New York, New York
The great thing about New York City is its ability to constantly reinvent itself, or at the very least reinvigorate itself.
Many of the iconic staples of tourism stay the same in NYC – the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Fifth Avenue shopping, the Empire State Building, Times Square and more. Heck, they even brought back the ‘Sex and the City’ tour out of deference to the beloved television show’s new SATC reboot, “And Just Like That…”
But there will always be new wrinkles: another Broadway show opening – Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker together – a museum exhibit, entertainers bringing their concerts to town (looking at you Elton John!), the debut of a hotel, the ‘it’ hotspot or restaurant of the moment.
Here are 10 things that will be new to New York City that you can try in 2022.
New Shows on Broadway
One thing about Broadway – it brings out the stars. The husband-and-wife duo of Broadway legend and two-time Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick and two-time Emmy Award winner Sarah Jessica Parker will appear together in the revival of Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite,” with an opening night set for March 28.
Three days later, another legend comes back to the Great White Way when Billy Crystal headlines the musical-comedy, “Mr. Saturday Night.” It will be another celebrated period for Broadway after it shut down for almost 18 months. And not only does Broadway bring out the stars, it makes the stars. Barbra Streisand launched herself into the stratosphere in the 1960s appearing on Broadway as Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl.” Will the same happen for Beanie Feldstein when she assumes the role in the revival of “Funny Girl” on April 28?
Speaking of Broadway…
The newest New York City museum will open in the summer of 2022. The Museum of Broadway – ironically enough, located in the Theater District – will give visitors a comprehensive history of Broadway with an interactive and immersive look at everything from the acting to the lighting to how a stage is designed.
Rockefeller Center Redux
People automatically think ‘winter’ and ‘skating’ and ‘Christmas tree’ when they think of Rockefeller Center. But in the spring, summer and fall, it’s a wonderful place to relax and meet friends and already should be on your NYC bucket list. Now it’s going to be a great place for foodies. Rockefeller Center is undergoing a revitalization of its restaurant scene. Some of the expected openings include Frechette’s, Atomix and Other Half Brewing.
Elton John in Concert
The famed singer is actually bringing two shows to New York City, one in February at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan and one in March at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. These shows are part of the legend’s worldwide farewell tour, which actually started three years ago but has been interrupted for two years by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aman New York Set To Open
What promises to be one of the most luxurious new hotel openings of the year, Aman New York at 5th Ave. and 57th St. is set to open its doors in May of this year. The address alone screams opulence – in the heart of midtown Manhattan just two blocks from Central Park and a walking gateway to either the Upper West Side or Upper East Side, including some of the best museums in the world. The hotel will have a jazz club and a fireplace in each room. But be forewarned – it’s pricey, and there are only 83 hotel rooms. Unless you want to, you know, buy one of the properties.
House of X
Yes, Las Vegas has a vibrant nightclub scene, but New York City sets the trend for what’s hot and what’s not when it comes to nightlife. And right now, the hot club is House of X in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. It actually had a limited soft opening in late November of 2021 as a sister club of the beloved House of Yes, and 2022 promises to be a huge year for club-goers. House of X will cater to every whim of the younger crowd. You can dance, watch people swing from the rafters, look at folks wearing little clothing, drink and just about anything you expect from an NYC nightclub.
Singapore Hawker Center
It was always the dream of the late Anthony Bourdain to open a food hall in New York City inspired by the ‘food hawkers’ he loved in Singapore. Now KF Seetoh, founder of the World Street Food Congress and a former judge on TV’s Top Chef, has picked up the mantle and will open the Singapore Hawker Center in the city early this year. Hawker Centers aren’t just people cooking food screaming at you to try their goodies. It’s actually an honored tradition in Singapore for communal dinners with friends and family.
One for the AvGeeks
Yeah, this one’s for the aviation enthusiasts, also known as AvGeeks, but it’s also for every tourist who flies into New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Consistently ranked as one of the worst airports in the U.S., LaGuardia has been undergoing a massive renovation. The $3.9 billion Delta Air Lines terminal will debut its biggest space and its largest Delta Sky Club when the second of its four concourses opens in the spring of this year.
Jean-Michel Basquiat Exhibit
Mark your calendars for April 9, art lovers. The family of the late, much-celebrated artist Jean-Michel Basquiat will debut a comprehensive exhibit of his work this spring called “Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure.” Basquiat was one of the most influential black artists ever, and the exhibit will feature 200 of his works, some of which have never been seen before. The exhibit will be held at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.
City Climb
Organizers of City Climb brand this as ‘climbing out of your comfort zone.’ Ya’ think? Located at 30 Hudson Yards in one of New York City’s newest and tallest buildings, City Climb is the highest open-air building ascent in the world at 1,200 feet including the skydeck known as the Edge. People – OK, let’s really call them daredevils who have no fear of heights – climb the steps on the outside of the building (not all 1,200 feet worth). Oh, but that’s not all. Once at the top, climbers are then strapped to a harness on an outdoor platform and can literally lean out over the building and soak in the greatest view of NYC ever.
