Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3.
Covid-19 has required some changes. Stay Safe.
For December we are going to try a different format – “Top 10 Corona Culture” – updated info and video especially suited to these difficult times OR NYC related visual info (Instagram and YouTube) OR all the NYC news you need to start your day. We hope you will come back often to see what’s cooking here.
“Here’s how retailers are reimagining the seasonal tradition for an unusual year.
Many holiday traditions will be (rightfully, necessarily) put on hold in 2020, but one forges on in midtown Manhattan.
Despite a difficult year in retail, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s and other fashion companies with flagship stores and brick-and-mortar presences in New York City are unveiling their annual holiday window displays. These debuts may be less flashy (and less crowded) than in past years, but, in many cases, they aim to convey feelings of optimism and reflect the wishes many have for the upcoming year.”
“New York City’s museums are full of incredible art, collections and artifacts, but they’re also full of beautiful, unique and thoughtful gifts.
With the holiday season in full swing, finding the perfect gift for friends and families is of the utmost importance, especially in a year that’s been so hard for everyone. Museums have also had it rough after being forced to shutter for months on end. We can support them now by finding our gifts at The Met Museum, the New-York Historical Society, the Museum of the City of New York and more.”
“Many seasonal mainstays have been reimagined for online viewing this year. Here are some of our favorites, from “A Christmas Carol” to Handel’s “Messiah.”
“At a holiday market, NYC offers the best decorations, food and winter activities to get you in the merriest of moods
Shopping for holiday gifts for your clan can be stressful, so you might as well enjoy yourself while hiking up that credit card balance. And you will, as long as you nab presents from vendors at the best holiday markets in NYC. While fancy Christmas window displays may entice you, these winter bazaars offer many perks such as free-admission ice-skating, mouthwatering treats for purchase, supporting local small businesses this year and more in addition to one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones.”
“Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? Look no further because NYC offers only the best of the best when it comes to fashion, home goods, art, food and more. This year may look different than the rest; however, some of the city’s most iconic holiday markets are still open for business and have adjusted procedures to enforce social distancing so that families can shop safely and enjoy the holiday cheer outside of the house. You can purchase everything from home-made to name-brand at these holiday markets in NYC!”
“Our guide to holiday stage fun in 2020, with plenty of streaming Christmas Carols and Nutcrackers to yuletide you over.
Christmas shows are on everyone’s mind as New Yorkers prepare for the holidays. Theaters are still closed this year, and how can you have Christmas in New York without a generous array of Nutcrackers and A Christmas Carols? With that in mind, we’ve scoured the internet to find dozens of the best holiday-themed theater and dance shows that you can stream this year to help you stay in high spirits, from shows aimed at kids to a few that are definitely not. Check out our chronological list of holiday shows and find the ones that are right for you.”
“The plastic domes used by restaurants to keep patrons safe take advantage of a shape discovered by ancient mathematicians.
As restaurants fight to stay in business while keeping people safe in a pandemic, outdoor dining “igloos” are popping up to protect diners from the weather and each other. One popular design is based on the mathematical structure of an icosahedron, a three-dimensional shape built from equilateral triangles. This is one of the family of highly symmetrical, three-dimensional shapes called the Platonic solids, which were first studied over 2,000 years ago”
“The pandemic crisis has had a devastating effect on the performing arts. Broadway has shut down until at least June, and the ban on large gatherings in New York currently extends to all other performance spaces as well. So the show must go online—and streaming video makes that possible. Here are some of the best theater, opera, dance and cabaret events from across the country (and around the world) that you can watch today without leaving home, many of which will help you support artists and worthy charities. Scroll past the day-by-day listings to find events that have already premiered but can still be seen for a limited time. We update this page on a weekly basis.” (TONY)
“Our critic chats with the architect David Adjaye about Hotel Theresa, Marcus Garvey Park, the home of Langston Hughes, the Y.M.C.A. and other landmarks.”
We hope you enjoy this change of pace, then please return here January 1, and every day for our daily, hot off the presses event guide with “Only the Best” NYCity event info.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3.
Covid-19 has required some changes for the time being. Stay Safe. For December we are going to try a different format – “Top 10 Corona Culture” – updated info and video especially suited to these difficult times OR NYC related visual info (Instagram and YouTube) OR all the NYC news you need to start your day.
We hope you will come back often to see what’s cooking here.
Today it’s NYC Weekend Corona Culture (Sun). NEW STUFF!
7 Actually Fun Things to Do in NYC This Weekend – Thrillist
Thrillist, a site with tons of food, drink, travel & entertainment info, introduces folks to the coolest things to do in NYC (and other places when you are traveling). I like to check them out regularly. You should, too.
“Christmas Day this year falls on a Friday, gifting us with a long holiday weekend that’s much deserved after a never-ending 2020 filled only with lumps of coal. While yuletide festivities in NYC will certainly be different this season, there are still so many ways to find the holiday spirit (it’s a miracle!) on the streets of NYC.
