hamptons and Provincetown, MA! This company is a full-service experience with several different packages to choose from and the food is taken care of-all local products!
Photography: The Perfect Picnic NYC
See the Japan Parade
The first-ever Japan Parade will be taking place this year to celebrate Japan Day! It will be on Saturday, May 14th and celebrates the 150th year since the visit of the Japanese Mission. This has been 2 years in the making, so it will be a great day! There will also be a street fair during the parade, which will be fun to check out. Join to celebrate the friendship between the USA and Japan!
Photography: Japan Day NYC
Fleet Week
The 34th annual Fleet Week will be taking place between May 25th-May 31st. Several ships and over 2,000 sea service members will visit all 5 boroughs of NYC to honor the Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and the Coast Guard. Show your support for the people who protect our country and commemorate Memorial Day.
Photography: Public Domain
National Burger Day
Here’s another fun one- National Burger Day is on May 28th! If you’re a burger fan, this day is for you! I think the best way to celebrate is to go get your favorite burger.. or few. This is something you can do really anywhere you live, but NYC has some fantastic options! Here’s a whole article about the best burgers in NYC and where to find them. Smashed or beefy, you can’t go wrong!
Photography: 4 Charles Prime Rib c/o The Infatuation
Eat at The Grand Banks
If you don’t know what Grand Banks is, it’s a restaurant on a boat! They have some fantastic seafood options, as they are known for their Oyster Bar. Don’t forget the cocktails, they are pretty great, too! But be sure to make a reservation, as it is a hot commodity!
Photography: The Grand Banks
Uptown Night Market
Uptown Night Market is here on May 12th and the eventbrite is already out to grab a spot with! This is a female-run business that combines food with culture. It’s a great way to support small businesses, as well and eat locally. I think I’m going to grab some friends and go check this out!
Ninth Ave International Food Festival
Saturday and Sunday May 14th-15th, the Ninth Avenue International Food Festival is taking place! This is a great opportunity to try out foods you maybe wouldn’t normally try out on a day to day basis. Over 15 different merchants are participating and they range from Boba Tea to Greek Pastries and everything in between! Bring your family or friends and get some great food!
Photography: Ninth Avenue Food Festival
Go to a Rooftop Bar
Now that it’s officially spring, the rooftop bars are in their prime! It’s not too cold and it’s not too hot or humid, so this is the perfect time to check them all out. Personally, I think The Delancey and The Jimmy are some hot spots, but here’s a full list of some of the very best in the city! Try them all this spring and summer!
Photography: The Panorama Room c/o Timeout
Yankees and Mets Baseball Games
Baseball is back! Even if you’re not a huge sports fan, games are always fun to attend with friends! You can get some gear and represent your city! This is also a great idea for kids, it’s a childhood writ of passage to go to a baseball game and cheer on their team while eating some fun game food! Bonus if the weather is perfect!
Photography: Razorgator
Five Boro Bike Tour
On Sunday, May 1st, cyclists from all over the world will be in NYC riding through every borough. This will be a day that will be car free for it and anyone can come and watch! The ride funds go to charity to support free bike education programs throughout New York. This is a ride for both adults and children, so it’s a great way to see the city come together!
Photography: Bike New York
See a Broadway Show
Broadway has been back for some time now, but that doesn’t mean tickets are any easier to get! They are still flying, as they were years ago and we still need to show up for our artists and support them. This is a great activity to do after a dinner or on the weekend around a brunch. There are also plenty of kid-friendly shows running, so it doesn’t just have to be a date night thing, it can also be a family outing! Here’s a list of the best shows to grab tickets for at the moment!
Photography: Timeout, Courtesy Joan Marcus, Hamilton
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de May is obviously on the 5th of May every year! It’s a celebration to honor the Mexican military victory over France’s Napoleon III. While this isn’t Mexico’s Independence Day, it is a day to be celebrated. Many restaurants in the U.S. have great happy hours to celebrate, what’s better than ending your day with some delicious Mexican food and a margarita? Nothing!
Photography: Encyclopædia Britannica
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