Looking for what to do in New York? We've got the latest on all the goings-on in NYC, from concerts to museum exhibitions to comedy to the best in city sightseeing. During Presidents' Week, you'll find extra family-friendly activities, including Kids Week at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum—this year's theme is "Science Is Everywhere." It's also Chinese New Year; bring the family out for the colorful annual parade taking place in Sara D. Roosevelt Park downtown.
THE BIG EVENT
(2/25) Chinese Lunar New Year. 2018 is the Year of the Dog! Chinatown is NYC's epicenter for the annual event, which will include a colorful parade and a street party. The parade route goes from Mott and Canal to Chatham Square to East Broadway towards the Manhattan Bridge, completing on Eldridge and Forsyth Streets towards Grand Street next to Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Starts at 1pm.
PLUS
(2/23-3/4) Starting Friday, February 23, revisit the reality show that catapulted the word “bridezilla” into the zeitgeist. In honor of the return of Bridezillas to WeTV, the network is opening the Bridezilla's Museum of Natural Hysteria at 4 Times Square. This street-level space is dedicated to the crazy in all of us when we stare down the barrel of our big day. Complete with interactive attractions and a set for your own tacky bridal portraits, you’ll get excited for the show all over again (the new season airs March 2). Instagram stories will abound, whether you’re a die-hard fan, a bride-to-be, or a visitor taking the whole thing in with a dose of irony.
(2/25) Every Sunday on the Upper West Side you can find Grand Bazaar NYC, the city’s largest curated market—and most distinctive! This Sunday, the Antique & Collectibles Bazaar brings together rare collections of comics, watches, cameras, textiles, college pennants, historical artifacts, vintage signage and toys, estate jewelry, stamps, coins, art and prints, furniture, and Asian antiquities. (Even if you don’t make a purchase, you’ll find some tasty artisanal treats as well.)
EXHIBITION OF THE WEEK
Li Xueliang
(Now-12/2/18)The China Institute has unveiled an exciting new exhibition called Art of the Mountain: Through the Chinese Photographer’s Lens. Featuring over 60 photographs from a range of modern Chinese photographers, this exhibition will allow visitors to consider the role of mountains in China’s geography, history, art, and philosophy.
PLUS
(Now-3/28) Artist Josef Albers was best known for his vivid abstract paintings. A new show at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum provides fresh context on that work with a focus on Albers’ black and white photographs, as well as his photo collages, in the newly opened Josef Albers in Mexico. Albers and his wife Anni traveled to Mexico many times over a period of more than 30 years, from 1935 through the 1960s. While there, they spent time at numerous archeological sites, from Uxmal to Chichen Itza. Albers took photos of everything from the landscape to shrines and monuments he encountered throughout the country; the resulting photo collages demonstrate his interest in geometric experimentation as seen through the influence of pre-Columbian art. The museum’s airy, somewhat stark interior is a perfect foil for both the photos and the rich, colorful geometric shapes. Wander through, and then wander through again. This one’s a treat.
(2/16-5/20) To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, the New-York Historical Society presents an exhibition of photographs and artifacts honoring these visionary leaders who irrevocably changed the United States. Rebel Spirits: Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. showcases approximately 60 photographs and 30 documents and artifacts that uncover the relationship between these historic figures.
COMEDY
(Ongoing) Catch the latest and funniest on the comic strip at the LOL Times Square Comedy Club. Use promo code CITYGUIDE for 50% off tickets!
KIDS
Enterprise photo by Svetlana Jovanovic.
(2/18-2/24) The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum hosts its annual Kids Week, this year exploring the theme “Science Is Everywhere.” Kids will learn how to look for science in their favorite places, from the basketball court to the backyard, discovering how science intersects with art, sports, games, and nature. Fun-filled activities, performances, and visits from special guests take place all week long, suited to curious kids of all ages and interests. All Kids Week activities are free with museum admission.