Help save Chinese restaurants simply by ordering your favorite meal (or two); eat some comfort food from a new burger spot by the pizza geniuses behind Roberta’s; and have a classic, rom-com-style, twinkly-light-filled, booze-soaked NYC Christmas despite everything we’ve just been through. We’ve rounded up eight actually cool things to eat, drink, see, and do this Christmas weekend in NYC. And as always, be a pal and help Santa out by continuing to give the hottest present of the season: wearing a mask and social distancing responsibly.”
Weekend-long Citywide Chinese restaurants have been some of the hardest hit since the very beginning of the pandemic, but you can help save them! Order from your favorite local Chinese restaurant or from Manhattan’s Chinatown (Resy has the menu of four eateries with Christmas specials), then upload images of your food with the #SaveChineseRestaurants hashtag and tag @beardfoundation, who will repost their faves. The James Beard Foundation, in partnership with James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Grace Young, is using the Save Chinese Restaurants campaign to bring awareness and much-needed business to some of the city’s most deserving restaurants. Cost: Varies
Weekend-long Bushwick Roberta’s, the Bushwick restaurant beloved for its wood-oven pizza, has quietly opened an offshoot celebrating the surprise winner of their menu: the cheeseburger. The menu at Burgie’s keeps it super simple with fries, fountain sodas, and a juicy burger covered with American cheese, Thousand Island dressing, and onions and pickles on a potato roll. After a long day—and frankly, a very long year—a new spot for nostalgic comfort food is exactly what we need. Cost: Burgers start at $10
Weekend-long Alphabet City Miracle on 9th Street, a Christmas pop-up at The Cabinet, is open for outdoor dining and takeout through the holiday weekend. If you can’t bring yourself to mix up your own eggnog, pre-order some festive cocktails and pick them up for a holiday party for one in your very own home. The Jingle Bell Nog, with cognac, cream sherry, spices, and cream, is perfect for sipping while watching Home Alone, while the Naughty Shot—made of just bourbon and cinnamon—is ideal for texting your ex to say you “hope they’re doing well.” Cost: Shots are $8; cocktails are $16
Weekend-long Chelsea Crown Alley, a brand-new bar named after a street in the owners’ hometown of Dublin, is serving hot cocktails in their heated sidewalk space to make al fresco dining feel a whole lot cozier. Warm up from the cold with a hot toddy, hot buttered rum, or the Spiked PSL with rye, apple brandy, pumpkin spice syrup, coffee, and cream. Order some black truffle popcorn and a Murray’s cheese and charcuterie board to make it a perfect wintry date. Cost: Hot cocktails start at $13
Weekend-long Little Italy This new vegan delicatessen is joining the ranks of Little Italy’s famous markets. They’ll be highlighting local brands, including fresh-baked bread from Grandaisy Bakery, seasonal produce from Alimentari Flaneur, cookies from Cafe Belle, and more. Everything is plant-based, bringing a new sensibility to one of NYC’s most famous food streets, but you’ll hardly notice the lack of capicola. Order a coffee from Nuevo York Coffee and a pastry from L’imprimerie, shop the shelves of local goods, and feel like you’ve just walked back in time. Cost: Free to browse
Weekend-long Rockefeller Center Indoor dining, shopping, and parties might be temporarily on hold—but some of the best parts of Christmas in NYC have always been outdoors. Head to Rockefeller Center, where you can gawk at the giant tree (with way fewer tourists than usual!), window shop at the spectacular-as-usual window displays at Saks 5th Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, and finish up your afternoon with a glass of wine at City Winery’s rinkside bar, where you can watch people fall (or propose…or both!) on the ice. Cost: Free to wander
Weekend-long Citywide While a 14-foot tree probably won’t fit in your tiny apartment (and they’re all sold out, anyways!), you can get your fir fix at your closest NYC park. The city has compiled a list of all of their holiday lighting displays by borough, so you can stay close to home or venture to Central Park for a more cinematic Christmas experience. With a nip in the air and snow still on the ground, it’s a nice reminder that, no matter what, it just doesn’t get any better than NYC at Christmastime. Cost: Free
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NYC in December is amazing as preparations for the Holiday season begins. With countless things to do, concerts to attend, and events happening throughout the city, one thing is for sure – your trip won’t be boring!
“An exploration of Josephine Baker, an avant-garde trumpeter and the composer John Adams are among the highlights.
With many opera houses and concert halls still closed by the pandemic for months to come, the musical action has moved online. That’s been the case since March, of course — but as winter arrives and outdoor presentations grow more difficult, artists and institutions are creating digital presentations with more care and intention.
There is a flood of offerings out there. Here are 10 highlights from what’s coming in December.”
WFUV-FM 90.7is my fave local radio station. Noncommercial, member-supported with a format of adult album alternative music, WFUV is doing it’s best to keep us connected to our music with a comprehensive, updated list of live music online.
New York magazine is biweekly these days and every issue has a wonderful section, “The Culture Pages,” which includes a “To Do” list – 25 things to see, hear, watch, and read. Here are my favorites from the current issue (Dec.23 – Jan.06).
Art
“Salman Toor: How Will I Know” Queer Rococo. The first museum solo of Salman Toor gives us an artist who beautifully records, in iridescent color, sensitive scenes of secret and intimate lives of gay men at home. With an assured, almost conservative approach, Toor skillfully renders young queer brown men from his own lived experience. These sharings branch out so that all the freighted weight of history or violence fades, as paintings become vehicles of visual pleasure, intellectual wit, and radical vulnerability. —Jerry Saltz Whitney Museum, 99 Gansevoort, through April 4.
