Events & Things To Do

February 3, 2020

Win a private dinner for two ‘under the stars’ of Grand Central Terminal this Valentine’s Day

One of the most unique Valentine's Day events in New York City is happening at one of the city's busiest transit hubs. Grand Central Terminal announced it will provide one couple a romantic, private evening under the stars of its iconic main hall as part of a new contest announced Monday. The winning couple, who will get the space to themselves on February 14 between 2:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., will enjoy a three-course dinner provided by Michelin-starred restaurant Agern and a live piano performance from a Steinway Artist, all under the terminal's constellation ceiling.
How to enter
February 3, 2020

Shakespeare in the Park announces free 2020 performances

Now in its 58th season, the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park has announced its 2020 season, which will feature two free performances-- "the rarely seen drama" Richard II, and a musical adaptation of As You Like It choreographed by Sonya Tayeh of Moulin Rouge! Watching an open-air production in Central Park's Delacorte Theater is a true New York City tradition, as is lining up for tickets (though these days, there is also a digital lottery option).
All the details
January 31, 2020

16 places to celebrate Black History Month in NYC

February marks Black History Month, a nationwide celebration of African American culture and history. New Yorkers will have plenty of opportunities to honor the contributions made by the black community, with live performances, guided tours, comedy shows, art installations, and more events happening across the city. From the Apollo Theater's open house celebration to spoken word performances at Brooklyn barbershops, pay tribute to the achievements of black Americans this February, as well as all year round.
The full list, ahead
January 31, 2020

Times Square Arts’ 2020 Valentine’s Day heart comes with a hidden surprise

Times Square Arts debuted the 2020 Times Square Valentine Heart yesterday, a tradition that started in 2009. This year's installation, Heart Squared, was selected by the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and designed by MODU and Eric Forman Studio. The sculpture is composed of a 10-foot-tall cubic steel lattice structure that approximates the form of an anatomical heart and 125 mirrors that are suspended within and tilted at various angles to create a kaleidoscopic collage of the urban environment. The arrangement of the mirrors might seem random at first but they're precisely calibrated to form an anamorphic projection—meaning that the mirror array creates a surprise image when viewed from a specific vantage point, which is marked on the ground with white paint.
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January 30, 2020

The best Valentine’s Day gifts for modern design lovers

Long after the day of chocolate boxes and candy hearts is over, these gifts will still be as cool as the person who gave them. Because if you're going to wear your heart on your sleeve, it had better look good! Ahead, we've rounded up 15 great gift ideas, from chic pottery and lamps to heart-shaped succulents to a hot sauce kit to spice things up.
Great Valentine gift ideas, this way
January 29, 2020

This Sunday, get access to Grand Central’s secret glass catwalk

Grand Central Terminal's upcoming 107th anniversary isn't the round number typical of big celebrations, but nevertheless, the NYC icon is marking the occasion with a "major treat" that will appeal to all architecture and history buffs. The catwalk above the Main Concourse—normally closed off to the public—will be opened up for one day only on Sunday, February 2. To take advantage of the rare bird's eye perspective, you'll have to register for one of three showings that will take place that day. If this piques your interest, you'll want to hurry: only 45 spots are available and registration ends at 5 p.m. today.
More info
January 28, 2020

14 un-boring ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in NYC

There are more ways to say “Be my Valentine” than we can count, and purveyors of all things romantic will be out in full force trying to win hearts this February 14. If February's second week has you scrambling for a worthy celebration, it might be the perfect time to try something a little bit different. Below, we've rounded up 14 unexpected Valentine-inspired events–from whiskey and chocolate to bugs and sewage.
Details, this way
January 27, 2020

Fundraiser launches for the Museum of Chinese in America after fire destroyed 85K-item archive

The Museum of Chinese in America has launched an online fundraiser after a fire likely destroyed most of its extensive archive. Last Thursday night, a fire broke out at 70 Mulberry Street in Chinatown, in a building that housed a number of nonprofits, including about 85,000 irreplaceable items from the museum's collection. According to the New York Times, priceless artifacts like traditional wedding dresses from the early 1900s and documents from 1883 about the Chinese Exclusion Act are thought to be among items lost.
Get the details
January 23, 2020

