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Hi New York!
This week’s Tech Week brings boats and AI pop-ups into Soho, summer movie nights return to the rooftops, Grand Central gets a U.S. Soccer takeover, and NYPL pulls back the curtain on the city’s golden age of magic. Plus: local markets, pet portraits, hidden piano bars, handmade soba, and a quiet garden escape when the city starts to feel like too much.
Let’s get into it.
—Sofia Kurd
Best Events June 1 – June 7
TODAY: NYC Backgammon Tournament — Head over to the Soho Grand Hotel for this competitive 32-person bracket tournament tailored for intermediate and advanced players. Your entry covers two drinks and a shot at the prizes, so be sure to bring your own board if you have a favorite.
Tue, June 2, TBD: NY(SEA): Tech Week Founder Boat Party — The NYC Founders Club is hosting a private sunset cruise during NYC Tech Week, featuring a DJ and a mix of founders and local entrepreneurs. The dress code is Sunset Chic and attendance requires advance approval.
Tue–Sun: ElevenLabs NY Tech Week PopUp — 54 Crosby Street in SoHo hosts this AI voice-powered pop-up featuring exclusive merch, AI-generated music, and immersive demos. You can even interact with ElevenAgents to score a free cup of coffee.
Thu, Jun 4, 2–6pm: Community Market + Local Makers — The Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park is holding a curated selection of local artisans and emerging neighborhood brands. A great way to support small businesses. Free.
Sun, June 7, 2026: Summer Pet Bash - West Village — Head over to 544 Hudson Street to celebrate the Heart of Chelsea grand opening with pet portraits, a photo booth, and plenty of treats for your four-legged companions. Check out their new neighborhood space and meet the local team. Free.
Mon, Jun 8, 6:15–10pm: MOVE THE PASSION — This premium multi-location wine experience spans Hall des Lumieres, New York Vintners, and the Arlo Soho Rooftop to celebrate European viticulture. Attendees can enter a contest to win a trip to Italy by checking in at all three featured venues.
Through 6/28: U.S. Soccer Store Pop-Up — Stop by Grand Central Terminal for the official U.S. Soccer Store presented by Visa, featuring team gear, limited-edition NYC merch, and on-site jersey personalization ahead of the World Cup.
Through July 11: Mystery and Wonder — Explore NYPL’s exhibition on New York’s golden age of magic, featuring rare posters, photos, books, and artifacts tied to Houdini, Harry Kellar, the Herrmanns, and other masters of illusion. Free.
Through summer: Rooftop Cinema Club Midtown — Catch outdoor movie nights on the Embassy Suites Skylawn rooftop, with wireless headphones, drinks, and concessions available. Upcoming screenings include Pretty Woman, Grease, Sinners, The Golden Girls, Pulp Fiction, 10 Things I Hate About You, and more. $12.50+.
A moody piano bar tucked away on the second floor of Fraunces Tavern — While the crowds pack the main tavern downstairs, you can find a quiet escape in this intimate space filled with red banquettes and live music. It is a rare, sophisticated pocket of the Financial District that stays open late on weekends for a proper cocktail.
Casual handmade soba in a quiet Soho corner — Soba-ya Ulala offers a minimalist retreat where you can watch the noodles being made fresh. It is the perfect spot for a simple, restorative lunch of hot or cold noodles paired with expertly prepared side dishes like roasted duck and agedashi tofu.
A meditative stroll through the authentic Chinese Scholars Garden — Tucked away in Snug Harbor, this rare Ming Dynasty-style retreat offers a quiet escape with its winding bamboo paths and scenic waterfalls. It is the perfect place to disconnect from the borough's pace and find some stillness among the pavilions.
The family trip your kids will still talk about at 30
Intrepid just launched eight new Premium Family trips across Borneo, Morocco, India, Costa Rica and more — small groups, experienced local guides, elevated stays, and immersive cultural experiences designed specifically for families. All the logistics sorted so you can actually enjoy it.
Local News
Mayor Mamdani appoints outspoken whistleblower as NYC Sheriff — Mayor Zohran Mamdani has selected retired NYPD lieutenant Edwin Raymond to serve as the city's next sheriff, a move that signals a significant shift in departmental leadership. Raymond, a noted whistleblower and author of the 2023 book An Inconvenient Cop, has long been a vocal critic of his former employer, frequently citing systemic racism within the force and drawing parallels between modern policing and historical slave patrols. However, his appointment has sparked immediate pushback from traditional law enforcement unions who fear his reformist stance could destabilize department morale. Whether this high-profile selection leads to the radical restructuring he has long championed or faces gridlock from entrenched institutional bureaucracy remains the central question for the new administration.
Newark restricts access to Doremus Avenue following protests at ICE facility — Newark officials have implemented a nightly 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and closed Doremus Avenue to most traffic following a surge in volatile clashes near the Delaney Hall ICE detention center. The move comes on the heels of several arrests made during demonstrations that broke out after detainees initiated a coordinated hunger and labor strike. However, local civil rights advocates argue that these sweeping security measures effectively silence the voices of those inside and prevent protesters from staging peaceful actions. This decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tension surrounding the facility and raises fresh concerns about transparency and public safety in the district.
NYC is quietly giving public school students a head start on college savings. Through the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program, every kindergarten student at participating public and charter schools is now automatically given a scholarship account with an initial $100 allocation, regardless of family income or immigration status. Families can activate the account, earn additional rewards, and connect their own college savings account, while community groups can also contribute through local scholarships — turning college savings into a neighborhood-wide effort rather than just a private family burden.
NYC Featured
New York Harbor was once one of the world’s great oyster habitats, with hundreds of thousands of acres of reefs feeding early New Yorkers and filtering the water. Pollution and overharvesting wiped most of them out by the 20th century, but restoration groups are now bringing oysters back as living infrastructure — helping clean the harbor, support marine life, and soften waves along the shoreline.
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