Tag: Chanukah

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Culture Events Lifestyle Living News NYC Outdoor

2021 Downtown Holiday Lights and Events

South Street Seaport Tree Lighting
South Street Seaport Tree Lighting

Photo: J. Kratochvil.

Downtown NYC is filling up with the holiday spirit! We’ve included here a roundup of upcoming holiday lighting ceremonies and fun festivities.

*South Street Seaport’s Chanukah Family Fun Day, Nov. 28, 3pm-5pm

Photo: J. Kratochvil.

Festivities begin with the Grand Ice Carving of Menorah Show – 3:00pm – 3:30pm

  • Indoor and Outdoor Activities and Entertainment – 3:00pm – 4:30pm
  • Families can enjoy a variety of winter themed and Chanukah activities and projects including balloons, coloring books, and donut decorating. RSVP for Chanukah crafts here.
  • Grand Menorah Lighting – 4:30pm – 5:00pm
  • Celebrate the start of Chanukah with your loved ones as neighborhood figureheads light the first candle at sundown.

Brookfield Place Luminaries, Nov. 29-Jan. 2

Brookfield Place Luminaries
Brookfield Place Luminaries

This installation and holiday tradition features a canopy of colorful lights emanating from hundreds of suspended lanterns. Luminaries was created by the LAB at Rockwell Group for Brookfield Place, inspired by the season’s traditions of sharing, giving, and community.

Touchless wishing stations located on the ground allow visitors to send a motion-activated ‘wish’ into the canopy of lanterns above, prompting a magical display of lights and colors. For each wish made and each interaction with Luminaries, Brookfield Place will donate $1 up to $25,000 to City Harvest, New York City’s largest food rescue organization.

This year, Luminaries debuts Maestro, a new interactive experience that will enable guests to conduct their own symphony. Maestro leverages skeletal tracking technology which allows you to show off your creativity as your own unique light show is displayed in unison with holiday music. The kiosk is an organic form, inspired by an abstraction of global instruments from harps to guitars, and is manufactured by Timbur and made of CNC-milled plywood.

NYSE Tree Lighting, Dec. 1, 2pm-6pm

The NYSE’s Tree Lighting prepares for its 98th holiday season. Head over to Experience Plaza, on the corner of Wall and Broad Streets. The event will feature performances by the Harlem Globetrotters, The Salvation Army Band, Senri Oe, the Léman Manhattan Preparatory School Choir and the USMC Toys for Tots Kettle Bell Ringers; holiday-ready companies like Build-a-Bear, Barkbox and Coca-Cola will also be getting in on the festivities-Santa may also be stopping by! Refreshments will be served. The event will livestream beginning 4:15pm. nyse.com

The Seaport Christmas Tree Lighting Block Party, Dec. 2, 5pm-8pm

Ring in the holidays with live music, pictures with Santa, hot chocolate, apple cider, and kids crafts the block party will have indoor and outdoor activities open to the public. Schedule breakdown:
Holiday crafts and live music – The Corner, 25 Fulton St. (RSVP here)
Kids’ coloring activities – McNally Jackson Books, 4 Fulton St.
Hot chocolate at Cobble & Co. and hot apple cider from Fulton Stall Market – Cobble & Co., 19 Fulton and St. Fulton Stall Market, Corner of Fulton St. and Water St.
Mulled wine and spiked hot chocolate – Garden Bar, 19 Fulton St.
Hester Street Pop-Up Marketing – 205 Front St. (5:00pm – 9:00pm)
Sip & shop at SJP – SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker, 93 South St.
Christmas tree cookies – Funny Face Bakery, 6 Fulton St.
Upcoming Exhibit Previews – The South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St.
Live music performances – (5:30pm – 8:00pm)
Photobooth with Santa – 8 Fulton St.
Christmas Tree Lighting – 6:45pm
Watch the Howard Hughes Corporation and special music guests light the locally sourced tree and enjoy the Christmas magic.
The Ugly Sweater Party – 8:00pm – 12:00am
Unwind and celebrate the start of the holiday season with specialty cocktails and music from special guest DJ Mel Debarge at Pearl Alley. RSVP free for the Ugly Sweater Party here.

Holiday Lights at Battery Park, Dec. 2, 6pm

Celebrate the fifth night of Chanukah and see the annual tree lighting at Battery Park’s Holiday Lights event! Special appearances by Sing Harlem Choir, PS/IS 276 Advanced Chorus, and you-know-who! Free RSVP here. 

