COVID-19 hit New York City hard. Alongside unimaginable loss, the pandemic nearly decimated the restaurant and culture scene. Nearly. But not entirely. Because New York is a city that fights back and rallies together when the unthinkable happens. Entire industries have made radical pivots to protect their employees, service their communities, and survive. The city is slowly coming back to an altogether different life, a new normal.

We’ve rounded up favorites we’ve had the privilege of (safely) trying from the crop of restaurants born during the pandemic (many have souped-up outdoor dining setups), cultural happenings, open-air activities, and more, while also shining a much-deserved spotlight on the standbys, the ones powering through to feed the city they love.

Shake up your lunch-al-desko with takeout from that new Cantonese spot. Venture out to a cozy, socially distant patio on the UES for a special supper. Stream an opera from the Met, skate a masked lap around the rink, or support the Costume Institute’s latest exhibit. New York is, and always will be, New York.