The best things to do in Manhattan on Labor Day Monday, Sep 7 — hand-curated and refreshed weekly.
157 picks · checked Sep 2
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, Manhattan100-plus New Yorkers from all five boroughs record a live album onstage at the Delacorte — the Public's free season-closing pageant, five nights only.
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, Manhattan100-plus New Yorkers from all five boroughs record a live album onstage at the Delacorte — the Public's free season-closing pageant, five nights only.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanPhotograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLa Boheme closes the Met's 17th Summer HD Festival on Labor Day, screened free on a giant outdoor screen above Josie Robertson Plaza with about 2,500 seats and no tickets required.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanPhotograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLa Boheme closes the Met's 17th Summer HD Festival on Labor Day, screened free on a giant outdoor screen above Josie Robertson Plaza with about 2,500 seats and no tickets required.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, ManhattanOfficial Met exhibition on view June 12–September 8, 2026.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, ManhattanOfficial Met exhibition on view June 12–September 8, 2026.
Taqueria El Califa de Leon, Flatiron, ManhattanThe Mexico City taqueria that became the world's first Michelin-starred taco counter lands in Flatiron with five tacos and nothing else.
Taqueria El Califa de Leon, Flatiron, ManhattanThe Mexico City taqueria that became the world's first Michelin-starred taco counter lands in Flatiron with five tacos and nothing else.
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Bryant Park Lawn, Midtown, ManhattanAnother Believer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTim Allen and Sigourney Weaver spoof Star Trek on the Bryant Park lawn, where the 33rd season of free blanket cinema winds toward its finale.
Bryant Park Lawn, Midtown, ManhattanAnother Believer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTim Allen and Sigourney Weaver spoof Star Trek on the Bryant Park lawn, where the 33rd season of free blanket cinema winds toward its finale.
The Met Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, ManhattanMay S. Young · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Met's 250th-anniversary installation puts rarely seen prints of the Boston Massacre and revolutionary news on the wall.
The Met Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, ManhattanMay S. Young · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Met's 250th-anniversary installation puts rarely seen prints of the Boston Massacre and revolutionary news on the wall.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanShane Fleming · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsZu, Don't Play with Fire, Knock Off and Time and Tide play Metrograph in an 11-film Tsui Hark survey — two of them on 35mm prints.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanShane Fleming · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsZu, Don't Play with Fire, Knock Off and Time and Tide play Metrograph in an 11-film Tsui Hark survey — two of them on 35mm prints.
New World Stages, Stage 3, 340 West 50th Street, Hell's Kitchen, ManhattanThe Tony-winning spelling bee musical that pulls four audience members onstage to compete against the cast, live and unrehearsed.
New World Stages, Stage 3, 340 West 50th Street, Hell's Kitchen, ManhattanThe Tony-winning spelling bee musical that pulls four audience members onstage to compete against the cast, live and unrehearsed.
Lyceum Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMeg Stalter plays a boozy, cabaret-obsessed Mary Todd Lincoln in Cole Escola's comedy, in her final stretch before Bowen Yang takes over.
Lyceum Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMeg Stalter plays a boozy, cabaret-obsessed Mary Todd Lincoln in Cole Escola's comedy, in her final stretch before Bowen Yang takes over.
Marquis Theatre, 210 West 46th Street, Theater District, ManhattanThe Hawkins prequel staged with flying bodies, a burning house and illusions that make the Marquis feel structurally unsafe.
Marquis Theatre, 210 West 46th Street, Theater District, ManhattanThe Hawkins prequel staged with flying bodies, a burning house and illusions that make the Marquis feel structurally unsafe.
Palace Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanThe 1987 vampire movie becomes a four-Tony-winning rock musical at the Palace, with Shoshana Bean's 'Wild' as the peak.
Palace Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanThe 1987 vampire movie becomes a four-Tony-winning rock musical at the Palace, with Shoshana Bean's 'Wild' as the peak.
Madison Square Garden, Midtown, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHarry Styles plays back-to-back Garden nights on his 30-show residency — his only U.S. dates this year, with Jamie xx opening both.
