During the winter, it often takes a special event to entice many of us out of our comfortable homes. In New York, there is no shortage of events worthy of braving the cold. Highlights of the season include captivating art exhibitions, culinary delights, performances, and exciting sports rivalries.
Now through March 2 | Todd Haimes Theatre
After premiering with the Atlantic Theater Company, Knud Adams directs this Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy set in an Iranian classroom of adult English-language students. During the course of their lessons, the characters reveal their dreams, frustrations and secrets. Starring Tala Ashe, Pooya Mohseni, Hadi Tabbal, Ava Lalezarzadeh, and Marjan Neshat.
Previews begin February 15 | John Golden Theatre
Set in 1943, Operation Mincemeat tells the improbable, hilarious, and true story of a covert operation in World War II to use a corpse to pass incorrect war secrets to the Germans. The story has been seen before, including a 2021 film, butemixing and reconceptualizing this absurd but true story is part of the fun. The theatrical show comes from comedy group SpitLip. Following a successful run in London, the new Broadway production will be the first outside of Britain with the original cast of David Cumming, Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, Jak Malone, and Zoë Roberts set to reprise their roles.
February 19 to 23 | LOOK Cinemas, 657 W 57th Street
Featuring emerging filmmakers from around the world across all genres including short films, narrative fiction, documentary, animation, horror and more, the 87 films highlight diversity and underrepresented artists. Half of the films were created by women. Filmmakers come from more than 20 countries, and include 16 student films and 26 first-time filmmakers. In addition to Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, there are parties, meetups, education sessions, and workshops, many of which are free to attend.
February 19 to 23 | Hilton Midtown
The New York Dance Festival is a competition and spectator event. The festival brings world-class, international adjudicators to assess the dance technique of amateur, professional, junior, and youth dance competitors. There’s also a dance camp featuring leading professional dancers across all styles, and custom-curated music selection for both competitions and camp dances. Whether you’re a competitor or just interested in watching ballroom and latin dance moves, the New York Dance Festival is the place to boogie.
February 19 to March 3 | NYC Ballet
The mythical tale of a lovelorn prince under the spell of a swan, and a romantic tragedy for the ages. Swan Lake was Tschaikovsky’s first ballet score, commissioned in 1875 by the Moscow Imperial theater. This full-length production is based on 1999 choreography of Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins, with some choreography inspired by George Balanchine’s one-act version.
Previews begin March 10 | Palace Theatre
Kieran Culkin stars along with Bill Burr and Bob Denkirk for a limited 12-week run. The original 1983 play, written by David Mamet, won a Pulitzer Prize. It depicts four Chicago realtors over the course of two days as they engage in unethical and illegal scams. This is the show’s third revival on Broadway.
March 4 to 9 | Various Venues, Lower East Side
Featuring 150 emerging artists from across the globe across a mix of indie, folk, electro pop music, and more. The showcase is about discovery, so many of the bands may not have big followings – yet. The event is often attended by industry insiders, and so it’s a great time to find the next new sound, and has been compared to SxSW for New York City.
March 6 to 9 | New York City Center
For two decades, the Flamenco Festival has brought Spain’s celebrated dancers to New York. Flamenco is based on folklore traditions in southern Spain, and the oldest Flamenco music dates to 1774. This year’s festival features Alfonso Losa & Patricia Guerrero, Compañía Manuel Liñán, and Eva Yerbabuena.
Previews Begin March 11 | Broadhurst Theatre
Max Fleischer’s 1930s-era cartoon comes to life in this new, family-friendly musical. Betty dreams of an ordinary day off from her celebrity-driven black-and-white world and finds an adventure in New York City. Book by Bob Martin, music by David Foster, and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead.
Previews Begin March 11 | Imperial Theatre
Based on the two-season television series, Smash is a comedy about a musical. The show is a behind-the-scenes story about the making of a Marilyn Monroe musical called Bombshell. The score is from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittmam, with book by Rick Elice and Bob Martin.
