The Best Things to Do in NYC This Week & Weekend | City Guide – City Guide NY

Looking for what to do in NYC today, or this week, or this weekend? There’s tons of things to do in New York, like festivals, pop ups, photo ops, and more. We’ve got the full roundup of New York activities here.

THINGS TO DO IN NYC THIS WEEK AND WEEKEND

THREE KINGS DAY

 

For the 47th year, El Museo del Barrio presents its Three Kings Day Parade and Celebration on Friday. This year’s theme is Tradiciones: Keeping Our Stories Alive. Expect a parade with live music, floats, and even a few camels. (There’s more live music back at the museum afterwards.)

BUCK OFF

Your first rodeo? NYC seems an unlikely spot for bull-riding action, but this weekend Madison Square Garden hosts the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off. This annual event starts with pyrotechnics before the top 30 riders in the world take on the fiercest bulls on the planet. Friday through Sunday.

BOWIE BIRTHDAY BASH

City Winery New York City at Hudson River Park brings together great bites, wine to match, and views to remember. They’re open daily, with two stages hosting a stellar array of music and comedy. Saturday evening is a Bowie Birthday Bash, celebrating the late pop icon in an evening that scales up from acoustic performances to full-on rock ‘n’ roll. 

GLIDE

Brooklyn Bridge Park has skating for the time ever. Glide offers an epic setting at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza—lace up and make the most of the season.

OYSTER HAPPY HOUR

Retro Brooklyn spot Gage & Tollner launches a new Happy Hour on Friday. Enjoy half-off oysters, teeny martinis, select beers, and wines by the glass Monday through Thursday 5-6pm and Friday through Sunday 3-5pm. Walk-ins welcome.

STAYCATION

QC Spa is embracing the season. Relax in one of their heated pools (with skyline views) and take in live performances by acrobatic production company Cirque-tacular, who play twice a week through March. Heated walkways, tunnels, and loungers, and indoor fire pits add to the cozy vibes.

ENTER THE WINTERVERSE

Hyper-sensory environment INTER_ gets into the spirit of the season. Dive into the city’s coolest immersive winter wonderland with two floors of interactive art for all ages with wINTERverse. Beaded snowflake decorating and a take-home cocoa kit add to the fun—perfect for a cozy date night or outing with friends and family.

GAME ON

There’s a new recreation spot open in the Seaport. Lawn Club‘s indoor and outdoor games include Bocce, Cornhole, Croquet, Shuffleboard, Beersbee, Kan Jam, and its own exclusive Putting Pool. Dedicated “Lawncierges” facilitate the fun and there are also two bars for food and drink and big-screen TVs.

BROADWAY SHOW OF THE WEEK

Madison Kopec (center) and the cast of How to Dance in Ohio. Photo by Curtis Brown.

Inspired by Alexandra Shiva’s documentary of the same name, How to Dance in Ohio is set at a group counseling center in Columbus, Ohio, where seven autistic young adults prepare for a spring dance—a challenge that breaks open their routines as they experience love, stress, excitement, and independence. The show features the original autistic actors who starred in the show’s world premiere in Syracuse. Now playing on Broadway!

NEW MODERN AMERICAN

Photo: Park Ave Kitchen

Celeb chef David Burke has just launched his latest, Park Ave Kitchen, a two-for-one restaurant with top-notch service. There’s a formal dine-in brasserie on one side and a more casual to-stay area with a take-out option on the other. Dishes reflect the technique and boundlessly creative approach Burke is famous for. (Pictured here: the crab cake pretzel raft.)

THE BEAM

Image courtesy of Rockefeller Center.

Top of the Rock has a new thrill, and a new way to memorialize a visit here. Re-create an iconic 1932 photo as you’re strapped onto a modern version of The Beam and lifted 12 feet above the observation deck. (The Beam rotates for even better views.)

WINTER WHIRL

For the first time ever, you can roll inside the awe-inspiring architecture of The Oculus. Through January, strap on roller skates to enjoy the Oculus Winter Whirl Roller Rink. Look for live music, free gift wrapping, and plenty of food and drink options.

