15 Things To Do In NYC This Winter
by Jessica MontevagoWith the holidays over and temperatures dipping below freezing, it can be hard for tourists coming to the Big Apple during the winter months. But, there are still a slew of activities you can suggest to your client – or do yourself – in the city beyond the standard trip to Times Square.
1. Take in a night of jazz with the Winter Jazzfest Marathon (Jan. 6 and 7). Hop from venue to venue in Lower Manhattan to see musicians coming together for the festival in its 13th year.
2. Climb a 30-foot replica of the Brooklyn Bridge at Brooklyn Boulders. The rock-climbing gym has more than 18,000 square feet of bouldering and climbing walls.
3. Get two-for-one priced tickets to hit shows like Wicked, The Lion King and Cats during Broadway Week (Jan. 17–Feb. 5).
4. Enjoy discounted meals at more than 300 eateries across the city during Restaurant Week (Jan. 23–Feb. 10).
5. Embrace the cold and go ice skating at Central Park’s Wollman Rink, the Rink at Rockefeller Center or the Winter Village at Bryant Park.
6. See a retrospective of the works of Georgia O’Keeffe at the Brooklyn Museum. Her drawings, paintings and clothing will be on display at the Georgia O’Keeffe: Living Modern exhibit (begins March 3).
7. Thailand is the theme of this year’s installment of New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show, where thousands of blooms will be on display, as well as musical entertainment, lectures and guided tours (Feb. 18 to April 9).
8. Dog lovers can attend the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, showcasing 3,000 dogs in the various competitions (Feb. 13 and 14).
9. Welcome the Year of the Rooster at Chinatown’s annual Lunar New Year parade and festival (Feb. 5).
10. Catch a film at the New York Jewish Film Festival. This year’s event at the Lincoln Center includes a tribute to actress and cabaret artist Valeska Gert, a screening of Mel Brooks’s The Producers and an exhibition honoring the life and work of Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder (Jan. 11-24).
11. Watch ice-carving artists create a sculpture out of 6,000 pounds of ice using chain saws, chisels, and picks. Later that night, the Ice Festival at Central Park will turn into a silent disco with three DJs (Feb. 11).
12. Go snowshoeing, sledding or skiing right in Central Park at Winter Jam: NYC’s Ultimate Snow Day. The free winter sports festival includes free rentals and lessons (Jan. 28).
13. Head to the Paley Center to watch your favorite TV shows on the big screen for free, from noon to four on Saturdays and Sundays. January’s theme is family-friendly musical adventure; February is all about Valentine’s Day and March is inspired by girl power.
14. Sip on some vino at the 8th annual NYC Winter Wine Festival at the PlayStation Theater in Times Square. The event offers over 250 wines from around the globe and samplings of artisan food including oils, dips, chocolates, charcuterie, baked items, cheese and other specialty foods (Feb. 4).
15. Dive into the vast private archives of the Rolling Stones for Exhibitionism, an immersive and interactive experience that spans the band’s 50-year-plus career.