On view now through April | Guggenheim
A collection of Piet Mondrian’s paintings and drawings from the Guggenheim’s collection, the exhibition showcases works in his signature style. The show is curated by Mariët Westermann as part of the Collection in Focus series, highlighting the museum’s permanent collection.
January 23 to March 22 | Gagosian
Featuring paintings, sculpture, and other works by Cy Twombly in association with the Cy Twombly Foundation, with pieces from 1968 through 1990.
Opening January 24 | The Morgan Library & Museum
The exhibition examines the medieval view of the world, from Marco Polo’s explorative trade mission to the encyclopedias of Pliny and Isidore. Drawing from The Book of Marvels of the World, a 15th century illustrated text depicting the people, customs, and natural phenomena from around the globe, through the eyes of the medieval author.
Opening January 31 | New York Historical Society
Arlene Gottfried was a New York City street photographer, born in Brooklyn and later based in Alphabet City. She started her career with a 35mm camera at Woodstock, and became known for intimate portraits of people in the city. She passed away in 2017, and the upcoming show will display 30 works from her collection, recently acquired by NYHS.
Opening February 8 | The Metropolitan Museum of Art
European landscape painter Casper David Friedrich was known for his haunting spiritual depictions of landscapes. The exhibition marks the 250th anniversary of his birth, and offers the first comprehensive exhibition dedicated to him in the United States.
Opening February 14 | Museum of Food and Drink
Understand how the flavor of food impacts our experiences with it. Designed and curated by food scientists, the exhibition offers a sensory journey where visitors can explore how flavor is designed to influence our perception of food, including both natural and artificial flavors.
Opening February 26 | Brooklyn Museum
Celebrating the two-century legacy of the museum, the show highlights transformational artworks and archival materials, pieces by now well-established artists, and contemporary artists working today in Brooklyn.
Opening February 28 | The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The exhibition examines 12th through 19th century Chinese bronze sculptures, and celebrates the revival of bronze casting from the period. The show includes both important works of bronze and works in other mediums to complement the collection, including painting, calligraphy, ceramics, lacquers, and jades. Loaned works from institutions in China, Japan, Korea, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom augment the collection.
Closing March 9 | Guggenheim
Don’t miss your last chance to view the 90 artworks in the museum’s iconic rotunda examining Orphism, a style that emerged in the 1910s. Orphism engages with the transformative possibilities of color, form, and motion, and the show includes works from Marcel Duchamp, Mainie Jellett, František Kupka, Francis Picabia, and more.
March 19 to 23 | Metropolitan Pavilion
View, and buy, artworks from contemporary artists ranging in price from $100 to $12,000. The event has grown in popularity as the price point of the available art is a “sweet spot” for new collectors and investors looking to discover sleeper hits.
February 6 to February 11 | Various Locations
The twice-yearly fashion defining shows highlight the latest trends, but securing your invitation isn’t always easy. Designers, sponsors, and occasionally lifestyle credit card concierge services can often help accessing shows.
Opening February 15 | New York Botanical Garden
Thousands of flowers will be on display showing off orchids in lush landscapes and highlighting the diverse ecosystems of Mexico. The show draws inspiration from architect Luis Barragán. On select Saturday nights, a 21+ crowd can enjoy music, dancing, and a cash bar.
February 14 to 17 | Park Avenue Armory
The largest installation of Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree in North America, the event will include a grove of 92 trees installed to honor Ono’s 92nd birthday. The installation is part of the Making Space series of public programs, tracing Ono’s radical approach to art, language and participation in activism.
February 11 | The Town Hall
Kelsey McKinney presents her new book, You Didn’t Hear This From Me: (Mostly) True Notes on Gossip, as she steps down from her hosting chair. McKinney is a writer and soon-to-be-former co-host of the hit podcast Normal Gossip. In her new book, McKinney explores questions of why people are entitled to celebrity gossip, what gossip even is, and the fluidity of truth.
