Mark Peikert

Getting seats to the best Broadway shows usually requires quite a bit of advance planning. But what if you haven't planned, and you urgently need to see a show tomorrow or even tonight? Don't panic: There are plenty of options for last-minute tickets, especially if you’re willing to put in some legwork. It partly depends on what you're willing to pay and how much risk you're willing to take—and, of course, on plain old luck. If everything goes your way, you might even luck into cheap Broadway tickets, great seats or a chance to see hit shows that you would never have been able to get into earlier. Here is our insider guide to buying last-minute Broadway tickets. The day before the show: Enter the digital lottery Many Broadway shows—including Aladdin, The Book of Mormon and Hadestown—conduct digital lotteries for cheap tickets on the day before each performance. In most cases, you enter the lottery online, then wait until later the same day to find out by email if you've won; if you do, you'll need to reply to the ticket offer within an hour or you'll lose your chance. A few shows, such as Wicked, do their drawings on the morning of the show itself; others have drawings once a week, notably the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child $40 ticket lottery and the $10 Hamilton lottery, both of which happen on Fridays and cover the week ahead. For a full list of shows that offer lotteries, consult Broadway on a Budget or Playbill's Broadway and Off Broadway listings. The morning of the s

Ariana Grande will finally tour again next year, and fans in Los Angeles are in for something special: The Oscar-nominated Wicked star is bringing her Eternal Sunshine Tour to L.A. for five nights of arena magic—split between the Crypto.com Arena and Kia Forum—that promise to feel both intimate and gigantic.  This is her first tour since the 2019 Sweetener World Tour, and it’s in support of her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, and its deluxe edition, Brighter Days Ahead. The tour kicks off June 6, 2026, in Oakland before Los Angeles gets a five-night run that feels like a homecoming. Is it too early to call it the highlight of the summer?

Metro riders beware: LA Metro is reviving its TAP-to-exit initiative at both ends of the red line beginning Monday, November 17. That means that all riders will have to scan their TAP cards to exit the turnstiles at North Hollywood and Union Station, and anyone who didn't pay to board will have to pay to leave. (And possibly, allegedly, face a fine.) Right now, TAP-to-exit is only in effect at the E Line’s Downtown Santa Monica Station but, next week, the North Hollywood and Union Station stops along the B Line will resume the program as well. Additionally, LA Metro announced that it will institute the procedure at the A Line’s Pomona North Station. Initially launched at the North Hollywood station in May 2024, the system was reportedly behind a 90% decrease in loitering at the station and a 12% decrease in crime at that stop, with 90% of surveyed riders saying that it made the station cleaner, while 86% felt safer. Union Station instituted the practice on February 18, 2025, but in April 2025, the Los Angeles Fire Department demanded that LA Metro cease the program amid concerns about potential bottlenecks because there was no system in place to unlock the turnstiles during an emergency. Once the program ground to a halt, LA Metro reported that crime at the North Hollywood stop increased by 67% and at Union Station by a whopping 116%. Metro also reported that it lost almost $35,000 in fares at both stations. Now, it seems, LA Metro has sufficiently addressed the LAFD's concer

A new reason to travel down to Battery Park City just popped up. Months after the 3.5-acre Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park reopened in July following a two-year renovation project, the Wagner Park Pavilion, the park's central structure, is now officially accessible. The new destination offers a free, publicly accessible rooftop that provides visitors with panoramic views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Hudson River. RECOMMENDED: This beloved NYC waterfront park just got a $300 million makeover Located at the southern tip of Battery Park City, the reimagined Wagner Park boasts a 63,000-gallon cistern to recycle rainwater, a buried floodwall meant to defend against another Superstorm Sandy and saltwater-friendly gardens that will flourish even as tides rise. It's all part of the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency initiative, engineered to combat climate change. Photograph: Courtesy of Battery Park City Authority As Battery Park City Authority president (BPCA) and CEO Raju Mann put it, "opening the Wagner Park Pavilion reminds us of the reality that underlies this significant milestone in BPCA’s ongoing resiliency work. Not only are we dedicated to creating a more resilient lower Manhattan that can withstand the storms to come, we also want to create beautiful public spaces for all to enjoy. Two goals perfectly encapsulated in the new pavilion." Photograph: Courtesy of Battery Park City Authority Designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners, the Wagner Park Pavilion sit

