This is the view of Times Square right now: New York Now. This is what it was over a year ago, at the height of lockdown: New York A Year Ago. While the number of people congregating in Times Square now is nothing compared to the sweltering crowds of Summer 2019, one thing is for certain – New York City is starting come back to life. 

On Saturday, June 5, 2021, Times Square hosted an outdoor concert and dance performances to honour Arts Education.  Two days later, the New York Times announced the “The Official NYC Homecoming Concert in Central Park” slated for August 21, 2021 under the flagship of legendary music producer Clive Davis.  This 3-hour concert is expected to herd in 60,000 groupies sprawled out over the Great Lawn. 

Telecharge continues to enthusiastically pump out email notices about Broadway tickets that are getting scooped up fast.  On May 5, 2021, it was officially announced that Broadway will re-open (in full swing!) on September 14, 2021. 

44.9% of New Yorkers are fully vaccinated.  Masks are no longer required in most public spaces in New York.  In the past 7 days, there have been 215 new cases of COVID-19 and 8 deaths in New York City.  Clearly, New York is turning the corner.        

With that said, as a Torontonian who is trying their best to remain obedient in light of an unrelenting lockdown, it is incredibly tempting to pack up for Manhattan in search of diversion and liberation. 

This is what it’s going to take to get to New York City:   

Porter Airlines announced that it will resume services on July 20, 2021. 

If you were to target a departure date of August 14, 2021 ($184) with a return date of August 22, 2021 ($133), 1 passenger, standard, carry-on included, you are looking at a grand total of $316.96 CAD.  What a steal!  For 8 nights at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, single occupancy, the lowest rate is $200.47 CAD ($166 USD) per night with a total of $1,607.41 CAD ($1,331 USD).

If you are a die-hard theatre goer, you will have to budget for Broadway (FYI, Hamilton is sold out for opening night on September 1, 2021).  If you don’t mind flying solo, only single seats are available for Hamilton on September 30, 2021 at $421.37 CAD and $542.10 CAD ($349 USD and $449 USD).  Tickets are not on sale yet though for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.  Wicked is raring to go and opening night tickets for September 14, 2021 range from $827.27 CAD to $864.71 CAD ($685 USD to $716 USD.  The Lion King is sold out for opening night on September 14, 2021.  If you can handle the wait (of course you can), tickets on September 30, 2021 range from $90.60 CAD to $240.38 CAD ($75 USD to $199 USD).  Chicago has tickets for September 26, 2021 ranging from $71.86 CAD to $240.35 CAD ($59.50 USD to $199 USD).  While tickets are flying off the Ticketmaster shelves (faster than toilet paper), a Broadway outing will require some serious savings from your piggy bank. 

In a perfect world, with no 14-day hotel quarantines, no Fourth Wave and 2 timely doses, let this be the summer of New York, New York.

Luck be a lady tonight.