My Birthday Weekend In New York City

This past weekend, I celebrated my birthday exactly how I wanted to, in the city I love, surrounded by the people I love most.

Saturday night at the Beacon Theater, I watched a legend. I first heard Mavis Staples when she opened for Bob Dylan; that deep, soulful voice stopped me in my tracks. Bob Dylan actually proposed to her back in the early ’60s. So when I learned she was playing my birthday weekend, I knew where I needed to be.

🎂Birthdays have a way of making you reflective. As the candles add up, it’s easy to think we have less time. But watching Mavis at 86 commanding a sold-out room, her voice still divine, singing about love and positivity, reminded me that energy and purpose have nothing to do with age. That’s the kind of spirit I want to be around.

But let’s back up to Thursday — my actual birthday.

🍕We started the night at Denino’s in Greenwich Village. They opened a Manhattan location about five years ago, but the original Staten Island spot, the one I used to go to when I was growing up there, is still going strong. Best pizza in New York (9 out of 10 on One Bite). Decades later, it’s still bringing people together over incredible food.

🎭Then came the Comedy Cellar, my birthday tradition. This place has been making New Yorkers laugh since 1982, and every comedy legend has stepped on that stage. They make you seal your phone in a pouch, so you can’t record. It’s about being present while these comics work their craft, night after night, right in front of you. Laughing there with my family? That’s one of the greatest gifts.

Sunday, I walked 25,000 steps through Central Park. The loop is six miles, and sure, I could hop on a treadmill anytime, but why would I when I can see the city through the park’s eyes?

It had been brutally cold, but this weekend was seasonably warm. Everyone was out, soaking up the energy. Music in my ears, sunlight bouncing off buildings, people everywhere… and I thought, I can’t believe I get to live here sometimes.

Here’s what I know: some people chase what’s new in this city. I celebrate what lasts.

The places with staying power. The traditions that matter. The authenticity over the hype.

🎦An 86-year-old legend still commanding a sold-out room.
🍕A pizza place from my childhood is still thriving.
🎭A comedy club where artists practice their craft for the people actually in the room.
🎡A park that gives you peace right in the heart of the bustle.

That’s my New York. That’s my birthday.

And as Mavis sang that night, we all need a little more love in our lives.