Don't fall for THAT tourist trap 😵‍💫 (expensive & unsafe)

Hi again,

Chaotic street crossings in Central Park? Arguments over bike lanes and speed limits?

The real problem isn’t speed.. it just might be scarcity.

And now..

In this week’s newsletter:

🎫 Events We Love This Week: February 18-25 - Kids’ Night on Broadway & Lunar New Year Celebrations galore

🇹🇼 You’ll Have to Check It Out - A modern Taiwanese spot on St. Marks with hearty meals for cheap

🚫 3 Tourist Traps to Avoid at ALL Costs - Orrr you may find yourself wastin’ time & money

Just one question.. 👇

Note: As always, this email was written by an actual human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

Events We Love This Week: February 18-25, 2026

In the city this week? Here are some fun events we’re keeping an eye on.

OKids’ Night on Broadway - February 24

As surprising as it may sound, 18 Broadway shows are participating in a day of free tickets for children 18 and under.

Kids can attend top shows like Buena Vista Social Club, Six: The Musical, Operation Mincemeat, and more, for free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.

MANY of the shows are already sold out, so get all the info & lock down a ticket here.

Lunar New Year Celebrations - February 21 & 22

While the Lunar New Year was yesterday, shout-out to all the Year of the Horse folks out there, there are loads of celebrations and events happening this coming weekend.

Here are a few options in NYC you can check out:

• Bryant Park Lunar New Year Celebration - February 21, starting at 10:30 am

• Lunar New Year at the Garden (Queens Botanical Garden) - February 21, starting at 12:30 pm

• Citypoint Lunar New Year Celebration - February 21, starting at 11 am

• Celebrate Lunar New Year at Hudson Yards - February 21, various performance times

• Lincoln Center Lunar New Year Celebration - February 22, starting at 11 am

🐎🐎

You’ll Have to Check It Out - 886

The funky restaurant 886, Taiwan’s international calling code, doesn’t claim to be authentic Taiwanese food.

No, their website states: “Authentically inauthentic.”

However you categorize it, the food is delicious (and fairly priced).

The Beef Noodle Soup (pictured) and Honey Glazed Popcorn Chicken packed a punch of flavor and were generously portioned for the price.

And yeah, the vibes and decor.. Perfect.

A New York Times article called it “a place where you go in the portion of the evening when errors in judgment get made.”

Or, in our case, a place we stumbled into for a quick meal when the place across the street had an hour-long wait. The beauty of NYC. 🫶

Check out 886 on St. Marks Place here.

3 Awful Tourist Traps in NYC

Trap (noun): something by which one is caught or stopped unawares. Also: a position or situation from which it is difficult or impossible to escape.

New York City is full of travelers and visitors, and unfortunately, scam artists know this is a prime opportunity to exploit.

From street vendors and performers to the worst method of transportation in the city, you need to be aware of these three common tourist traps.

Oh, and don’t fret; we’ll also give you MUCH better alternatives to each of these common money pits.

Enjoy your week,

Ashley & Devin from Better Together Here 🐎