“In Praise of Painting: Dutch Masterpieces at the Met” Ongoing. The ultimate balm to the soul in all of Western painting may be the Dutch works that include Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Hals. Thanks to the very deep pockets of the collectors and robber barons of New York, the Met has them and is now displaying 67 of these masterpieces. Get lost in some of the finest brushwork and deepest color in all of painting; glimpse infinity. —J.S. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue.
Theater
Under the Radar Festival Let’s get weird. Every year, the Radar Festival welcomes adventurous international art, avant-garde local heroes, and Highly Odd Work from across the U.S. to scramble our willing brains like eggs. This year, 600 Highwaymen’s gentle, inspiring A Thousand Ways (Part One), in which audience members speak to each other by phone, starts December 21; you’ll need to wait till January 6 for the festival proper, which will include digital performances by U.K. poet Inua Ellams, a cooking show–whodunit by Piehole, and Javaad Alipoor’s comedy Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran. —Helen Shaw publictheater.org, January 6 to 17.
Dance
New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker Jeté into the new year. George Balanchine’s legendary 1954 staging of The Nutcracker is the ne plus ultra of balletomaniac excess: a massive cast (including 63 dancing children), the lush designs of another age (Rouben Ter-Arutunian’s exquisite cutout sets), and neoclassical perfection. In 2019, the New York City Ballet filmed the production at Lincoln Center, and so this year the Land of Sweets is available via Marquee TV on your favorite streaming device, a magical portal that even the Rat King (a.k.a. 2020) cannot close. —Helen Shaw marquee.tv, through January 3.
Classical Music
Prometheus Narrated by Beethoven superfan Stephen Fry. Stephen Fry joins the Philharmonia Orchestra in a new video concert performance of the Prometheus story complete with adorable animated drawings. “The outraged ruler of the gods hurled thunderbolts,” Fry declaims. Cut to Esa-Pekka Salonen on the podium, who raises his arm and hurls the thunderbolt chords that open Beethoven’s ballet The Creatures of Prometheus. —Justin Davidson youtube.com/c/PhilharmoniaLondon.
Opera
Falstaff Verdi’s last opera. The Bavarian State Opera, an online leader, keeps a select repertoire up for a month at a time. Director Mateja Koležnik made her company debut with a production, set in a casino and inspired by the films of Paolo Sorrentino, that played to an empty house and a worldwide audience. —Justin Davidson staatsoper.de, through January 5.
Fragments Part I: Traviata Scenes from the Verdi masterpiece. The pandemic has given new life to the classical-music video. The fanatically demanding conducting dynamo Teodor Currentzis and the St. Petersburg-based orchestra he founded, musicAeterna, have used their enforced sabbatical to hole up in a recording studio and record chunks of opera scenes, starting with the melancholy opening of the last act of Verdi’s La Traviata, enriched by NOIR Films’ moody black-and-white film. —J.D. musicaeterna.org/en.
*This article appears in the December 21, 2020, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!
Decades old movies, songs and video games have ssurged in popularity over the pandemic. Psychologists say conjuring nostalgia during stressful times is a healthy coping mechanism.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3.
Covid-19 has required some changes. For December we are going to try a different format – “Top 10 Corona Culture” – updated info and video especially suited to these difficult times OR NYC related visual info (Instagram and YouTube) OR all the NYC news you need to start your day.
We hope you will come back often to see what’s cooking here.
Today it’s NYC Weekend Corona Culture (sat). NEW STUFF!
Theater / Let Them Entertain You, Pandemic-Style Dance / Ending 2020 Calmly Gospel / An Empty Hall Full of Spirit KIDS / She’s Got the Beat Comedy / The Ultimate Kosher Christmas
“Our critics and writers have selected noteworthy cultural events to experience virtually.” (NYT)
“Joy to the world: The holiday windows have come! The COVID-19 pandemic has upended virtually every holiday tradition — sitting on Santa’s lap, caroling, gathering at Grandma’s. But it actually is beginning to look a lot like Christmas outside Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf’s, Saks and Macy’s.”
“It’s officially December and that means holiday mania!
As 2020 comes to a close, New York City is bustling with activities — and even with various safety measures in place due to the pandemic, there’s simply no better place to get in the spirit of the season.
From bar transformations, dazzling light displays, and all the icy fun and shopping in between—here are 55 magically festive things to do in NYC this month.”
Interesting. Unusual. Uniquely NYC. Highlights of this week’s top events include Make Music Winter 2020, Gimme 50, Louis Armstrong Holiday Experience!, and more. Get the NYC-ARTS Top Five in your inbox every Friday and follow @NYC_ARTS on Instagram or @NYCARTS on Twitter to stay abreast of events as they happen.