WORLD OF AI-MAGINATION

Head to the historic boiler room of Chelsea Market to experience the immersive space ARTECHOUSE, NYC’s original home for digital art. You’ve never seen art like this before, as room-sized digital projections merge with sound design to create a cinematic experience. Open up fresh horizons at ARTECHOUSE’s new show, World of AI·magination, a stunning large-scale experiential digital artwork. The show is a testament to the collaboration between human ingenuity and cutting-edge machine learning, involving the creation of over a million unique data sets. The result, with its mesmerizing audio-visual components, is a poetic homage to the ageless power of imagination.

SKATE SEASON

The imminent arrival of the holidays also means that it’s ice skating time in New York City. Rinks don’t come any higher—or more thrilling—than Sky Skate Presented by Dunkin’, Edge’s top floor, all-weather, indoor sky deck, open as of yesterday. Blades are free with your skate session ticket (30 minutes), which also includes admission to the observatory. 

(We’ve got the full rundown on the city’s top places to skate here.)

THE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR STARRING THE RADIO CITY ROCKETTES

Image: MSG Entertainment.

One of the city’s favorite holiday traditions returns as the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes has launched its new season. The Radio City Rockettes, the longest-running precision dance company in America, show off their intricate choreography and show-stopping numbers for adoring crowds of all ages. This year’s show features the fan-favorite scene “Dance of the Frost Fairies,” which was reimagined last year and portrays the Rockettes as fantastical winged fairies, performing alongside fairy-drones that dance high above the crowd. The Rockettes put on nine stunning numbers throughout the 90-minute production, showcasing more technically complex styles of dance than ever before. Get your tickets now for a legend that’s been bringing the magic of Christmas in New York to life since 1933. Extended through January 4th!

ASTRA LUMINA

Enter a world of light at newcomer Astra Lumina, which is now open at the Queens Botanical Garden. An illuminated nature walk brings a series of glowing installations. The experience includes a photo booth, gift shop, and food and drink. Through February 11th.

PALEYLAND + THREE KINGS DAY

The Paley Center for Media’s annual holiday extravaganza PaleyLand ends its run on Sunday. On Saturday, January 6th, the Paley Center will celebrate Three Kings Day with a visit from the Three Kings, screenings of Dora Saves Three Kings Day, themed arts and crafts, and gifts for kids who arrive early (while supplies last). The final weekend is set to be another fun-filled wonderland for families, also featuring:

• 5 floors of a winter wonderland full of photo ops
• The Paley Express, a magical holiday train display, pictured above
• Free hot chocolate, candy canes, arts and crafts, giveaways, and more
• The latest in gaming and VR at the state-of-the-art PaleyGX Gaming Studio

WHISKEY WONDERLAND

Great Jones Distilling Co. is Manhattan’s first and only whiskey distillery since Prohibition. Their NoHo location celebrates whiskey past and present along with the culture of Prohibition-era New York. Gain in-depth insight into the whiskey distilling operation through a tour of the distillery. Learn the basics of the whiskey-making process and end your experience with a guided tasting of their core whiskeys. Great Jones also offers cocktail-making classes and food pairing experiences, plus an in house restaurant, serving craft cocktails and a curated menu using only the freshest New York state ingredients. Make the most of the season as the venue’s Whiskey Wonderland returns. Look for a holiday speakeasy with cold-weather cocktails, inspired decor, and a seasonal menu with bites like buttered pretzels and chocolate fondue. Through January.

WINTER LANTERN FEST

More than one-thousand handmade Chinese lanterns and lights have transformed the Queens County Farm Museum. Inspired by Chinese myths and zodiac, the illuminations will include swings and seesaws, making for some stellar photo ops. Through January 4th,

SkATING WINTER WONDERLAND

Pier 17 is host to Disney’s The Santa Clauses’ Winter Wonderland. A skating rink, private cabins, photo ops with Santa’s fireplace, views, and themed drinks from Judy’s hot cocoa-inspired café are among the options. Runs until January 7th.

THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER CHRISTMAS TREE

Image courtesy of Diane Bondareff, AP Images for Tishman Speyer.

The towering tree in Rockefeller Center is an international symbol of the holiday spirit. The lights shine daily from 5am to midnight (on Christmas Day it’s lit for 24 hours). The tree will be on view until January 13th.

Tree Talk—Did You Know?

1. This year’s tree, a Norway Spruce as is tradition, comes from Vestal, New York, a suburb of Binghamton. Rockefeller Center Chief Gardener Erik Pauze spotted the Spruce back in June, and watered and cared for it since, up until it took its trek to NYC a few weeks ago.

2. It is 80 feet in height and 43 feet in diameter.

3. It is between 80 and 85 years old and weighs 12 tons.

4. The star, designed in 2018, contains 70 spikes covered in 3 million crystals, and weighs around 900 pounds alone.

5. In addition to the star, the tree is adorned with over 50,000 lights, all of them energy-efficient LEDs, which not only results in less power output overall, but also allows for brighter color bulbs!

6. Following the holiday season and the display period, the tree’s wood is chopped and donated to Habitat for Humanity, where it’s then used to help build homes across the country. The wood is even branded with a special stamp, denoting its key involvement in cementing Rockefeller Center history. —Matt Smith

HALL DES LUMIÈRES

Chagall, Paris – New York, devoted to the unclassifiable artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985), is now open downtown. Beyond painting, Chagall’s work in theater, costumes, sculpture, ceramics, stained glass, mosaics, and collage are all part of the digital immersion here. The projections are enhanced by inspirations like klezmer, jazz, and classical music. Hall des Lumières in Lower Manhattan is the setting, where a landmark Beaux-Arts former bank provides an elegant backdrop for the art.

BEST IN SHOW

Topiary © Tim Flach.

Fotografiska New York is a museum experience for the modern world, with a vibrant atmosphere unlike any other NYC museum. Music is playing throughout, drinks from coffee to cocktails to champagne are served and allowed anywhere in the museum, and they’re open late every night. Exhibition Best in Show: Pets in Contemporary Photography explores the role our furry (and feathered) friends have played in culture. Take a playful look at how animals stand in as representations of status, power, loyalty, compassion, and companionship through the perspectives of two dozen global photographers. Among the works on view are examples by William Wegman, famed for his portraits of his Weimaraners; Walter Chandoha, the world’s first professional cat photographer; Sophie Gamand, known for her touching, sensitive photographs of dogs taking baths; and Martin Parr’s satirical portrayals of pets across social classes.

SUMMIT ONE VANDERBILT

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt blends elements of art, technology, architecture, and thrill to take the concept of “observation deck” to entirely new heights. With three floors of immersive space that will challenge, inspire, and thrill, guests can awaken their senses and surrender to new perceptions of what is possible. Consisting of 30,375 square feet of mirrors and sweeping 360-degree views of Manhattan, SUMMIT offers one of the most Instagrammable experiences in the world. Beyond the photo-op, guests are encouraged to interact with the experience through floating orbs in the “Affinity” room, cloud portraits in the “Unity” room, and a trip on the world’s largest external glass elevator, “Ascent.”

GET WINTER READY POP-UP

Every Sunday on the Upper West Side you can check out Grand Bazaar NYC, the city’s largest curated market—and most distinctive. This week you’ll also find the Get Winter Ready Pop-up. Browse the indoor and outdoor market for rare goods, purchased directly from local independent dealers. Find cozy, handmade woolen hats and scarves, handcrafted candles and organic body butters, and all kinds of stylish vintage threads. As you meander through the market, warm up with a steaming cup of hot cider and a tasty treat from the artisanal food court. 10am-5pm.

CULTURAL THINGS TO DO IN NYC

Photo: Sari Goodfriend.

