The Best of NYC this Month

jessica07962
3 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Welcome to the very first edition of The Best of NYC This Month, Your VIP Pass’s new monthly insider guide to the city we adore. Each month, a different team member will share their personally curated list of must-do experiences in New York: the restaurants we can’t stop raving about, the fashion finds we’re coveting, and the Broadway shows we’re lining up to see.

To kick things off, I’m Lia Pepper, Creative Director at Your VIP

Pass and one of the minds behind our most unforgettable events. Crafting extraordinary experiences is what I do best, which also means my nights are often spent hunting down the perfect tables, snagging front-row seats, and uncovering the hidden gems that make NYC so endlessly exciting.

September brings a mix of emotions - while the long summer days transition to school routines, earlier sunsets, a goodbye to beaches, farm stands, and bustling households, the trade-offs are hard to resist. This season invites exciting opportunities to embrace the season, such as work lunches, planning fall wardrobes, making dinner reservations at beloved downtown restaurants and exploring new dining spots during their “soft opening” phase as the city awakens. I embrace September as a fresh start!

New York Fashion Week

The first thing I’m absolutely loving? New York Fashion Week! The atmosphere has evolved significantly over the years, transitioning from the cozy tents at Bryant

Park (my personal favorite) to the expansive shows at Lincoln Center, and now to Spring Studios and various venues throughout the city. I’m set to attend a few shows and organize several NYFW experiences, and I need to dress appropriately for each occasion. My go-to ensemble features a mix of Frankie Shop, Zara, and Isabel Marant, with a few splurges on bags and shoes. This season’s essential item? The stunning new Bottega Veneta shoulder bag — I’m completely enchanted!

Spotlight on Broadway

On stage this fall, I can’t wait for Mira Sorvino’s Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre (September 15 – November 2).

Expect sultry satire, signature Fosse choreography, and all the dazzling Broadway glamour you could ask

for. A timeless classic with a fresh new twist—what could be better?

Culinary Adventures & Literary Escapes

On My Plate & On My Nightstand

I’m currently reading Michael Cecchi’s Your Table is Ready, and I am hooked. Many of the restaurant personalities we have worked with from New York Offstage, what YVP was formerly known as — and some I even babysat for when I was a kid. His fond recollections of NYC in the 80’s and 90’s are wild. One of his main spots was Raoul’s in SoHo. It brings to mind their perfect martinis and steak frites, making it a must for a few September date nights with my husband. Speaking of dates, my daughter and I have a standing back to school lunch every year. This September we plan on going to Tiffany’s Blue Box Cafe. It’s so fun and girly and we can WINDOW shop after we eat!

Next on the Agenda

Game On: World Cup Experiences

One more thing I’m loving this September—dreaming up extraordinary YVP World Cup experiences for Summer 2026, when the finals arrive right here in New York City. Soccer runs deep in my family—my husband played, and my kids all play(ed) so having the world’s biggest matches in our city feels especially thrilling. I’m already imagining the unforgettable moments, from cheering in the stands to exclusive VIP celebrations that only YVP can offer.

Thanks for spending some time with me, and I can’t wait to see you at our next soirée!