101 things to do in the winter in New York City 2012
The coldest months are a time for comfort food, warm drinks and indoor pursuits. Find these and more with our rundown of the best things to do in the winter.
Sat Dec 1 2012
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Photograph: Caroline Voagen Nelson
101 things to do in the winter in New York City 2012
81. Warm your cockles by a fireplace
Pictured: Union Hall
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101 things to do in the winter in New York City 2012
82. Check out a rebooted New York City Beer Week
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© 2012 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS)
101 things to do in the winter in New York City 2012
83. Follow Matisse on a search for true painting
Pictured: Henri Matisse, The Large Blue Dress
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Photograph: Richard Saunier
101 things to do in the winter in New York City 2012
84. See musical collaborations at the Ecstatic Music Festival
Pictured: Deerhoof
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Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher
101 things to do in the winter in New York City 2012
85. Heat up (and see adorable animals) at Central Park Zoo
Pictured: A tamandua in the Tropic Zone
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Photograph: Taso Hountas
101 things to do in the winter in New York City 2012
86. Head to the rodeo in Midtown
Pictured: The Professional Bull Riders's Monster Energy Invitational
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Photograph: Mindy Tucker
87. Welcome newborn jokes into the world
Pictured: 50 First Jokes
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Photograph: Paul Wagtouicz
101 things to do in the winter in New York City 2012
88. Celebrate Hanukkah with eight nights of Yo La Tengo
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Photograph: Robert Benson
101 things to do in the winter in New York City 2012
89. See the city in miniature at the New York Botanical Garden
Pictured: Holiday Train Show
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101 things to do in the winter in New York City 2012
90. Party like Truman Capote at the Black and White Masked Ball
Warm your cockles by a fireplace
- Critics choice
New Yorkers are a tough breed, but when the winter chill really sets in, you’re bound to see bargoers flock to a few specific NYC bars—namely, those with fireplaces. We like cotching in the plush couch near Union Hall's flickering stone fireplace sipping a a hot Irish Nut (Bailey’s, amaretto coffee; $10). See your options with our round up of bars with fireplaces.
Check out a rebooted New York City Beer Week
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
The fifth annual celebration of craft suds, now under the auspices of the recently formed New York City Brewers Guild, is shaping up to be more ambitious than ever. Organizers are aiming for more than 300 events across 150 venues and three big-ticket blowouts: an opening-night shindig (location, time and price TBA; Feb 22); a Brewers’ Choice awards ceremony at City Winery (Feb 27, $TBA); and a closing party in Brooklyn (location, time and price TBA; Mar 3). Look out for announcements on nycbrewersguild.com at the end of November.
- Location TBA
- Sun Mar 3
Follow Matisse on a search for true painting
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
The Met's show "Mattise: In Search of True Painting" delves into the working methods of the greatest colorist of modern art by presenting works featuring themes Matisse returned to again and again, creating them as pairs or in triplicate or even as entire series. It was all in an effort to push the boundaries of his art towards what he described as the "true" essence of painting.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Ave, at 82nd St
- Sun Mar 17
See musical collaborations at the Ecstatic Music Festival
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
Curated by New Amsterdam Records’ Judd Greenstein, this third annual two-month series showcases genre-defying collaborations between scores of artists riding the cusp of the classical, pop and indie-label scenes. Songstress Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) opens the proceedings with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus at New York Public Radio’s the Greene Space (44 Charlton St at Varick St; 646-829-4400, thegreenespace.org). The fun continues back at the fest’s home base, Merkin Concert Hall, with category-crossing acts like noise rockers Deerhoof and Chicago-based contemporary ensemble Dal Niente, who pair up with composer Marcos Balter on Feb 20. The full lineup will be announced in the last week of November. 212-501-3330, ecstaticmusicfestival.com. Dates and times vary; $25, festival pass $150.
- 129 W 67th St, (between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave)
Heat up (and see adorable animals) at Central Park Zoo
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
We're cold-blooded types, who enjoy nothing more than basking in the sun on a rock. Since this isn't possible in winter we like to warm our bones in Central Park Zoo's Tropic Zone, a balmy, rainforest-like environment. Head inside, wait until you can feel your toes, then wander along the raised platform, looking down to spot floor-dwelling mammals like mouse deer and up to see the zoo's tropical bird collection (that includes scarlet Ibis and a victoria crowned pigeon) roaming free above you. Also scan the trees for tamandua and the shy toe-toed sloths that hang out in the branches.
- Southeast corner of Central Park,, (enter at Fifth Ave at 64th St)
Head to the rodeo in Midtown
- Critics choice
Escape the chilly weather with some Southern-style, yee-haw-worthy fun in midtown. The Professional Bull Riders organization kicks off its 2013 tour with the Monster Energy Invitational, a three-day stint at the Garden. Don a cowboy hat and cheer on 40 ace studs as they attempt to stay atop bucking bovines—which can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds—for more than eight seconds.
- Madison Square Garden 4 Pennsylvania Plaza (Seventh Ave), between 31st and 33rd Sts
- Until Sun Jan 6
Welcome newborn jokes into the world
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
Each year in early January, John F. O'Donnell invites 50 of his favorite comics to present their first new joke of the year. It's a meet-and-greet for some of the city's best young comics and though more than a few jokes come off as a bit too polished, those that play by the rules allow the crowd a peek behind the curtain during the writing process.
- The Bell House 149 7th St, between Second and Third Aves
- Until Fri Jan 4
See the city in miniature at the New York Botanical Garden
- Critics choice
In NYBG's wildly popular Holiday Train Show diorama, more than a dozen model railway trains traverse an incredibly detailed New York City scene, including such landmarks as the Empire State Building and Radio City Music Hall, made of natural materials such as leaves, twigs, bark and berries.
- New York Botanical Garden Bronx River Pkwy, at Fordham Rd
- Sat Jan 12 - Sun Jan 13
Party like Truman Capote at the Black and White Masked Ball
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
Party throwers par excellence Gemini & Scorpio riff on Truman Capote's legendary 1966 masquerade, adding a dash of daring with aerialists, a soupçon of swing music and, via a bevy of burlesque artists, a pinch of bottom to the writer's original recipe. Thankfully, free-flowing champagne remains (for the first hour). Don't think that this update means you can arrive in your modern duds; formal, ideally elaborate, dress will help to guarantee a swift entrance (although ragamuffins cam wait until after 2am, when the dress code relaxes). Visit geminiandscorpio.com for more information. Advance tickets available at bwball.brownpapertickets.com.
- Irondale Center 85 S Oxford St, between Fulton St and Lafayette Ave
- Until Tue Jan 1
