December has arrived, which means that New York City will be filled with Christmas lights, holiday shopping windows, holiday markets and even holiday Hornblower Cruises starting this weekend. Therefore, we have compiled a fun list of ten things we recommend exploring this weekend across the five boroughs – both holiday themed and not, to suit everyone’s levels of holiday cheer!
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Taste of Rockaway
A/S trains: Beach 98/ Beach 90
December 3rd
Just because it’s December, does not mean you cannot head over to the Rockaways to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and incredible array of cuisines spread throughout the booming neighborhood! For only $15 per person (online), you can indulge in cuisines from 17 participating Rockaway Beach restaurants ranging from Thai to Italian and American, while sipping a hot or cold beverage from one of the local coffee roasters, vineyards or distilleries! Sounds delicious, right?The event takes place twice per year, so, when you decide to head back for Taste of Rockaway fall 2017, you will be able to hop on our brand new Citywide Ferries at Pier 11/Wall Street, Red Hook or the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and head down to explore what our Rockaway Route has to offer!
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Looking for the Best Hot Chocolate in Town?
(Laurie Tomasino)
Whether your weekend adventures takes you to the Lower East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, DUMBO or Cobble Hill, you will be guaranteed to find some delicious hot chocolate with this grand list of Thrillist’s 11 favorite cups of hot deliciousness. Another option is to stop by one of Red Tricycle’s favorite family-friendly spots (think: teddy bear marshmallow and whipped cream designs) to grab a cup of something cute and irresistible, this 40-something degree weekend!
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How about some Gingerbread Fun?
Suitable for adults and children alike, these gingerbread events are bound to get you in the holiday spirit as you enjoy your way through these festive gingerbread-themed events!One of 2016’s big holiday moments is a life-size hyper-Instagrammable gingerbread village at Gingerbread Boulevard in Madison Square Park (Dec 1-31). After snapping away at this street art event, we recommend hopping over to Eataly for chocolate, cheese and crepes!
Another option, is the record-breaking miniature gingerbread village at the New York Hall of Science in Queens, awarded the Guinness World Record the past three years in a row! The village, created with totally edible gingerbread, candy and frosting, takes one full year for chef Jon Lovitch to create, and may win the world record agin in 2016. The museum offers gingerbread house and hot chocolate making classes for children, and if you are not too tired of gingerbread come January 11th, you can stop by the museum and adopt one of the village’s miniature houses!
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Enjoy a Holiday Market!
From the iconic Union Square and Columbus Circle holiday markets, New York City has an abundance of festive and fun markets – both indoors and outdoors, most of which feature items made by local artists. One Brooklyn favorite is the Industry City Renegade Craft Market, but we must admit that our personal favorite for this weekend is the Waterfront Museum’s Maritime Holiday Art Sale taking place on the first two Saturdays of December (1pm – 5pm) in Red Hook.The beautiful piece of maritime history, the Leigh Valley Barge Number 79, is only minutes away from our future Red Hook ferry stop with a breathtaking view of the Statue of Liberty, and once you wrap up at the market, do not forget to stop by Red Hook Winery for a delicious wine tasting!
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Holiday at the iconic Apollo Theater
Saturday, December 3rd
Begins: 7:30pmHarlem’s Apollo Theater was the beginning of many stars’ careers throughout the times, and may be one of the most iconic ways you could experience a performance in New York City! Throughout December, the Apollo Theater will be hosting a series of their talent shows with a holiday twist – just enough so, that you get in the holiday cheer while enjoying some of the future stars’ performances! Tickets on the Apollo Theater website start at $20, and the theater has group specials if you wish to bring your friend group or family along!
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Enjoy a Hot Rooftop Beverage!
Courtesy of Timeout.com, Baita Restaurant
New York City is known for its incredible skyscrapers, but the secret world of NYC rooftops are not only open during the warmer months – but some have unique makeovers for the wintertime!
Manhattan Rooftops
One of our team’s favorites is the typically palm tree covered rooftop overlooking the Empire State Building, 230 Fifth Avenue’s rooftop, which transforms into a winter wonderland serving hot chocolates and ciders (you have the option of virgin and spiked versions!) with private see-through heated igloos. Another wintertime favorite is Flatiron’s pop-up Italian Alps themed Baita rooftop, perfect for a drink, lunch or dessert. Please note that Baita is a neighborhood favorite that typically requires a reservation via OpenTable. Another rustic winter themed rooftop is Midtown’s Refinery Rooftop, conveniently placed close to Bryant Park. However, if you feel like taking a short break from skyscraper views, head up to 57th Street to the Viceroy Hotel’s (mainly indoor) rooftop, logically named “The Roof,” with views of the entirety of Central Park!
Brooklyn Rooftops
Close to our future North Brooklyn docks, you will find the newly opened William Vale Hotel in Williamsburg has an incredibly sleek 22nd floor rooftop by the name of Westlight, offering the most impeccable 360 degree rooftop view, with a full indoor as well as outdoor view of the New York skyline. Another Brooklyn favorite is the Wythe Hotel’s The Ides bar, offering a skyline view of Manhattan, with a rustic vibe, perfect for the sunset hours. However, if rooftops are not you thing, Thrillist recently shared a list of 60 NYC bars with fireplaces!
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Explore the City’s Holiday Window Displays
A New York tradition widely shown in movies and TV series is the holiday extravaganza shown in shopping windows across the city – especially on 5th Avenue. Saks Fifth Avenue hosts a repeating light show on its wall (across from Rockefeller Center), Barney’s has a South Park themed window, Tiffany’s shows off jewel-like lights changing with the angle you look at it from and Bergdorf Goodman’s window is voted the best by NY Times. If you want to stay in Brooklyn, the Grand Street BID is hosting a Holiday Window Competition nicknamed “Grand Wonderland” in Williamsburg on Saturday December 3rd between 1pm – 5pm.
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Have Brunch with Santa Claus
Hurry and get your ticket to brunch with Santa via Town Square’s website, and explore this future NYC Ferry Service neighborhood with your children this weekend! -
Explore Some Brand New Art
Photograph: David N. Regen, Gladstone Gallery, TimeOutNY.com
New York is an art capital, but there is always tons of new pop-ups, galleries and museums opening their doors to the public, so we have decided to pick some of our favorite gallery and exhibit openings to be explored before the word gets out to the rest of New York about these gems!
The New Museum, Pipilotti Rist: Pixel ForestChelsea’s Gladstone Gallery features an array of visiting artists, showcasing their art for one month at a time, lending itself for multiple visits throughout the colder months. Another exciting Chelsea opening is Michael St. John’s “These Days; Leaves of Grass” at the Andrea Rosen Gallery, inspired by Walt Whitman, the New York writer who once wrote about daily life in Brooklyn, in the times when he could hear horse carriages clicking past and ferries honking as they left their docks. If you are more into moving art, head over to the Museum of Moving Image in Queens or the New Museum in the Lower East Side!
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Watch a Comedy Show or Movie at Videology
Photograph: Courtesy of Videology.com
Whether you want to enjoy a movie or laugh at a comedy show, Videology has the program all set and ready for you this weekend! Kicking off the weekend with a movie followed by a comedy show on Friday, the Williamsburg staple continues the weekend with a nerve wracking thriller on Saturday night and an adult animation bound to make you laugh on Sunday. The venue provides iconic American movie candies, snacks and drinks. For times and movies, check their website here.