March 1 | Downtown Manhattan
Enjoy eight Irish whiskies at eight downtown bars. The charitable event hosts walks in D.C. and Philly as well, with a portion of proceeds going to a local nonprofit. It’s an easy way to enjoy a variety of Irish whiskies, with no pressure to finish all the shots. The bars also serve food specials for anyone who needs a snack along the way.
March 8 | 630 SECOND
Now in its 13th year, the event features more than 100 wines and craft beverages with selections from across the globe. Organized by professional sommeliers, the festival features wines from France, Italy, South Africa, California, Chile, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, New Zealand, and more, as well as a local selection of the best New York State wines. Select food vendors will have small plates for sale.
March 21 to 23 | Javits Center
Chocolate lovers will find everything from tastings to chocolate sculptures. In the bean-to-bar section, in-depth seminars will take visitors on a step-by-step process as raw cocoa is transformed into edible chocolate bars. The kids zone allows kids to decorate truffles, explore chocolate stories, and cocoa butter art workshops, along with face painting and other entertainment.
Winter Indoor Fun
Various Locations
Winter is the perfect time for indoor fun. If you have a spare moment, you won’t strike out bowling at the Gutter with locations in the Lower East Side, Williamsburg, and Long Island City. Prefer to bowl with a French accent? At Carreau Club, indoor pétanque courts will keep you busy. And you don’t have to retire to Florida for shuffleboard, where you can play at Royal Palms in Brooklyn. If you prefer games with paddles, there’s indoor Hell’s Kitchen Pickleball Club, Spin for ping pong, or Padel Haus, a Mexican racket sport. And of course NYC Parks has indoor tennis. Or if you feel the need for speed, there’s indoor roller skating at Xanadu in Bushwick and All Night Skates in BedStuy.
Make it a Spa Day
Various Locations
The cold this winter doesn’t deter the crowds at the rooftop hot tubs at Spa Castle, the famed day spa in Flushing, Queens where customers will find saunas, hydrotherapy pools, and lounges, open outdoors even in the light snow. For a more old-school experience, check out the Russian & Turkish Baths, with saunas, steam rooms, a cold plunge pool, a roof deck, and restaurant. Feuding owners Boris and David have different rules, so keep that in mind when booking your day, as they solved their problems by splitting their shifts. For a more modern approach, check out Bathhouse in Williamsburg or the Flatiron, with pools of varying temperatures, dry heat, and steam rooms.
February 16 | Chinatown
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with firecrackers and costumed dancers. Chinatown becomes a lively destination during the Lunar New Year celebrations with roving lions and dragons blessing businesses and stores. Confetti blows in the wind and firecrackers and fireworks are shot off around the neighborhood. Large crowds fill the narrow streets, so expect long wait times at the Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood. Flushing, Queens also typically marks the Lunar New Year with street celebrations on their own schedule.
February 21 | Soundview Park
The New York City Parks department celebrates winter with games, kid-friendly activities, winter sports, and more. The free event is open to the public, though in past years has been cancelled due to weather.
March 12 to 15 | Madison Square Garden
Regional college basketball teams from the Big East conference descend on the city for the high stakes tournament. The tournament kicks off with a tripleheader, and wraps up with the title game on the evening of March 15. (The Women’s Big East Conference basketball is played March 7 to 10 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut).
March 17 | Fifth Avenue
The 264th celebration of St. Patrick’s Day will march down Fifth Avenue featuring mayoral hopefuls, police marching bands, and bagpipes. Viewing the parade along Fifth Avenue is free, but to access the grandstands, a ticket is required, and are offered first-come-first-served through the organization’s website.
March 27 | Yankee Stadium
The home opener at Yankee Stadium is March 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The first subway series against the Mets will begin May 16. The Mets open in Houston, with their first home game at Citi Field on April 4 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
