Tag: Holidays

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Downtown Holiday Events 2021

winter cabin the rooftop pier 17
Spend New Year's Eve by The Greens on the Rooftop at Pier 17.

Downtown Magazine is your source for information on downtown holiday displays, events, and NYE parties. Watch this space for updates.

Now-Dec. 19 Bombay Window Displays & Free Cocktails

Bombay Sapphire Window Soho
Bombay Sapphire Window Displays in SoHo, will include codes where passerby can get codes for free cocktails at participating nearby bars, now through Dec. 19.

Fashion designer Romeo Hunte and visual artist Shavanteì Royster have unveiled the first ever Bombay Sapphire holiday window displays, celebrating New York creatives and ‘turning the lights back on’ for storefronts in lower Manhattan, where almost one third of small business have closed during the pandemic. The Art, Fashion, and Design windows come to life with performances (think live Charlie Chaplin-esque nutcracker dances, holiday fashion shows and painting demos in the windows). Times are 4-9pm daily for passersby + free cocktails at nearby bars (Dante West Village, Gelso & Grand, Lil Frankie’s and AMA West Village) when you show the window QR codes).

NYE- The Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17

winter cabin the rooftop pier 17
Spend New Year’s Eve by The Greens on the Rooftop at Pier 17. Photo: J. Kratochivl.

For an intimate venue to toast to the New Year, visit The Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17, New York City’s seasonally rotating dining concept. Take over your own winter cabin with up to 8 guests and indulge in buckets of bubbly, craft cocktails, and a delicious cuisine specific menu while soaking in the stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge.

There are five reservation slots throughout the day–11am-12:30pm, 12:45-2:30pm, 3-5pm, 6-8pm, or 9pm-1am–each with various food & beverage packages to choose from. For more information about the packages and to make a reservation, visit The Greens website.

New Year’s Eve Champagne Pairing Cruises

 

Friday, December 31st 2021 @ 10pm – Saturday, January 1st 2022 @ 12:30am. Celebrate New Year’s Eve safe and comfortable on Classic Harbor line. Enjoy, Champagne, Cheese & Dessert Pairing With Harbor Fireworks & Live Music. This is still our number one choice for NYE. Take in all the beauty the New York City skyline has to offer while cozying up and staying warm. Fully decorated for the holidays and plenty of space and partitioning to feel at ease while you take in the sights. Bundle up, as it can be quite cold as you step out on the outer deck to take in the sites. It’s a night and NYE you will never forget. Book now.

 

NYE-Masquerade Ball at Pearl Alley

Pearl Alley
Don’t miss Pearl Alley’s NYE celebration.

This New Year’s Eve, Dante’s Winter House Masquerade Ball is taking place inside Pearl Alley at Pier 17, NYC’s luxurious new waterfront venue. The newly opened space will be offering a 4-hour premium open bar with festive signature cocktails made by Dante’s award-winning bar team alongside delicious bites severed throughout the night. Hidden under your Masquerade Mask, dance the night away with live performances by DJ Chachi, DJ Tre and Saxophonist. There will be party favors, surprises, and to top it all off, the best views in New York City. Toast to 2022 with bubbles in hand and an unforgettable night at the Seaport’s most exciting new venue. Get your tickets here.

NYE at The Fulton

On New Year’s Eve, The Fulton by Jean-Georges will be offering its menu à la carte from 5 pm -7:30 pm, in addition to a $298 five course prix fixe menu 8 pm -10 pm, including delicious dishes such as Sashimi with Spicy White Ponzu, Char Grilled Octopus and a Truffle Course with a choice of Fresh Tagliatelle with Black Winter Truffle or Truffle Meyer Lemon-Parmesan Risotto. Please note: the pre-fixe menu is $84 for children under 10 years old. The full menu can be found here. Reserve a table here.

NYE & New Year’s Day at Malibu Farm

Malibu Farms
Enjoy NYE and New Year’s Day specials at Malibu Farm.

In celebration of New Year’s Eve, Malibu Farm will be offering delicious new specials to toast the new year, in addition to their all-day menu on Friday, December 31st, and Saturday, January 1st. Specials include Peekytoe Crab Risotto, Grilled Lobster, House-made Carrot Ricotta Gnocchi, and more. The full menu can be found here. New Year’s Eve hours, 12 pm – 1 am; Happy Hour from 10 pm – 12 am. New Year’s Day hours, 11:30 am – 8 pm. Reserve your table here.

