Events & Things To Do

January 8, 2024

How to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in NYC

On the third Monday in January, the nation honors the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. First established in 1983, MLK Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated by Congress as a national day of service. While many Americans have off from school and work, the holiday is seen as a "day on, not a day off," and provides opportunities to volunteer and give back to communities across the five boroughs. Ahead, we've found some ways to celebrate MLK Day in NYC, from volunteer service in Highland Park and Forest Park to listening to performances by the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir.
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January 4, 2024

Enjoy discounted dinners, Broadway shows, and hotel stays during NYC’s ‘Winter Outing’

Here's a chance to enjoy some of New York City's most popular attractions at discounted rates. Hosted by NYC Tourism + Conventions, "NYC Winter Outing" kicks off this month, offering special deals at the city's best restaurants, hotels, Broadway shows, museums, attractions, and more, from January 16 through February 4.
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December 29, 2023

Say ‘fir-well’ to your Christmas tree: Mulchfest is back

Sick of your Christmas tree taking up space in your living room? There is an easy (and sustainable) way to ditch it. Starting December 26 and running through January 7, the city's annual Mulchfest offers New Yorkers 72 sites across the five boroughs to drop off Christmas trees to be composted. Those who bring their trees to one of 32 chipping sites on the weekend of January 6 will even get to take a bag of mulch home.
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December 29, 2023

6sqft’s top stories of 2023!

As 2023 comes to a close, 6sqft is looking back on our most popular stories of the year. Over the last 12 months, readers pored over articles on everything New York City-related, from new fare evasion-stopping subway turnstiles and the construction of the city's largest all-electric skyscraper to the best seafood spots and the return of the holiday nostalgia trains. Readers enjoyed getting a look inside some of the city's most unique real estate listings, too, including the homes of photographers William Wegman and Annie Leibovitz and a historic Brooklyn carriage house turned Passive House.
what you read this year
December 28, 2023

What to know about the 2024 Times Square ball drop this New Year’s Eve

New York City's world-famous New Year's Eve celebration returns to the Big Apple on Sunday. Revelers will camp out for the best spots to view the 11,875-pound crystal ball as it descends from One Times Square to ring in 2024. Ahead, find everything you need to know about the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop, from the best in-person viewing spots to how to watch the event from home.
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December 22, 2023

20 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in NYC for under $150

New York City knows how to celebrate New Year's Eve like no other. Amid its endless selection of extravagant rooftop parties and over-the-top events, it may seem impossible to ring in the New Year without it costing a pretty penny. However, enjoying New Year's Eve in NYC doesn't necessarily require you to spend hundreds of dollars. Ahead, we've found 20 New Year's Eve events that cost less than $150 (and some are even free!), from watching a dazzling display of fireworks in Prospect Park to a brewery dance party.
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December 21, 2023

The ‘2024’ numerals have arrived in Times Square ahead of New Year’s Eve

It's nearly time to kiss 2023 goodbye. The iconic, seven-foot-tall numerals that sit under the New Year's Eve crystal ball arrived in Times Square on Wednesday after a cross-country trip. The towering digits are on view at Broadway Plaza between 46th and 47th Streets through Friday, December 22 when they are placed atop One Times Square ahead of the ball drop on the 31st.
get the details
December 18, 2023

The best NYC hotels for a luxury holiday experience

In New York City, you can get it all in one place — one minute you can indulge in a $1 slice of pizza on the sidewalk and the next you can be in one of the finest hotels in the country (or even the world). For those looking to get into option two, what better time than the holidays to get a little fancy? We rounded up four ultra-luxury hotels in the city that go all out with holiday decor and experiences that guests and non-guests alike can enjoy.
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December 15, 2023

The Whitney Museum announces free admission on Friday nights, second Sundays

The Whitney Museum of American Art will offer free admission and special programming on certain days every month next year. Beginning January 12, the Meatpacking District art museum will drop its "pay-what-you-wish" system on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on the second Sunday of every month. During those times, admission will be free for all visitors.
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December 15, 2023

