"Things to Do in New York City: Pac-Man, Big Apple Circus, and Broadway Sparkle"

Welcome listeners to "Things to Do in New York City" with me, Oly Bennet, your globe-trotting guide to the city’s quirkiest, coolest happenings! It's Sunday, November 16, 2025, and right now, New York’s strutting into late fall with crisp air, vibrant leaves, and a contagious buzz thanks to holiday prep and event season kicking into overdrive. Forecast: it’s brisk but sunny—perfect for outdoor adventure and indoor escapades alike. Central Park is showing off its glorious autumn shades for leaf peepers, while the city’s background score includes everything from street performers to a distant cheer from MetLife Stadium. What’s stirring up the city’s vibe today? The PAC-MAN 45th Anniversary pop-up explodes at Macy’s Herald Square in Brooklyn with the World’s Largest PAC-MAN, interactive arcade madness, giveaways, and enough yellow dot-fuelled nostalgia to power an entire NYC block. Not a gamer? No worries! The Big Apple Circus dazzles with day shows near Lincoln Center—a timeless favorite where jugglers and acrobats turn gravity into high art right under the big top. Cultural seekers, get ready for a lineup as stacked as a deli sandwich: at Lincoln Center, you’ll find the Met Orchestra Chamber Ensemble performing a mix of Bach, Strauss, and Shostakovich in the afternoon, while the Broadway Under the Stars concert glitters in Columbus Circle amidst 44 illuminated stars and 300,000 twinkling lights choreographed to music—grab a selfie, you’ll look like you’ve fallen into a festive disco ball. Broadway buffs can also journey to Rockefeller Center for Wicked: For Good Family Day where Elphaba and Glinda’s actual costumes have landed, plus interactive murals, coloring, surprise appearances, and photo ops. Got a Top of the Rock ticket today? Flash it for priority access and skip the lines like a true backstage insider. If your vibe is all things food and cheeky new digs, the Waldorf Astoria is back, opening its doors with an art deco centennial exhibit and the Guerlain Shalimar fragrance showcase—smell the history, literally! FIGS just threw open its Community Hub on the Upper East Side, welcoming shoppers and local healthcare heroes to sip, snack, and snag fresh gear in style. And speaking of upward mobility: the latest public transit update has subways running smoothly (for now!). As the sun dips, nightlife is roaring. Santa’s Secret at Voss Events invites you through a winter wonderland and into a speakeasy with Christmas cocktails, live bands, and mind-blowing holiday acts—if you like your holidays with a dash of edge and a sprinkle of circus, this is your ticket. Carnegie Hall is serving world-class chamber music, while WFUV’s "Cavalcade" radio show tonight drops fresh music with culture-rich undertones for those winding down. If you only do one truly epic NYC classic today, take a walk or bike ride through Central Park. Leaf peeping isn’t just a fall cliché—it’s an all-star sport here thanks to the golden, red, and orange canopy. Local tip from This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.