The Beat

Brooklyn, NY — The much anticipated 26th Annual Coney Island Film Festival will take place May 1–3, 2026 in the historic seaside neighborhood of Coney Island, Brooklyn. This year’s festival will feature 92 films across various genres, celebrating independent cinema in all its forms. Presented by indiefilmpage.com and Coney Island USA, the festival once again celebrates the intersection of independent film and the vibrant culture of Coney Island.

To Enhance Outdoor Accessibility and Inclusivity

New Environmental Investments Will Create Immersive, Welcoming Destinations for Children with Disabilities Statewide

$10.8 Million in Environmental Bond Act Funding Committed to “Living Environment” Reinstein Woods Expansion and Improved, Safe Access to Scenic Zoar Valley

Governor Kathy Hochul today kicked off Earth Week in New York State by launching the “These Lands Are For Everyone” accessibility and inclusivity initiative with the first two major outdoor recreational infrastructure investments helping connect more New Yorkers of all abilities with the environment. With $10.8 million in new funding from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, “These Lands Are For Everyone” is advancing a pair of inclusive, accessible Western New York-based environmental projects to build on Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts helping all New Yorkers thrive independently with dignity and opportunity.

Waterford, NY — As America marks its 250th anniversary, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is launching Revolutionary Experiences road trips along New York’s historic waterways. These self-guided itineraries invite residents and visitors alike to explore the people, places, and ideas that helped shape the nation and expand the promise of liberty for all.

PureWow, 20 Bucket-List Mother-Daughter Trips That Will Make You Two Even Closer, April 10, 2026

AFAR, The Best Hotels for a Nature Escape From NYC—No Airport Required, April 15, 2026 

Yahoo Creators, "Skillcations" are the new travel trend of 2026 - here's where your next mindful getaway should take you, April 17, 2026…

Backyard at Hudson Yards Presented by Wells Fargo Returns on May 1 offering free Concerts, Sports Watch Parties, Family Fun Events, Fitness Classes, and more

New York City (April 16, 2026) — Today, Hudson Yards, New York City’s premier shopping and outdoor entertainment destination, announces its 2026 programming season for Backyard at Hudson Yards presented by Wells Fargo. The seasonal series returns with a robust lineup of free experiences, including live concerts, fitness classes with leading wellness brands, sports watch parties on the 30-foot Big Screen, and special programming with partners like Reese’s Book Club and Carnegie Hall Citywide.

New York, NY (April 16, 2026 ) — Voices of Ascension – the New York City-based professional chorus dedicated to sharing the transformative power of choral music through performances, commissions, and community engagement – presents their final concert of the season, Canticle of the Sun, on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Ascension.

New Exhibition on Paleontology in the Gobi Desert

Exhibition opening April 17 celebrates a century of discovery in a world-renowned fossil hot spot

New York, N.Y. - Opening at the American Museum of Natural History on Friday, April 17, Fossils of the Flaming Cliffs celebrates the 100-year history of the Museum’s fossil excavations in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, one of the richest and most dramatic paleontological landscapes on Earth. Through large-scale photography and fossil casts and 3-D prints of landmark discoveries, the exhibition reveals how the Museum’s ongoing expeditions to this fossil hot spot from the 1920s to the present have transformed scientific understanding of ancient dinosaurs, lizards, and mammals.

With Christopher C. Gorham author of MATISSE AT WAR: ART AND RESISTANCE IN NAZI OCCUPIED FRANCE

Hyde Park, N.Y. -- The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum presents an author talk and book signing with Christopher C. Gorham, author of MATISSE AT WAR: ART AND RESISTANCE IN NAZI OCCUPIED FRANCE, at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home and streamed live to the official FDR Library YouTube and Facebook accounts. This is a free public event, but registration is required to attend in-person.

Featuring Performances by Grahame Lesh & Daniel Donato, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Swamp Dog, Deer Tick, Gang of Four, Patty Griffin, The Garcia Project, Pink Talking Fish

Seven fun-filled special theme events offer creative activities for people of all ages, families, and adults.

Old Westbury, NY (April 15, 2026) — Old Westbury Gardens has announced the dates and details for seven special theme events that will enhance the visitor experience for the upcoming Sean Kenney's Nature Connects® Made with LEGO® bricks exhibit. This is an award-winning and record-breaking exhibition that uses beautiful works of art made from simple toy bricks to explore animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems, and mankind’s relationship with nature. The exhibition opens Friday, May 15^th for Old Westbury Gardens’ members only, and expands to the public Saturday, May 16, 2026. The exhibition will run through Monday, September 7, 2026.