The Climate Museum’s new exhibition, The End of Fossil Fuel, is now open. The show explores the roots of the current crisis while also sharing the stories of victories by climate justice communities. A 45-foot mural by award-winning artist R. Gregory Christie envisions a just future. There’s also a sticker wall, where visitors  can commit to action. The exhibition and its related programming are all free.

Photo by Linda Sheridan.

How do elephants “hear” with their feet, use the 16 muscles in their trunks, or reshape the forests and savannas they live in? The Secret World of Elephants, a new interactive exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History, explores the astounding minds, bodies, and interactions of the Earth’s largest land mammals.

Image: Installation photo by Dario Lasagni. Courtesy the Jewish Museum, NY.

New Yorkers love their fashion exhibitions and there’s a new one at The Jewish Museum. Mood of the moment: Gaby Aghion and the house of Chloé is the first museum exhibition to honor visionary Jewish entrepreneur Gaby Aghion (1921-2014) and her legacy as the founder of the French fashion house Chloé. The show casts new light on the label’s 70-year history with 150 garments and materials from the Chloé Archive.

Wheel of Life; Tibet or Mongolia; 19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2006.66.131 (HAR 78).

Chelsea is home to the Rubin Museum of Art, dedicated to the art and culture of the Himalayas. You can get an overview of the Rubin’s collection in current exhibition Gateway to Himalayan Art, which introduces visitors to the main forms, concepts, meanings, and traditions of Himalayan art. The latest exhibit at the Rubin Museum of Art brings together the art of Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism. Get a look at visions of the afterlife through “Death Is Not the End,” which includes oil paintings, bone ornaments, prints, sculptures, and ritual objects spanning 12 centuries. Through January 14th, 2024.

In a city where dogs seem to be prancing down every street corner, and napping by every outdoor table, it’s no surprise that there’s an entire museum dedicated to them. The permanent collection at the AKC Museum of the Dog includes a treasure trove of dog-related art and artifacts, from watercolors and prints to bronzes and ceramics (including some of the world’s finest porcelain makers, from Royal Doulton to Meissen). Current exhibition Fashionable Dogs (through the end of 2023) tracks the arc of canine popularity, diving deep into the rise and fall of breeds like the Borzoi, Greyhound, Poodle, Pekingese, Japanese Chin, French Bulldog, and Great Dane.

The Upper East Side is home to some of the most famous institutions in the world. The Frick Collection is known for its focus on European sculpture and decorative arts, as well as Old Master paintings. While its permanent location is closed for renovation,  a selection can be seen at Frick Madison, where the holdings benefit from the fresh perspective provided by a very modernist, mid-1960s temporary home.

Celebrating works of art created in Austria and Germany, the Neue Galerie focuses on important movements of the 20th century. Inside an immaculate Beaux-Arts mansion you’ll find decorative objects and famous paintings by the likes of Gustav Klimt, Paul Klee, and Egon Schiele.

Further uptown is The Museum of the City of New York, which interprets, celebrates, and documents New York—past, present, and future.

Unidentified artist, Kimono with Peacock and Tree Design, silk embroidered on silk crepe, San Diego Museum of Art, Gift of Kenneth Brown and John Siglow, 1975.22.

New at Asia Society is a fresh look at the art of Japan’s Meiji era (1868-1912). Landmark exhibition Meiji Modern: Fifty Years of New Japan shows off a pivotal era of transition, reflecting a renewed global awareness and a dynamic mix of old and new. Expect paintings, prints, photos, sculpture, enamel, lacquer, embroidery, and textiles, through January 7th.

The emerald and diamond necklace and bracelet set—commissioned by Prince Karim Aga Khan IV for his wife in 1971—boasts yellow gold, diamonds, and 477.58 carats of stunning Colombian emeralds (detail view). This intricate set can be transformed from a luxurious tiered necklace into a pair of matching bracelets and a stylish pendant-clip. Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels.

