Things to do on a Sunday in New York

No matter which side of it you fall on, the most festive drinking event in Gotham has to be SantaCon NYC. This major, mid-December celebration brings thousands of folks dressed up in red suits, elf hats and antlers to midtown bars for a daylong celebration.  

Hordes dress up for this boozy crawl on Saturday, December 13, from 10am-8pm, across Midtown. We've got the scoop on how to get in on the fun—or how to stay away from it.

Jazzukkah is back this Hanukkah season for its third annual concert in New York City on Sunday, December 14 at Greenwich Village's Groove. 

The Jazzukkah Projects is an ensemble of musicians putting a "jazz, er, spin" on the beloved canon of holiday music. From "Maoz Tzur" to "Sevivon," their fresh arrangements blend swing, soul and celebration—made for audiences of all ages to enjoy. This year, the band features vocals from Elana Rozenfeld, Gilad Abro on the bass, Alon Benjamini on the drums and Itamar Dahan playing the keys, all led by producer Gil Shefler. 

Jazzukah will have 11am and 1pm showtimes on December 14 at Groove (125 MacDougal Street). Tickets are on sale now for $25.95 per person. 

Two massive menorahs light up each year to celebrate Hanukkah in NYC, one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn.

Manhattan

Find the world's largest Hanukkah menorah in Manhattan's Grand Army Plaza at 59th Street (across from the Plaza Hotel) for all eight days of the Festival of Lights. The giant menorah will be lit after sunset every night of Hanukkah. Each day, a new candle will sparkle until all eight of them are lit on the last night of the holiday. 

Brooklyn

Those in Brooklyn can enjoy the borough's largest menorah, which will be set up in Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza, right outside Prospect Park. In true Brooklyn style, this menorah lighting opens with an official Hanukkah kickoff concert at 4pm on Sunday, December 14. Free latkes will be on offer, as will gifts for children, every night of the holiday. 

Started originally by ornithologist Frank Chapman as an alternative to the then-customary holiday bird hunt, the Christmas Bird Count is now the longest-running community science bird project in the country. There are counts at nearly 3,000 locations across the country, including one of the most well-known and historic counts, happening at Central Park on December 14.

This family-friendly and welcoming event offers a unique opportunity for participants, from bird lovers to those totally new to birding, to contribute to bird conservation efforts while enjoying nature and the beauty of one of New York City's most iconic locations. Data collected by participants over the years help ornithologists and conservation biologists study long-term bird populations and decide what conservation action is required to protect birds and the places they need. 

You can register to participate or volunteer for any of the two dozen counts happening around NYC here. 

For the first time ever, Red Hook is joining in on the holiday fun with the Red Hook Design Holiday Market on Saturday, December 13. Head to Strong Rope Brewery for a truly local holiday shopping experience from the Red Hook Design community. 

The one-day-only market will bring together a vibrant collection of artisans, craftspeople and fabricators from the neighborhood. Shop an array of thoughtfully crafted and unique gifts such as neon art, handcrafted darts, stunning sconces and much more. Enjoy your shopping alongside locally brewed beers and a lively atmosphere. 

You can also support the Red Hook community by donating to the Red Hook Fire Relief Fund, or buy three market gifts to get a free spin on the “Saw of Fortune” to win a mystery gift, beer, or even a lump of coal. 

The holiday market will be open only on December 13 from 12pm-7pm at Strong Rope Brewery in Red Hook (185 Van Dyke Street). 

Can you spell F-U-N? The Upright Citizen's Brigade is combining their typical comedy with the high-pressure gaming format of a spelling bee in "Spell Checc: A Spelling Bee Gameshow!" on Sunday, December 14 at 7pm.

Featuring Kevin McHale, Leana Rae Concepcion, Jeremy Culhane, Michael Sanky, Jorge Oyola and more, these comedians will compete to spell tough words with the possibility of gaining or losing them if they make other contestants or the announcer laugh. Each round will increase in difficulty and hilarity.

Be sure to stop by The Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Theater on 242 E 14th St. in the East Village to cheer on New York's funniest spellers.

Kids are welcome at this staging of the Mozart classic. It’s the perfect starter opera: Performed in English, this abridged version by Julie Taymor, the Tony Award–winning director of Broadway’s The Lion King, clocks in at less than two hours and features delightful costumes and sets, but it’s still a Met Opera production with some of the world’s finest performers.

If you want an extra special peek behind the curtain, mark your calendar for December 14 when families with tickets to the matinee performance are invited to experience the Met’s immersive Holiday Open House, with festive behind-the-scenes demonstrations by members of the Met’s backstage and artistic staff.

Sure, you've heard of wine pairings. But what about books and burlesque pairings?

During this holiday-themed show at Caveat on Saturday, December 13, award-winning authors will read excerpts from their new books. Then, a burlesque or drag performer will present a spectacular new act they created that was inspired by the book pairing. 

This literary evening of "lore and allure" boasts an excellent lineup featuring: Eshani Surya's debut novel Ravishing paired with a performance by Queensinera; debut novel The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes as interpreted by Professor M.; a perfomance by Trinity Starlight coupled with Lauren Morrow's debut novel Little Movements; a reading of Elissa Altman's nonfiction book Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create paired with Fancy Feast; and Calamity Chang's take on Peter J. Kim's Instant Ramen Kitchen cookbook. The show's produced and hosted by Fortune Cookie.

Local bookstore Book Club Bar (197 East 3rd Street) will sell signed copies of all the books featured at the show.

Time Out tip: Tickets go fast for this show, but if it sells out, there will be a waitlist at the door. There's also a livestream option.

New York nightlife personality and comedian Dominic Pupa—who you may know from his one-man shows like Gypsies, Tramps & Me, Cherstruck and Surprising No One—returns to The Cutting Room (44 E 32d St) with his annual holiday show, Dom We Now Our Gay Apparel.

Expect "pop culture roasting with holiday music parodies that will ruin the Christmas classics for you forever." Touring cities like Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, this spunky and spirited show will make its way to New York City on Saturday, December 13. 

If you're equal parts sugar fiend and architecture junkie, we may have just found your dream holiday destination. The Gingerbread City is bringing its winter magic and sweetness back to the Seaport for a free display from December 5–28 at 19 Fulton Street.

It's created by over 100 New York-based architects, engineers and designers, so you know these gingerbread creations are going to be immaculate. Expect to see city parks, brownstones and skyscrapers created out of cookies, icing and candy. Plus, there's a chance to learn how to make your own gingerbread creations.