 

GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL/HOLIDAY MAGIC AT EVERY TURN

 

 

The holidays are just around the corner and Grand Central Terminal has all your readers’ gifting needs covered. The Terminal is thrilled to present Holiday Pop-Up Shops in Vanderbilt Hall. Featuring crafty creations, artisanal elegance, and handmade delights, the collection of six vendors provides customers with even more unique and thoughtful last-minute holiday gift choices.

The Grand Central Holiday Pop-Up Shops are open from 10 am–7 pm on December 17th –  24th (closed at 3 pm on Christmas Eve). Please find the selection of artisans below:

  • ekologic: Singular pieces of eco-fashion and accessories, made sustainably by a women-owned collective
  • Fashion For Empowerment: Organic textiles and home decor, rooted in the age-old craft
  • in2 design: Beautiful jewelry with Swedish simplicity
  • Judith Haas: Gorgeous wearable art molded from metal and semi-precious stones
  • Karla Gudeon Art & Design: Color engravings influenced by illuminated manuscripts and folk art
  • Skendzic Photography: Arresting photographic prints on gold leaf
  • Magnolia Bakery (open December 21st – 24th): From beautifully iced cupcakes and cakes to iconic banana pudding

 

In addition to the Holiday Pop-Up Shops, Grand Central’s 55 plus shops and restaurants offer holiday magic at every turn, from gift shopping at the likes of Apple, Diptyque, and TUMI to dining at Cipriani Dolci, the Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant, and many more.

To top off the shopping experience, GCT is offering complimentary wrapping for gifts purchased at shops inside Grand Central Terminal. The Holiday Wrap-Up will be available from December 18 and 20–24 near the New York Transit Museum on the Upper Level. Bring up to five-holiday gifts purchased in the Terminal, and their receipts, and GCT’s gift-wrappers will then wrap your gifts in luxurious celestial ceiling paper.

Check out the event URLs:

 

 

Categories
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

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Featured Lifestyle Living

The Downtown Kids Gift Guide 2019

The Downtown Kids Gift Guide 2019

By Mary Wasserman Downtown Chic Moms

Our family and lifestyle editor Mary Wasserman, the mom behind Downtown Chic Moms Blog, knows downtown life. She raises her three beautiful children, Brycen 10, Brinkley 8 and Brent 3 right here in Downtown Manhattan.
 
This year we are excited to share with you her top picks for kids this holiday season in this kids’ gift guide.
Kids holiday gift guide_Fotor.jpg

It’s here!! And it couldn’t have come at a better time. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and we all know what that means… Tis the season for gifting! Shopping for the whole family doesn’t have to be stressful. What I like to do is get a list and check it twice! No really–get a list! Ask the kids to give you one, or help them write it! Then make sure to add a few amazing little personal gifts you know they’ll love!!

This list has something for all the kiddies on your list! But don’t wait to get them. Another tip… some of these are on the hotlist so don’t wait to purchase. If you really want it, try to get it before it’s too late.

Here is my Gift Guide to this year’s favorite kid’s toys of 2019!

1. Juno Baby Elephant– This interactive toy is so lovable and comes to life! Juno will make you laugh and the kids will love their new friend.

2. Sven from Disney’s ‘Frozen 2’– This is going to be the hot item of the season. Sven from Frozen 2 is out! Kids can ride on his back, feed him, and listen to songs and saying from our favorite Reindeer!

3. Stem Gumball Machine Maker– For all those builders out there. Who doesn’t love candy and gumballs? This STEM learning toy will help them learn to build plus its totally sweet and delicious

4. Nintendo Switch is the hottest gift on the market this holiday season, there is no better game to pair it with other than the newly launched Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020!

5. Crayola Sprinkle Art- This is for all those crafty kids! Plus it leaves no mess. A win-win!!

6. Playdoh Variety Pack– What kid doesn’t love Playdoh! Now there is a variety of options and textures. I know the kids will be fascinated with all of them!

7. Ryans Toys Review Treasure Chest– Ryan is a favorite in my house. And I am sure at your house too… Don’t miss this fun Mystery Treasure Chest filled with all of Ryan’s favorite little goodies! I can see Brent opening this now. The fun and excitement!!

