Events & Things To Do

One of the earliest maps of Manhattan will be on display at the New-York Historical Society

The Castello Plan. Photo via WikiCommons

January 31, 2024

One of the earliest maps of Manhattan will be on display at the New-York Historical Society

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new installation opening at the New-York Historical Society provides a look at everyday life in New Amsterdam at the peak of its settlement. Marking the 400th anniversary of the Dutch colony's founding, the installation "New York Before New York: The Castello Plan of New Amsterdam" centers around the Castello Plan, a historic map depicting New Amsterdam in 1660 right before the English took control. On view from March 15 through July 14, the installation also features rare documents and objects that explore the lives of settlers, Indigenous people, and enslaved Africans who resided in the colony.
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Major Cycladic art installation opens at The Met

Cycladic Art: The Leonard N. Stern Collection on Loan from the Hellenic Republic at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, on view January 25, 2024–ongoing. Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, photo by Bruce Schwarz

January 30, 2024

Major Cycladic art installation opens at The Met

By Devin Gannon

A historic collaboration between the Greek state and The Metropolitan Museum of Art is bringing an installation of Cycladic masterpieces to New York City. Last week the museum unveiled a display of 161 works made in the Cyclades, a group of islands in the Aegean Sea, mostly in the Early Bronze Age, from the private collection of billionaire philanthropist Leonard N. Stern. Objects on display include the major types of Cycladic marble figurines and range in size from a small-scale figure to a reclining female figure that is more than four feet long.
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Events & Things To Do

Rico Gatson’s colorful geometric art brings sense of peace to Penn Station

Photos by David Plakke courtesy of Amtrak

January 29, 2024

Rico Gatson’s colorful geometric art brings sense of peace to Penn Station

By Aaron Ginsburg

Penn Station's Amtrak concourse has been transformed with colorful geometric designs. Created by New York City-based artist Rico Gatson, the installation "Untitled (Collective Light Transfer)" covers the Amtrak concourse at New York Penn Station with captivating geometric compositions that fill the otherwise bland space with a "pulsating energy," representing the rhythm of constant movement as travelers bustle through the station. The art installation will be on view in the upper-level rotunda between the 8th Avenue Amtrak departure concourse and the 7th Avenue NJ Transit concourse through the summer.
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Lunar New Year 2024: How to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in NYC

Photo by Dan Nguyen on Flickr

January 23, 2024

Lunar New Year 2024: How to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

Lunar New Year, the two-week-long festival that ushers in spring and new beginnings, starts on February 10 and runs until February 24. This year marks the Year of the Dragon, which is the fifth animal in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiacs and is said to possess the sharpest sense of self among all other zodiac signs. Ahead, find many ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year in New York City, from taking craft lessons from master artisans at the Chinese Institute in America's family festival to attending Chinatown's annual parade and firecracker celebration.
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Events & Things To Do

You can get married in Times Square this Valentine’s Day

Photos courtesy of Liz Ligon for the Times Square Alliance

January 19, 2024

You can get married in Times Square this Valentine’s Day

By Aaron Ginsburg

What's more romantic than Times Square? As part of the Time Square Alliance's annual "Love in Times Square," couples can propose, tie the knot, and renew their vows at the Crossroads of the World on Valentine's Day. Registration for a chance to participate in Love in Times Square is now open.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC’s coziest spots to escape the cold weather

Photo courtesy of Black Mountain Wine House

January 18, 2024

NYC’s coziest spots to escape the cold weather

By Aaron Ginsburg

Winter is here, and New Yorkers are hunkering down for the cold and dark months to come. But regardless of how terrible the season can be, New Yorkers still want to go out and do things. Ahead, here are some of the city's coziest places to spend the cold months ahead, from rustic bars with fireplaces to the Koneko cat cafe.
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Colorful tulle sculptures in Madison Square Park brighten the winter cityscape

“To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa” (2024) in Madison Square Park, for “To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa.” Photo credit: Rashmi Gill.