“John Edmonds: A Sidelong Glance” is the artist’s first solo museum exhibition to date, featuring new and recent photographic portraits and still lifes of Central and West African sculptures that explore representation and Black identity in the African diaspora. For this exhibition, Edmonds engaged directly with the Museum’s Arts of Africa collection, photographing select objects donated to the Museum in 2015 from the estate of the late African American novelist Ralph Ellison. As the recipient of …
Returning to The Met for the 13th consecutive year, the exhibition “P.S. Art: Celebrating the Creative Spirit of NYC Kids” features works of art in a variety of media created by public school students in New York City. The exhibition is on view until February 14, 2021, at The Met Fifth Avenue in the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education. The 121 artworks in this year’s exhibition represent 122 students ranging from prekindergarten …
“Kwanzaa Celebration: Regeneration Night” brings together dance, music, and poetry to honor the seven core principles of Kwanzaa including family, community, and culture. On Sunday, December 27 at 7:00 p.m. ET, the Apollo’s “Kwanzaa Celebration” will feature special performances by Abdel R. Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre with special guests spoken word artist Mumu Fresh, poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph, and members of the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre and Harlem Children’s Zone Youth Academy of Dance and Wellness, hosted by award-winning radio host …
As part of the Asia Society Triennial: We Do Not Dream Alone—a multi-venue festival of art, ideas, and innovation—the New-York Historical Society and Asia Society Museum opens their first ever collaborative exhibition, “Dreaming Together.” More than 35 interwoven works drawn from both art collections generate dialogue about the urban and natural environments, protest and rebellion, individuals and identities, borders and crossings. Highlights include the Canal Street diptych (1992) from Martin Wong’s Chinatown series, 98-foot hanging scrolls by …
Luhring Augustine is pleased to announce “The Pleasure Pavilion,” a series of installations that bring together artists from the gallery program in dialogue with the façade of a late 18th or early 19th century Indian pleasure pavilion. The arcaded portico pavilion, most likely part of an Indian palace or resort, was believed to have been originally used for recreational activities, such as enjoying musical and dance performances, entertaining guests, or admiring the surrounding gardens. The sandstone and …
Christmas during Covid is definitely a stay at home day. I’ve gathered some of my favorite stories from “Untapped Cities” for your enjoyment. Merry Christmas!
GD: Untapped New York is one of my favorite sites and unearths New York City’s secrets and hidden gems. Discover the city’s most unique and surprising places and events for the curious mind. Subscribe to the Untapped New York newsletter or become an Untapped New York Insider.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3.
Covid-19 has required some changes. Stay Safe.
Earlier today we covered Best NYC restaurants. Scroll down the site for a bit to find it. Now, how about some more useful information.
NYC-Arts Top Five Picks: December 18 – December 24
Interesting. Unusual. Uniquely NYC. Highlights of this week’s top events include Making the Met, NYBG Glow, Alvin Ailey’s Virtual Winter Season and more. Get the NYC-ARTS Top Five in your inbox every Friday and follow @NYC_ARTS on Instagram or @NYCARTS on Twitter to stay abreast of events as they happen.
In 1969 filmmaker brothers Albert and David Maysles set out to shoot a series of concerts by The Rolling Stones that culminated in their capturing one of the era’s most defining and consequential moments- the killing of a young Black man named Meredith Hunter by a Hells Angel during a free show at the Altamont Speedway in Tracy, California. GIMME SHELTER, the resulting film co-directed with Charlotte Zwerin, was released on December 6, 1970, and …
Every December since 1980, seven-time Grammy® winner Paul Winter and his colleagues have celebrated the Winter Solstice at New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine with a feast of music and dancing from the diversity of cultures and creatures of the world. This December, with their beloved cathedral forum closed for events, their “41st Annual Winter Solstice Celebration” will be a unique video presentation that will be available to a worldwide audience. With a theme of …
LAHM would love for you to join them tonight, December 18th at 7pm! as they celebrate the season with their favorite memories of Louis and Lucille at the holidays and performances by special guests: Champian Fulton, Ethan Iverson and Catherine Russell. LAHM’s Staff Member, Hyland Harris, will also provide an in-depth, behind-the-scenes tour of Louis’s den and will share numerous Holiday-themed treasures from our Archives, including a very special tape of Louis reading “The Night Before …
Celebrate the 10th annual Make Music Winter virtually this winter solstice. Despite the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Make Music New York’s mission continues to drive them, and they hope that it inspires you: to provide New Yorkers with the opportunity to enjoy free, rejuvenating music and to support music makers in the process. Event Schedule: For Love and Only For Love: Letters to New York (In Person) Sat, Dec 19, 202012:00 PM Sun, Jan 10, …
This December, one like no other, Summoners Ensemble Theatre’s “A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the MERCHANT’S HOUSE” returns for its 8th holiday season, virtually. Be transported back 150 years from the comfort of your home for this captivating one-hour performance filmed in the landmark Merchant’s House dressed for the joyous season with a table-top tree, boughs of holly, and flickering candles. In the spirit of Mr. Dickens’ message of compassion, generosity, and goodwill, we want performances to …
In the age of Covid-19 this info from City Guide is one of the best sources of info on What’s Happening, even if some are only available in your home, and not in your favorite venue.
