Events & Things To Do

You can spend a toy-filled night inside FAO Schwarz

All photos credit: Airbnb

December 9, 2020

You can spend a toy-filled night inside FAO Schwarz

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It's like Night at the Museum meets Big--one lucky New York City family of four will get the chance to spend the night inside FAO Schwarz, arguably the world's most famous toy store. The experience comes courtesy of Airbnb, who arranged the stay especially for the holidays. For just $25, you'll be able to freely roam the store, as well as receive a special tour from a real FAO Schwarz toy soldier. Other perks include a shopping spree, a fantastic feast, and a music lesson on the store’s iconic Giant Dance On Piano.
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Drive-through light shows, outdoor activities, and more: NYC’s best holiday events in 2020
December 8, 2020

Drive-through light shows, outdoor activities, and more: NYC’s best holiday events in 2020

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The holidays will undoubtedly look a bit different this year, but just like most special moments during the pandemic, there are still ways to celebrate. From drive-through light shows and massive glowing lantern festivals to curling and ice-skating, there are plenty of fun and safe ways to get in the holiday spirit. Ahead, we've rounded up nearly 20 of the year's best events in and around New York City.
All the events here
NYC’s highest outdoor observation deck is twinkling with 50,000 lights for the holidays

Photo courtesy of Edge

December 7, 2020

NYC’s highest outdoor observation deck is twinkling with 50,000 lights for the holidays

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Edge, the city's highest outdoor observation deck at 1,131 feet (as well as the highest in the entire western hemisphere), is all ready for its first holiday season. The Hudson Yards attraction is adorned with 50,000 twinkling lights illuminating the Skyline Steps and interior spaces and is offering a limited-edition holiday "Cocoa in the Clouds" to keep you nice and toasty while you take in those insane views.
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How NYC brought Christmas tree markets to the U.S.

A Christmas tree market in front of the Barclay Street Station circa 1895. Photo via the Library of Congress

December 3, 2020

How NYC brought Christmas tree markets to the U.S.

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The convenience of walking to the corner bodega and haggling for a Christmas tree is something most of us take for granted, but this seasonal industry is one that actually predates Christmas’ 1870 establishment as a national holiday and continues to be a one-of-a-kind business model today. In fact, in 1851, a tree stand set up for $1 at the west side's Washington Market became the nation's very first public Christmas tree market, the impetus behind it being a way to save New Yorkers a trip out of town to chop down their own trees. Ahead, find out the full history of this now-national trend and how it's evolved over the years.
The roots of the Christmas tree industry
The Salvation Army unveils giant red kettle in NYC as need for support services remains high

Photo courtesy of The Salvation Army Greater New York Division

December 1, 2020

The Salvation Army unveils giant red kettle in NYC as need for support services remains high

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With the need for support services at an all-time high coupled with a lack of foot traffic at retail stores due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Salvation Army has had to think outside the kettle this holiday season. While typically the charity group relies on its bell-ringers stationed outside of stores with red kettles to raise money for those in need, this year the Salvation Army is calling for digital donations. To bring attention to its online fundraising campaign, the group unveiled on Tuesday a giant 32-foot red kettle in Times Square.
Find out more
Brooklyn startup competes with Amazon this holiday season with same-day delivery from local shops

ShopIN.nyc’s VP of Marketing, Andrew Tider, picking up an order from Shirley Bryant, co-owner of Geometry Kids; Photo courtesy of ShopIN.nyc

December 1, 2020

Brooklyn startup competes with Amazon this holiday season with same-day delivery from local shops

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Shopping local this holiday season is more important than ever as small businesses across New York City struggle to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. A startup company is making it easier to stay home and avoid Amazon and other major online retailers by offering same-day delivery from Brooklyn-based stores. ShopIN.nyc is a one-stop-shop for every-day items like household supplies and pantry staples and even special occasion gifts and holiday decor, all from small businesses in Brooklyn.
More here
NYC museums, events, performances: What’s reopening and what’s cancelled this year
December 1, 2020

NYC museums, events, performances: What’s reopening and what’s cancelled this year

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When it comes to reopenings, we're seeing a lot of positive news--most major museums reopened, we got to watch a baseball season, and the holidays are being reimagined. In other cases, reopening is further off--the Met Opera and Philharmonic cancelled their entire 2021 seasons, and Broadway will remain dark until at least June. But whatever the case, 6sqft has put together a list of reopenings, postponements, and cancellations for New York City's many museums, performance venues, outdoor spaces, and events.
The full list here
NYC AIDS Memorial debuts powerful sound installation for World AIDS Day

Photo: John Moore, Circular Space Photography

December 1, 2020

NYC AIDS Memorial debuts powerful sound installation for World AIDS Day

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The voices of New Yorkers affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic will be heard daily as part of a new program installed in Greenwich Village. In recognition of World AIDS Day on Tuesday, the New York City AIDS Memorial will launch a sound-based installation composed of speeches, poetry, music, and readings of texts related to the history of the epidemic. The hour-long program, titled Hear Me: Voices of the Epidemic, will be broadcast from the memorial nightly at 7 p.m. for the month of December, along with a new lighting installation.
More here
You’ll need timed tickets to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree this year

Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash

November 30, 2020

You’ll need timed tickets to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree this year

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Starting this Thursday, December 3, if you want a chance to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree for five minutes (yep, there's a time limit), you'll need to reserve advance tickets. In his press conference today, Mayor de Blasio outlined the new system, which includes closing 49th and 50th Streets between 6th and 7th Avenues to vehicular traffic and setting up four-person "pods" where guests will be directed to see the tree. "This is going to be a challenging holiday season in a lot of ways, but it's still going to be a beautiful one," said the mayor.
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Flatiron’s new holiday art installation connects New Yorkers from a distance

Photos courtesy of Cameron Blaylock

November 24, 2020

Flatiron’s new holiday art installation connects New Yorkers from a distance

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A new public art installation opened on Monday in the Flatiron Public Plaza as part of the neighborhood's annual "23 Days of Flatiron Cheer" holiday programming. Designed by firm Studio Cooke John, the Point of Action installation consists of nine metal pavilions surrounded by six-foot concentric circles with ropes that part, creating a "spotlight" and allowing passersby to connect with one another. The firm's work was selected as this year's winning design by the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership and Van Alen Institute.
See it here
Macy’s 2020 holiday windows honor NYC frontline workers

All photos courtesy of Eugene Gologursky/ Getty Images

November 20, 2020

Macy’s 2020 holiday windows honor NYC frontline workers

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The first department store in New York City to ever display holiday windows continued its long-standing tradition this week. Macy's on Thursday unveiled its 2020 holiday windows at its flagship Herald Square store with the theme "Give, Love, Believe." According to the store, the windows are a tribute to the city's frontline workers who have worked tirelessly throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
See them here
This year’s best in-person and virtual holiday markets in and around NYC

Winter Village at Bryant Park; Photo by Angela Cranford

November 18, 2020

This year’s best in-person and virtual holiday markets in and around NYC

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Like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting, and the Times Square ball drop on New Year's Eve, many of the city's holiday markets will also be online-only this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. While nothing beats the magic of New York City during the holiday season and the traditions that come along with it, there are still ways to support local artists, businesses, and vendors this year. In addition to a few markets happening in-person this year, including the open-air shops at Bryant Park, a number have gone virtual, allowing you to shop safely from home, no matter where that is.
Full list ahead
The 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has officially arrived in NYC

Photo by Michael Vadon via Wikimedia 

November 16, 2020

The 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has officially arrived in NYC

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The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has taken its rightful place in Midtown. This year, a 75-foot tall, 11-ton Norway Spruce from Oneonta, N.Y. will serve as the centerpiece for the famous event. Donated by Daddy Al's General Store, the approximately 80-year-old tree last week was cut down, hoisted by a crane, and delivered by flatbed truck to Manhattan on Saturday. The public cannot attend the tree lighting ceremony this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the live event will be broadcast nationally on December 2.
More here
Here’s what you can expect from Macy’s ‘reimagined’ Thanksgiving parade

Photo courtesy of Macy’s, Inc.

November 11, 2020

Here’s what you can expect from Macy’s ‘reimagined’ Thanksgiving parade

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The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a New York City tradition since 1924. In modern times, the event draws a live crowd of roughly 3.5 million and is made up of 8,000 participants, including performers, marching bands, dancers, and more. But those large numbers of people mean that this year's pandemic-era parade will look a bit different. Macy's announced in September that its 94th annual parade will be a television-only presentation with participant capacity reduced by 75 percent, a two-day staging, and balloons being flown by vehicles instead of the usual 80- to 100-person teams that corral each balloon. A New York Times feature today shared the happy news that actors from four shuttered Broadway shows will be performing.
Find out more
‘Say Their Names’ installation at The Public Theater honors Black lives lost to police brutality

Photo by Peter Cooper

November 9, 2020

‘Say Their Names’ installation at The Public Theater honors Black lives lost to police brutality

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The Public Theater will debut this week a new art installation that honors Black American lives lost to police brutality. Starting November 11, the facade of the East Village theater will display "SAY THEIR NAMES," a visual exhibit that includes at least 2,200 names of Black people killed at the hands of police between 2013 and 2020. Curated by Garlia Cornelia Jones, the projection covers the entire building at 425 Lafayette and features work by ten artists.
Get the details
Where to order takeout Thanksgiving meals this year in NYC

Photo courtesy of Estuary

November 4, 2020

Where to order takeout Thanksgiving meals this year in NYC

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Let's face it--this year's Thanksgiving is not going to be what we're used to. Many of us won't be able to travel to be with our families or don't feel comfortable dining in a restaurant. But if cooking's not your thing (or you're just too damn exhausted from 2020), there are plenty of local restaurants offering to-go holiday meals. From classic turkey dinners at Bubby's and The Smith to an affordable, family-friendly option from Sarabeth's to something a little more avant-garde like Cote's Korean prime rib meal or Aquavit's Nordic-inspired menu, we've rounded up the best takeout Turkey Day options in NYC.
Hope you're hungry
Here’s where to volunteer and donate in NYC this holiday season

