It’s the time of the year when New York City quiets down for a heartbeat, while tourism slows down and the lines to all your favorite attractions cut in half – how amazing! Beat the lines, enjoy something new and give back this holiday season with these 20 ideas for what to do, if you are staying put in NYC, because this city certainly never sleeps!
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Wintertime Rooftops
In the mood to kick off the weekend with a drink as you gaze down on the New York streets or up at the Empire State Building? Here are some great rooftops and terraces worth checking out! New York would not be New York without a rooftop, even in the winter time!
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Jazz Club
Greenwich Village
In the mood for some music? How about some live jazz and some new tunes as you sink into a cozy chair with a drink in hand to unwind for the holidays. Smalls Live is rated as some of New York’s best live music venues, and hosts a variety of musicians each night. Are you staying in with the flu? They even show some of these nightly shows live on their website! -
Get in the Holiday Spirit
Head to Brooklyn’s iconic Christmas paradise in South Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights (South Brooklyn, $50 entry) where you will see more Christmas lights than you have seen in your life, with the most incredible creations and decorations! If you wish to stay in Manhattan, the Gingerbread Village in Madison Square Park is a free attraction, as is currently hosting the world’s largest gingerbread village – so head on over to take those holiday selfies!
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Spot World Class Holiday Decor
Head out on a walk to stretch those legs after the holiday office rush and spot the 10 most beautiful hidden Christmas trees in New York City, visit the world’s largest Hanukkah Menorah at Grand Army Plaza, or join the Kwanzaa celebration between December 26th and January 1st! Why not? It’s promised to be sunny this holiday weekend!
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Pipilotti Rist: Pixel Forest
The New Museum
Lower East Side
Tickets: $16
This trippy, new-age visual art exhibition will blow your mind the way it has wowed all art-rating New Yorkers this fall. From colorful walls and ceilings to art experienced best by laying down, this is an incredible way to soak up art and culture in the heart of the Lower East Side.https://www.instagram.com/p/BOU6ZnhDuwd/?taken-by=wanderingjewsofastoria
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Chinese Food & Movie
Free
December 24th
The local Queens bloggers and Instagrammers under the alias: Wandering Jews of Astoria, will be hosting a cheerful event on December 24th, for anyone who would like to see a movie, enjoy some local Queens cuisine, make new friends and hide from the wind chills of the week. -
iPic Theater
South Street Seaport
$16
This new neighborhood gem is here to make your holiday movie experience one you will never forget! Watch one of the movies you have been wishing to see, with a drink in hand, wrapped in a blanket, as you lay down on iPic’s brand new reclining seats! -
Ahoy Food Tours
Join this foodie group to new neighborhoods to munch on something new before the year ends – New Year’s resolutions don’t come into effect until January 1st, right? So what are you waiting for! Travel through neighborhoods, cultures, cuisines and languages as you taste the many different flavors of the big apple with the friendly Ahoy crew!
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Brooklyn Winery Tasting
213 N 8th Street, Brooklyn
December 23rd, 8PM
Discover how we make wine in an urban environment from the moment the grapes arrive at our winery until we bottle the finished product and pour it into your glass. RSVP here! -
Trivia Night!
RSVP Needed
Free
12/26: Disney Movies (Midtown)
12/27: Sex and the City (Alphabet City)
12/27: Gilmore Girls (Astoria and Midtown)
12/29: Gilmore Girls (TBA)
Ready to get the holiday games going? Trivia A.D. has a wide variety of trivia topics and locations between the holidays and New Year’s, perfect for those who are staying in New York or wishing to have fun after work! Participance is free, but make sure to RSVP to receive all info! -
Rubin Museum of Art
Chelsea
$16-20, with RSVP
12/28: Tracy Cochran, Meditation, 1PM – 1:45PM
12/30: Animal Farm Cabaret Cinema, 9PM – 11PM
This creative museum allows for visitors to experience art both physically, emotionally and visually, by offering both traditional and interactive museum experiences. Whether you are looking to explore some live music, relax with a meditation class, or enjoy an old movie, the Rubin Museum of Art has something you can cross off your bucket list in 2016!
Courtesy: NY Adventure Club
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New York Adventure Club
RSVP Needed
$35-59
12/30: After-Hours Print Workshop
12/31: Behind the Scenes: Ellis Island
12/31: Speakeasy New Year’s
Join the adventurous and curious members of the New York Adventure Club as they explore sides of New York City and its history, that you will rarely unveil. From the South Street Seaport’s old printing history, to behind the scenes adventures on Ellis Island and a prohibition-era New Year’s party at an iconic New York speakeasy, you will have amazing tales to tell after this holiday season! -
Free Tours by Foot
Tip based
Multiple Locations
This incredible tour company has fun, social and exceptionally knowledgeable tour guides, working hard to create the most incredible experience for both locals and visitors alike to learn about every creek and corner of New York City’s five boroughs. Whether you want to learn more about the neighborhood you live in, or want to explore a new area with a local – these tours are for you!
Courtesy of Pulsd.com
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Good Riddance Day
Times Square
December 28th
12PM – 1PM
This free event is made to celebrate the end of 2016 and will allow you to get your frustrations out and focus on your hopes and dreams for the new year! The Good Riddance Day celebration is inspired by a Latin American tradition in which New Year’s revelers stuffed dolls with objects representing bad memories before setting them on fire. The annual event will take place in Times Square. More information here!
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Hornblower Cruises
12/24: Holiday Jazz Brunch Cruise
12/24: Holiday Dinner Cruise
12/31: Four different New Year’s Cruises!
Whether you want a pre-Christmas holiday brunch, dinner or maybe a poppin’ New Year’s celebration that makes all your non-New York friends jealous as you post about the jaw-dropping firework views from the Hudson and East Rivers!
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Army Plaza Fireworks
Not wishing to stay in Times Square for the fireworks? Head to Brooklyn instead and view the fireworks at the Grand Army Plaza, in Prospect Park. A perfect way to go about New Year’s with children or a larger group! More information and free entry with RSVP!
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Run into the New Year
NY Runners is hosting a phenomenal New Year’s Eve run, beginning at 11:59pm to start off fresh in the new year with a 4mile run in Central Park. An RSVP is needed, and this is definitely doing to be one of the most memorable runs of your life! So will you join the #MidnightRun?
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Citymeals on Wheels
Give back by assisting this incredible organization getting it’s wheels spinning to reach all corners of the five boroughs as they feed the elderly this holiday season. Citymeals on Wheels was founded in 1981, and have served 50 million meals to the elderly so far!
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Help an Animal
Want some extra hugs and cuddles this season? Then volunteering at one of New York’s many animal shelters may be the right move for you! Organizations such as Volunteer March and New York Cares have many animal-related volunteering opportunities listed.
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Volunteer with your Talents
Idealist.org is an outside-the-box kind of volunteering opportunity, where you have the possibility of finding anything from a one-time to full-time volunteering opportunities, ranging from graphic design and business assistance to meal preparation and care taking.