Madison Square Garden, Midtown, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHarry Styles plays back-to-back Garden nights on his 30-show residency — his only U.S. dates this year, with Jamie xx opening both.
iDen's Beijing Duck House, Midtown, ManhattanThe dining room that housed La Grenouille for six decades reopened September 1 as a Beijing duck house. The chef ran the kitchen at Taiwan's first three-Michelin-star restaurant.
iDen's Beijing Duck House, Midtown, ManhattanThe dining room that housed La Grenouille for six decades reopened September 1 as a Beijing duck house. The chef ran the kitchen at Taiwan's first three-Michelin-star restaurant.
Dan Bakery, Upper East Side, ManhattanA New Jersey pastry shop known for its layered honey cake opened its first Manhattan storefront on York Avenue this August. Central Asian baking, plus a coffee counter.
Dan Bakery, Upper East Side, ManhattanA New Jersey pastry shop known for its layered honey cake opened its first Manhattan storefront on York Avenue this August. Central Asian baking, plus a coffee counter.
Hommali, West Village, ManhattanThree friends from Bangkok open a contemporary Thai restaurant built around jasmine rice, which arrives free with every meal. Labor Day is its first weekend.
Hommali, West Village, ManhattanThree friends from Bangkok open a contemporary Thai restaurant built around jasmine rice, which arrives free with every meal. Labor Day is its first weekend.
Museum of the City of New York, Upper Manhattan, ManhattanA rescued New Deal mural cycle painted for a hospital children's ward goes back on public view in East Harlem.
Museum of the City of New York, Upper Manhattan, ManhattanA rescued New Deal mural cycle painted for a hospital children's ward goes back on public view in East Harlem.
Blue Note Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, ManhattanThe rapper behind 1999 and B4.Da.$$ squeezes into the 200-seat Blue Note for two nightly sets rather than an arena stage.
Blue Note Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, ManhattanThe rapper behind 1999 and B4.Da.$$ squeezes into the 200-seat Blue Note for two nightly sets rather than an arena stage.
Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, ManhattanKidfly182 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Whitney waives its $30 admission every Friday from 5-10pm — all eight floors open, often with DJs and a bar. Free tickets are required and go fast; reserve online.
Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, ManhattanKidfly182 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Whitney waives its $30 admission every Friday from 5-10pm — all eight floors open, often with DJs and a bar. Free tickets are required and go fast; reserve online.
Father Duffy Square: Father Duffy Square, ManhattanTimes Square Alliance runs free live programming on Father Duffy Square, staged on the red steps under the billboards.
Father Duffy Square: Father Duffy Square, ManhattanTimes Square Alliance runs free live programming on Father Duffy Square, staged on the red steps under the billboards.
The Museum of Modern Art, Midtown, ManhattanMoMA's Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera survey enters its final week, the two Mexican modernists hung in dialogue rather than apart.
The Museum of Modern Art, Midtown, ManhattanMoMA's Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera survey enters its final week, the two Mexican modernists hung in dialogue rather than apart.
Central Park: Shakespeare Statue Plaza, ManhattanAn open-air milonga fills the plaza at Central Park's Shakespeare statue on summer evenings — free lesson first, no partner needed.
Central Park: Shakespeare Statue Plaza, ManhattanAn open-air milonga fills the plaza at Central Park's Shakespeare statue on summer evenings — free lesson first, no partner needed.
Central Park: King Jagiallo Plaza, ManhattanFree open-air folk dancing by the King Jagiello statue in Central Park — global steps, live spirit, all levels welcome.
Central Park: King Jagiallo Plaza, ManhattanFree open-air folk dancing by the King Jagiello statue in Central Park — global steps, live spirit, all levels welcome.
Central Park: 110th and Lenox, ManhattanAn open-air market sets up at Central Park's 110th and Lenox corner — vendors, crafts and food at the Harlem gateway to the park.
Central Park: 110th and Lenox, ManhattanAn open-air market sets up at Central Park's 110th and Lenox corner — vendors, crafts and food at the Harlem gateway to the park.
New Amsterdam Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAladdin plays the restored New Amsterdam Theatre, where Friend Like Me remains the loudest eleven o'clock number in town.
New Amsterdam Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAladdin plays the restored New Amsterdam Theatre, where Friend Like Me remains the loudest eleven o'clock number in town.
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