After the Knicks Game: Where the Night Goes When the Garden Lets Out

If you're wondering what to do after the Knicks game, here's our answer: eat something, get a ride to Queens, and be at the door in Woodside when Starlets opens at 11 PM. A 7 PM tip-off usually lets out somewhere around 9:30, which leaves you about an hour and a half with nowhere obvious to be. That gap is exactly where most game nights quietly die.

Written by the Starlets team in Woodside, Queens.

Tonight is not a normal game, either. The Knicks raise their championship banner at Madison Square Garden before the season opener against the 76ers, tipping off at 7 PM on NBC and Peacock. It's the franchise's first NBA title in 53 years. Nobody in that building is going to want to be home by ten.

After the Knicks game on ring night, then what?

You already know what happens around Penn Station after a big game. Every bar within a few blocks is three deep, the bartenders are underwater, and you spend forty minutes trying to order one round. It's fun for about one drink. After that you're paying Midtown prices to stand in a hallway.

Then somebody in the group says "so where are we going?" and nobody has an answer. Half the crew heads for the train. The other half stands on the corner looking at their phones. It's a familiar story, so here's the plan written down.

The short version: the game ends early by New York nightlife standards, and Starlets opens at 11 PM every night and stays open until 4 AM. You don't need to cram the celebration into the hour after the buzzer. You can take it somewhere with a seat.

The 9:30-to-11 gap, and how not to waste it

Here's how we'd split it.

Decide at halftime, not on the sidewalk. One person picks the plan and books it. If there are four of you and you want somewhere to sit, a VIP Reservation at Starlets is reserved seating with table service, and it's sized for exactly that kind of low-key crew of four. Requests are quoted, so send it early.

Eat, but don't overdo it. A real dinner near the Garden fills the gap nicely. If you'd rather keep moving, the club lists a full kitchen, so you're not stuck forcing a sit-down meal before you come out to Queens.

Leave Manhattan around 10:15. That gets you to Woodside for doors without standing outside in October air for half an hour.

Getting from MSG to Woodside

Starlets is at 49-09 25th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377. On a map it's about 4.8 miles in a straight line from the Garden, though any real route is longer.

There's no subway station right next to the club. The closest ones are 46 St and Northern Blvd on the M and R, and Astoria Blvd on the N and W, each roughly three quarters of a mile away in a straight line. 61 St-Woodside, on the 7 and the LIRR, is about 1.3 miles out. Late at night, most people just take a car straight from the Garden. Our full guide to getting to Starlets has the bus routes and the last departure times.

Plan the ride home before you leave, too. The buses near the club finish by about 1:40 AM, and we're open until 4. A rideshare is the practical way back.

Tuesday at Starlets is MVMT Tuesday

Every night at Starlets has a name, and Tuesday's is MVMT Tuesday. Doors at 11, open until 4, and you need to be 21 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID. Same rule every night, banner or no banner.

The events page has each night's details as they're posted. For anything you want to sort out ahead of time, like a table, a headcount, or a question about the night, email management@starletsnyc.com.

This works for every home game, not just ring night

Ring night is the loud version, but the math is the same every time the Knicks are at home. The game ends, the Garden empties, and you've got a choice between a crowded bar by Penn and a real night out in Queens. A whole regular season of home games is a lot of Tuesdays and Saturdays to fill.

Weekend games are the easy version. A Friday game lets out in time for Reggae vs Trap Friday, a Saturday game lines up with Silhouette Saturdays, and a Sunday game leaves you a whole evening before Startender Sundays starts at 11. Weeknight games take a little more planning if you've got work in the morning, so pick your leave time before you sit down, not at 2 AM. If you're new to the club, Open Late in Queens walks through the full weekly lineup, so you can match the game schedule to the night you want.

Frequently asked questions

What time does a Knicks game at MSG usually end?

Most NBA games run a little over two hours, so a 7 PM tip usually lets out around 9:15 to 9:45. Overtime pushes that later.

How far is Starlets from Madison Square Garden?

About 4.8 miles in a straight line. The driving route is longer, so check the live estimate in your ride app when you leave.

Is Starlets open on Tuesday nights?

Yes. Starlets is open every night from 11 PM to 4 AM, and Tuesday is MVMT Tuesday.

Can I book a table for after the game?

Yes. Tables are booked by request through the services page or by email, and each one is quoted. Send the request before the game, not during the fourth quarter.

Is Starlets 21 and over?

Yes. Everyone shows a valid government-issued photo ID at the door.