It’s week 31 of 2026, and there’s an abundance of amusing and entertaining dining events happening around the Big Apple. Think free ice cream, tequila tastings, food-laden fundraisers for artists, and a colorful Jamaican Independence Day celebration.
Also, get ready for DiningOut Events’ RARE Steak Championship, coming to Brooklyn’s Industry City on September 10. Tickets for the all-you-can-eat-and-drink festival are on sale now. Have an event to share? Send us a note via Instagram or by emailing info@diningout.com
July 30: Art is Gay
Well, not always. But it will be on July 30 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Chef’s Dinner Table in Little Italy. The fundraiser will showcase the work of a diverse lineup of queer artists curated by Harsh Collective NYC. Expect an evening of live music, typewriter poetry, tattoos, portraits, and, of course, plenty of wine, cocktails, and snacks. Tickets start at $10 each, and the fete takes place at 132 Mulberry St., No. 502.
July 30: Get the Scoop on Matter
On Thursday, July 30 between noon and 3 p.m., nutritional health app, Matter, will be giving away free high-protein ice cream. But here’s the catch: you have to download the Matter app first and then log your first meal onto it. After that, though, you can scream, scream, and scream again for free (high-protein) ice cream at 170 Crosby St. in SoHo.
July 31: Cuevo Perez Strums into La Loncheria
Chicago-based musician and songwriter, Cuevo Perez, brings his brand of moody, introspective, and poetic songs to La Loncheria, the popular Mexican spot in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Sip a Cacao Negroni and nibble on Atun al Pastor Tacos while taking in the atmospheric music of Cuevo. The strumming and singing commences at 7:30 p.m.
August 1: Worth a Shot
If you’ve decided you need more tequila in your life, you’re in luck: on Saturday, August 1, from 3 to 10 p.m., the 10th annual Tequila Fest will be taking place at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. There will be music, dancing, food, and ample amounts of tequila flowing. Tickets cost $87 each and are only sold in advance, so get them ASAP.
August 4 and 5: The Modern Meets Masala y Maiz
This is the meeting of two kitchens that you don’t want to miss. For two nights only, August 4 and 5, The Modern will be hosting Mexico City’s much lauded Masala y Maiz for a collaborative dinner in the Bar Room of The Modern. The one hitch? You have to be a Chase Sapphire Reserve card member. Tickets are $225 per person and can be reserved on OpenTable under the “experiences” tab.
August 5: Riviera Maya and Gramercy Collide
Mark your calendar for Wednesday August 5. That’s when Zapote, the chic in-house bar at Rosewood Mayakobe in Mexico, heads north to bring its excellent cocktails and flavor-popping small plates for a one-day pop-up at Midnight Blue in Gramercy. Come to hear live jazz, graze on tapas dishes, and sip from Yucatán-inspired cocktails from Zapote’s head bartender, Salvador Guzmán. Walk-ins are always welcome or you can make a reservation.
August 6: Jamaica Me Crazy
Jamaica Independence Day is coming up on August 6—but you already knew that, right? And to celebrate, Miss Lily’s 7A, located in the East Village, will be putting on a Jamaica-sized extravaganza with a special menu from the restaurant’s culinary director and chef, Brittney “Stikxz” Williams. The menu, a contemporary take on Caribbean cuisine, will feature Shrimp Toast on Coco Bread, Grilled Octopus, and Spiced Duck with Tamarind Jus, among other tasty concoctions.
August 8: Get Some Dim Sum ‘n’ Steak
The Hell’s Kitchen Asian-accented steakhouse Gui is teaming up with Seoul-based restaurant, Tian Mi Mi, for a one-night pop-up event at two-floor Gui. Chef Jung Ji-sun of Tian Mi Mi, known in South Korea as the “Queen of Dum Sum,” and chef Sungchul Shim of Gui are collaborating to create signature dim sum delights along side wood-fired seafood dishes and Gui’s signature prime rib, among other very edible items for this evening. The cost is $200 per person. Make a rez here any time between 5 and 8 p.m.
August 9: Georgia on My Mind
If you’ve never experienced a traditional Georgian feast, Laliko in the West Village is giving you the opportunity. On Saturday afternoon, August 9, head to this sleek spot to be one of 12 people seated at a communal table where the wine flows liberally and traditional Georgian staples get gobbled up. For $125 each, guests will enjoy a family-style meal complete with baked cheese bread called khachapuri, khinkali dumplings, and roasted suckling pig. Book your place at the feast here.
August 12: From Cloud One to Cloud Nine
Join Eleven Madison Park sommelier Mark Guillaudeau at The Cloud One Wine Bar & Lounge in the Financial District to take part in a very special wine tasting. Mr. Guillaudeau will guide attendees through six different tastings, from California to the Pacific Northwest, each pour telling a different tale. In all, there will be two reds, two whites, one rosé and one sparkling rosé. There will also be a selection of complimentary charcuterie and cheeses to help you stomach more wine. Make your rez here.
August 28: Peter Chang Pops up at Yingtao
Legendary, award-winning Chinese chef, Peter Chang, is doing a pop-up dinner at lauded Hell’s Kitchen restaurant Yingtao. Chang will be taking over the kitchen at Michelin-starred Yingtao to cook a seven-course dinner for one night only. Seating times range from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and the cost is $125 per person. Make a reservation here. For those who can’t nab a table at the New York hot spot, chef Chang’s signature Grandma Chang’s Crispy Rice-Crusted Pork Belly will be available during that week as an a la carte special at the bar at Yingtao.
September 10: RARE Steak Championship Comes to NYC
Finally, the wait is over. DiningOut Events presents RARE, an evening of all things steak, spirits, and fun. For a limited time tickets start at $158, though you may want to splurge for VIP, which gets you access into SURF, the seafood side of the action. The event takes place at Industry City in Brooklyn, starting at 6 p.m. for First Taste and VIP ticket holders. The amount of food and drink is endless, accented by live music, entertainment, and a battle for the best steak bite in the city.
October 11: Sushi-Con
Start brushing up on your chopsticks skills. Sushi-Con is back. At Pier 36 (299 South Street), it will be all things sushi on Sunday, October 11, as the massive warehouse at Pier 36 will be transformed into a den of sushi delights.
Tickets are on sale now. All day tickets (from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) cost $180 and afternoon tickets (from 2 to 5 p.m.) cost $120. Buy your tickets here.
Ongoing Events
July 29 to August 16: Summer Restaurant Week
It’s every food-lover’s favorite time of summer: Restaurant Week is back. Participating restaurants will be offering two- and three-course meals for $30, $45, and $60. Some of the restaurants include Arvine, Dhamaka, Tamarind Tribeca, Industry Kitchen, The Noortwyck, and Ginger Ristorante, among many others. We’ve put together the best Summer Restaurant Week deals here.
