We’re in for chilly temps and potentially more snow during this Presidents Day weekend, but there’s still much to toast to beyond an extra day of sleeping in: the Year of the Ox starts on February 12 with Lunar New Year, and that great day of love, Valentine’s Day, follows on February 14. And whether you’re planning on celebrating one, both, or neither, we’ve rounded up 9 actually cool things to eat, do, and see this weekend in NYC.

For this weekend, read on for details to making pita chips from scratch, checking out a master artist’s new exhibition at The Met, or even learning how to samba (also, be sure to check out our Weekend Guide podcast streaming below!). And as always, please remember to follow all safety guidelines, wear your mask, and wash your hands.

Be the first to try the pizza from a beloved bagel shop

Weekend-long
East Village
Black Seed Pizza is the newest addition to NYC’s already slamming pizza scene. The concept is a collaboration between buzzy Black Seed Bagels and chef Bobby Hellen (formerly of GG’s), and will operate out of the bagel shop’s East Village location to take advantage of its wood-fired oven. Five Sicilian-style pies will be on the launch menu; they include a classic cheese, as well as more unique varieties like a green-hued pie with kale, and “Bob’s pie” made with sopressata, castelvetrano olives, and homemade chimichurri sauce.
Cost: From $12 a pie

Ring in the Lunar New Year with a visit to a massive ice sculpture

Friday, February 12, 3 pm – 8pm; Saturday, February 13, 10 am – 3pm
Battery Park City
This ain’t your college ice luge: visit Brookfield Place this weekend to see the artistry of Okamoto Studio, an NYC-based artist collective who fashion magical worlds out of crystal-clear ice. In celebration of the Lunar New Year this weekend, the group will be showcasing their work at the Waterfront Plaza on Friday and Saturday. Warm up after by grabbing a drink to go from Liberty Bistro at Le District.
Cost: Free

Get creative for your Valentine’s Day plans

Weekend-long
Citywide
“Normal” Valentine’s Day plans are yet another casualty of COVID-19, but the city is still offering a wealth of activities for this special day of love. To get started, check out our winter date ideas and whether you’re in the mood for a classic ice skating date or just want to stuff your face with cookies, we have you covered. And hey, want to plan an impromptu wedding? No sweat, we have just the thing.
Cost: Varies

Start the New Year off lucky with a Chinese feast

Saturday, February 13, 12 pm and 2:30 pm
Chelsea
Pearl River Mart Foods and Very Fresh Noodles are teaming up this weekend for a lucky-themed meal to celebrate the start of the Year of the Ox. Dining groups will each receive their own heated booth, where they’ll be served a veritable feast of baos, noodles, kimbap, and bubble tea. An extra treat comes in the form of a traditional lion dance, performed tableside by Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute Dragon and Lion Dance Team.
Cost: $150 for a table of four

Sample the complex flavors of Eastern Mediterranean food at a new opening

Weekend-long
Upper West Side
Dagon, a new concept from chef Ari Bokovza, takes its name from the Phoenician and Philistine god of agriculture and the Earth. The restaurant says its cuisine is, cheekily, from “somewhere in the Mediterranean.” When it debuts this weekend, expect an array of dishes from countries like Israel, Lebanon, and Cyprus; there are shareable mezze like Moroccan carrots, as well as entrees you’ll want to keep all for yourself, like the piquant harissa BBQ chicken. Don’t miss the wonderful selection of breads, either, including Jerusalem-style bagels and chewy laffas.
Cost: Entrees from $27

Gift your sweetheart a box of international treats

Weekend-long
Long Island City
Trade that tired box of chocolates for coconut candies from Sri Lanka. This year, Eat Offbeat, a woman-owned, refugee-driven meal delivery company out of Long Island City, created Valentine’s Day boxes featuring sugary delicacies from around the globe. Their team of chefs are New York-based, but hail from places as disparate as Senegal, Syria, and Venezuela. Goodies include everything from Syrian barazek (sesame) cookies to Iraqi walnut-tahini dates and can be shipped nationwide.
Cost: From $35

Learn the steps to a perfect samba

Saturday, February 13, 4 pm – 5:30 pm
Virtual
We may not be able to make it to Rio’s Carnival this year, but you can still create your own festival in your living room. This Saturday, join a class through Ailey Extension to learn the basics of samba and African-Brazilian dance. In the 90-minute session, students will be taught how two groups—Bahianos and Cariocas—celebrate Carnival with their own unique dance steps and music.
Cost: $25

Master the art of mezze in a virtual class

Sunday, February 14, 5:30 pm – 7 pm
Virtual
Until we can break bread with a huge group of family or friends, why not learn how to make your own mezze at home? This Valentine’s Day, chef Edouard Massih of Edy’s Grocer, a beloved Lebanese spot in Greenpoint, will teach aspiring chefs how to make muhammara (a hot pepper and walnut dip), babaganoush, as well as fresh pita chips, and a festive rosewater spritz to wash it all down. Locals can pick up groceries at the restaurant, but out-of-towners can grab their own goodies and join everyone on Zoom.
Cost: From $50

Dive deep into the imagination of artist Francisco Goya

Weekend-long
Upper East Side
Considered one of the most skilled artists of the 19th century, Francisco Goya produced over 900 hundred drawings and 300 prints during the course of his career. Starting this Friday at The Met, “Goya’s Graphic Imagination” will showcase the artist’s singular creativity and how he used his art to respond to the political and social upheavals of his day. Over 100 works will be on view, most of which come from The Met’s own collection; one of the largest repositories of his work outside of Spain.
Cost: $25 per ticket