Grab your protective cup, Los Angeles, because Jackass is rolling into town for a free three-day pop-up. In celebration of the MTV show's 25th anniversary, Complex LA gallery is hosting an art show on November 14 through 16. Expect original cast members Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O to make appearances alongside bold-faced art world names like Damien Hirst, Shepard Fairey, Spike Jonze, Mike Judge, Mark Romanek and John Waters. "Hot damn you read this right! In honor of our 25th anniversary we’re gonna have ourselves a good old fashioned art show," Knoxville wrote on Instagram in a post announcing the event. "Jackass cast members, select crew and some pretty unbelievable artists are contributing amazing Jackass inspired art works. Can't believe some of the people we have in the show." When it first premiered in the year 2000, Jackass instantly delighted teenagers, horrified parents and likely caused more than a few ER nurses to develop a nervous tic. It was a staple to the head (sometimes literally) to the concept of late '90s cool, proving that cool has nothing to do with aloof and everything to do with the kind of friendship that leads to "don't try this at home" warnings and multiple hospital trips. Two years after the TV show premiered came Jackass: The Movie, followed by Jackass Number Two, Jackass 3D and 2022's Jackass Forever. The cast evolved and matured—well, maybe not matured so much as aged—but the punchline has always been gleeful, anarchic violence. Twenty-five ye

Santa Claus is coming to town next month but, in the meantime, he's sending his favorite soft drink as an emissary. The Coca-Cola Caravan will spread caffeine, carbonation and holiday cheer throughout New York from November 12 through November 16, including a full day in Times Square on Friday, November 14. RECOMMENDED: Christmas in New York 2025: a guide to celebrating the season The Times Square event will last from 4pm to 8pm between 46th and 47th Streets, bringing with it plenty of photo ops and family-friendly activities. This year, Santa gets a brand-new throne to take photos on (available as a postcard or as a digital pic), a Costa Coffee Cart providing a less sugary caffeine rush and the Coca-Cola Gifting Box, offering complimentary holiday bags and tags (while supplies last). There will also be an opportunity to support the company's partnership with No Kid Hungry to provide meals to children and families across the U.S.  Finally, a “Refreshing the Holidays” exhibit at select stops lets visitors walk through an interactive pop-up about Coca-Cola's history and current innovations.  This is the 28th anniversary of the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan (although the initial, minute-long commercial introducing the concept first aired in 1995), an annual tradition that brings a tangible holiday vibe to families in cities across the country. According to an official press release, following the November 14 stop in Times Square, the caravan will drop by the parking lot of the Stop

There's a reason why New Yorkers walk so fast, and it's because public transit is so slow. Sure, that's a bit of an overstatement, except when it comes to certain routes. The annual Pokey Awards returned this year for the first time since 2022, officially naming the M42 crosstown bus as the slowest bus in all of NYC. Awarded by the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) Straphangers Campaign and the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, the Pokey Award—a golden snail—revealed that the M42 travels at an average speed of 5.25 miles per hour. In comparison, a wolf trots along at about 5 miles per hour. This is at least the sixth time the award has gone to the M42; the last time was in 2021, when the crosstown bus had the same average speed of 5.25 miles per hour. Runners-up for the Pokey include the B35 (5.36 miles per hour), the Bx35 (5.59 miles per hour), the Q72 (6.08 miles per hour) and the S48 (9.19 miles per hour). The M42 is at least faster than the 2022 Pokey Award winner: the M102, which clocked in at 4.6 miles per hour. Thank you, congestion pricing?  Along with the Pokey Award, the elephant-shaped Schleppie Award was once again handed out to the least reliable bus. The 2025 recipient is the Q8, with an average wait time of 3.62 minutes longer than the scheduled interval. There's more: since it's 2025, and everyone is looking for good news wherever they can find it, a new category was added. The Mazel Award goes to the standard and express bus ro

