Photo: Nicole Freezer Rubens

September is sizzling, and our NYC Insider’s Club is leading the way. From a sold-out Waldorf tour to an upcoming spa indulgence at Lotte New York Palace, our members are stepping behind the velvet rope. Meanwhile, Little Italy comes alive with the Feast of San Gennaro’s old-world charm, and Broadway Week offers 2-for-1 tickets to buzzworthy shows. Add a powerful evening of women’s voices, a spotlight on Long Island leadership, and a rare glimpse of Jefferson’s handwritten Declaration—and you’ve got a masterclass in inspiration, connection, and discovery. And as always, our roving photographer is capturing the magic wherever she goes.

Join the Club

Our NYC Insider’s Club is off to a great start. Our first event, a private tour of the Waldorf and cocktails at Peacock Alley, is fully booked. Next up: Backstage tour of the Metropolitan Opera House ($25) and a Luxury Spa Afternoon at Lotte New York Palace, including mini treatments like Red Light Therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen, PEMF, and world-class massage. Plus, a special presentation by Immunocologies Karen Ballou on facial yoga and Blue Zone-inspired skincare rituals. Lite bites and refreshments—FREE to members. GET THE DETAILS.

Sept. 11-21. The Feast Returns

The Feast of San Gennaro is back in Little Italy from September 11–21, 2025, and it’s bursting with flavor, music, and tradition. Celebrating its 99th year, this iconic 11-day street festival transforms Mulberry Street into a carnival of Italian-American pride—with over a million visitors soaking in the sights, smells, and sounds.

Expect mouthwatering classics like sausage and peppers, zeppoles, cannoli from Ferrara Bakery, and fried calzones served hot from street vendors. The Grand Procession on September 13 features floats, marching bands, and the statue of San Gennaro paraded through the neighborhood in old-world style. There’s also a Solemn High Mass on September 19 honoring the patron saint of Naples, plus nightly live music, karaoke, and even a panel with Sylvester Stallone and the cast of Tulsa King on September 16.

It’s free to attend but bring cash for food and games—and pace yourself. The stretch from Canal to Houston is long, and every corner smells like garlic and powdered sugar. If you’re planning to go, weekdays are less crowded, and dessert is non-negotiable: zeppole followed by cannoli is peak San Gennaro behavior. GET THE DETAILS.

September 8–21.  Broadway Week Returns

New York City’s theater district is alive with possibility as Broadway Week returns this fall, offering 2-for-1 tickets to some of the most captivating shows on stage. Whether you’re drawn to the glittering nostalgia of The Great Gatsby, the soulful storytelling of Hell’s Kitchen, or the quirky tenderness of Maybe Happy Ending, this is your moment to experience Broadway’s brilliance without breaking the bank.

From immersive revivals like Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club to pop-powered reimaginings like Six, the lineup is rich with emotion, artistry, and reinvention. It’s a celebration of voices—classic and contemporary—that speak to transformation, resilience, and joy.

Here is the list of participating shows.

• Maybe Happy Ending 
• Cult of Love 
• The Great Gatsby 
• Chicago 
• Cabaret 
• & Juliet
• The Lion King
• Sunset Boulevard 
• The Book of Mormon
• Moulin Rouge
• Eureka Day
• Death Becomes Her
• A Wonderful World: A Louis Armstrong Musical 
• Left on Tenth
• Romeo + Juliet 
• Gypsy 
• Hell’s Kitchen
• MJ The Musical
• Redwood
• Aladdin
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 
• English
• Oh, Mary
• Wicked
• Hamilton
• Six The Musical
• Hadestown

Use promo code NYCBW400 for standard seats or NYCUP400 for upgraded experiences. Curtain up, hearts open. GET THE DETAILS NOW.

Oct. 28. The Power of Women’s Voices

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating fierce, funny, and fearless women over 40. Presented by The Three Tomatoes Publishing, this curated showcase features live readings of original prose and poetry, captivating art, and soul-stirring musical performances. From love and loss to reinvention and resilience, these voices will move you—and maybe even ignite your own. Readers: Valerie Smaldone, Carol Ostrow, Laura Patinkin; performances by Randie Levine Miller, Merrill Stone, Karen Nason, and Steve Schachalin.  this is more than a show—it’s a movement. GET THE DETAILS.

Spotlight on Long Island: Meet Carrie Meek Gallagher

Andrea Pepononkis introduces us to a true trailblazer—Carrie Meek Gallagher, the very first woman chosen to lead the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). Her story isn’t just about energy and infrastructure—it’s about service, compassion, and a commitment to making life a little easier for all of us, especially for seniors who are often balancing comfort with the reality of fixed incomes. Read more.

A Rare Glimpse into America’s Founding Words: NYPL to Display Jefferson’s Draft of the Declaration of Independence

We’re giving you a heads-up make reservations for this rare event. To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the New York Public Library will unveil one of its most treasured holdings: a rare, handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson. From July 1 to July 3, 2026, visitors to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building will have the extraordinary opportunity to view this “fair copy” manuscript—an early version that reveals the raw, unedited convictions of its author.

Unlike the final version ratified on July 4, 1776, Jefferson’s draft includes a powerful condemnation of the slave trade—later removed to appease Southern delegates. This omission, underlined by Jefferson himself in copies sent to friends, offers a sobering lens into the compromises that shaped our founding document.

Held by the Library’s Manuscripts and Archives Division, this copy is believed to be one of only four surviving intact drafts. It may even be the version Jefferson sent to his former law professor, George Wythe.

🗽 Part of a Larger Celebration: “Revolution: 1776 and Beyond”

The display is part of NYPL’s sweeping exhibition, Revolution: 1776 and Beyond, which will explore New York’s pivotal role in the American Revolution and the ripple effects of democratic ideals across the globe. From June 2026 through January 10, 2027, all galleries in the Schwarzman Building will be devoted to this immersive experience, featuring:

• Founding-era correspondence between Benjamin Franklin and George Washington
• Protest ephemera and broadsides from ACT UP and other movements
• Contemporary artworks by Jenny Holzer, Kara Walker, and Kerry James Marshall
• Stories from patriots, loyalists, women, enslaved people, and Indigenous communities

🎟️ How to Visit

Timed reservations to view the Declaration draft will open in June 2026, with extended hours to accommodate high demand. Admission is free, but space is limited—so NYPL recommends subscribing to NYPL Connect for updates.

Roving in the Corning Museum of Glass

Nicole Freezer Rubens writes:

I was blown away at my recent visit to the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. Opened in 1951 to commemorate the glass company’s 100th birthday, it has evolved into one of the most in-depth glass collections and glassworking schools. Exploring the jam-packed complex provides a history of the versatile material throughout art, technology, science, and design, spanning ancient artifacts through groundbreaking contemporary masterpieces. The inspiring glass-blowing demonstration makes the craft look far simpler than it is.

The town established at the turn of the 19th century is situated around the Chemung River, and has always been an industrial town. Market Street remains steeped in the past, and the establishments are in keeping with a simpler time. The storefronts are quaint and just as colorful as the pieces on display at the museum.

Spending time in Corning is a great reminder of some of the foundations on which our country was built and that still thrive today.