Free six-acre light installation ‘Field of Light’ opens in Midtown East

A massive installation made of thousands of twinkling lights opened this week in Midtown East. Designed by Bruce Munro, Field of Light at Freedom Plaza includes 18,750 low-light, fiber-optic stemmed spheres that change colors and create a mesmerizing landscape across more than six acres next to the United Nations headquarters. The installation is free to visit thanks to the Soloviev Group, the developer who is proposing building a casino on the vacant site. The 12-month Field of Light is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
how to visit
December 11, 2023

Online auction to include timeless NYC items from the 20th century

New York's Guernsey's auction house on Thursday will host "Iconic Items From The 20th Century," an online auction selling off rare items connected to some of the century's most influential figures. Among the treasures up for grabs are the original master tapes of Bob Dylan's first album and items intertwined with the history of NYC, including a signed Yankees ticket stub from the 1956 World Series and an original 1915 Coney Island carousel horse. Explore more of the legendary items Guernsey's has to offer below.
learn more here
December 8, 2023

In the 1800s, a group of NYC artists and writers created the modern-day Santa Claus

Saint Nicholas arrived in New York with the Dutch and became the Patron Saint of New York City in the early 19th century, but Santa, as we know him, is a hometown boy. New York’s writers and artists were the first to depict the modern Santa Claus, transforming the figure of Dutch lore into a cheerful holiday hero. The illustrious Claus gained his sleigh in Chelsea and his red suit on Franklin Square. With a little help from the likes of Washington Irving, Clement Clarke Moore, and Thomas Nast, jolly old St. Nick became the merriest man in Manhattan.
More about Santa's New York Roots!
December 7, 2023

Buy a piece of the NYC subway at the MTA’s memorabilia pop-up shop

After two previous years as a holiday shopping success, New York City Transit is once again offering genuine used subway system items for sale at their Memorabilia and Collectibles Pop-Up Shop. You'll find subway signs, grabholds, and more, with no processing fees. Read on to find out how to score an authentic piece of transit history.
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December 6, 2023

15 best ice skating rinks in NYC

When the cool weather of fall fades into the freezing frostiness of winter, it takes a lot of effort to leave our warm, cozy homes. However, one festive activity that gets New Yorkers out of their apartments is ice skating, a New York City tradition since the 1850s. Ahead, find some of the best places in the city to ice skate, from gliding underneath the world's most iconic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center to attending lessons hosted by Olympic skaters at Manhattan West and Brookfield Place.
Hit the ice
December 6, 2023

Fifth Avenue’s sparkling snowflake is brighter than ever

Fifth Avenue's famous snowflake, a cherished New York City holiday fixture for 40 years, is back and brighter than ever. The Fifth Avenue Association and the Stonbely Family Foundation on Sunday celebrated the lighting of the refurbished snowflake, which features 16,500 sparkling crystals and new high-intensity full-color LED lights. The twinkling 30-foot-wide snowflake is suspended 50 feet above Fifth Avenue and 57th Street from four buildings: the Aman Hotel, Bergdorf Goodman, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co.
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December 4, 2023

Stay in a ‘Wonka’ inspired suite at NYC’s Park Lane New York hotel

Booking.com is giving candy lovers the chance to travel to a world of pure imagination with a stay in a Willy Wonka-themed hotel suite. Inspired by the release of Warner Bros. Pictures' film "Wonka" this month, the exclusive offer includes a two-night stay at the Park Lane New York in Midtown in a room transformed into a sugary wonderland. Booking at the sweet-filled suite opens on December 13 for a two-day stay on December 15-16, priced at $12.15 in honor of the film's release date.
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December 1, 2023

30 Rock opens new rooftop ride ‘The Beam’ recreating iconic construction photo

The observation deck at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is taking visitors to new heights. On Friday, the Top of the Rock debuted The Beam, a new rooftop ride on the 69th floor that recreates the iconic 1932 photo of ironworkers eating lunch on a beam during the construction of the building. During the experience, visitors sit on a beam and are lifted 12 feet above the platform then rotated 180 degrees to face Central Park. Tickets to The Beam cost $25 per person as an add-on for Top of the Rock general admission and come with a digital photo.
details here
November 30, 2023