Go green at the latest exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History. Garden of Green features 44 pieces of exquisite jewelry, including 32 displayed for the first time in the U.S., highlighting a century of design by French high jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels. Emerald, peridot, malachite, chrysoprase, green chalcedony, and jadeite jade are all on display, along with the chance to learn more about what the gems tell us about our planet.

More on NYC museums can be found here.

IMMERSIVE THINGS TO DO IN NYC

New York City is famous for its gala culture. For the first time ever, you can immerse yourself in the scene right in Times Square. The Madame Tussauds flagship holds 19 celebrity figures, including new and never-before-seen wax figures of Ariana Grande and P. Diddy, at the Glow Gala.

(If your tastes are darker, don’t miss Madame Tussauds’s Warner Bros. Icons of Horror, displaying chillingly lifelike wax figures within four fully immersive scenes. Celebrate legends, including Pennywise and Regan from The Exorcist. If you dare.)

 

THINGS TO DO IN NYC: LIVE PERFORMANCES

LIVE BEATS & MORE DOWNTOWN

JoAnna Ross and Dan Goodman, photo by Paul Park.

Downtown has one destination for eclectic, compelling music. The programming at the East Village’s Drom runs from jazz, rock, electronic, soul, and funk to international music. Drom is also your local choice for comedy and pole dancing. Schtick A Pole In It has for the past 9 years been NYC’s best (and only) comedy and pole dancing show. Comics tell jokes and pole dancers pole dance. Laugh lines alternate with death-defying tricks. If you don’t see shows like this, why are you even paying NYC rents? The show has just expanded to four dates a month as part of an open-ended run. Tickets and more information are here. 

LIVE JAZZ

Photo by Lawrence Sumulong.

For world-class musical experiences, head to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s intimate Dizzy’s Club. You’ll find a warm ambiance, a tasty seasonal menu, and panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. There are shows nightly, in addition to Late Night Sessions Thursdays through Saturdays, starting at 11:15pm. 

LIVE MUSIC AND FINE WINE AT CITY WINERY

Adam Pass/City Winery.

City Winery New York City at Hudson River Park brings together great bites, wine to match, and views to remember. Enjoy brunch, lunch, or dinner in City Winery’s restaurant and wine bar, where the food is meant to be paired with a great glass of wine. They’re open daily, with two stages hosting a stellar array of music and comedy. Friday night you can catch Grammy-winning R&B and soul singer Chrisette Michele. Saturday evening is a Bowie Birthday Bash, celebrating the late pop icon in an evening that scales up from acoustic performances to full-on rock ‘n’ roll. Wednesday sees a tribute performance for the Woodstock era and also a tribute to Prince. Thursday, January 11th, indulge in some fine wine edutainment with nibbles and tastings at A Major Crush: WHITE BURGUNDY: The Higher Mountain of Chardonnay.

Strawberry Fields. 12pm in The Loft; Ultimate Beatles brunch concert (buffet brunch included in ticket price; free admission to children under 12)

https://citywinery.com/newyork/Online/article/new-york-strawberry-fields-lp-2023 

Strawberry Fields is the closest you can get to seeing the Beatles perform live! Close your eyes, you won’t believe your ears! These four acclaimed musicians deliver a unique theatrical experience. They take audiences of all ages on a chronological journey through the Beatles timeless catalog. The use of costumes and vintage instrumentation and amplification delivers a truly authentic audio and visual experience.

THE ORIGINAL NYC TALENT SHOW

For coming up on 15 years, The Original NYC Talent Show has stood out as a rare stage experience showing off the eccentric, unparalleled talent native to New York City. Next week it christens a new venue and schedule, taking up residence at the Parkside Lounge on Monday nights. Headlining January 8th is NYC comedian and actor Seth Herzog, the resident comedian for NBC’s “Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon,” and formerly of “Late Night.” The weekly show also features artists, musicians, dancers, comedians, and guests who defy classification.

EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO IN NYC

Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash.

