👒 nyc weekend guide to the kentucky derby
🍹and cinco de mayo!
👋 The city is popping off with Kentucky Derby parties and Cinco de Mayo celebrations all weekend long.
Saturday belongs to the Derby, whether you're day-drinking mint juleps at Magic Hour Rooftop with live DJs and giant TV screens. Or keep it classy at Chef Laurent Tourondel's Derby Reserve party with Southern bites, live jazz, and artisanal cocktails.
Mission Ceviche celebrates Cinco de Mayo on Monday with open-bar margaritas, mariachi music, and Mexican-Peruvian fusion dishes at their Union Square and Upper East Side locations.
And just when you think the fun's over, Stranger Things' Joe Keery (aka Djo) kicks off a three-night run at Brooklyn Steel on Monday.
Have a great weekend,
Friday, May 2
🪷 Macy’s Flower Show: Floral Dreams Unfold
This year’s Macy’s Flower Show has transformed the store’s Herald Square HQ into an enchanting floral paradise, featuring sweet-scented lilies, billowy hydrangeas, and brilliantly colored mums, running now through May 18. The installation begins outside with floral arrangements in Macy’s windows, leading inside to unveil floral spirals, a glittering beanstalk, whimsical topiary chameleons, a delicate dragonfly exhibit, an homage to bees, and an eye-catching digital installation. Expect lively crowds!
🥢 🌸 Ikigai's Cherry Blossom Menu
Ikigai, Fort Greene’s intimate 12-seat kaiseki haven, unveils a cherry blossom-inspired tasting menu until May 24. The spring menu features Chef Rafal Maslankiewicz’s seasonal creations like Sakura Masou with bergamot, duck with rhubarb and morel, and a floral spin on their beloved Milk Bread. Plus, sakura cocktails such as the Sakura Pale Lantern (gin, chrysanthemum awamori) and the Mitsubishi A7M Reppu (a Japanese Paper Plane variation). More than just a dining experience, Ikigai operates as a not-for-profit in partnership with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, having recently diverted 100 tons of surplus food to those in need.
Saturday, May 3
🏇 Magic Hour Rooftop Derby Party
Celebrate the Kentucky Derby in style at Magic Hour Rooftop’s day-long party on Saturday, starting at 4 PM. Guests can sip on classic Mint Juleps, chilled Rosé, and other refreshing cocktails while watching the race on eight big-screen TVs. A live DJ keeps the energy high all day, plus a few surprise additions 👀. Whether you’re a racing fan or just looking for a lively rooftop gathering, this Derby Day party is a perfect mix of Southern charm and NYC flair. Cheers to big hats and bold bets!
💐 “Derby Reserve” Viewing Party
Chef Laurent Tourondel’s Back Bar at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi presents its "Derby Reserve" viewing party for the 151st Kentucky Derby on Saturday from 5 to 8 PM. Guests will enjoy the race on a big screen while sipping signature cocktails by Jason Hedges, including the classic Mint Julep (with a custom engraved copper cup). Chef Tourondel’s Southern-inspired bites—deviled eggs, hot fried chicken sliders, and Angus beef sliders—complement the festivities, alongside live jazz, DJ beats, and a sketch artist capturing guests in their Derby best. The event also features Derby fashion displays by NYC designers and a sustainable floral bar.
🎧 George Clanton at Webster Hall
George Clanton brings his nostalgic synth-pop to Webster Hall this Saturday night. The LA artist crafts dreamy electronic soundscapes that blur raw emotion with hazy melodies. A DIY pioneer who runs the 100% Electronica label, Clanton creates immersive live shows where distortion and beauty collide. Don’t miss this chance to experience his singular sound in person.
Sunday, May 4
🤟 Sunday in the Cemetery at Green-Wood
Spend your Sunday, May 4 at Green-Wood Cemetery for Sunday in the Cemetery, a free, all-day gathering that transforms the historic grounds into a space for contemplation, creativity, and connection. From sunrise meditation among the headstones to a Grieving and Weaving textile workshop and thought-provoking talks on pet loss and Morbid Anatomy’s macabre curiosities, this beautifully offbeat event offers an unexpected antidote to the "Sunday scaries." Whether you drop in for a single session or stay all day, it’s a chance to explore themes of memory, mortality, and meaning in a serene setting. No tickets required.
The People's Ball returns on Sunday. It’s the Brooklyn Public Library's free, iconic celebration of fashion and inclusivity, previously named Time Out New York's Best Nightlife Event. This year’s theme, Style Is a Revolution, honors trailblazing Oscar-winning costume designers Paul Tazewell (Wicked, the first Black male winner for Best Costume Design) and Ruth Carter (Black Panther, the first Black woman to win multiple Oscars in any category), whose visionary work has brought cinematic worlds to life. Don your boldest looks and strut the runway in the Central Library’s grand lobby, with doors opening at 7 PM after a Pose on the Plaza at 6:30 PM. Curated by Harlem’s own Souleo, this electrifying night proves that fashion is for everyone—no invitation required.
Monday, May 5
🇲🇽 Cinco De Mayo at Mission Ceviche Union Square & Upper East Side
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at both Mission Ceviche locations. Their Union Square location hosts an industry night party featuring guest bartender Oscar Valle from Licorería Limantour. Guests will enjoy a three-hour open bar with Margaritas al Pastor and Mezcalitas, live mariachi music, Mexican-inspired bites blending Peruvian and Nikkei flavors, and party favors. Meanwhile, the Upper East Side location offers festive specials including a three-hour open bar of specialty Margaritas and Mezcalitas, live music, and Mexican-inspired dishes.
🎸 Djo (Joe Keery of Stranger Things) 3 Nights at Brooklyn Steel
Djo, the musical project of Stranger Things star Joe Keery, plays three nights at Brooklyn Steel on May 5 - 7. Fresh off his Coachella debut and riding the massive success of his 2024 global hit "End of Beginning,” Keery‘s new self-produced record, features the lead single "Basic Being Basic.” A multi-instrumentalist at heart, Keery played nearly every instrument on the album.