January 18, 2024

Colorful tulle sculptures in Madison Square Park brighten the winter cityscape

By Aaron Ginsburg

New vibrant sculptures made of tulle are adding brightness to the city's bleak winter landscape. On display in Madison Square Park through March, artist Ana María Hernando's exhibition, titled "To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa," includes a series of large-scale atmospheric clouds and one cascading waterfall, all made of flowing, colorful tulle. The exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of the Madison Square Park Conservancy's public art program.
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NYC’s mocktail scene goes high-end for Dry January and beyond

Photo of Jac’s on Bond by William Jess Laird.

January 16, 2024

NYC’s mocktail scene goes high-end for Dry January and beyond

Forget staying in during dry January. As the ritual of going sober for January gains popularity — as do sober/sober-curious lifestyles — the options for non-alcoholic (N/A) cocktails, a.k.a mocktails, have boomed over the past few years. And now, more than ever, mocktails have been elevated so high that they bear no resemblance to the plain soda water and lime of yesteryear.
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Stunning video art projected onto the Manhattan Bridge, BQE in Dumbo

Photo by Noemie Trusty

January 16, 2024

Stunning video art projected onto the Manhattan Bridge, BQE in Dumbo

By Aaron Ginsburg

Immersive video art can now be seen gracing Dumbo's famous infrastructure as part of Brooklyn's largest projection project ever. Presented by the Dumbo Improvement District, the Dumbo Projection Project casts world-class video art on both the Pearl and Adams Streets sides of the Manhattan Bridge and along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Susan Smith McKinney Steward Park. The projections will run through April 20 and be on view Thursdays through Saturdays from dusk to 10 p.m.
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New York has big plans for the state’s first total solar eclipse in 99 years

Image courtesy of NASA/Goddard/Rebecca Roth on Flickr

January 11, 2024

New York has big plans for the state’s first total solar eclipse in 99 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York is going all out for its first total solar eclipse in 99 years. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday revealed the state's plans for the April 8 total eclipse, when the moon will pass between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun and turning day to night for up to four minutes. Five regions in New York will experience the path of totality, including the Adirondacks, Greater Niagra, Chautauqua-Allegheny, Thousand Islands-Seaway, and the Finger Lakes. Other parts of the state outside of the path, like New York City and Long Island, will see a partial eclipse.
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Events & Things To Do

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Art collection of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz will be on view at the Brooklyn Museum

Ebony G. Patterson (born Kingston, Jamaica, 1981). . . . they were just hanging out . . . you know . . . talking about . . . ( . . . when they grow up . . .), 2016. Beads, appliqués, fabric, glitter, buttons, costume jewelry, trimming, rhinestones, glue, digital prints, 90 × 224 in. (228.6 × 569 cm). The Dean Collection, courtesy of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. © Ebony G. Patterson. Courtesy of the artist, Monique Meloche Gallery, and the Studio Museum in Harlem. (Photo: Adam Reich)

January 9, 2024

Art collection of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz will be on view at the Brooklyn Museum

By Aaron Ginsburg

Next month you'll be able to view a world-class selection of artworks from the personal collection of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz at the Brooklyn Museum. The exhibition, called "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys," features more than 100 major artworks from world-renowned Black American, African, and African diasporic artists, including Gordon Parks, Kehinde Wiley, Esther Mahlangu, Barkley L. Hendricks, Lorna Simpson, and more. "Giants" will be on view at the Brooklyn Museum from February 10 through July 7.
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Events & Things To Do

How to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in NYC

Sing Harlem Choir performs during the 2023 Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at BAM. Photo by Elena Olivo

January 8, 2024

How to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

On the third Monday in January, the nation honors the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. First established in 1983, MLK Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated by Congress as a national day of service. While many Americans have off from school and work, the holiday is seen as a "day on, not a day off," and provides opportunities to volunteer and give back to communities across the five boroughs. Ahead, we've found some ways to celebrate MLK Day in NYC, from volunteer service in Highland Park and Forest Park to listening to performances by the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir.
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Events & Things To Do