For a real sense of the city’s epic scale, you need to get up into the sky, into one of New York’s unparalleled observatories. The sometime chaos of New York sidewalks gives way to a clarity on the upper stories. The grids of streets, the flow of traffic, and architectural masterpieces from across the eras all come into clear focus. If you’re planning a visit to NYC, check out these virtual tours of our famous observation decks so you’ll be ready to choose the best one for you.
Virtual Tour: Empire State Building
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING. Ever since its 1931 completion, the Empire State Building has been the most famous skyscraper in the world. It remains a vital part of NYC and an inspiration to the millions of visitors who ascend to the ESB observation deck in every season. Newly updated features include a museum, the Observatory Experience. The result of a $165 million investment, this second floor stopover will substitute for what was once time spent waiting on line. Take a virtual tour of the space above, and check out the many features the attraction offers. 20 W. 34th St., 212-736-3100, esbnyc.com
Virtual Tour: One World Observatory
ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY. There’s only one tallest. Only one strongest. And only one destination selected as the Best New Attraction in the World. These attributes belong to One World Trade Center, and its pinnacle, the One World Observatory, rising over 100 stories in the sky. Check out this virtual overview of what you’ll find there. 285 Fulton St., 844-696-1776, oneworldobservatory.com
Virtual Tour: Top of the Rock
TOP OF THE ROCK. At this stunning perch atop Rockefeller Center, you’ll find wholly unobstructed views of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the rivers, and all of Central Park (its size can only truly be appreciated when seen from above). The Grand Viewing Deck on the 69th floor offers unparalleled views of the city, with visibility that reaches some 30 miles on a clear day. The 70th Floor is the proverbial cherry on top, allowing visitors to experience a 360° panorama of Manhattan in all its glory. This is an open-air perch with completely unobstructed views—no glass or anything. It provides a vantage point unlike any other in the city…or the world. 30 Rockefeller Ctr., 212-698-2000, topoftherocknyc.com
Virtual Tour: Edge
EDGE, the Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor observation deck, opened in March 2020, just before the city went on pause. The city is looking forward to the return of this incredible, triangular deck extending from the skyscraper at 30 Hudson Yards. You can stand 100 floors above the ground and see miles and miles in every direction. The deck offers 360-degree views with jaw-dropping glimpses of the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, the Hudson River, and much more. You can tour the various features at Edge here. Level 4 inside The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, 332-204-8500, edgenyc.com
There’s no bad time to take an eagle eye to the lives of millions of New Yorkers, but if you can time it, we’d steer you to dusk, when you can enjoy both sunset and the thrill of watching the city’s lights flickering to life.
Want more free advice on what to do and see in New York? Join our Facebook group Everything to Do NYC, a place for people to ask questions and get tips on how to make the most of the city. ============================================================
Here is some other useful information to help you enjoy your holiday season.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3.
Covid-19 has required some changes for the time being. Stay Safe.
For December we are going to try a different format – “Top 10 Corona Culture” – updated info and video especially suited to these difficult times OR NYC related visual info (Instagram and YouTube) OR all the NYC news you need to start your day.
We hope you will come back often to see what’s cooking here.
Today it’s Best NYCity Restaurants. This is ALL NEW STUFF!
Covid 19 has greatly affected the NY City dining scene. Be sure to contact your restaurant before heading out.
We hope you enjoy this change of pace. Please return here January 1, and every day for our daily, hot off the presses event guide with “Only the Best” NYCity event info.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3.
Covid-19 has required some changes. Stay Safe.
Earlier today we covered Corona Culture. Scroll down the site for a bit to find it. Now, how about some more useful information.
“The vaccine news of the last few days is nothing short of spectacular. Pfizer and Moderna have both developed 95%-effective candidates, and Moderna’s has less of a deep freeze requirement, making the logistics side more promising. Accordingly, travel stocks have been shooting up. Less publicized is a recent NYU study showing that hospitalized patients with COVID had a 26% chance of dying in March; that’s been cut all the way down to 8% now. The FDA just approved an at-home COVID test. All of it bodes well for continued recovery…..”
WFUV-FM 90.7is my fave local radio station. Noncommercial, member-supported with a format of adult album alternative music, WFUV is doing it’s best to keep us connected to our music with a comprehensive, updated list of live music online.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3.
Covid-19 has required some changes for the time being. Stay Safe.
For December we are going to try a different format – “Top 10 Corona Culture” – updated info and video especially suited to these difficult times OR NYC related visual info (Instagram and YouTube) OR all the NYC news you need to start your day.
We hope you will come back often to see what’s cooking here.
“It’s time to lace up your skates—the best ice skating rinks in NYC are waiting for you. As one of the most beloved cities to spend the holidays in, NYC has plenty of indoor and outdoor rinks where you can glide and practice your toe jumps. To help narrow down your options, we’ve ranked the top places to go, from the iconic Rink at Rockefeller Center or lower-key rinks at NYC parks like Central Park. You can even make a full-day out of it when you shop at one of the city’s best holiday markets, followed by sipping hot chocolate and skating on The Rink at the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. If you’d rather stay warm while on the ice, there are many all-weather indoor rinks, including spots that offer roller skating.”
“An exploration of Josephine Baker, an avant-garde trumpeter and the composer John Adams are among the highlights.
