In case you missed it, here's my roundup of the best October happenings.
Big news for opera-goers: the city and the Met recently launched Opera for All, giving away 70,000 free tickets this season. Each month, 10,000 tickets are released by lottery, in every section of the house. You're eligible if you haven't bought a Met ticket since 2019; enter through the Met's app or here.
Here’s something perfect for planning your next stroll: Central Park Conservancy’s Fall Foliage Tracker. It’s an interactive map showing exactly where the leaves are turning across the Park’s 18,000+ trees, updated daily by the Conservancy’s arborists.
Día de los Muertos at NYBG: Now through November 2. New this year, the Garden is celebrating with marigolds, a community ofrenda, and a giant flower-covered Catrina, plus music and family crafts on weekends. Don't miss the parade with larger-than-life puppets on Sunday, November 1 at 2 p.m.
NYCB’s Family Saturdays kicks off its season on October 17 with Ballet Emotions, a one-hour presentation performed by Company dancers that explores how dance can express feelings, from silly and scared to playful and daring, without a single word.
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience: Opening this week on select nights from October 16 to November 29, at FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights (Westchester County). The Forbidden Forest is back with a glowing nighttime trail where you can cast spells and more.
And if you really can't get enough of Harry Potter, check out the DroneArt Show: Harry Potter on Randall's Island, October 23–24: 1,200 drones recreate iconic moments from the films in the night sky, with a live violinist playing the soundtrack.
Madison Avenue is back, and shopping uptown is getting really good. Three excellent stores just opened on the UES: cashmere brand Guest in Residence at 80th and Madison; Parisian favorite Sézane at 79th and Madison; and Le Monde Béryl, the excellent shoe brand, at 67th and Madison (my all-time favorite flat here).
Fall is the best season for restaurant openings, and there are so many I'm excited for. Top of my list: Straker's in Soho (since Thomas Straker is one of my fav IG follows); Humm in the West Village; Ditto, a City Bakery-inspired breakfast and lunch spot near Union Square; and Bar Cosme in the old Atla space (more Cosme, please!). I'm also excited to try the just-opened Cafe Charmant on Bleecker, which looks great (have you seen that chocolate mousse dessert!?). And I'm thrilled to hear that Santo Taco will finally(!) be opening an uptown location on East 81st Street.
Most importantly: Café Sabarsky. After closing for the summer for building upgrades, the Neue Galerie's café reopened on October 1. It's one of the most beautiful rooms in the city. Breakfast and lunch are first come, first served, and dinner reservations are on Resy. The museum's galleries reopen November 12 with a 25th anniversary exhibition.
New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts: Dates and tickets were just released for four Saturday concerts at David Geffen Hall running through the spring, kicking off November 7 with Tales from Peter and the Wolf. A great first orchestra outing for ages 6 to 12, and every concert is a relaxed performance, so wiggles are welcome.
And for the littlest ones: Baby Mozart at the New York Philharmonic. Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30. A sweet way to start a lifelong love of music! These morning sessions introduce little ones to live music and the instruments of the orchestra, with separate times for babies (0 to 15 months), toddlers (15 months to 3 years), and a mixed babies-and-toddlers session. Tickets just went on sale, so book now.
Two great kids' events are coming up, and both are worth grabbing tickets for now: the AMNH Family Party on Tuesday, October 20 (live animals and after-hours fun for ages 2–12), and The Met Pajama Party on Wednesday, October 28, a Halloween-themed evening at the Temple of Dendur (costumes or PJs welcome!).
Halloween will soon be here! Get ready… and if you missed it, here’s everything to help you prepare.
And looking way ahead, CMOM Sunday Funday: Sunday, January 24, 2027, at the Metropolitan Pavilion. The Children's Museum of Manhattan's biggest family event of the year is back, with indoor sports, games, face painting, family dance parties, and multiple food stations. January feels like a long time away, but this one is worth putting on your calendar.
We took the kids "hiking" at Tallman Mountain State Park this weekend, and it's perfect for little ones: a long, flat path that's easy for walking (my kids rode scooters, but bikes would be excellent, too!). It's a short drive from the city and gorgeous with the fall foliage. Afterward, we grabbed lunch down the road at 9W Market, which was so easy with the kids. Highly recommend squeezing this in before the leaves are gone!
With drier (skin) weather on the way, I cannot recommend this highlighter milk enough. It makes my skin look dewy and glowy, on its own or under makeup. (in pearly champagne) I've also been loving rhode's pocket blush (in sprinkle), which comes in the best colors and couldn't be easier to apply. Doing anything to look like the youth!
Black denim is at the top of my fall shopping list, and I have my eye on these. A classic, easy fit. I also really like this suede miniskirt and this cashmere t-shirt.
While I’m not a pumpkin spice latte person, I do love cooking with pumpkin. My kids love these maple pumpkin muffins (I swap in coconut oil for the butter), and this chickpea coconut curry is delicious.
Something that should have been in my BTS guide that I’m just learning about: this suiting company for boys. How did I not know about this brand sooner!? I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot for my son’s uniform and holiday suiting.
I took a break from nail polish this summer and loved it. Then I came across this New York Times article on the bare-nail trend (sooo chic!), and a friend told me about Buff, the new nail care line from Birchbox co-founder. Think skincare for your nails, hands, and feet, including a finishing gel oil that gives you shine without polish. I'm sold!
Have you been admiring The Row’s Ophelia sweater? Same. Good news: here’s an exact dupe that’s excellent.
I keep seeing the Dries Van Noten Spring/Summer 2027 show from Paris Fashion Week referenced, and for good reason. It's pure joy: sequins, snakeskin, beaded skirts, and more. This necklace and this necklace (omggg!), and I can't stop admiring them.
Another dreamy item that proves more IS more: this pouch.