Enjoy discounted dinners, Broadway shows, and hotel stays during NYC’s ‘Winter Outing’

Photo by Yaoqi on Unsplash

January 4, 2024

Enjoy discounted dinners, Broadway shows, and hotel stays during NYC’s ‘Winter Outing’

By Aaron Ginsburg

Here's a chance to enjoy some of New York City's most popular attractions at discounted rates. Hosted by NYC Tourism + Conventions, "NYC Winter Outing" kicks off this month, offering special deals at the city's best restaurants, hotels, Broadway shows, museums, attractions, and more, from January 16 through February 4.
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Say ‘fir-well’ to your Christmas tree: Mulchfest is back

Mulchfest 2021. Photo © 6sqft

December 29, 2023

Say ‘fir-well’ to your Christmas tree: Mulchfest is back

By Aaron Ginsburg

Sick of your Christmas tree taking up space in your living room? There is an easy (and sustainable) way to ditch it. Starting December 26 and running through January 7, the city's annual Mulchfest offers New Yorkers 72 sites across the five boroughs to drop off Christmas trees to be composted. Those who bring their trees to one of 32 chipping sites on the weekend of January 6 will even get to take a bag of mulch home.
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Events & Things To Do

6sqft’s top stories of 2023!

December 29, 2023

6sqft’s top stories of 2023!

As 2023 comes to a close, 6sqft is looking back on our most popular stories of the year. Over the last 12 months, readers pored over articles on everything New York City-related, from new fare evasion-stopping subway turnstiles and the construction of the city's largest all-electric skyscraper to the best seafood spots and the return of the holiday nostalgia trains. Readers enjoyed getting a look inside some of the city's most unique real estate listings, too, including the homes of photographers William Wegman and Annie Leibovitz and a historic Brooklyn carriage house turned Passive House.
what you read this year

What to know about the 2024 Times Square ball drop this New Year’s Eve

Image courtesy of Kohei Kanno on Flickr

December 28, 2023

What to know about the 2024 Times Square ball drop this New Year’s Eve

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's world-famous New Year's Eve celebration returns to the Big Apple on Sunday. Revelers will camp out for the best spots to view the 11,875-pound crystal ball as it descends from One Times Square to ring in 2024. Ahead, find everything you need to know about the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop, from the best in-person viewing spots to how to watch the event from home.
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Events & Things To Do

20 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in NYC for under $150

Photo by Billy Huynh on Unsplash

December 22, 2023

20 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in NYC for under $150

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City knows how to celebrate New Year's Eve like no other. Amid its endless selection of extravagant rooftop parties and over-the-top events, it may seem impossible to ring in the New Year without it costing a pretty penny. However, enjoying New Year's Eve in NYC doesn't necessarily require you to spend hundreds of dollars. Ahead, we've found 20 New Year's Eve events that cost less than $150 (and some are even free!), from watching a dazzling display of fireworks in Prospect Park to a brewery dance party.
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Events & Things To Do

The ‘2024’ numerals have arrived in Times Square ahead of New Year’s Eve

All images courtesy of the Times Square Alliance

December 21, 2023

The ‘2024’ numerals have arrived in Times Square ahead of New Year’s Eve

By Aaron Ginsburg

It's nearly time to kiss 2023 goodbye. The iconic, seven-foot-tall numerals that sit under the New Year's Eve crystal ball arrived in Times Square on Wednesday after a cross-country trip. The towering digits are on view at Broadway Plaza between 46th and 47th Streets through Friday, December 22 when they are placed atop One Times Square ahead of the ball drop on the 31st.
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Events & Things To Do