With many opera houses and concert halls still closed by the pandemic for months to come, the musical action has moved online. That’s been the case since March, of course — but as winter arrives and outdoor presentations grow more difficult, artists and institutions are creating digital presentations with more care and intention.”
“From a Christmas LED Flower Display to an Origami Extravaganza – Plus, see the holiday displays at Bergdorf Goodman’s and the New York Botanical Garden’s annual holiday train show.”
“Make the most of the holidays with our list of Christmas things to do in NYC, including tree-lightings, gigs and more
It’s almost the merriest time of year and there are so many Christmas things to do in NYC to put on your list of festivities. From uptown to downtown, the city boasts holiday offerings like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, light festivals, and the best holiday markets NYC has to offer. Whether you channel your inner grinch or cheery elf during NYC’s most wonderful season, we’ve got you covered with activities.”
“Governor Cuomo announced that indoor cultural activities like museums (and also bowling alleys, yes!) are allowed to reopen starting today. That’s good news for art-loving New Yorkers who have been cooped up for months with limited entertainment options.While many museums will slowly reopen over the upcoming weeks, when they do, expect attendance limited to 25% capacity, staggered and timed entry with ticketing booked in advance, and necessary safety protocols including the requirement of facial coverings and social distancing. So grab your mask and hand sanitizer, and check out these eight cool exhibitions to celebrate the museum phase of Phase 4’s reopening.”
It’s always fun to show a little hometown pride, but this year, New York really deserves it. Whether you want to give your out-of-town family member a memento of your city or get something personal for a local friend, these NYC-themed gifts are sure to please. From cute subway merch to puzzles of your favorite landmarks to all the best books, this guide has a little something for everyone.
“If you’re looking for the best things to do in NYC this week or even today, there are tons of fun holiday options (so long as you can social distance and wear a mask). Start by heading to a Lantern Festival at Domino Park or eating at Marea’s apres ski-themed outdoor restaurant. On Christmas day, watchCrossing Delancy and learn how to make pickles or have dinner at Burgie’s on Friday.”
“The best pizza in NYC as tasted by our pizza experts—from dollar slices to slice with mile high toppings.
New Yorkers are fortunate to live in a city where the pizza is so good that even the dollar slices are excellent. But with so many options, it’s difficult to know which pie shop is worth the trek. We put together our most comprehensive guide to slices across the five boroughs. Whether you’re looking for a classic margherita pie, our favorite joint with an old-school New York atmosphere or the spot to grab a slice at an outdoor restaurant in the warmer months, we’ve got you covered. Now more than ever, pizza in New York is experimental and accommodating to all kinds of dietary restrictions (such as gluten free pizza, thank you, Screamer’s!) while many of the old-fashioned spots have kept the same charm as ever.”
“The wonderland will feature tins of holiday shops, a pop-up rinkside food hall, and a 17,000-foot free ice skating rink as the centerpiece. (You’ll only have to pay to rent skates if you don’t already have, which cost $18-$33, depending on the day). Because of COVID-19, there are many new safety measures in place, including a completely-outdoors Winter Village experience.”
“From lush forest to metropolis, the evolution of Lower Manhattan.”
We hope you enjoy this change of pace, then please return here Januart 1, and every day for our daily, hot off the presses event guide with “Only the Best” NYCity event info (well, maybe. it depends).
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to. We made it as easy as 1-2-3.
Covid-19 has required some changes for the time being. Stay Safe.
Earlier today we covered selected NYC Instagram photos and curated event info. Now, how about some more useful NYC holiday information.
New York magazine is biweekly these days and every issue has a wonderful section, “The Culture Pages,” which includes a “To Do” list – 25 things to see, hear, watch, and read. Here are my favorites from the current issue (Dec.9-23).
Art
Sam Gilliam: Existed Existing A first-tier innovator of painting. Behold Sam Gilliam’s magisterial painterly and sculptural grandeur. Plywood objects conjure pyramids, and continental plates vie for greatness with huge flecked, layered paintings the size of barges. Gilliam is a master of his medium in total control of his art. —Jerry Saltz Pace Gallery, 510 and 540 West 25th Street, through December 19.
Harmony Hammond: Crossings “Material engagement.” Since the 1970s, Harmony Hammond has made the most psychically alive, roughly sensual, optically satisfying, and epistemologically adept paintings created anywhere. This powerful exhibition of new work finds the artist in top form, claiming a rightful place in the history of modernism with constructions that pack totemic presence and visual intelligence and make wonderfully aggressive demands on the graphic field. —J.S. Alexander Gray Associates, 510 West 26th Street, through January 16.
Theater
The Long Goodbye Online Edition I love a cup of tea and that. Riz Ahmed’s concept album The Long Goodbye framed British Asians’ relationship with Old Blighty as a toxic love affair, one poisoned by colonialism, partition, and pernicious racism. The original plan was for Ahmed to take the album’s accompanying hybrid show — part theatrical storytelling, part music — around the world, but the pandemic canceled the tour. Now he’ll perform an in-real-time-only event, which will be streamed once via BAM’s digital broadcast. —Helen Shaw bam.org, December 19.
