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Here’s Alicia Keys at Apple Grand Central for 50th anniversary experience [Gallery]

Avatar for Michael Burkhardt  | Mar 13 2026 - 5:33 pm PT
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Apple today held an impromptu 50th anniversary celebration at its Grand Central store, featuring renowned artist Alicia Keys. This is the first of many that’ll take place around the world, and Apple Grand Central was just the kickoff! I had the honor of getting to attend the performance, and I’ll be sharing all of my photos here.

First and foremost, I just have to say that this was one of the coolest events I’ve ever been invited to. The performance itself was incredible, but the impromptu nature of it all also made it quite an appealing moment. We didn’t know anything about it up until yesterday, when Parker Ortolani shared on Twitter that the store would be closed for some sort of event.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was in attendance, as well as hardware SVP John Ternus, marketing SVP Greg Joswiak, and retail SVP Deirdre O’Brien.

All in all, this is an awesome idea for celebrating Apple’s 50th anniversary, and I cannot wait to see what’s next! Some of my photos are below, and you can also check out 9to5Mac on Twitter for some video.

My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:

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Avatar for Michael Burkhardt Michael Burkhardt

Michael is 9to5Mac’s Weekend Editor, keeping up with all of the latest Apple news on Saturday and Sunday. He got started in the world of Apple news during the pandemic, and it became a growing hobby. He’s also an indie iOS developer in his free time, and has published numerous apps over the years.

Michael Burkhardt's favorite gear

Anker 25K Compact Battery Bank

Featuring two built in cables, a built in display, multiple ports, a 25,000mAh capacity, and up to 100W of output - this is one of the best battery banks for recharging your entire Apple ecosystem on the go.

AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

Despite a new version reportedly being around a corner, I still personally believe AirPods Pro 2 are a great deal. They're already equipped with USB-C, and continually gain new software features. With them consistently going on sale, it's a great purchase to make. Features like Adaptive Audio are incredible.