Get ready to drink the potion! The team behind one of Miami’s most eye-catching nightlife spots is back with an addition to the city’s after-dark scene. On Wednesday, November 19, Golden Era Hospitality Group (the folks responsible for ORO) will debut Elixir, a seductive new rooftop lounge inspired by Death Becomes Her and the timeless pursuit of eternal youth. RECOMMENDED: This trendy Miami speakeasy was named one of the best bars in the world on this Michelin-style guide Perched above its sister venue ORO, Elixir oozes old Hollywood mystique with a Miami twist. The open-air space drips with cinematic flair, including a grand chandelier, gold accents and plush purple velvet furnishings, all under a ceiling of circular LED lights. It’s the kind of place where the line between fantasy and reality blurs, perfectly in keeping with the vibe one would expect at Lisle Von Rhuman's. Naturally, the drinks are potent potions worthy of the destination's moniker. Head mixologist David Lozano has crafted a menu of cocktails inspired by the seven deadly sins. Signature sips include the shimmering purple Elixir (a lychee martini with Grey Goose, orange wine and oolong tea) along with other libations designed to tempt and seduce in equal measure. Chef Victor Muñoz brings an equally inventive menu of elevated “fast food” bites, playful enough to surprise but decadent enough to impress. Expect dishes like the Uni Crunchwrap with passionfruit caesar, grana padano and trout roe, or the Fancy Be

The late Gene Hackman left behind one of cinema’s greatest legacies, delivering unforgettable performances in films as varied as The French Connection, Unforgiven, Hoosiers and The Royal Tenenbaums. But this fall, New Yorkers will have the rare chance to encounter a different side of him entirely. Bonhams auction house will present The Gene Hackman Collection: A Life in Art, a single-owner sale featuring the actor’s personal art holdings, movie memorabilia and even some of his own creations. A public preview will take place at Bonhams’ Madison Avenue location across three days in November, offering a quiet window into the private world of the two-time Oscar winner. The preview kicks off tomorrow and runs through November 19 at Bonhams New York in midtown Manhattan, with the live sale scheduled for November 19. The galleries will display works by major figures, including Milton Avery, Richard Diebenkorn and Auguste Rodin. Hackman collected with the same blend of discipline and curiosity that defined his acting career. Rather than chasing trends or trophy pieces, he followed intuition. Many pieces remained with him for decades. Photograph: Courtesy of Bonhams "These are prestigious works with impeccable provenance, further enriched by their association with one of the greatest actors of our time," said Andrew Huber, Bonhams head of 20th and 21st century art, U.S., in an official statement. "Hackman was not only a collector but an artist himself, and his approach to collecting

A new kind of music-making space has landed in Hudson Square, and it’s already winning the hearts (and lungs) of recording artists across the city. Artist House, a hybrid music incubator and accelerator, has officially opened its doors as a sprawling 20,000-square-foot facility designed to help emerging talent collaborate with top-tier writers, producers and industry mentors. Photograph: Courtesy of Artist House Photography: Courtesy of Artist House Founded by Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Gregg Wattenberg and longtime music industry executive Steve Lerner, Artist House positions itself as a bridge between up-and-coming artists and the gatekeepers of pop, rock, hip-hop and beyond. The facility features 10 studios, communal lounge areas and a roster of rotating talent and collaborators, creating an environment where artists can move freely between writing sessions, production labs, listening rooms and informal networking. Photograph: Courtesy of Artist House Photography: Courtesy of Artist House Photography: Courtesy of Artist House But what’s already marked Artist House as something special is one particular design choice: a handful of the studios were built with a highly engineered ventilation and air filtration system that allows artists to smoke in the room while recording without fogging up equipment, annoying engineers or filling the space with lingering haze. It’s a tech-forward solution to an age-old truth: many musicians work better when they’re rel

One of Keith Haring’s most significant public works is returning to view in New York this fall. Martos Gallery on Elizabeth Street in downtown Manhattan has mounted a rare presentation of 14 of the original 30 panels from Haring’s FDR Drive mural, originally created onsite in 1984 along a 300-foot stretch of the highway facing the East River. Long thought lost, fragmented or scattered, the panels now appear together again in a gallery setting—still hung roughly 4.5 feet from the ground, just as they were when drivers, cyclists and dog walkers first encountered them in real time 40 years ago. Unlike many of Haring’s more widely recognized subway chalk drawings or indoor-relegated works, the FDR mural, in private collections until now, was made for constant movement. It functioned as a kinetic frieze: a panoramic strip of dancing figures, radiating outlines, barking dogs, winged bodies and oversized lightbulbs, all outlined in Haring’s unmistakable graphic script. The mural originally existed in conversation with the city’s own rhythms: traffic flowing in two directions, headlights streaking by after dark, the river moving parallel to the highway.  Coming just months after Martos' Haring exhibit "Surface to Air," FDR Drive Mural is accompanied by an essay by critic and curator Bob Nickas, who writes about the mural as both social bulletin and private burst of expression, a work made during a moment of cultural tension in New York. Haring created it in 1984, the year of Reagan’s