Isaac@CafeCarlyle A holiday show. During the holiday season for the past four years, it was a special treat to go Café Carlyle and hear Isaac Mizrahi sing and do his own brand of stand-up, accompanied by the wonderful Ben Waltzer and his six-piece band. This year, of course, it’s different, but wonderful all the same, as we can look forward to a streamable concert series. In this four-show series, each mixes songs and storytelling and features a special guest. The first show will be released on December 4 and will then remain on-demand for 30 days, with additional shows on January 8, February 12, and March 19. Isaac says my favorite thing about the show, “It’s not exactly a holiday show … it’s not not a holiday show…” —Wendy Goodman events.broadwayworld.com, through January 3, 2021.
Dance
The Hard Nut Visions of sugarplums. For vigor and variation, crack open excerpts from The Hard Nut, Mark Morris’s nearly 30-year-old comic “homage” to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. In Morris’s version, the E.T.A. Hoffmann story is reset in a kitschy ’60s suburbia, where party guests are more naughty than nice, Marie’s visions of militant rats speak to her own adolescent stirrings, and leaping Snowflakes throw fistfuls of snow into the air in little icy explosions. —Helen Shaw markmorrisdancegroup.org/mmdg-holiday-special, December 12 to 18.
Classical Music
The Oratorio Society of New York An abridged virtual performance. In a normal year, professional singers would be earning a chunk of their annual income right now, dashing from Messiah to Messiah. The Oratorio Society, led by Kent Tritle, has done its best to preserve the tradition with a performance recorded outdoors, in a warmer month, rolled out in time for an at-home sing-along. —Justin Davidson osny.org, from December 21.
Simone Dinnerstein Live from Columbia. When experiencing live music meant organizing an expensive night out, a two-hour concert with intermission was intended to give audiences their money’s worth. Now that it means clicking a free link, sometimes you want only a restorative half-hour. Miller Theater’s pop-up concerts satisfy that craving, and Dinnerstein is just the right pianist to keep the experience brief but intense, meditative, and surprising. Here, she pairs a Philip Glass étude with a movement from Schubert’s B-flat Sonata, two exercises in taking your time. —J.D. millertheater.com, December 15.
*This article appears in the November 23, 2020, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!
NYC-Arts Top Five Picks: December 18 – December 24
Interesting. Unusual. Uniquely NYC. Highlights of this week’s top events include Making the Met, NYBG Glow, Alvin Ailey’s Virtual Winter Season and more. Get the NYC-ARTS Top Five in your inbox every Friday and follow @NYC_ARTS on Instagram or @NYCARTS on Twitter to stay abreast of events as they happen.
In 1969 filmmaker brothers Albert and David Maysles set out to shoot a series of concerts by The Rolling Stones that culminated in their capturing one of the era’s most defining and consequential moments- the killing of a young Black man named Meredith Hunter by a Hells Angel during a free show at the Altamont Speedway in Tracy, California. GIMME SHELTER, the resulting film co-directed with Charlotte Zwerin, was released on December 6, 1970, and …
Every December since 1980, seven-time Grammy® winner Paul Winter and his colleagues have celebrated the Winter Solstice at New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine with a feast of music and dancing from the diversity of cultures and creatures of the world. This December, with their beloved cathedral forum closed for events, their “41st Annual Winter Solstice Celebration” will be a unique video presentation that will be available to a worldwide audience. With a theme of …
LAHM would love for you to join them tonight, December 18th at 7pm! as they celebrate the season with their favorite memories of Louis and Lucille at the holidays and performances by special guests: Champian Fulton, Ethan Iverson and Catherine Russell. LAHM’s Staff Member, Hyland Harris, will also provide an in-depth, behind-the-scenes tour of Louis’s den and will share numerous Holiday-themed treasures from our Archives, including a very special tape of Louis reading “The Night Before …
Celebrate the 10th annual Make Music Winter virtually this winter solstice. Despite the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Make Music New York’s mission continues to drive them, and they hope that it inspires you: to provide New Yorkers with the opportunity to enjoy free, rejuvenating music and to support music makers in the process. Event Schedule: For Love and Only For Love: Letters to New York (In Person) Sat, Dec 19, 202012:00 PM Sun, Jan 10, …
This December, one like no other, Summoners Ensemble Theatre’s “A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the MERCHANT’S HOUSE” returns for its 8th holiday season, virtually. Be transported back 150 years from the comfort of your home for this captivating one-hour performance filmed in the landmark Merchant’s House dressed for the joyous season with a table-top tree, boughs of holly, and flickering candles. In the spirit of Mr. Dickens’ message of compassion, generosity, and goodwill, we want performances to …
Broadway theaters closed on March 12 as New York City enacted rules to promote social distancing and slow the spread of Covid-19, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a show. The NYC theater community has responded with initiatives and online shows to help support its members and entertain audiences via the internet while we’re staying away from crowds.
We’ve put together a sampling of streaming performances you can watch from your laptop or phone:
Broadway HD Starting in 2015, this online service began offering HD versions of classic and recent Broadway plays and musicals. You can try it out for free (with a one-week trial) or buy a subscription (from $9 a month) to watch some of your favorite shows. You can see stars like Katherine Hepburn in 1973’s televised version of The Glass Menagerie as well as musical hits like Kinky Boots, An American in Paris and Cats.