11 ways to celebrate Australia Day in NYC this weekend

On January 26, Australia Day is celebrated around the world to mark the arrival of the first fleet of British ships in New South Wales. This year's festivities have an added sense of urgency. Over the past few months, widespread bushfires have burned over 40,000 square miles and killed more than one billion animals in Australia. In NYC, Australia Day celebrations this year are focused on extending support to the ongoing relief efforts. Below, we round up 11 events where ex-pats and New Yorkers alike can come together over traditional Aussie food, music, and comedy—best of all, they're each donating all or a significant chunk of proceeds to various relief funds.
More info
January 22, 2020

Finalists announced for this year’s City of Dreams pavilion on Roosevelt Island

Arts organization FIGMENT, the Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY), and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) have just announced the finalists in the 2020 City of Dreams Pavilion Design Competition. The competition is an annual program that invites designers to create a temporary architectural pavilion that is efficient and sustainable while considering the life cycle of the building materials used. This year's pavilion will be in Lighthouse Park on Roosevelt Island.
See more of the winning entries
January 22, 2020

Preservationists suggest the Frick should buy Jeffrey Epstein’s Upper East Side mansion

Preservationists who have long fought against the Frick Collection's planned expansion are proposing a rather unique solution: the museum could take over Jeffrey Epstein's "cursed mansion" across the street instead. "The fact that it’s so convenient to the museum means that the Frick could potentially lay Jeffrey Epstein’s name to rest by purchasing it and changing the function," architect Theodore Grunewald, who runs preservationist group Save The Frick, told the Daily News. "It could essentially be cleansing the house."
More details
January 16, 2020

Photo exhibit highlights the disappearing single-story buildings of the East Village and LES

In 2015, photographer Adam Friedberg was passing through Astor Place and took notice of the two single-story buildings on Third Avenue and St. Marks Place--the one that housed Continental Bar and the other a McDonald's. From there, Friedberg began a project to photograph all the single-story buildings throughout the changing East Village and Lower East Side neighborhoods and the negative space they created. After capturing 97 of the roughly 105 structures, his work is now on view at the Center for Architecture in an exhibit titled "Single-Story Project."
See more of the photos
January 15, 2020

Head to Pier 17 to ride a sonic wave of illuminated seesaws in a new public art installation

All photos courtesy of Wagstaff New York/The Howard Hughes Corportation As 6sqft shared last week, The Garment District Alliance unveiled its latest public art installation, a collection of 12 oversized, illuminated seesaws titled “Impulse,” that emit various sounds as New Yorkers play on them. If you're looking for even more giant interactive seesaws, you're in luck: Wave-Field is now lighting up the lower Manhattan night. Now through the end of March, you'll find the installation of illuminated musical seesaws at Seaport Square next to Pier 17.
Find out more
January 15, 2020

17 spots to celebrate Lunar New Year 2020 in NYC

The two-week-long celebration of Lunar New Year begins next week, considered one of New York City's most festive events of the year. The welcoming of the Year of the Rat, the first zodiac animal and said to be a sign of wealth, kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 25 and is followed by 15 days of festivities, including lots of parades, performances, and firework displays. With several Chinatowns and many Asian communities found across the five boroughs, there are fun Lunar New Year activities for all New Yorkers, from Lower Manhattan's 21st annual Chinatown parade to the first-ever Asian comedy festival.
Our favorites ahead
January 13, 2020

New-York Historical Society hosting an after-hours ‘Roaring 20s’ party this weekend

Photo courtesy of Dandy Wellington The New-York Historical Society is calling all "fabulous flappers and dapper dandies" for a Roaring 20s-themed fete this Saturday. The Jazz Age soiree will come to life with music from Dandy Wellington and encouragement for attendees to wear their most festive costumes. There will also be an open bar, snacks, and a photo booth.
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January 13, 2020

