New York has well and truly outdone itself this month. Let your imagination run wild. Do you want to see the greatest rock and roll band in the world? Mick and Keith have you sorted. Would you like to saunter through a fairytale? Hit up the New York Botanical Garden. How about watching Top Gun: Maverick on an aircraft carrier? Now that we know it’s playing on the U.S.S. Intrepid flight deck, we won’t bother watching it anywhere else. The wonders never cease in the Big Apple but the happenings this May are the cream of the crop.
The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds Tour
“Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones.” Even before Mick lets his menacing voice loose on the mic, this moment bonds the crowd of 80,000 and prepares them for an experience unlike any other. As exciting as that moment may be, nothing compares to Mick and Keith pouring everything they’ve got into Midnight Rambler, Keith himself believing that this blues anthem is the truest essence of The Rolling Stones. This May, the Stones will be spending two nights at the MetLife stadium, a *stones* throw from New York, belting out some of music history’s greatest tracks to celebrate the recently released Hackney Diamonds. Achieving platinum status around the world and even topping the Christmas chart, the album includes guest appearances by heavyweights such as Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Lady Gaga. Depending on whether or not Keith ends up outliving the rest of us, there may not be many more opportunities to see the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world.
When? 23 May and 26 May, 2024
Where? MetLife Stadium
How much? From $95
Wonderland: Curious Nature
Among all of literature’s fairytales, none are curiouser than Alice in Wonderland. While Alice may have mistakenly fallen down the rabbit hole, she knew exactly what she was doing when she stepped through the looking glass. If you’ve ever wanted to follow in her footsteps and experience the wonders of Lewis Carroll’s fairytale for yourself, the New York Botanical Garden has transformed its 250-acre estate into an immersive Wonderland marvel to delight all of your senses. Including installations from some of horticulture’s greatest minds, one can expect to be greeted by an unusually sized rabbit, a shimmering looking-glass, giant mushrooms that had once, fittingly, resided at Burning Man, an un-birthday snack truck, and of course, tea parties. If you’re truly mad, there are three Wonderland Nights planned for those aged over 21. Just make sure to don your maddest hat.
When? 18 May-27 October, 2024
Where? New York Botanical Garden
How much? $35
The William Vale
The feeling of raw power one gets when staring up at the skyscrapers of New York can be overwhelming. When that happens, we like to jump in a cab and venture into Williamsburg for a staycation at The William Vale. This hotel has managed to fuse modern luxuries with boutique charm, its walls adorned with works by local artists and its restaurant serving up comfort classics like wood-fired pizza, homemade pasta. The rooms are spacious, a particular blessing in New York. But the ultimate showstopper is the 360-degree roof terrace, which lays claim to some of the best views in the city. There’s something very special about being able to take in the full skyline from across the East River. The juxtaposition of the calm waters against the sheer magnitude of the concrete jungle is at once breathtaking and relieving.
When? Ongoing
Where? Williamsburg, NY
How much? 50% off for a limited time
Sleep No More
After a highly successful 13-year run, Sleep No More is finally going to rest its weary head. This interactive and provocative film noir experience draws inspiration from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. However, for the most part, the actors in this particular reimagining rarely communicate with dialogue, using body language instead. Spanning across countless rooms in The McKittrick Hotel, visitors are encouraged to find their own path through the darkness… or perhaps, get lost in it. In some cases, the actors will acknowledge your presence, while in others, you’ll be but “a ghost”. Of all of the cities in the world that it could have called home, none have made more sense than Gotham.
When? Until 16 June, 2024
Where? The McKittrick Hotel
How much? $160.50
Summer Movie Night – Top Gun: Maverick
Of all the possible locations to watch Top Gun: Maverick, we can’t think of anything more fitting than on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Intrepid. Following the original release of Top Gun in 1992, the public reaction was so overwhelmingly positive that applications to be Naval Aviators in the U.S. Military increased by over 500%. The film featuring Tom Cruise in his prime actually served to reignite patriotism within young Americans. Although sequels don’t always live up to the magic of their original counterparts, Top Gun: Maverick has earned its place among Tom Cruise’s best films. Add in one of America’s most dramatic skylines and an aircraft carrier and you’ll experience the Stars and Stripes at its best. Now, shall we take bets on how long it takes you to sign up for flight school?
When? 24 May, 2024
Where? The U.S.S. Intrepid
How much? Free
Bathhouse
Bathhouse is as close as you’ll ever get to being in Bruce Wayne’s bat cave. Having repurposed an old parking garage in the Flatiron district, this spa is debonair to the nines. If that’s not enough to make you feel superbly heroic, the massages and scrubs should do the trick. It almost seems crazy not to opt for the “Hero’s Journey”, a luxury experience that includes a pro massage, pro hammam scrub, and a full day pass to the facilities, giving you a chance to explore any of the six thermal pools, the banya, the various saunas, steam rooms, and other facilities. Whenever you decide to take a dip into one of the heated pools, just know that it’s not being heated with a typical pool heater but a bitcoin mining computer that converts the computing power into heat as a byproduct. “Energy can’t be created or destroyed – only converted”.
When? Ongoing
Where? The Flatiron District, NY
How much? From $50
The Great Gatsby Musical
The Great Gatsby is the quintessential American novel. Set between New York City and the fictitious East and West Egg of Long Island, there is no better place to reimagine the story than on Broadway, especially considering that we are back in the ‘20s. Tony Award nominees Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada play star-crossed loversJay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan in this 2024 interpretation. Choreographer Dominique Kelly, who has previously directed some of the world’s biggest stars including Mariah Carey, Usher, and Beyoncé is sure to bring this moving tale to life in unforgettable style. For an evening of lavish decadence, look no further than Gatsby.
When? Now on
Where? Broadway Theatre
How much? From $51
Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swiss Beatz and Alicia Keys
Swiss Beatz and Alicia Keys' phenomenal contributions to music are legendary. Lesser known is the depth of their appreciation of fine art. That is sure to change now that they have debuted their extensive collection at the Brooklyn Museum. Grand in scale and virtuosity, the aptly named Giants exhibit features 98 works of art by African diasporic artists. The Dean has set out to support and showcase these artists and in the process they’ve started a public conversation on subjects as large as the collection itself.
When? Until 7 July 2024
Where? Brooklyn Museum
How much? $26
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