NYC Life arrives with a swirl of emotion and discovery this week. We’re mourning the closing of Barbetta, a Restaurant Row icon whose loss feels as poignant as the shuttering of the 21 Club. But the city’s creative pulse beats on—from Gainsborough’s elegance at The Frick to the soon‑to‑open Whitney Biennial. Bridgerton fans can revel in a candlelit experience at Edge, while our Long Island Spotlight celebrates a woman whose business was built on integrity and heart. We also share new Renewal Summit updates and a sun‑soaked dispatch from Palm Springs.

Renewal Summit Updates

We’re thrilled to welcome Fountain Life as our premiere sponsor for this year’s Renewal Summit—an ideal partner for our theme of resilience and longevity. Fountain Life is transforming how we live well and live long. You’ll hear from Dr. Dawn Mussallem, their Chief Medical Officer and a nationally recognized leader in precision‑based longevity care, who blends advanced diagnostics, lifestyle medicine, and her own powerful story of resilience. Trust me, you do not want to miss this year’s summit. GET THE DETAILS. 

Farewell Barbetta

We were so sad to hear that Restaurant Row’s legendary restaurant Barbetta, served its final meals yesterday, ending a 120-year chapter. Founded in 1906 and lovingly shaped for more than six decades by Laura Maioglio who recently passed away at 93, the restaurant became a sanctuary of antique‑filled rooms, a lush garden patio, and white‑truffle‑laden dishes that introduced generations of New Yorkers to the flavors of northern Italy.

We hope another restaurateur will take over the beautiful space.

Thursday, March 5. An Evening of  Mermaid Comedy

Head to Brooklyn for a crazy fun variety show about mermaid things–such as neurodivergence, attachment theory, & hoarding–from the whimsically wet mind of Betsy Carroll! Her mom is tomato, Dr. Barbara Bartlik, who is a sex therapist. GET THE DETAILS.

Whitney Biennial Returns

Opening March 8, the 2026 Whitney Biennial arrives not just as the 82nd edition of the country’s longest-running survey of contemporary American art, but as a turning point in who gets to step inside its world. This year’s Biennial gathers 56 artists, duos, and collectives whose work leans into atmosphere over argument—inviting visitors into spaces shaped by tension, tenderness, humor, unease, and the shifting infrastructures that bind us. Whitney Museum of American Art

What makes this edition especially consequential is its expanded access: it’s the first Biennial presented after the Whitney’s new free‑admission program, which now welcomes all visitors 25 and under at no cost. That shift opens the doors to a new generation of viewers, reshaping who gets to encounter—and be shaped by—the most influential snapshot of American .

Gainsborough: The Fashion of Portraiture at The Frick Collection

Step into the world of eighteenth-century elegance at The Frick Collection’s inaugural exhibition devoted to Thomas Gainsborough’s portraiture—a New York first.  Running through May 25, 2026, “Gainsborough: The Fashion of Portraiture” presents over two dozen of the English artist’s most spectacular portraits, exploring how fashion and identity intertwined in Georgian society.

Gainsborough’s paintings are far more than static images; they’re visual records of a world where style, status, and wealth converged. The exhibition reveals how the artist understood fashion expansively—encompassing class, labor, craft, and the very construction of identity itself. From sumptuous silks to carefully chosen accessories, each portrait captures a moment of carefully curated self-presentation, yet Gainsborough often reworked his canvases years later to reflect evolving fashions and changing circumstances.

The show features remarkable works including “Mary, Countess Howe” (1763–64), displayed in a forest-green gallery with spectacular full-length portraits, alongside intimate studies and even a charming portrait of a Pomeranian and puppy. Behind the scenes, technical investigations conducted with conservators from The Met, the Getty, and Yale reveal the artist’s deep connections to the materials that fueled the fashion industry—from dyes and pigments to textiles and jewelry.

The Frick Collection | 1 E. 70th St., Manhattan | 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Tuesdays) | Advance timed tickets required. GET THE DETAILS.

Meet Eunice Lipsky

In this week’s Spotlight on Long Island Women, our Long Island reporter, Andrea Peponakis introduces us to Eunice Lipsky — a woman who has spent her life building far more than a business. From sweeping the floors of GTS Builders Supply as a young girl to becoming its president and securing WBE certification across New York, Eunice has led with loyalty, grit, and a deep belief in people. Her story is one of family roots, quiet perseverance, and the kind of leadership that strengthens a community from the inside out. GET THE DETAILS.

Bridgerton Candlelight® Evenings at Edge Hudson Yards

Bridgerton fans can step into the world of Bridgerton with a candlelit, live‑music experience 1,100 feet above New York City. Edge and Fever present a limited series of Bridgerton‑themed Candlelight® concerts, celebrating the release of Season 4, Part 2. Surrounded by thousands of candles and sweeping skyline views, guests enjoy a 60‑minute orchestral performance inspired by the show’s beloved soundtrack.

Dates:
February 28 • March 1 • March 6 • March 7 • March 13
Time: 8:00–9:00 PM
Location: Indoor sky deck, Level 100

Your ticket includes:

• A candlelit live concert
• Admission to Edge’s indoor sky deck
• Standing‑room access to explore the space and views

Mastercard® cardholders receive priority access and a complimentary glass of champagne (limited availability).

Reserve your evening: https://www.edgenyc.com/bridgerton-candlelight-evenings/

Roving in Palm Springs

Our roving photographer Nicole Freezer Rubens writes:

Stepping off the plane at Palm Springs International Airport, surrounded by the glorious San Jacinto Mountains, is a breath of fresh air. Initially established as a resort for those with health conditions requiring dry desert heat, it later became  a playground for the rich and famous 1930s Hollywood actors, whose contracts allowed them to be no more than 2 hours away from the film studios. The Rat Pack vibe and the architecture that suited it remain intact.

I just returned from Modernism Week, an annual festival celebrating the midcentury modern architecture, design, and vintage scene for which Palm Springs is world-renowned. The colors, shapes, and textures of the buildings, dreamed up by famous architects including John Lautner, Albert Frey, Richard Neutra, Rudi Baumfeld, and dozens more, do not disappoint; they inspire. The preservation in Palm Springs, supported by Modernism Week and year-round tours of these monumental homes and buildings, is a true tribute to the past of the area and works in perfect harmony with the embracing mountains, Native American communities, and simple California desert lifestyle.

Here are examples of the variety of architectural styles that define Palm Springs of yesterday and today. I hope to return many more tomorrows, as there is so much to see and do in this glorious, uplifting historic region.

~Nicole Freezer Rubens is the author of “The Long Pause and the Short Breath.”