NEW YOOOOOORRRRRRRK.

You’re either hoping to get there or itching to go back: it’s only natural when the city’s flirting with us daily via TV shows and blockbusters. But is it just about going to Tom’s Restaurant or the stoop where Carrie shat on Aidan‘s heart for the 56th time? Yeah nah. It’s about really getting involved in the thick of it all, not just being a stock standard tourist. The below happenings will help you do that.

NYC Restaurant Week

Held twice a year during Jan and Feb, and again during July and August, this is basically a city-wide hospo discount. Most top-notch eateries get on board, with three-course lunches going for around $29 and dinners for $42. NOT. BAD. AT. ALL.

MoMa PS1 Warm Up

In the largely underrated Queens you’ll find MoMa Ps1, the younger, cooler sis of Manhattan‘s Museum of Modern Art, which holds the best, chicest kind of backyard hootenanny every Saturday arvo during summer. Full of everyone rad from certified hipsters to nerdburgers, this outdoor party attracts a stellar lineup of bands, experimental music and DJs (like DJ Pierre and Juan Atkins in the past). What’s cooler than being cool? This event, mates.

Brooklyn Flea Market

What can we say? The Flea is iconic (so iconic, actually that you just may have seen it on the big screen, I’m sorry.) Held every Saturday, it’s the perfect treasure trove for anyone who appreciates all things secondhand with over 100 stalls full of vintage clothes, beaut antiques and even craft items. Can’t go on a Saturday? No dramz. It moves under the Manhattan bridge on Sundays.

Gansevoort Market

Why eat somewhere standard? In the thick of the Meatpacking District lies this brick-building market, and it’s quickly gaining momentum as the finest food emporium to pop on up in New York. It’s industrial, chic lit (naturally) by skylights, and boasts several dozen gourmet food vendors. Think tapas, arepas, tacos, pizzas, meat pies, ice cream, pastries and more. Salivating.

SummerStage

As the name suggests, Central Park’s SummerStage runs June-August and is the ultimate pitstop when getting lost in NYC’s iconic Central Park. After you check out all the locations from Uptown Girls, Enchanted, Sex And The City, Gossip Girl and look, any other movie or TV show in the history of mankind, make sure you drop off at the stage to see some of the incredible music and dance acts on offer. Everyone from CHVRCHES to Kid Cudi have performed there and the best part? Most events are free. Lineups are announced every April for the summer ahead.

Want more? Check Lonely Planet’s Best Of New York City Guide and Guides App.