After a long Covid pause, the crown of Lady Liberty is once again open to visitors. This icon requires a 162-step climb (there is no elevator) but will reward you with an entirely unique perspective on the city. Along a double-helix spiral staircase you’ll see the intricate structure that keeps the statue standing, capped by 25 windows overlooking New York Harbor.

CALLING ALL SWIFTIES….

“I Bet You Think About Me” video still: courtesy of TAS Rights Management.

Calling all Swifties! The Museum of Arts and Design has launched a new career-spanning look at the 12-time Grammy winner. Taylor Swift: Storyteller shows off concert and music video fashion, along with props, jewelry, and ephemera. Projections of music videos round out the experience, which uses timed tickets to limit crowding.

…AND POTTERHEADS

Calling all Potterheads! The sprawling new interactive experience Harry Potter: The Exhibition is now open near Herald Square. Journey through the iconic moments, characters, settings, and beasts of the Wizarding World. Brew potions in the Potions Classroom, predict the future in Divination, pot a mandrake in the Herbology Greenhouse (it smells amazing), and use your digital wand to defeat a boggart in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Afterwards, check out the shop for Butterbeer, wands, jackets, and a large selection of Potter merchandise. Due to popular demand, the experience has been extended through April 7th.

HARMONY

Allison Semmes as Josephine Baker and the company of Harmony. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.

Featuring an original score by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman, this new musical is based on the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, a group who sold millions of records, made dozens of films, and sold out mega theaters during the 1920s and ’30s. Harmony follows their journey from singing in the subway tunnels of Berlin to international superstardom, all against the specter of the Nazi rise.

WINTER VILLAGE

Colin Miller for Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park.

Ice skating, shops, the food hall, cozy igloos, and the Curling Café & Bar are all back and running through the season at the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park.

BUCKET LIST

Ever since its 1931 completion, the Empire State Building has been the most famous skyscraper in the world. It remains a vital part of NYC and an inspiration to the millions who ascend to the ESB observation deck in every season. For a limited time, you can be among the first in the city to see the new day dawning from 86 stories up. The Starbucks Reserve Sunrise Experience, available on Saturday mornings, provides early bird access to the observatory deck. Tickets include Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building Microblend Coffee, artisanal pastries, and views of a lifetime. Perfect for bucket lists!

A PRE-THEATRE SPECIAL

A classic New York experience awaits at the Brooklyn Diner, which takes inspiration from “the old neighborhood.” Diner favorites like Reubens, burgers, chicken soup, and pot pies are joined by lighter fare like tacos, teriyaki salmon, and entree salads. Pre-theatre, the Times Square location is serving a juicy hanger steak, crisp salad, and bottomless fries special—all for just $33. Available daily 5-7pm.

A NEW INDO CHINESE MENU!

Woman-owned Utsav Indian Cuisine has been serving NYC fresh and flavorful Indian cuisine for more than twenty years. A recently introduced Indo Chinese menu brings new flavors to Times Square/the Theater District for the first time. You’ll find fried rice, noodles, appetizers like chili prawn dry and chicken lollipops, and entrees like fish with hot garlic sauce and lamb with chili soya sauce. (Chefs are trained in the Calcutta style of Chinese food, where the cuisine has its home in India.) Don’t miss the new Bengali selection!

HAVANA IN TIMES SQUARE HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL

Havana Central has introduced 1/2 price empanadas during Happy Hour at the bar! Diners must purchase a drink, 3 empanadas max per drink purchase. Available in the bar only, Monday-Friday from 3-7pm. Choose from a variety of homemade savory pockets including beef, chicken, cheese, shrimp, and ropa vieja! Havana Central also features Happy Hour drink specials including $7 classic mojitos, classic margaritas, and red sangria, in addition to other specials.

WHAT TO DO IN NYC

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TALKS, LECTURES, AND EVENTS

Thought Gallery has hundreds of livestream talks, lectures, performances, and more. Check out sessions with celebs, live concerts, and opportunities to learn the latest on everything from science to philosophy to social justice.

NEW YORK’S ACTIVITY AUTHORITY

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