8. Blinger Hair Gems– The hot item of the season! Brent even loved this at this, years of toy show. You have to try them, the party never ends with Blinger

Categories
Dining Featured Restaurants

Send Your Tastebuds to Southeast Asia with a Private Party Full of Lao Food at Khe-Yo

Just because you’re staying in New York this Winter doesn’t mean your tastebuds have to! Downtown favorite Khe-Yo offers private parties with amazing menus comprised of beautifully redefined Lao cuisine. Khe-Yo can accommodate up to 60 diners for a sit down dinner and up to 100 for a passed appetizers type of event. This all sounds wonderful, but what even is Lao food?

Serious Eats describes Lao cuisine as “often unassuming, but packed with flavor in a way that showcases the country’s prowess at marrying herbs, chilies, and the pungent bacterial riot of fermented meat and fish.” Lao food has a lot in common with Isan Thai food, which was part of Laos when the French invaded Southeast Asia. Expect lots of vegetables and bitter elements in every dish plus tons of fresh herbs like mint, cilantro, and dill. And a meal would not be complete without sticky rice, which is cooked and served in a woven basket. Khe-Yo encourages to eat the stick rice, and everything else, with your hands, as is customary.

 

 

Can’t miss dishes include Sesame Beef Jerky–which doesn’t taste anything like the gas station type you might be used to– Laos Style Pork Sausage, Smashed Green Papaya Salad, and vegetarian Crunchy Coconut Rice, all specialties you would find if you traveled to Laos yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a smaller party? Khe-Yo is open on Christmas from 4–9 PM and on New Year’s Eve for a celebratory dinner. Make your reservations here! Before you go, check out this amazing, 360˚ view of the restaurant.

 

 

 

Categories
Dining Featured Living

What to Do with Kids of All Ages This Holiday Season

Looking to fill up some of those days between Christmas and New Year’s? We’ve got fun holiday activities in New York City for all ages!

Under 10 Years Old:

 

The Rink at Brookfield Place

 

Head to the mall for whole family fun! The Rink at Brookfield Place offers open rink time, skating lessons and rentals (including skate aids for the little ones) every day in December.

 

Sprinkles’s Cupcakes Holiday Flavors

 

When you’ve worked up your appetite, wander upstairs to Hudson Eats for some festive snacks! Along with their usual delicacies, Sprinkles has a few limited edition holiday flavors including Christmas cookie, chocolate peppermint and gingerbread.

 

Kids Eat Free at Brother Jimmy’s

 

Walk under Brookfield Place to the World Trade Center and hop on the 4/5/6 train to Brother Jimmy’s in Murray Hill where kids eat free every day with the purchase of an adult entrée. Play games like skee-ball, cornhole and pop-a-shot basketball and be sure to order the fries, they come on a complimentary frisbee!

 

10–16 Years Old:

 

Introductory Class at Gotham Archery in Chinatown

 

Gotham Archery offers hour long introductory archery courses at their Chinatown location multiple times a day, Tuesday through Sunday, for archers ages ten and up. Be sure to sign up for an intro class online to ensure you get a spot. Don’t forget to brush up on your skills by rewatching The Hunger Games or Robinhood before you go!

 

Lunch and Julian’s Sundae at Aunt Jake’s

 

When you finish shooting, take a short walk to Aunt Jake’s for homemade pasta and this show stopping dessert. The menu features individual and family sized portions as well as a make your own pasta section to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Definitely try the Julian Sundae before you leave; it consists of fudgy chocolate ice cream surrounded by a bubble waffle and topped with an obscene amount of whipped cream, fruity pebbles and chocolate sauce all in a glass frosted with Oreos. Good luck finishing it!

 

16 and Up!

 

Knife and Axe Throwing Class at Gotham Archery

 

Archery not thrilling enough for you? Gotham Archery offers 90 minute knife and axe throwing classes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Instructors are highly trained and will have you sticking your throws in no time. Make sure you sign up for the class online in advance.

 

Dinner at Ivan Ramen

 

Impress watchers of Chef’s Table with a reservation at Ivan Ramen on the Lower East Side. Don’t skip appetizers like the unassuming pickled daikon and be sure to order one of the non-ramen specialties.

 

Categories
Featured

Breaking Ice with Rev Run & DJ Ruckus at the Seaport

Breaking Ice with Rev Run
Downtown Seaport NYC Winter

Last night we went old school with Rev Run and DJ Ruckus, for the pre-opening of Winterland at The Seaport. It was truly a magical evening, and seeing our Downtown New York City skyline from rooftop perspectives is something we are quite used to, but this view takes the prize for the WOW factor.

