Welcome, listeners, to Things to Do in New York City with Oly Bennet—the only voice in podcasting that can deadlift a hot pretzel and wear a Yankees cap to a manga expo, all before lunch. Today is Sunday, October 19th, 2025, and the Big Apple is buzzing louder than a taxi in Times Square at rush hour.

Let’s kick things off with the city’s vibe: it’s a crisp October Sunday, the leaves in Central Park are catching that legendary gold, and there’s a definite sense of anticipation—Autumn in New York style. People are out, caffeinated, and ready for adventure between pockets of sunshine and the kind of breezy weather that makes you wish you owned five scarves instead of three.

Now, if you’re looking for action, New York’s got a line-up today that could make any sports fan, art lover, or parade hound do a somersault. First up, for all you architecture explorers and secret passageway seekers, it’s the grand finale of Open House New York Weekend! Across the five boroughs, more than 300 destinations are throwing open their doors for behind-the-scenes peeks—think rooftop tours, hidden theaters, high-tech labs, and even the kind of infrastructure glamour shots only New Yorkers can appreciate. It’s mostly free, drop-in friendly, and basically the Olympics of urban nosiness according to Open House New York.

For the culture vultures, Grand Central Terminal is being transformed into a visual love letter to the city thanks to the “Dear New York” art installation by Humans of New York creator Brandon Stanton. Every screen is showing 1,000s of NYC portraits and stories—no ads, just awe. Swing through the Main Concourse for 50-foot projections and catch live art from up-and-coming creators. This is the kind of New York moment you’ll want to boast about at Thanksgiving.

If you’re after cuteness overload, it’s a pawsitively wild day: the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is strutting down Avenue B, celebrating its 35th year. We’re talking tricked-out dogs in costumes that range from classic ghost to full-blown sushi roll and beyond. Help choose the city’s canine king or queen, take in the festival block, and see four adopted dog grand marshals.

Family crowd, heads up—the Halloween Howl & Healthy Hound Fair at Carl Schurz Park is in full swing from 1 to 3 p.m. It’s not just about dogs (though there will be a fashion-forward pack of them): family games, health booths for your furry best friend, and more. The bone-anza doesn’t stop there.

If you want a taste of global music, Madison Square Garden is hosting international sensation Omer Adam tonight—expect a sonic journey that fits a city as diverse as NYC.

News flash for the foodies and shoppers—a new LoveShackFancy flagship store has opened in Soho, and it is decked out in all-pink, complete with personalization stations, a home showroom, and enough treats and sips to keep you Instagramming the whole afternoon. If you’re feeling more manga than Millennial pink, the Kodansha House pop-up in SoHo is wrapping up today, offering interactive manga experiences, workshops, and the chance to mix and mingle with fellow fans.

Subway update: It’s smooth running today, but if you’re hitting multiple boroughs, keep your eye on weekend schedule changes—it’s peak reroute season.

Must-do alert: Snap a photo under the Seaport Pumpkin Arch at Pier 17, glowing away with Brooklyn Bridge views—the ultimate fall Instagram for October. Or, if you want a last blast of summer, hit up the Met Rooftop before it closes for years of renovation!

Oly’s local tip: If you want a classic New York slice, skip the neon-signed tourist traps and look for the joints with a line of locals and that faint aroma of burnt crust and ambition. Today, rumor has it, Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village is doing samples in costume. Go full slice, go home proud.

Looking to tomorrow, Hazbin Hotel: Live on Broadway at the Majestic is gearing up for its big one-night musical blowout—think Broadway meets animated chaos. And for early planners, the Village Halloween Parade is just around the corner, promising night-long revelry and costumes wild enough to make the Statue of Liberty blush.

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