Stars in the House Broadway actor, director and writer (and radio host) Seth Rudetsky and his husband, producer James Wesley, host two shows a day from their house on YouTube. The hourlong shows, which air live at 2pm and 8pm (the usual Broadway start times), raise money for the Actors Fund, helping to provide emergency relief for those unemployed in the theater community.
Living Room Concerts Broadwayworld.com has started posting daily concert videos from an array of performers, mainly those whose shows were running before the recent closure of Broadway. They’re posting a new video every day—stars featured include Carolee Carmello (Hello, Dolly!), Kathryn Gallagher (Jagged Little Pill) and teenager Andrew Barth Feldman, the former lead in Dear Evan Hansen.
Marie’s Crisis Virtual Piano Bar This West Village bar, known for sing-alongs to Broadway show tunes, has taken the experience online. They’re streaming two main sets of songs each evening, usually starting at 4pm, with different pianists tickling the ivories. To watch, join their Facebook group and tune in to “Sing out, Louise” (in the comfort of your own living room). You can also tip the piano players via Venmo or PayPal, with details during each performance.
Download recent shows, like the SpongeBob SquarePants musical, on Amazon Many recent shows are available to rent or buy on Amazon and other online streamers, usually in the range of $3–12. Highlights include Rent, taped just before it ended its Broadway run; 2013’s Carousel, via Live from Lincoln Center; 2010 Tony Award winner Memphis; and the original Broadway production of Into the Woods, starring Bernadette Peters.
Virtual Hal Prince Exhibit at Lincoln Center In December 2019, the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts opened an exhibit on the late Harold Prince, the legendary Broadway producer behind megahits like The Phantom of the Opera and Sweeney Todd. While the library is closed, you can take a virtual walk-through and 30-minute guided tour of the gallery with Doug Reside, the show’s curator.
Broadway Dreams Live Lessons The Broadway Dreams Foundation is hosting free daily lessons, led by some accomplished Broadway-caliber talent, for aspiring actors, singers and dancers. Their lineup has included actors from Frozen, Head Over Heels and Chicago. To watch, get the Zoom link from their Facebook page. Sessions begin at 1pm; each day’s links are posted five minutes before class begins, though the schedule is listed earlier than that.
Viral Monologues from 24 Hour Plays Every year, the 24 Hour Plays event presents a series of shows that are written, cast, directed and performed in one day with the involvement of talent from the NYC theater community. Now they’re doing a mini version, with online monologues, on their Instagram account. They’re performed by actors like Denis O’Hare and penned by playwrights like David Lindsay-Abaire.
Groove to disco versions of Stephen Sondheim songs Broadway Records just released the digital version of Losing My Mind, a compilation of Sondheim songs with a dance beat. Conceived by Broadway performer Joshua Hinck and arranger Scott Wasserman, the 12-song album is an expanded version of a popular concert they put on in 2018. The album features singers like Alison Luff (Waitress) and Chip Zien (from the original Into the Woods). You can preview a track, “Unworthy of Your Love,” from Passion; hear the collection on Spotify; or order a copy from the Broadway Records site.
Broadway Backwards 2020 Encore Broadway Cares, which produces number of annual AIDS fundraisers, has put together a special encore series of recent star-studded performances from Broadway Backwards, at which performers belt out famous show tunes with gender-swapped roles. They’re also asking viewers to support an emergency fundraiser for actors affected by the Covid-19 crisis—you can make a donation at broadwaycares.org.
Watch Broadway classics like Cabaret for free on YouTube These days you may be wondering, “What good is sitting alone in your room?” You can get a very direct answer on YouTube by watching the 1993 version of Cabaret, featuring Alan Cumming in his breakout role. Other star turns worth checking out for free are Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin in American Playhouse‘s 1986 broadcast of Sunday in the Park with George; Carol Burnett in 1964’s Once Upon A Mattress; Nell Carter in a 1982 broadcast of Ain’t Misbehavin’; Lauren Bacall in 1973’s Applause; Gregory and Maurice Hines in 1980’s Eubie!; and Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra in 1954’s Anything Goes.
Jason Alexander sings on Twitter While most people know Jason Alexander as George from Seinfeld, he got his big break on Broadway in a Stephen Sondheim musical (Merrily We Roll Along). He recently went on Twitter to sing a song from the show that got him interested in theater, Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin. The beautiful ballad, “With You,” has a message of love and support we can all use today.
Pre Covid-19 we searched the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you didn’t have to.” We made it as easy as 1-2-3.
Covid-19 has required some changes for the time being. Stay Safe.
For December we are going to try a different format – “Top 10 Corona Culture” – updated info and video especially suited to these difficult times OR NYC related visual info (Instagram and YouTube) OR all the NYC news you need to start your day.
We hope you will come back often to see what’s cooking here.
We hope you enjoy this change of pace, then please return here January 1, and every day for our daily, hot off the presses event guide with “Only the Best” NYCity event info. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now, how about some other curated Holiday New York City information.
NYCity 1-2-3 : What's Happening / Manhattan's WestSide 