Washington Square Park Tree Lighting, Dec. 8, 6pm 

Washington Square Park Christmas Treet
Washington Square Park Tree Lighting Ceremony

NYC’s iconic park in the heart of Greenwich Village prepares for the holiday season. There will also be a Meta/Facebook live event, streaming The Rob Susman Brass Quarter along with singalong holiday songs. Santa may make an appearance. Also, there will be Christmas Eve caroling Dec. 24, at 5pm. washingtonnyc.org

Categories
Beauty Fashion Featured Living

Escape the Cold and Crowds at Brookfield Place

Talia

As we all know, shopping during the holidays is a stressful and daunting experience, especially with the added obstacle of New York weather.

To ease the pain, Brookfield Place is encouraging shoppers to slow down a bit this year and enjoy a curated experience with Monday night Sip ‘N’ Shops – which could prevent that rushed purchase. Hosted on December 23, visitors can enjoy live performances, pop-up seasonal food and beverage stations and interactive experiences throughout the complex.

Also, because of Brookfield Place’s convenient location, shoppers can escape the cold and rainy weather while looking for that perfect gift. Visitors never even have to bear the weather, instead they can simply enter the mall through the Oculus, straight from their train!

Check out some of what’s trending, then swing by for that perfect last-minute holiday gift.

M.M. LA FLEUR

Pajama Set (SRP $195.00)

Feels like pajamas, looks like the sleekest loungewear set of all time. Combining cotton (for breathability) and cashmere (for warmth), these pajamas are ones you’ll want to wear all day.

M.M. LA FLEUR

 

LULULEMON

City Sweat Pullover Hoodie (SRP: $118.00)

This hoodie is made with performance Fleece fabric to keep you warm and comfortable from workout to hang out.  

LULULEMON at Brookfield Place

VINCE

Satin Collar Blouse (SRP: $295.00)

Cut from silk-satin it features a patch pocket at the chest and button cuffs.

Vince at Brookfield Place

TALIA

Sterling Silver Charm Pendant (SRP: $145.00)

Handcrafted from precious 925 sterling silver, this set adds a luxurious look to every mood and occasion.

Talia

Categories
Culture Events Living Music

“America’s Got Talent” winner Grace VanderWaal to perform at the Seaport District’s Nov. 29 Tree Lighting

Seaport Tree Lighting, 2015
Seaport Tree Lighting, 2015

16-SSS-00478 TREE LIGHTING - EventsTile_1200x8002

2016 has been a whirlwind year for singer/songwriter Grace VanderWaal. Nearly a year ago, Grace was auditioning for the NBC hit America’s Got Talent, of which she was the show’s Season 11 winner. Later this week, Grace will be releasing her debut EP, Perfectly Imperfect, through Columbia Records. And just a few days before that, Grace will be performing as part of the Seaport District’s 33rd annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 29.

In addition to a performance by Grace, this year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony — which kicks off at 6:30 PM — also features music by Vy Higginsen’s Gospel Choir of Harlem. In addition to the lighting of 60-foot Norway Spruce tree from Hinsdale, Pennsylvania, there will also be a seven-foot Chanukah menorah on display. The event, as presented by the Hallmark Channel, coincides with Giving Tuesday; the Seaport District’s Howard Hughes Corporation will be making a donation to the Peck Slip School music program as part of Giving Tuesday. More info on all things Seaport and Howard Hughes-related can be found at www.seaportdistrict.nyc.

Grace — who Simon Cowell has called “the next Taylor Swift” — caught up with Downtown for some Q&A about what’s ahead for her, Seaport District appearance included. She can be followed on Twitter via @GraceVanderWaal and otherwise visited online at www.gracevanderwaalofficial.com.

https://youtu.be/My_FR8MqWm4

What do you remember about the first time you ever performed live in New York? Where was it?

Grace VanderWaal: Before I auditioned for America’s Got Talent I did performances at a few local coffee shops around my town.

Any idea what you’ll be performing at the Seaport District tree lighting?

GVW: Yes, I’ll be performing “I Don’t Know My Name,” “Light The Sky,” and a cover of “Jingle Bell Rock”

Aside from the tree lighting event, what is coming up for you?

GVW: I’m so excited, my first EP is coming out this Friday, Dec. 2nd! And for the holidays. I am spending time with my family, which will be nice.

Do you have a favorite song on your new EP?

GVW: I LOVE “Gossip Girl!” I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.

A lot of people first learned about you from America’s Got Talent. Is there something you wish more people knew about you?

GVW: I have a brother! (laughs) Love you Jakob.

When not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?

GVW: Playing with my new puppy Frankenstein — Frankie, for short.

Finally, Grace, any last words for the kids?

GVW: Even if people turn you down and tell you aren’t the best, keep at it and be patient. If it’s supposed to happen, it will.