The best NYC hotels for a luxury holiday experience

Image courtesy of the Plaza Hotel

December 18, 2023

The best NYC hotels for a luxury holiday experience

In New York City, you can get it all in one place — one minute you can indulge in a $1 slice of pizza on the sidewalk and the next you can be in one of the finest hotels in the country (or even the world). For those looking to get into option two, what better time than the holidays to get a little fancy? We rounded up four ultra-luxury hotels in the city that go all out with holiday decor and experiences that guests and non-guests alike can enjoy.
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The Whitney Museum announces free admission on Friday nights, second Sundays

Photo by MusikAnimal by Wikimedia Commons

December 15, 2023

The Whitney Museum announces free admission on Friday nights, second Sundays

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Whitney Museum of American Art will offer free admission and special programming on certain days every month next year. Beginning January 12, the Meatpacking District art museum will drop its "pay-what-you-wish" system on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on the second Sunday of every month. During those times, admission will be free for all visitors.
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Events & Things To Do

Free six-acre light installation ‘Field of Light’ opens in Midtown East

Field of Light © 2023 Bruce Munro. All rights reserved. All photography by Serena Munro

December 15, 2023

Free six-acre light installation ‘Field of Light’ opens in Midtown East

By Aaron Ginsburg

A massive installation made of thousands of twinkling lights opened this week in Midtown East. Designed by Bruce Munro, Field of Light at Freedom Plaza includes 18,750 low-light, fiber-optic stemmed spheres that change colors and create a mesmerizing landscape across more than six acres next to the United Nations headquarters. The installation is free to visit thanks to the Soloviev Group, the developer who is proposing building a casino on the vacant site. The 12-month Field of Light is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
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Online auction to include timeless NYC items from the 20th century

Bob Dylan’s first album master reels. Photo courtesy of Guernsey’s

December 11, 2023

Online auction to include timeless NYC items from the 20th century

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York's Guernsey's auction house on Thursday will host "Iconic Items From The 20th Century," an online auction selling off rare items connected to some of the century's most influential figures. Among the treasures up for grabs are the original master tapes of Bob Dylan's first album and items intertwined with the history of NYC, including a signed Yankees ticket stub from the 1956 World Series and an original 1915 Coney Island carousel horse. Explore more of the legendary items Guernsey's has to offer below.
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Events & Things To Do

In the 1800s, a group of NYC artists and writers created the modern-day Santa Claus

Ever the New Yorker, Santa catches the trolly to Bloomingdales! The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library, NYPL Digital Collections

December 8, 2023

In the 1800s, a group of NYC artists and writers created the modern-day Santa Claus

By Lucie Levine

Saint Nicholas arrived in New York with the Dutch and became the Patron Saint of New York City in the early 19th century, but Santa, as we know him, is a hometown boy. New York’s writers and artists were the first to depict the modern Santa Claus, transforming the figure of Dutch lore into a cheerful holiday hero. The illustrious Claus gained his sleigh in Chelsea and his red suit on Franklin Square. With a little help from the likes of Washington Irving, Clement Clarke Moore, and Thomas Nast, jolly old St. Nick became the merriest man in Manhattan.
More about Santa's New York Roots!

Buy a piece of the NYC subway at the MTA’s memorabilia pop-up shop

Photo: Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashinhoto on Flickr

December 7, 2023

Buy a piece of the NYC subway at the MTA’s memorabilia pop-up shop

By Michelle Cohen

After two previous years as a holiday shopping success, New York City Transit is once again offering genuine used subway system items for sale at their Memorabilia and Collectibles Pop-Up Shop. You'll find subway signs, grabholds, and more, with no processing fees. Read on to find out how to score an authentic piece of transit history.
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15 best ice skating rinks in NYC

December 6, 2023

15 best ice skating rinks in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

When the cool weather of fall fades into the freezing frostiness of winter, it takes a lot of effort to leave our warm, cozy homes. However, one festive activity that gets New Yorkers out of their apartments is ice skating, a New York City tradition since the 1850s. Ahead, find some of the best places in the city to ice skate, from gliding underneath the world's most iconic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center to attending lessons hosted by Olympic skaters at Manhattan West and Brookfield Place.
Hit the ice

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