The city is coming back quickly, to the point where things like hover drones above Times Square seem once again to be just another part of the city's fabric. Nationally, the TSA set another passenger screening record last weekend. AAA forecasts travel volumes around July 4th will approach the record highs set in 2019. As the nation and city bounce back, we see more and more openings and returns:

• The Intrepid Museum is back on a seven-day-a-week schedule; hours are 10am-5pm
• The Empire State Building has lifted COVID-19 protocols, reopening interactive elements and making masks optional
• Feinstein’s/54 Below has reopened
• The New York Transit Museum Gallery & Store—Grand Central reopens today
• THE RIDE rides again with its 9th Annual Holiday Edition starting November 12th; until then, look for a new sit-down performance, Eyes On New York—THE RIDE, at Empire Outlets on Staten Island; in previews starting July 1st
• Inside, outside, virtual, and very much live—the 11th Annual Queens World Film Festival kicks off today, running through July 3rd
• The Time by Dream Hotel Group New York (formerly The Time New York Hotel) reopens in the Theater District June 25th
• Dine at 620 pop up series at Rockefeller Center's 620 Loft & Garden launches July 5th
• The New York Hall of Science reopens July 8th with renovated spaces and new exhibits
• The Full Send Summer Music Festival comes to Queens July 10th
• Inflatable theme park Big Bounce America comes to Brooklyn starting July 24th
• Bryant Park Movie Nights are back starting August 23rd
• Music, food, and drink fest Pinknic returns to Governors Island September 4th-5th
• New York Toy Con comes to Brooklyn September 4th-5th
• The 39th annual Mermaid Parade takes place in person September 12th
• The York Theatre Company will continue its 50th Anniversary Season starting September 20th
• New York Comic Con is back at the Javits from October 7th-10th

The city is gaining jobs at last, led by restaurants and hotels. 400,000 NYC hotel rooms were just booked in a single week. There is still a ways to go, but we agree with the mayor's recent assessment..."this summer is going to attract a lot of activity, including a lot more tourism than we expected."

After a year's hiatus the Coney Island Circus Sideshow returns, Fridays through Sundays, effective immediately. Photo credit: Norman Blake.

LINKS OF INTEREST

NYC

• Updated Broadway reopening dates
• Vacheron Constantin just opened a flagship in Midtown East
• The former Fat Cat in the Village is now Cellar Dog, with live entertainment and lots of pub games
• Redesign approved for the Teddy Roosevelt statue in front of the Natural History Museum
• Brooklyn Bridge bike lane construction underway

NATIONAL

• AHLA says masks can be optional for vaccinated hotel workers
• Luxury travel/spending boom is underway
• Mexico and Canada border closures extended again, to July 21st
• U.S. Travel Association pushes for quicker return of business travel

CHEF'S DINNER AT BENJAMIN STEAKHOUSE

Members of City Guide's new experiences group Everything To Do NYC get invites to private events, with access to parts of New York the general public never gets to see. Tourism Happenings readers are welcome as well—the next opportunity comes up next week. Benjamin Steakhouse is hosting an exclusive dinner and discussion with Executive Chef Arturo McLeod. After 40 years in steakhouses, 20 at Brooklyn’s legendary Peter Luger, McLeod is a master at cooking juicy cuts of meat. Carefully dry-aged in a specially handcrafted aging box, McLeod’s steaks are cooked to absolute perfection. Join us Friday, July 2nd for a private dinner with a menu prepared solely for ETD Exclusives and a discussion with Chef McLeod on “Grilling Tips for the Summer” and “How to Cook the Perfect Steak.” Sign up now, space is limited!

About ETD Exclusives
ETD Exclusives opens doors to private experiences not available to the public. Want to have dinner with a world-renowned chef, a docent-led behind-the-scenes tour of a museum, or a private experience at an iconic NYC attraction? ETD Exclusives has them—plus you can meet great people.

Do you have a venue or a restaurant that is interested in bringing in full paying groups? Reach out about ETD Exclusives. Our first event, a summer kick off with celebrity chef David Burke, sold out in 36 hours. Contact David Miller, dmiller@davlermedia.com.

EDGE V. ONE WORLD | THIS WEEK'S TIPS FROM EVERYTHING TO DO FACEBOOK GROUP

Looking for on-the-round reporting about the city? Everything To Do NYC Facebook Group brings together 36,000 city superfans sharing what they're experiencing around town. Lately we've been seeing an interesting debate on where to go, Edge or One World. One World is seeing more love, although Edge is holding its own. We've often assumed that tourists were only going to invest in one observation deck, but then there was this intriguing piece of advice: "One is iconic and one is cool and hip. Two totally different experiences with two vastly different views of the city. Can you do both?" Other members have reported multiple deck visits on their trips, making a city with 5 (or more) possibilities now seem sustainable. In addition, a member with acrophobia got some advice about paying a visit to Edge. If you're not yet a member, join us—make sure your venue is getting the respect it deserves in comments.