At the tail end of a rough year for Los Angeles, some good news at last: a new list of the world's best cities for 2026 has slotted L.A. as number 12. Not bad for a global competition!  The ranking from Resonance Consultancy evaluates the top 100 cities based on livability, lovability and prosperity; L.A. came in at 13 on all three. The list places London, New York and Paris in the top three, but Los Angeles’ spot just shy of the top 10 underscores a familiar truth: ours is a city that’s constantly redefining itself while the world watches. The United States boasts 19 entries on the list (including Chicago and Miami), more than any other country, and Los Angeles stands out for its cultural influence, creative economy and enduring power as a place where people come to chase big dreams. As the report summarizes, "The planet’s city of stories is telling a few of its own these days, even with the nagging trauma of Mother Nature’s recent wrath." And some of those stories live on social media, helping L.A. secure the number three spot for Instagram posts on the Place Power Rankings. (We also came in at number three for universities.)  *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-68ed9336-230c-8326-8008-e8556bc60f1d-8" data-testid="conversation-turn-152" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assi

Fresh off his SevenRooms Icon Award at The World’s 50 Best Hotels, nightlife and hospitality legend Ian Schrager has announced the West Coast debut of his cult-favorite brand PUBLIC, set to open in West Hollywood in spring 2026. For Schrager, the co-founder of Studio 54 and the man who redefined the boutique hotel experience in the '90s, this marks both a return to Los Angeles and a fresh statement of intent: luxury doesn’t have to be exclusive. Or quiet. Or boring. RECOMMENDED: There's an adorable new rideable life-sized carousel outside the PUBLIC hotel There's also something delicious about the site chosen for PUBLIC West Hollywood: the former Standard Hotel, itself an emblem of a certain era from another icon in the field, Andre Balazs. Now, PUBLIC will boast 137 rooms and interiors shaped by Schrager in partnership with minimalist British architect John Pawson. Photograph: Courtesy of PUBLIC The result is expected to be a blend of simplicity and seduction: clean lines, warm materials, soft light and spaces that are designed as much for vibes as for comfort. The brand’s approach emphasizes Schrager's “luxury for all” call to arms, meaning high design, high-touch service and high energy, without the intimidating price tags or velvet rope mentality that once defined West Hollywood nightlife. One of the new hotel’s marquee features will be its 16,000-square-foot rooftop, which will be lushly landscaped and open to sweeping 360-degree views of Los Angeles. Schrager has long

A quarter-century of L.A. music history is coming to a close—at least, for now. For the past 25 years, the Hotel Café has been a proving ground for singer-songwriters, nurturing the careers of countless artists, but the beloved venue will shutter its Cahuenga Boulevard location early in 2026, according to a November 3 Instagram post. That doesn’t mean the end for Hotel Café entirely: plans are already underway for a 2027 reopening in Lumina Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard. What started as a modest coffee shop quickly evolved into a cultural hub, complete with its own tour and record label. Over the years, the space has served as a springboard for musicians breaking into the mainstream; Grey’s Anatomy music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas frequently scouted the venue for new talent, licensing acts like Meiko and Adele for the hit show. No official dates have been announced for the closing or the anticipated reopening, though the Hotel Café website lists events through December 16. Meanwhile, fans and longtime patrons have been pouring their tributes into the venue’s Instagram post, mourning the end of an era while looking forward to its next chapter.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Hotel Cafe (@thehotelcafe) "It is hard to put into words what this space and the last quarter century have meant to us, and to all of you who have filled it with songs, stories, and life. The Hotel Cafe has been more than a venue. It has been a family, a refuge, a