Fashion Week, a cocktail-inspired fragrance preview, a Greek opening on Long Island, and a first look at the Lower East Side’s newest dessert destination.
September in New York comes with a full calendar. Fashion Week brings its own itinerary, but there are also restaurant openings, neighborhood traditions, and reasons to stop and take in the city between appointments.
This month’s Now in NYC gathers the places and moments from my September, with a short trip beyond Manhattan to Island Park and a look ahead to Softville’s October opening. Some already have fuller stories on Era En Vogue; others are introductions to experiences I’ll be exploring further.
Beyond Manhattan: Yalos Greek Taverna
September also took me to the grand opening of Yalos Greek Taverna in Island Park. At 4338 Austin Boulevard, it adds a new Greek address to the Long Island dining calendar—and a reason for this month’s roundup to venture beyond the city.
My Greek heritage makes an opening like this particularly interesting to me. Food is one point of connection, but so are the people and conversations around it. The opening offered an introduction to Yalos and a chance to connect with members of the community behind the evening.
I’ve shared glimpses of the celebration on Instagram. For anyone planning a visit, Yalos’s website has reservations and current hours.
KILIAN PARIS: The Cocktails Collection
A preview of KILIAN PARIS’s The Cocktails Collection brought fragrance into the September mix. The collection takes its cue from drinks, translating familiar ingredients into three different scent profiles.
Midnight Espresso combines coffee, hazelnut, and vanilla; Sparkling Royal features mint, blackcurrant, and tonka bean; and Piña Paraíso brings together pineapple, coconut, and vanilla. Even before choosing a favorite, the names offer a recognizable starting point for exploring each fragrance.
The idea lends itself to a different way of considering a perfume wardrobe: choosing a scent with an occasion or mood in mind, much as you might choose a drink. This is an introduction to the collection rather than a verdict on wear or longevity—those deserve time beyond a preview.
Explore The Cocktails Collection at KILIAN PARIS.
San Gennaro’s Centennial in Little Italy
The Feast of San Gennaro marked its 100th anniversary this September, with the 2026 celebration running from September 17 through 27 in Little Italy.
Alongside a month of new collections and openings, the centennial belongs in the record as a celebration of an established New York tradition. A hundred-year milestone draws attention to the communities that sustain the city’s cultural calendar, returning to familiar streets and customs even as the neighborhoods around them change.
This year’s feast has concluded, but the anniversary remains one of September’s significant occasions. The official San Gennaro website has more on the celebration and its history.
Fashion Week, With More to Read Beyond the Runway
New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027 occupied a substantial part of September, from the Model Life launch to runway shows and gatherings around the official schedule. Across those rooms, designers approached identity, craft, and the American dream from very different perspectives.
Rather than compress every collection into another recap, I’ve brought the coverage together here. Six Independent Designers Reimagining the American Dream explores Nicole + Felicia, Veejay Floresca, PUBLIC SERV-CE, Frederick Anderson, Valerian Hughes Paris, and BiCoastal Collections. For a closer look at Anderson’s collection, there’s My Garden Party Finds America in Full Bloom.
The more personal record lives in Beyond the Runway: What I Wore and Where I Went During NYFW SS27, where the clothes respond to the occasion: a Knicks cap with a black dress, floral satin for a garden party, and mixed metallics against the skyline.
September 11: A Visit to Remember
I also visited the September 11 memorial site this year. In 2026, twenty-five years after the attacks, remembrance remained an essential part of September.
This visit belongs in a different register from the rest of the roundup. I want to acknowledge it simply, with respect for the lives lost, the families who carry their absence, and everyone for whom the anniversary is deeply personal.
Remembering Michael Vernon Keifer, and all the souls lost that day.
Looking Ahead: Softville on the Lower East Side
September ended with a preview of Softville, ahead of its public opening on October 1 at 137 Orchard Street. A collaboration between Gelato Messina and Studio Jeremyville, the concept brings soft serve together with art, collectible objects, and a gallery setting on the Lower East Side.
There’s plenty to explore, from the dessert menu to the characters that give the space its personality. I’ve already shared a first look on Stories, including a dessert being assembled and a bag that practically makes eye contact.
For now, this is a teaser: a fuller Softville feature is coming to Era En Vogue. It also makes a fitting bridge into October—a new place to add to the calendar as September’s invitations give way to the next month’s discoveries.
Discover Softville through Gelato Messina’s opening announcement.
