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Friday, October 16, 2026 |
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The Lovely Letter
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From LovelyNYC · New York, beautifully discovered
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Hello, and welcome to the first Lovely Letter.
Every week we'll send what's on in the city, what just opened, and one walk worth taking. This week Open House New York unlocks hundreds of buildings, the Met premieres a new opera, and the ice rinks start coming back.
Anthony
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Fall in the Conservatory Garden, Central Park's only formal garden, behind the Vanderbilt Gate at Fifth Avenue and 105th Street. In autumn the tulip beds give way to chrysanthemums, and it's a designated quiet zone. Plan a visit →
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Photo: Bill B, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Section A
On the Calendar
Special events and concerts, October 16 – November 1
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This weekend
Oct 16–18 |
Open House New York Weekend
About 300 buildings and sites across the five boroughs open their doors for tours and talks, 10am–6pm. Most are free to drop in; some need a ticket. |
Sat Oct 17
11am |
Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
Costumed dogs and their people march down Avenue B in the East Village. Free to watch. |
Mon Oct 19
8pm |
Lincoln in the Bardo at the Met
The world premiere of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's opera, from George Saunders's novel, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting and Peter Mattei as Lincoln. Runs through November 14. |
Thu Oct 22
8pm |
Steve Reich at 90, Carnegie Hall
An all-Reich birthday program, with Bryce Dessner playing Electric Counterpoint and two US premieres. |
Fri–Sat
Oct 23–24
7:30pm |
Wynton Marsalis: From Cuba to the Crescent City
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra plays from Marsalis's Afro-Cuban and New Orleans suites, with percussionists Pedrito Martinez and Weedie Braimah. |
Sat Oct 24
11am–5pm |
Fall Harvest Festival, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Live blues, funk and Cajun music, a New York beer and cider garden, and an afternoon costume parade. Adults $38, under 12 free. |
Opens
Sun Oct 25 |
Brancusi: The Artist and His Studio, MoMA
MoMA's whole sixth floor recreates the sculptor's Paris studio, with rarely lent works, his carved bases and his tools. Through February 27. |
Tue Oct 27
8pm |
Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves Celebrate Coltrane
For the Coltrane centennial, a tribute to his ballads album with singer Johnny Hartman, at Carnegie Hall. |
Sat Oct 31
7pm |
The Village Halloween Parade
The 53rd parade, theme "Body & Soul," up Sixth Avenue from King Street to 15th Street. Free to watch, and anyone in costume can march. |
| Sun Nov 1 |
The New York City Marathon
Five boroughs, Staten Island to Central Park. Pick a corner, bring a sign, and cheer. Free to watch. |
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Section B
Just Opened
New restaurants and bars worth a reservation
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HUMM · West Village
Daniel Humm's relaxed, à la carte restaurant on Hudson Street, with a wood-fired oven, roast chicken for two and a rolling martini cart. Opened October 10.
Brasserie Boulud · Lincoln Square
Daniel Boulud's big two-floor French brasserie across from Lincoln Center, with a café and the late-night Bar Viv. A natural before or after the Met. Opened October 8.
iara · Lower East Side
Chef Vitor Mendes's first restaurant cooks Brazilian food built around Amazonian ingredients like cassava, jambu and tucupi, with a cachaça bar. Dinner Tuesday to Saturday.
The Astor · NoHo
A tavern and supper club inside The Public Theater, with Andrew Carmellini as chef-partner and old New York dishes like Steak Diane.
Galo · West Village
The second restaurant from Leitão's chef, Nuno Sousa: Portuguese petiscos, seafood and rice dishes, and a Portuguese wine list.
Bar à Part · West Village
A small café and wine bar next door to Zimmi's on Bedford Street, with a deep wine list, small plates and pastry.
Mythily · Williamsburg
Rasika Venkatesa's South Indian restaurant, focused on Tamil Nadu and named for her grandmother, with a thoughtful low- and no-alcohol drinks list.
Booth's Extra Fine · Williamsburg
A vintage-style American steakhouse: broiled steaks and chops, chilled seafood and cold martinis.
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Section C
The Rinks Are Back
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Open now The Rink at Rockefeller Center
Sat Oct 24 Wollman Rink, Central Park
Wed Oct 28 Bryant Park: the rink (free with your own skates) and the Winter Village shops
Sun Nov 1 Riverbank State Park Rink, West Harlem ($5 for adults)
Prices, hours and the best times to go →
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Thanksgiving is six weeks away, and the best tables go first. See where to book Thanksgiving dinner →
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Section D
A Walk for the Weekend
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A Lovely Day on the Upper West Side & Central Park
Seven stops, about 8 km, morning to nightcap, and the park is turning:
| 8:30 AM | Eggs scrambled with nova at Barney Greengrass |
| 10:00 AM | The view from Belvedere Castle |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch at Café Luxembourg |
| 2:30 PM | Zabar's, and its housewares upstairs |
| Sunset | Bow Bridge, with the San Remo in the Lake |
| 7:00 PM | Oysters at The Mermaid Inn |
| 9:15 PM | A nightcap under the murals at Bemelmans Bar |
The full day, with a map and a rainy-day swap →
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Section E
New on LovelyNYC
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New photos this week, shared by the restaurants themselves: Sobaya, Vinegar Hill House, La Vara, Jacob's Pickles, Birds of a Feather and Brandy Library.
New guides: The Fine Dining Room · Lovely for Less · Before the Theater · Solo Walks · The Holiday Almanac
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Know a place we should see, or an event worth sharing? Just hit reply.
See you next week,
Anthony
LovelyNYC
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Dates and prices were checked with each organizer this week; plans change, so confirm before you go. You're getting this because you signed up at lovelynyc.com.
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