Breaking Ice with Rev Run & DJ Ruckus at the SeaportThe Masters of Rap

The Seaport is an 11-block area that lies along the East River, next to the Financial District. It is home to some of the oldest architecture in the city and was incredibly important to the early maritime industry of New York. You can learn more about the historic area by visiting the South Street Seaport Museum.

Breaking Ice with

Today the Seaport is owned and managed by Howard Hughes Corporation. Although there was more than enough controversy about the development of the Seaport, the effort was successful to bring it into the new millennium with the redevelopment of this historic area into a shopping and lifestyle destination. The $785 million, 400,000-square-foot development led by CEO David Weinreb, includes 10 Corso, Malibu Farm, ESPN, Tuck Room, iPic Theater, R 17, Mr. C. Seaport (left), SJP Collection (below), and soon but not soon enough, our dear friend Jean George Vongerichten, along with David Chang and more.

 

Breaking Ice with

 

 

Last night our Editor in Chief Deb Martin and I danced, jumped, ate, and drank our way through a fun-filled evening with the opening of Winterland, the only outdoor ice skating rooftop in all of New York. AND we also had the pleasure of sitting down with DJ Run, founder of Run D.M.C. and the evening’s featured entertainer.

 

Breaking Ice with Rev Run & DJ Ruckus at the Seaport

Grace A. Capobianco What do you think about downtown and where this area has come from since 9\11?

Rev Run It’s amazing. We’re a fighting town, a fighting spirit, we pull together. You never know how you will pull together until you have to, nobody knows how strong they are until they have to. I love the fierceness of our people, we pull together, I think that we are on our way to be “all the way up!”

GC When you were playing the song Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys and JayZ you just blew it out of the park, and the crowd tonight went crazy. Could you feel the energy in the room?

 

Breaking Ice with Rev Run

 

RR Yes, I did, you gotta push it, I helped to push the record tonight.

GC What do you think of rap today from where it began?

RR Listen, you gotta look at Jay Z and people like that. People progress. People are always saying, I like it better with Run DMC and LL Cool J, but if you look at it you see Drake is doing something very authentic too. He sings, he can make a song, and he gets mad when he is not put up for pop song of the year. He has the most dreams, he’s the biggest star around so what do I think of Drake, JayZ, and Beyonce touring the world? I mean I can’t sit here and say, “Oh it was better when Run DMC played the Garden. Today Jay Z and Beyonce are playing stadiums, things are progressing. I love to hear the record we played Fat Joe All The Way, you said your theme song is Empire State of Mind, but also the hits keep coming, it’s the leading music.

Deb Martin Does it make you feel good to see the evolution of rap? You are one of the pioneers.

Rev Run I don’t take that credit because you have Grand Master Flash, Cold Crush Brothers, I don’t take credit from it. I was glad God gave me a talent. You see my show this isn’t Run DMC, I’m a DJ, I’m playing all these hit records from other people so I’m grateful for my place in the story, and I love hip-hop so I’m proud of all it. I’m looking at Kurtis Blow with the Hip Hop Nutcracker right now, there is just so much going on.

DM I love that, what a great idea that is.

Rev Run Yes, it’s blowing my mind and he’s killing it too. So if you think of it, I was the son of Kurtis Blow years ago, he called himself the King of Rap, then Run DMC came along and we were the Kings of Rap. Then he had a Christmas record and we had Christmas in Hollis so I don’t think any one person can claim Kingship cause you know, the Lord picks you up and puts you down, and then picks up somebody else.

DM It’s amazing to see the progression and the evolution of the music.

RR Yeah, I love it I just wait for the new stars with the new voices, but you know, there’s nothing new under the sun. I’ll be here today, and 100 years from now they will have my records and there will be somebody else claiming that they’re the King.

GC Do you feel that rap has moved more into the mainstream now a lot more people are listening to it now?

RR It’s a big big deal like I say you have to go back to Jay Z and Beyonce they sell out. Before you blink your eyes it’s sold out. JayZ puts out a record and the people go crazy, and Drake, same thing. Lil Wayne put out a record with Swizz Beatz recently after years of battling with his record company and it’s a hit record right now. So I just think that it’s all progressing and it’s all good!

GC What’s your favorite restaurant downtown New York City

Rev Run Man, you’re putting me on the spot in front of all these beautiful downtown restaurants! – you know my favorite restaurant downtown, the one with the garage doors, Barbuto. My wife and I love to eat there.