Hello New York! Today we cover the best things happening in the city this week — from a book reading party to the NY Auto Show's final days, plus a rare bird that's taken over Bryant Park.
Let's get to it.
– Sofia Kurd.
Best Events April 6-9
• Thru Apr 12: NY International Auto Show at Javits Center — The newest models, concept cars, test tracks, and interactive exhibits. $22 admission. Last week to catch it.
• TODAY Apr 6, 8pm: The Moth StorySLAM The Bell House — Open-mic storytelling competition. Everyday people share true five-minute stories. Tonight’s theme: “Sus.”
• Tue, Apr 7: Pawn Chess Club at Bufón — A casual downtown chess night with a raw bar. Play games over drinks with a social crowd. Pay-what-you-want (~$10).
• Thu, Apr 9: Reading Rhythms Bushwick at The Tiny Cupboard Comedy Club & Game Bar — A cozy “reading party” with quiet reading sprints and soft music.
• Thru May 16: Angelina Bakery Union Square tastings — Weekly free samples (pastries, pizza, gelato, espresso, more) with rotating menus each weekend; limited quantities, so go early. Fridays 10–11am, Saturdays 4–5pm.
A speakeasy hidden behind a phone booth inside a hot dog shop on St. Marks — one of the original NYC speakeasies, still requiring you to dial a rotary phone to get in. Cocktails are excellent, reservations drop daily at 3pm.
A rooftop greenhouse and bar tucked on top of a Midtown hotel, filled with hanging plants and warm light — feels like drinking inside a terrarium. Most New Yorkers have never heard of it.
A tiny, appointment-only perfume studio in the West Village where you smell raw ingredients and build a custom scent from scratch.
Local News
• Mamdani launches child care website and interactive map — The mayor unveiled a first-of-its-kind tool to help NYC parents find and compare child care options across the five boroughs.
• Pet tax credit proposed in NY — Owning a pet in New York could soon mean more savings come tax season. The State Assembly is working on a bill that would create tax credits for money spent on pets. Owners would be able to get credit for up to two animals, including $150 for expenses such as food, grooming supplies, and leashes. There's also a $300 credit for vet visits. The legislation is still in the works, but if passed, the credits would apply to expenses paid this year.
• NYC exploring renting out Brooklyn Bridge vaults — The NYC Council is exploring a plan to lease 13,000 square feet of unused, historic vault space under the Brooklyn Bridge anchorages, potentially generating $17 million annually to help close a $6B budget deficit. Formerly used for wine storage and art, these spaces could be turned into commercial or retail rentals as early as FY 2027, though the DOT opposes the plan due to security concerns.
• A rare dancing shorebird spotted in Bryant Park has sparked a full birding frenzy, with New Yorkers lining up daily to watch it bob around. Since the start of April 2026, multiple woodcocks have been spotted using Bryant Park as a migratory pit stop. Crowds of tourists and photographers have been seen surrounding the park's flowerbeds, often standing on chairs to get a glimpse of the birds foraging just feet away from the sidewalk.
NYC Featured
Most New Yorkers have walked past the vaults beneath the Brooklyn Bridge without knowing they exist. Built in 1883 alongside the bridge itself, these massive stone chambers were originally used to store wine and champagne — the cool, constant temperature made them ideal cellars. For decades they were leased to local merchants, generating revenue for the city. They were sealed after 9/11 for security reasons, but the city is now considering reopening them as rentable space — a full-circle moment for one of NYC's most hidden assets.
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