10 best under-the-radar holiday events in New York City

Holiday magic permeates New York City each year as locals and tourists alike flock to the Fifth Avenue window displays, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, and the many holiday markets. And while tradition is good, it’s also fun to step out of the box and celebrate the holidays with some off-the-beaten-path events (and maybe even start some new traditions). Here are 10 holiday events in NYC that go beyond Manhattan’s classics.
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November 28, 2023

Where to see holiday lights in NYC this year

One of the best ways to celebrate the holiday season in New York City is to bear witness to the extravagant twinkling light installations and displays that illuminate the five boroughs. Ahead, discover the city's most iconic holiday light displays, from more than two million twinkling lights scattered throughout Hudson Yards to festively illuminated trails at the New York Botanical Garden.
DELIGHTFUL DISPLAYS THIS WAY
November 27, 2023

All of New York City’s holiday tree lightings

From the very first public tree lighting ceremony in the country at Madison Square Park to the world's most famous holiday tree at Rockefeller Center, New York City has a strong connection to the sparkling Christmas tradition. Holiday trees can be found across the city, all with their own unique style and festive flair. Ahead, see the spirit of the holidays come to life at tree lighting ceremonies happening at iconic NYC spots, from Bryant Park and Central Park to the New York Stock Exchange and the Bronx's Little Italy.
tree lightings this way
November 22, 2023

KISS announces NYC takeover, including limited-edition MetroCards

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is releasing a limited-edition KISS MetroCard in honor of the iconic New York City-native rock band's final shows at Madison Square Garden. To mark the "End of the Road" shows on December 1 and 2, the MTA will load MetroCard machines at two busy Manhattan subway stations with 50,000 limited-edition cards. MetroCards featuring a portrait of the band will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis starting Monday, November 27.
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November 22, 2023

New York City’s best holiday markets of 2023

The holiday season has hit New York City in full force, and despite the convenience of online buying, the city's streets are bustling with shoppers scurrying to find unique gifts and goodies. Popping up to meet the winter frenzy is a triumphant trove of festive markets offering one-of-a-kind creations–and a chance to mingle, jingle, nibble, and nosh. Read on for our picks of the best holiday markets and pop-up shops, from the familiar holiday hubs at Union Square and Bryant Park to an upstate farm and flea affair in Hudson.
Shop local, this way
November 17, 2023

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s new ice skating rink is now open

Strap on your skates! Brooklyn Bridge Park's first-ever ice skating rink is now open. Located under the Brooklyn Bridge at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, the rink, called Glide at Brooklyn Bridge Park, offers skating for guests of all ages, rinkside food and beverages from the nearby Time Out Market, and spectacular Manhattan skyline views. The rink is open through March 1, 2024.
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November 15, 2023

Fifth Avenue to transform into car-free holiday wonderland

Attention revelers: the streets of Midtown will soon be filled with fun, pedestrian-friendly cheer. As part of a special holiday open street, Fifth Avenue will close to cars and transform into a winter wonderland on three Sundays in December. The Fifth Avenue Association on Tuesday revealed the "Gift of Fifth" campaign that will turn the historic corridor from 49th Street to 59th Street into a holiday destination, with jolly decor, festive food and beverages, photo-ops, store giveaways, and more.
DETAILS HERE
November 15, 2023

NYC launches first-ever Hart Island public walking tours

Hart Island, the nation's largest public cemetery, will open to the public for the first time this month. The city's Parks Department on Wednesday announced that free walking tours of the Bronx island will be offered twice per month starting November 21. Hart Island, which has served as the final resting place of more than one million people since the Civil War, has long been inaccessible to visitors, with extremely stringent security and once-a-month visitation days. Now, with NYC Parks managing the site, the public can get an up-close look at the island's history, helping undo historical stigmas. The tours will last roughly 2.5 hours, with ferry transportation provided to and from the island.
learn more about the walking tours