Issue 1
June 2026
This Month at the River
June Programming
Magic Mondays
Starting June 1st, Shane Cobalt will be performing his award-winning sleight-of-hand every Monday this month!
“How is this even possible?”—John Hamm
June 15th—Summer Trivia
Theme Trivia by Isabel Filer & Avery O’Rourke is back with its eighteenth trivia, appropriately themed for the season. Join us at 8pm for a chance to place top three and win our summer-themed prize bag, a bottle of Arley Marks’ Honey Vodka, or a pre-rolled joint!
Each month on our Substack, Theme Trivia will release a preview question from their upcoming trivia. Find this month’s below.
During summer, some animals enter a state of prolonged dormancy triggered by extreme heat and drought, similar to winter hibernation. What is this state called?
Follow them on Instagram @theme_trivia for more updates.
June 17th—Music Night
Friend of the River Chris will be sharing a new mixtape from 7-9pm with special drinks, followed by Matt McCauley, playing guitar & singing original music starting at 9pm.
June 26th—Private Event
River will be closed to the public from 8:00—11:30pm.
Food Popups
Taco Tuesdays by Cocina Itza
Every Tuesday this month, the River’s own Akbal Ortega will be frying up his signature carnitas tacos, alongside a rotating weekly special (think: chilaquiles, tinga, ceviche). Ortega prepares his carnitas from maciza pork, brined overnight and then slowly confited in lard with orange, garlic, onion, herbs, rum, and (Mexican) Coca-Cola.
The carnitas are served on warm tortillas with cilantro, onion, lime, and a house-made salsa de árbol and salsa de aguacate, adapted from the chef’s family recipes.
Ortega recommends an ice-cold Modelo with a lime wedge to wash down the meal.
June 7th—New World Oyster by Aidan Davids
**Postponed to Monday, June 8th**
Another member of the River team, Aidan Davids will be introducing New World Oyster at The River. For its debut, Davids has selected oysters from Nova Scotia, sourced through Greenpoint Fish & Lobster and chosen for their balanced flavor profile. New World Oyster will evolve throughout the summer as Davids explores offerings from Maine, Massachusetts, and beyond.
Oysters will be served with a rotating selection of house-made mignonettes, featuring red wine, prosecco, sake, vermouth, and wasabi preparations, as well as seasonal accoutrements of shiso, cilantro, yuzu, lemon, and lime.
For those inclined, we recommend pairing a dozen with a dry Hendrick’s Martini with a twist.
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Cocktail of the Month
Horse Girl Martini
Recipe
1.5oz Viamundi Tequila
0.5oz Combier
1oz carrot juice
0.25oz lemon juice
3 dashes Tabasco
Shaken with ice
Served up in a coupe glass
Garnish with dried chili pepper
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Playlist of the Month
by Ryley Walker
Apple Music
Spotify
Ryley’s top three songs on the playlist are “Revans” by Sora, “Plato Trees” by Imaginary Softwoods and “Strong-Willed” by Milyakov & Yana Pavlova.
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River Picks / Expert Selections
Aurel’s Art Pick
by Aurel Schmidt
On view as part of the exhibition Joan Semmel: In The Flesh at the Jewish Museum.
“I actually saw the show, it was pretty good.” —Aurel Schmidt
Nicolaia’s Book Pick
by Nicolaia Rips
This month’s book pick is chosen by journalist Nicolaia Rips. She is the Senior Editor of i-D Magazine & her writing has been published just about everywhere.
“The Dud Avocado by one of my favorite authors, Elaine Dundy!!! A firecracker of a novelist. I wish I could read The Dud Avocado for the first time again but that’s an opportunity reserved for 20-year-olds and people in 20-year-old-type crises.” —Nicolaia Rips
You can subscribe to Nicolaia’s Substack — The Rips Sheet — here.
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Community News Bulletin
Bar Oliver PINTXO SERIES
June 1st
5:30pm – Sold Out
LOMEX Gallery
Yoshitaka Amano: Time and Light
April 24th – June 6th, 2026
86 Walker, 3rd Floor | 89 Walker, #2R
Mutt Art Review Issue 4 Launch
The Gallery
June 13th, 7-9pm
Alex Berns Gallery
354 Broadway
Antonia Lucy Gehnrich: Das Parfum
On view through Saturday, June 13th
LINES
A play by Ewan Llyod & Bellamy Brewster
Theatre 154
June 17th – July 3rd
Buy Tickets
Mutt Art Review reading at Derby Cup Coffee
Stay tuned for details.
Semi-private classical mat pilates are offered every day of the week above The River by The Shell.
By referral only. Request at your own risk.
Elizabeth Street Garden offers free live music & poetry every other Sunday at 5pm, Tai Chi on Sundays at 11am, & yoga (starting June 20th) on Saturdays at 10:30am.
Gosh has opened and is in full swing, run by the team behind Amanita Gallery. Featuring a wild interior (e.g. confessionals) & an expansive collection of art stamping the walls, you may find yourself turned away at the door during one of their many private events. But don’t fret—the River is just down the block.
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Overheard at the River
“Can I hold your d*** while you pee?”
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Lost & Found
Our staff’s favourite lost & found find from last month is Why Men Love Bitches: From Doormat to Dreamgirl—A Woman’s Guide to Holding Her Own in a Relationship by Sherry Argov.
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Patron of the Month
The River’s Patron of the Month for June is Wade Oates!
Come by anytime in June to claim your free drink.
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To Our Patrons:
We consider it a privilege to have served you and are happy to express our deep appreciation of your valued patronage. We shall eagerly look forward to seeing you again in the not too distant future.
Thank You!
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