Head to Time Out Market Union Square on January 28th from 5 PM to 7 PM, when they host The Cupid Project, a community-driven initiative that turns a simple handwritten Valentine’s card into something deeply meaningful. 

Located on the ground floor of Zero Irving at 124 East 14th Street, Time Out Market Union Square is the city’s newest food and cultural destination. Spanning 10,000 square feet, the Market features seven kitchens, a central bar, a performance space, and communal seating for approximately 240 guests, including outdoor terrace seating. Open daily from morning through night, the Market offers an all-day gathering place where New Yorkers can experience a curated snapshot of the city’s culinary and creative energy.

Photo Courtesy of Noah Fecks

For this special event, guests are invited to stop by the Market, sit down at communal tables, and write Valentine’s cards that will be delivered to nursing homes, helping combat loneliness and remind residents that they are seen, remembered, and cared for. Founded in 2018, The Cupid Project is rooted in the belief that small, thoughtful gestures can have a lasting impact. Each year, volunteers across the city come together to create thousands of handwritten notes that are delivered every Valentine’s Day. Hosting the project at Time Out Market feels especially fitting, as the Market itself is designed to bring people together, fostering connection through shared experiences, food, and culture. The event is open to the public and easily pairs with an after-work visit for dinner, drinks, or a casual hang at the Market.

The Cupid Project at Time Out Market Union Square is a reminder that community can be built in many ways. Sometimes, it’s through a great meal shared at a communal table. Other times, it’s through a handwritten note that travels from one New Yorker to another, carrying warmth, connection, and a little love. For more information visit their website or follow them on social at @timeoutmarketunionsquare/

Fornino Courtesy of Simon Leung

Food at Time Out Market Union Square is thoughtfully curated through a rigorous tasting and testing process by the Time Out team, resulting in a lineup that balances iconic favorites with rising culinary voices shaping New York’s dining scene. The Market brings together Michael Ayoub’s Fornino, serving blistered artisanal pizzas and seasonal Greenmarket-inspired specials; Kam Rai Thai, where Chef Dhanapol “Oak” Marprasert delivers bold, Bangkok-style street food flavors; and Kebabwala, from chefs Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar, channeling the heat and energy of a Delhi night market with flame-grilled skewers and biryani. 

Guests can also find Paninoteca by Anthony, where Anthony Valois layers porchetta and house-cured pastrami into Italian sandwiches rooted in tradition; Patty Palace, with Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s playful, elevated take on Caribbean patties; and Smashed Express, Mark Mendaros’s cult-favorite smash burgers known for their crisp edges and scratch-made sauces. Rounding out the experience, Common Coffee brings carefully sourced, Scottish-roasted coffee to fuel the day, while La Colombe Nitro Cold Brew offers smooth, chocolatey cold brew from one of the country’s most influential coffee brands. Together, these vendors showcase their signature dishes, experiment with new ideas, and connect directly with the community, while Time Out Market’s operational support allows them to focus on what they do best: creating food and drink that captures the diversity, creativity, and energy of New York City.

To keep up with their latest events visit their website or follow them @timeoutmarketunionsquare/