As we wrap up 2021, we look back at a year full of challenges, but also a time with many green shoots of growth—the return of Broadway, the return of international travelers, the return of New York City tourism. Even in the context of the Omicron variant, there remains plenty of supporting data indicating an ongoing return for New York City. Despite the high-profile Broadway cancellations of the last few days, and the early end of the Rockettes's run, a look at the Broadway League's new resource for schedules shows the majority of shows going forward as planned. (And grosses have been up, while capacity holds steady.)

The city was hopping for Thanksgiving, with 8,000 participants in the parade and hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the streets to take in the action. Although the markets (and many others) have been spooked by Omicron, real data is still two weeks away and there's nothing to indicate the variant will be a game changer. In the meantime, the CDC will likely tighten up testing requirements for foreign travelers—hopefully there won't be the need to add the self-isolation period that the U.K. has just adopted. New York is taking precautions but the general guidance to get vaccinated and boosted synchs up with the city's approach—our numbers remain much stronger than the state and the nation (as the Post notes, 97% percent of Queens adults and 94% of Manhattan adults are vaccinated, followed by the Bronx, Staten Island, and Brooklyn with vaccination rates of 86.4%, 84.4%, and 82.9% respectively).

The White House has new details for the return of international travelers on November 8th. Tweaks to the guidance will make it easier for families to travel (children under 18 will be exempted from the vaccine requirement) and there will be exceptions for emergency, humanitarian, and medical reasons. Recent data shows a rise in bookings to the U.S. in tandem with reopening borders, with clear peaks at the point of reopening and again for the winter holidays. In mid-October, NYC's weekend hotel occupancy reached a pandemic-era high of over 80%. Read on for other signs of NYC and tourism comebacks.

Subway ridership is up and the MTA notes declining crime, back to pre-pandemic levels. (And there will be no fare hike this year.) More signs of return for NYC. The Times this week reports the city is looking to culture to lead the comeback. As the Broadway and Off-Broadway calendars fill in, and more festivals announce dates, that shift is already well underway.

The Met is back over 10,000 visitors a day. Hotels may not be at capacity yet, but they're getting close. As a commenter put it on the Everything To Do NYC Facebook Group this week, "The city has come alive again and it's amazing!" Once again, the reopenings and returns continue to roll in.

There haven't been many ticker tape parades through downtown in recent years, making today's celebration all the more inspiring. At 11am, the city will celebrate our "Hometown Heroes" with a big thank you to healthcare, transit, and all the other frontline workers who kept the city going through the pandemic. Although we are not clear of COVID yet, the success of the July 4th weekend bodes well for recovery.

The vaccine news of the last few days is nothing short of spectacular. Pfizer and Moderna have both developed 95%-effective candidates, and Moderna's has less of a deep freeze requirement, making the logistics side more promising. Accordingly, travel stocks have been shooting up. Less publicized is a recent NYU study showing that hospitalized patients with COVID had a 26% chance of dying in March; that's been cut all the way down to 8% now. The FDA just approved an at-home COVID test. All of it bodes well for continued recovery. 

Although the major tourism headlines this week were about postponements—both the Philharmonic and Broadway are pushing off to at least summer 2021—a scan of the wider scene reveals green shoots of rebirth. NYC luxury is making a comeback, suggesting the affluent may be making their way back to the city—Louis Vuitton is open again, Bergdorf Goodman is expanding its hours, and Per Se returns tomorrow. Read on for more on NYC and broader tourism trends.

With the state infection rate below 1% for more than 11 days in a row—the rate is lower now than it was in June—the Governor has cleared the way for NYC bowling alleys, cultural institutions, and gyms to open.

Signs of renewal are everywhere in the city. The New York Botanical Garden reopened yesterday; Wave Hill is back as of tomorrow. The map of open restaurants shows 182 open streets in addition to 9,500 restaurants Read on for the latest in NYC tourism and Davler Media's new "Reach the Regionals" marketing opportunity.

If you’re coming in from Jersey, enjoying the city before a bus trip, or taking in a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, you may need to store your bag in the Penn Station area. Here are 5 handy services that will safely store your luggage and leave you free to roam New York City.

Here's our guide to making your travel through JFK Airport as enjoyable as possible.

Pre- or post-theater, brunch or dinner, upscale or casual, French food fits any occasion. Indulge in a best-of-the-best tasting menu, grab some wine and escargots before a show, or enjoy a casual weekend brunch at one of these eight exceptional French restaurants in the Theatre District and Hell’s Kitchen.

After shopping, eating, and a trip to The Whitney, it’s time to plan your night out in New York’s Meatpacking District. Explore this fashionable area where the West Village intersects Chelsea, whether you’re looking for a casual beer or an all-night dance party. Read on for the bars and clubs you should know in Meatpacking.

Foodies and fans of Mexican cuisine have reason to celebrate on National Taco Day, being held October 4th. This festive occasion happens to fall on a Friday, so gather the crew and celebrate with some tasty food and spirits in NYC.