amNewYork
1. PuppyCon
Manhattan
Columbus Circle
Saturday, Dec 17th
12PM – 3PM
SantaCon and ugly Christmas sweater parties are December staples, but how about making this holiday tradition irresistibly adorable with puppies and their owners in full holiday gear? Yes please! Enjoy holiday treats (for both two legged and four legged friends), holiday music and Columbus Circle views as you make new friends this season! Puppycon is a free event featuring live music, giveaways and raffles hosted by Turnstile and Dog & Co., so feel free to bring a friend, a puppy or family to the cutest event of the week.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNe-LeYAnxY/?taken-by=spikedmugfest
2. Spiked Mug Festival
Long Island City
Dec 17th and 18th
11:30AM – 8:30PM
Love spiked hot ciders? Hot mulled wine? Holiday markets? Then this event will be December heaven for you! With dozens of vendors, ranging from food and beverage to local arts and crafts businesses, this is promised to be a great event spreading tons of holiday cheer. Three hours of unlimited hot cocktails at the market goes for $39/person, while simply enjoying the holiday bazaar at The Factory in Long Island City, less than a ten minute walk from the Court Square 7, G, E and M train stop.
3. Brunch NYC Style
Hudson River/East Rivers
Sunday, Dec 18th
Tickets: $40 – 70
Enjoy this bountiful Hornblower brunch buffet of classic breakfast favorites as well as chef-selected specialties, accompanied by free-flowing mimosas. Combined with our live world-class jazz band and award-winning onboard DJ, you’ll never look back at the traditional land-locked brunch spots again. Indulge in unlimited mimosas, chocolate fountains and impeccable Manhattan views!
Courtesy of Paulwinter.com
4. Paul Winter’s Annual Winter Solstice Celebration
Manhattan
Friday Dec 16th, 8PM
Saturday Dec 17th, 2PM and 7:30PM
Tickets: $55-95
While the Nutcracker and Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular have been NYC’s holiday staples for decades, our favorite alternative to this is Paul Winter’s Winter Solstice, celebrating the longest nights of the year at the most iconic Cathedrals in the City. The celebration is a multi-media event that “features musicians, vocalists and the 25 dancers and drummers of the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. A dazzling extravaganza of music and dance, these performances offer a contemporary take on ancient solstice rituals, when people gathered together on the longest night of the year to welcome the return of the sun and the birth of the new year.”
flatirondistrict.nyc
5. 23 Days of Flatiron Cheer
Manhattan
Friday Dec 16th – Saturday Dec 17th
12PM – 4PM
Free
The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District (BID)’s annual holiday programming on the Flatiron Public Plazas take place from December 1st-23rd, featuring giveaways, social media contests, happy hours, food and beverage tastings and more! This cheerful event will give you the chance to learn about businesses in the neighborhood such as Eataly, Num Pang and the Jazz Gallery, tasting their specialties and hot holiday drinks as you gaze at one of the most unique buildings of New York – the Flatiron Building! For programming and information, please visit flatirondistrict.nyc.
6. Thai Rock Live Jazz Trio
Rockaway
Sunday, Dec 18th
Starts: 6:30PM
Free
Pianist Phil Kadet backed up by Bobby Butler on the upright bass will perform the Peanut’s Christmas Soundtrack in its entirety, as well as Jazz trio arrangements of other Christmas tunes. So for those ready to get in the holiday spirit with some delicious flavors and beautiful jazz tunes, this is the way to end your December weekend! For more information and directions, please visit Thai Rock’s website here.
7. Explore the Holidays in Manhattan with THE RIDE
Manhattan
Friday 16th – Sunday 18th
See website for schedule
$79/person
Not only will you learn about the wonderful history of famous buildings as you tour Manhattan in THE RIDE’s fun bus, but you will laugh, learn and be wowed by the humorous tour guides, the fun facts and THE RIDE always has a surprise for you – whether it’s inside our outside the bus! This holiday season they offer a lovely holiday themed experience, allowing you to relive some of your favorite moments in New York holiday history, from music to theater and iconic movie locations. Please see THE RIDE’s website for tour options, times and prices, and keep in mind the 2017 launch of their unique Downtown Experience!
8. Brooklyn Brewery Brews and Bowls
Williamsburg
Sunday, Dec 18th
1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
See website for ticketing
“You’re better than brunch,” says the Williamsburg brewery crew. Join the Brooklyn Brewery and Brooklyn Bowl this Sunday as they host a semi-intimate Beer Brewery Tour followed by bowling next door at the Williamsburg favorite: Brooklyn Bowl! $7.50 gets you a saved seat at the event and a delicious glass of your favorite hoppy beverage, and you are bound to love both beer and bowling more after this funday Sunday event!
While you will be bound to hop on the L (Bedford Ave) or G (Nassau Ave) trains to this event this weekend, we want to remind you of the happy news that you will be able to simply ride our ferry to this booming Williamsburg location come summer 2017!
Courtesy: Shopify
9. Wafels and Dinges Tour
Gowanus, Brooklyn
Saturday, Dec 17th
10AM – 12PM
$15 with RSVP
Who doesn’t want delicious Belgian wafels and mouthwatering dinges (toppings) on a Saturday morning?! The New York favorite is Instagrammed hundreds of times per day by locals and tourists alike, and this is your chance to see how this amazing stuff is made at the company’s headquarters. The tour is $15 and includes… Yep, you guessed it – Wafels and Dinges!
Courtesy: Best Tours
10. Jewish Food Tour
Lower East Ride, Manhattan
Sunday, Dec 18th
12PM – 2PM
$50/Person (food included)
Food is everything in New York City, and with the rich Jewish History of the city, you are bound to learn that some of the best foods are Jewish staples. So, how can you try these sweet and savory bites? Best Tours have dedicated a food tour to their favorite Jewish meals on the Lower East Side, in order to widen your culinary horizon and pay homage to this rich New York history. The tour company explains that “At the turn of the 20th century, when the Lower East Side was the most densely populated place in the world, the vast majority of the district’s 550,000 residents were Jewish. The Lower East Side was the first port of call for millions of Jews fleeing persecution in Eastern Europe,” showing that this is an important way to New York City’s culture.