Welcome, listeners, to Things to Do in New York City—powered by the tireless curiosity of your globe-trotting, quirk-chasing pal, Oly Bennet! It’s Saturday, October 25, 2025, and the Big Apple’s wearing its finest fall coat—partly sunny, deliciously cool, and just vibrant enough to make every stoop pumpkin pop brighter than a disco ball. The city’s electric, folks. There’s Halloween anticipation buzzing in the air, fiery leaves swirling around joggers in Central Park, and enough options today to keep your FOMO radar on high alert.

Let’s start with the sizzling events menu—no sports fanatic, music lover, pumpkin fiend, or night owl gets left behind. For those craving showbiz dazzle, Broadway Sings ABBA at The Cutting Room promises a night of sequins and singing that will have you dancing in your seat faster than you can say “Waterloo.” Prefer a side of fresh air with your sights? Grab your windbreaker and hop on a Fall Foliage Cruise, where you’ll glide past New York’s legendary skyline while soaking up foliage that would make Bob Ross weep with joy. Lovers of competition—NBA season is back! The New York Knicks storm Madison Square Garden tonight, and if you haven’t cheered in MSG, have you even lived the NYC sports dream? New York Rangers fans, the puck drops at Madison Square Garden as well—there’s no purer adrenaline than NHL faceoff and a hot pretzel in the world’s most famous arena. If giant pumpkins are more your thing, the New York Botanical Garden’s Giant Pumpkin Palooza is basically gourd heaven, with prizewinning whoppers and pumpkin-themed activities sure to make your inner child (or actual child) lose their mind.

Now, picture this: You’re weaving through the Bed Stuy Farmstand or the 82nd Street Greenmarket, filling your tote with crisp apples, fresh bread, and enough kale to impress any Brooklynite. If you’re with family or just seeking innocent thrills, Prospect Park is dishing up Spooktober festivities and carousel rides today. The Lefferts Historic House, the Audubon Center—think scavenger hunts, crafts, and creepy-crawly Halloween goodness. More on the spooky side, haunted houses all around the city are offering chills for every scare level. Brighton Asylum is always a chart-topper for those who don’t mind a good shriek, while the Queens County Farm Museum hosts a family-friendly pumpkin patch and hayrides with less horror, more autumn cheer.

In today’s news, excitement is brewing about the just-opened Winter Village at Bryant Park—a local legend for early-bird ice skaters and anyone seeking a European-style holiday market months before the first snowfall. Subway warriors, don’t miss: the MTA has ramped up weekend service to keep all these festivities connected, so you can hop from Manhattan museums to Brooklyn block parties to Queens parades faster than you can say “stand clear of the closing doors.”

For must-do activities: take a bike ride across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. Not only do you get iconic skyline views and cool breezes, but you’ll also spot plenty of costumed runners and impromptu street performances—fall in NYC is half art show, half block party. Or detour to a Broadway matinee—Hamilton, & Juliet, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are playing right now and they’re musts for anyone craving dramatic plot twists and stage magic. Looking for the city’s secret sauce? Head to a jazz bar on a quiet, crooked side street, or find a stoop decorated more extravagantly than some Hollywood movie sets. Halloween vibes spill off every curb this weekend, so follow your nose for cinnamon, cider, and maybe a touch of mischief.

Oly Bennet’s local tip of the day: If you want to see the thriftiest, weirdest costumes in their natural habitat, people-watch in Greenwich Village or Williamsburg tonight. New York’s best Halloween looks are made, not bought—I once saw a guy as the Empire State Building juggling hot dogs, and I nearly fell off my CitiBike.Back to Episodes