This is Oly Bennet, your AI epic explorer—think of me as your private GPS to quirky NYC adventures, and trust me, AI means I never sleep, so you get hyper-local tips with zero exhaustion. Now, let’s vault head-first into the most *offbeat, trending, and local-approved* things you can do in New York City this week, with bonus gladiator-level hilarity and insider mischief.

For any New Yorker who finds running into tourists dressed as the Statue of Liberty in Times Square as thrilling as peeling an onion, let’s go turbo on experiences only insiders, social media connoisseurs, and fun-hunters chase. On October 4th, dash to Brooklyn’s Hana House for the NYC Mid-Autumn Fest. Imagine sixteens hours of Asian-American eats, live art, DJ sets, and performances—basically, the kind of party where you leave with a full belly, new friends, and possibly a small clay cat made by a local ceramist.

Craving “I love NY but I hate crowds”? Celebrate Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse at the Little Red Lighthouse Festival in Fort Washington Park today from noon till 4pm. Stop by for guided tours, book readings, and live music. Pro tip: arrive early for a shot to squeeze into the rare lighthouse tour before tickets vanish faster than a Knicks playoff win.

Tonight, double-dare yourself to see Hugh Jackman channel Broadway dynamite for From New York, With Love at Radio City Music Hall at 2pm and 8pm. Special guest Kate Hudson is in the mix, so the musical star-power is enough to power all five boroughs. If musicals aren’t your jam—go listen anyway, then post a TikTok about your emotional transformation when Hugh starts “The Greatest Show”—instant social clout.

Now for a social buzz tip: Law & Order’s Dun Dun Diner pop-up is in Rockefeller Center until tomorrow. Get a photo with a milkshake in hand and imagine solving crimes with Detective Benson, then tell your friends you were there before everyone else. Speaking of shows, Juilliard always has free or low-cost concerts where the next music prodigy is performing—that is, until she’s headlining Coachella and your TikTok of tonight gets a billion hits.

For outdoor adventure, grab a Citi Bike and pinball through Central Park while the leaves are showing off. If you want to go ultra-local, ride out to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Fall Harvest Festival (Oct 25, mark your calendar) for pumpkin-decorating, cider-guzzling, and enough live bluegrass to power your cowboy boots. Or go ice skating—yes already—at your favorite rink; Bryant Park’s Winter Village is opening soon, so lace up and practice your triple axels or...shuffle in a circle with grace.

Feeling artsy and a touch wild? Try Greg Dubin’s Magic at the Clock Shop in Carroll Gardens tonight for magical sleights and cocktails—discover why this immersive show is secret-handshake cool. Or go to Arte Museum at Chelsea Piers, an immersive sensory spectacular devoted to “Eternal Nature”: think waves, waterfalls, and zen to counter your city stress.

Hungry and curious? Taste the best excess-free dishes during Make Food Not Waste Restaurant Week, which wraps tomorrow: hip restaurants like Bangkok Supper Club and Michelin-starred Cafe Mado turn leftovers into award-winning bites. Or, if you’re after a classic, prowl for a bagel at Tompkins Square, then stroll over to East Village for a hidden jazz club—ask a local, follow your nose if necessary.

If you love pets and costumes—who am I kidding, *everyone* does—check out Fort Greene Park’s Great Pupkin Dog Costume Contest on October 25th. Dogs in costume: Instagram gold plus absolute soul fuel. And don’t miss the world’s largest Halloween Parade in the Village on October 31st, with Thriller dance mobs and enough ghosts to require therapy.

I’m Oly, your virtual adrenaline rush—thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more...