(2/20-2/28) Celebrate Black History Month: Focus on African Arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Look closely at landmark masterpieces that encompass a millennium of art in a variety of media, ranging from the ubiquitous wood to humble clay, precious ivory, and refined beadwork. Discover the endless creativity and talent of African artists.
For more kids activities, check out our sister site nymetroparents.com!
SIGHTSEEING
(Now-2/25) There’s only one tallest. Only one strongest. And only one destination selected as the Best New Attraction in the World. These superlatives belong to One World Trade Center, and its pinnacle, the One World Observatory, rising over 100 stories in the sky. Catch 360° sights of the city and beyond, from the rivers to the harbor, and from the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building. During Presidents Day vacation week, One World Observatory will be offering a special discounted Two Pack and Family Four Pack. Tickets can be purchased here; use discount code WINTER.
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
(2/23-2/24) Enjoy live music with The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music at The Parlour at Society Cafe Friday and Saturday nights. This Saturday, it's Alyssa McDoom with piano accompaniment by Clifford Cameron.
PLUS
(2/22, 3/1) Best Brews of NYC at Brookfield Place New York. Enjoy the best breweries from the 5 NYC boroughs as the Winter Garden transforms into a Winter Biergarten with new brews featured on tap each week! The People's Choice winner will be decided by the event's attendees, and the Juror's Choice winner will be determined by a panel comprised of a few of NYC's most notable beer connoisseurs, including Anne Becerra (the first woman in New York City to become a Certified Cicerone) and Josh Bernstein.
(2/21) Back to Black Amy Winehouse Tribute: Featuring Remember Jones and 15 Piece Orchestra at Brooklyn Bowl.
(2/21, 2/28, 3/7) Parks and Recreation Bingo at Videology.
(2/21) Funk You at House of Yes.
(2/22) Rachael Yamagata at City Winery.
(2/24) Bananarama at Play Station Theater (original lineup!).
(Now-4/26) Ecstatic Music Festival at Kaufman Center.
(Ongoing) Listen to the hottest new talent out of Nashville at Opry City Stage!
For information on LGBT nightlife, visit our brother site metrosource.com!
SNEAK PEEK, NEXT WEEK
David Bowie as alt-ego Aladdin Sane, on the cover of the album of the same name, photographed in 1973 by Brian Duffy.
(3/2-7/15) On stage, he was Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, and The Thin White Duke. David Bowie, the beloved English singer/New York transplant who sang about “Changes” and is revered for perpetually changing his sound and look over a five decades-plus career, is being celebrated in David Bowie is, a major exhibition that is making its final stop at the Brooklyn Museum. This first-ever Bowie retrospective includes 300+ significant objects from Bowie’s teens to his death in 2016, including handwritten lyrics, diary entries, photography, set designs, album artwork, and rare performance material, with many items exclusive to the Brooklyn Museum presentation. More than 60 stage costumes are on display. Advanced sound technology, alongside theatrical scene–setting, animation, and video, provides an immersive journey through Bowie’s formative artistic experiences.
PLUS
(3/3-4/22) The Orchid Show celebrates its 16th year at the New York Botanical Garden with a showcase of thousands of dramatically displayed orchids in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. This year's show features a series of installations crafted by Daniel Ost—each a living sculpture that celebrates the complex beauty of these stunning flowers. One of the world’s leading floral designers, Ost uses flowers as a means of expression. His artistic creations will be tailored to the unique environment of the landmark Victorian-style Conservatory, complementing the architecture of the building while creating a transformative, dazzling spectacle of color, form, and texture. Orchids of seemingly every conceivable shape and provenance from the Garden’s collections as well as from some of the finest growers in the world, including rare and iconic specimens, will be on display. During Orchid Evenings throughout the run of the exhibition, experience music, tours, and special performances, while cash bars will offer beer, wine, and cocktails for purchase. nybg.org
(3/2-3/3) Howard Jones Solo: The Songs and the Stories at City Winery.
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