A guide to joining your local New York City community board

If you're looking for a way to become more involved in your neighborhood and the decisions that shape New York City, the city's community boards are a good place to start. New York City is comprised of 59 community districts across the five boroughs: 12 in Manhattan, 12 in the Bronx, 18 in Brooklyn, 14 in Queens, and 3 in Staten Island. Formed in 1977, community boards are the city's most local form of representative government. Though they're strictly advisory–they don't have official authority to make or enforce laws–community boards weigh in on vital issues from zoning and landmarks to transportation and parks to education and neighborhood services. Below, we outline what these city government organizations actually do–and how you can join yours.
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January 8, 2020

Cuomo announces expansion of the Museum of Jewish Heritage

An aerial view of Battery Park City showing the Museum of Jewish Heritage, via Wikimedia Commons "To address the disturbing number of anti-Semitic and other discriminatory attacks in New York, the Governor is proposing a first-in-the-nation domestic terrorism law," reads a bullet point from Cuomo's 2020 agenda. As part of this larger hate crime anti-terrorism act, the Governor has directed the Battery Park City Authority to develop an expansion plan for the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust so that it will become a "learning destination for school children across the state."
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January 8, 2020

9 ways to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in NYC

Every third Monday of January, we celebrate the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy of activism and unity. Recognized as a federal holiday since 1983, MLK Day gives New Yorkers who get the day off from work a chance to honor King's life through live performances, panel discussions, and storytelling. As one of two federal holidays designated as a national day of service, the January 20 holiday, seen as a "day on, not a day off," also provides an opportunity to volunteer in communities across the city. We've found MLK Day activities, events, and service opportunities for New Yorkers of all ages, from a walking tour of historic Harlem to community-building workshops in South Brooklyn.
Get the full list
January 6, 2020

Williamsburg’s William Vale hotel opens rooftop ice skating rink with skyline views

In the warmer months, the 23rd-floor rooftop of The William Vale is one of the hottest spots for an outdoor drink, and now the hotel has introduced a fun way to take advantage of those skyline views during the winter. Vale Rink is a public ice skating rink, as well as a tented lounge that offers hot chocolate and other treats. Admission is $20 for adults and includes your skate rental.
Get the details
January 3, 2020

Roosevelt Island’s Nellie Bly memorial revealed

The design of a new memorial honoring investigative journalist Nellie Bly has been officially unveiled. Tapped by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, artist Amanda Matthews of Prometheus Art presented during a town hall last month "The Girl Puzzle" memorial, which will feature sculptures of Bly and four faces of women and girls who she interviewed. The memorial, whose design was first spotted by THE CITY, will be installed in late 2020 at the tip of Lighthouse Park on Roosevelt Island.
See it here
December 30, 2019

How to get around NYC this New Year’s Eve

Tomorrow roughly one million people will brave the cold and uncomfortable conditions to witness a quintessential New York celebration: New Year’s Eve in Times Square. The event is free and open to the public but NYPD will begin restricting traffic in the area as early as 4 a.m. and the viewing areas will start filling up around 11 a.m. so planning ahead is crucial. Here’s what you need to know.
All the NYE details here
December 30, 2019

New Year’s Eve in numbers: Fun facts about the Times Square ball drop

Every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31, anticipation runs high as the world holds its breath waiting for the sparkling New Year's Eve Ball to descend from its flagpole atop One Times Square. We all know that the countdown starts at 10, but there are a handful of other fun facts to muse over when it comes to the city's most lauded tradition. From the wattage of the ball to the weight of trash produced to how long it takes to get it all cleaned up, see what we've rounded up, in numbers, ahead!
More on New Year's Eve in Times Square here
December 24, 2019

How to say goodbye to your Christmas Tree: NYC’s Mulchfest

Not quite sure how to get rid of that Christmas Tree? From December 26 to January 11, NYC will be hosting its annual Mulchfest so that you can recycle your tree at a local park. With 67 total drop-off sites throughout the five boroughs—32 of which are chipping sites—it's easier than ever to get your tree turned into mulch that will be used to help nourish trees and plants across the city.
How to participate this year