Photo by Ethan Covey for Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen

November 3, 2020

Here’s where to volunteer and donate in NYC this holiday season

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This year has been tough on all New Yorkers, but especially those unemployed, hungry, and experiencing homelessness. While every holiday season is a chance to give back to your community, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made helping those in need this year more important than ever. Ahead, find out where to volunteer and donate across the city, whether it's contributing to Thanksgiving food drives, delivering holiday meals, making greeting cards for seniors, or donating to coat drives. Please note, each organization has put in place protocols related to COVID-19 that need to be followed, including mask and social distancing requirements.
Full list here
How to plan a safe COVID Thanksgiving

Photo by ?? Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

October 29, 2020

How to plan a safe COVID Thanksgiving

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Here in NYC, Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo have both advised against traveling for Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate. One option is to host a virtual holiday. It won't be the same, but it's got its selling points (i.e. no squabbling with your mother-in-law in the kitchen or having dad refuse to turn the game off during dinner); it'll just take some extra planning in advance. If you have family and friends local, you may want to consider a safe, outdoor meal. But we recommend buying a heater now and figuring out how you'll keep the food warm. Ahead, we've put together a guide to planning a COVID Thanksgiving, no matter how you plan to enjoy the day.
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The TWA Hotel’s rooftop is now a retro Alpine-themed retreat with a heated ‘pool-cuzzi’

Courtesy of the TWA Hotel

October 29, 2020

The TWA Hotel’s rooftop is now a retro Alpine-themed retreat with a heated ‘pool-cuzzi’

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Looking to safely hang with friends outdoors without freezing your bum off? Then you might consider heading out to the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport. For the second year, the hotel is sharing its Eero Saarinen-designed mid-century fabulousness with its guests by transforming its rooftop bar into the Runway Chalet for the rest of the winter season. In addition to a tented and heated Alpine-themed restaurant and bar, the chalet offers the "pool-cuzzi," which is heated up to 95 degrees.
Find out more
Smash and smush your old pumpkins into compost at Hudson River Park

Credit: Max Guliani for Hudson River Park

October 28, 2020

Smash and smush your old pumpkins into compost at Hudson River Park

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What better way to celebrate fall, relieve some 2020 related-stress, and benefit the environment than smashing old pumpkins into compost. Hudson River Park's third-annual "smash it, don't trash it" Pumpkin Smash event returns next month, which invites New Yorkers to take a bat to post-Halloween gourds to dispose of them in an eco-friendly way.
Get the details
New sculpture in Madison Square Park uses Lady Liberty’s torch to symbolize city’s struggles

Photos: Andy Romer Photography

October 27, 2020

New sculpture in Madison Square Park uses Lady Liberty’s torch to symbolize city’s struggles

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From 1876 to 1882, the Statue of Liberty's torch-holding arm was on view in Madison Square Park as a way to garner enthusiasm for the project before it arrived from France. Nearly 150 years later, the torch has returned, reimagined for a different purpose. Commissioned by the Madison Square Park Conservancy, Abigail DeVille's "Light of Freedom" sculpture includes a 13-foot-high torch encased in scaffolding and filled with a bell and the arms of mannequins. The work aims to reflect the current struggles New York City is facing with the pandemic, protests, and political climate while acknowledging the way in which conflict can create change.
Get the details
Explore the 200 craft breweries found along New York’s Empire State Trail
October 23, 2020

Explore the 200 craft breweries found along New York’s Empire State Trail

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Home to more than 460 breweries statewide, New York knows beer. To make it easier to find a beer near you, the New York State Brewers Association in 2017 launched an app that allows users to find breweries across the state, check-in digitally, and earn stamps on their "tasting passport." To encourage support of local beer makers and the use of the under-construction 750-mile Empire State Trail, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday a new passport program specifically targeting 200 craft breweries found along the trail.
More details this way
Archtober’s annual gourd-carving Pumpkitecture event is virtual and open to everyone

BIG Architects designing their masterpiece; Photo by Daniel Cole for Center for Architecture

October 20, 2020

Archtober’s annual gourd-carving Pumpkitecture event is virtual and open to everyone

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Every year, New York City-based architecture firms face off in a spirited pumpkin carving competition in quest of the PritzkerPumpkin prize. This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions on gatherings, Pumpkitecture will take place virtually. And the contest won't be limited to just architects and designers, but anyone with an "eerie eye for design" can enter.
Get the details
Dyckman Farmhouse Museum opens new art exhibit exploring untold history of NYC’s Black communities

Photo Credit: Dyckman Farmhouse Museum Alliance

October 19, 2020

Dyckman Farmhouse Museum opens new art exhibit exploring untold history of NYC’s Black communities

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The last remaining farmhouse in Manhattan will explore a new side of its over 200-year history with an art exhibit. Inwood's landmarked Dyckman Farmhouse Museum on Tuesday will open the exhibition Unspoken Voices: Honoring the Legacy of Black America, which will highlight the history of the enslaved and free Black residents that lived and worked at the farm. Unspoken Voices, which coincides with the museum's reopening, includes work by five local artists who hope to bring these previously untold stories to light.
More here
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