Stuff to Do

AllNY.com's look at things to do in NYC written by New Yorkers for New Yorkers and serious New York tourists.

Celebrate International Women’s Day at the Women’s Travel Fest – Mar. 9-11

Just in time to celebrate International Women’s Day, the Women’s Travel Fest returns to New York City with a terrific line-up of programming and networking opportunities.

Women's Travel Fest 2018

The Fest kicks off with a networking pre-party downtown at The DL, 95 Delancey Street, on Friday March 9 at 7pm.

The full line-up of seminars takes place over two days, on Saturday March 10 and Sunday March 11. Speakers from a wide array of travel-related disciplines will share their knowledge with attendees over the course of the Fest which takes place at the Angel Orensanz event space on 172 Norfolk Street, New York City.

Saturday programming begins at 10am with an introduction by Kelly Lewis, founder of the Women’s Travel Fest and Go! Girl Guides.

Other Saturday highlights include:  Learning how to use points and miles to travel free.  This session is followed by a panel on sexism in travel with Kae Lani Kennedy of USA Today, Nikki Vargas, and Lilit Marcus of CNN.

The Saturday program concludes with a session on following your dream and a panel about adventure travel with three speakers known for their expertise in adventure, Allison Fleece and Danielle Thornton of WHOA, and Kathleen Rellihan of Adventure.com.

Networking continues into the early evening with an after-party on Saturday evening.

The closing day begins with a key note by Oneika Raymond, host of two Travel Channel series, “Big City, Little Budget” and “One Bag and You’re Out.”

Professional development sessions follow with a focus on how to work with brands, led by Kristen Sarah, travel videographer and YouTube video creator.  A session on the best apps and gear for travel will help travelers get the most out of their travel experience. For those interested in travel writing, the afternoon workshop, led by Anneliese Sorensen, will help you hone your storytelling skills.

Travel as it relates to volunteering is also explored in a session about volunteering while traveling abroad.

Purchase tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-travel-fest-2018-tickets-39851671422?aff=es2#tickets.  For more information, http://womenstravelfest.com/schedule/.

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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It’s an Indoor Block Party in the Meatpacking District – March 8

Love Downtown? Here’s a delicious event to put on your calendar.  The Meatpacking District Business Improvement District will be holding their annual ‘indoor block party’ and fundraiser, Open Market, at Highline Stages, 441 West 14th Street, New York City on March 8, 2018 from 6:30pm – 10:30pm to celebrate the local business community.

The event is all about shopping, dining  drinking and community… all under one booth.  Open Market raises funds that go towards the sanitation and beautification of the Meatpacking District.

By Beyond My Ken - Own work, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12417702

You can expect 25+ area restaurants and bars, sample sale shopping from high-end retailers, entry into the silent auction, and music by Coco and Breezy.  Fashionistas can purchase VIP tickets offer early access to shop the sample sales, an exclusive hospitality experience by SoHo House, a buy-it-now option for the silent auction, a gift bag filled will brand products, and guaranteed access to the VIP after party at TAO Downtown.

Four area VIPs serve as co-chairs for Open Market: Diane von Furstenberg, Founder and Co-Chairman of DVF; Andrew Rosen, Founder and CEO of Theory; Gary Kline, Co-Owner and CEO of Highline Stages; and Mazdack Rassi, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Milk. In addition, they will be joined by a host committee that includes a who’s who of the Meatpacking District and its supporters.

Participants include:

TAO Downtown

Food & Drink: L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Santina, Corkbuzz, Megu, Sixpoint, The Standard Biergarten, Bagatelle, Bodega Negra, Fig & Olive, Catch, La Sirena, TAO Downtown, Sherry B Dessert Studio, SoHo House, Bubby’s, STK Downtown and more!

Fashion & Retail: Theory, Rag & Bone, DVF, Alice & Olivia, Helmut Lang, Lilla P, The Kooples, Trina Turk/Mr Turk and more!

Technology & Lifestyle: Samsung, Lexus, Caudalie, Kikkerland, Chelsea Market Baskets, and more

General Admission tickets are $150 and include a $25 shopping credit value during Open Market. VIP tickets are available for $350 and include a $50 shopping credit. For tickets, openmarketnyc.com

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Celebrate Chinese New Year: Where to Dine for Good Luck and Prosperity during the Year of the Dog

The Year of the Dog celebrates the return of spring and the beginning of the Chinese New Year.  This is a festival of unity, a way for friends and family to come together to enjoy traditions that will bring good fortune for the coming year. 2018 celebrates the dog, a symbol of loyalty and honesty, as we breathe some optimism into the days ahead. Unlike one-night New Year’s celebrations, Chinese New Year is celebrated for two weeks, through March 2 so you have plenty of time to enjoy. Here are some ways you can participate in this important holiday:

The sexiest celebration in New York City happens at Hakkasan in the Theater District. Kicked off by a lion dance on the first evening, the two weeks of the Chinese New Year are filled with special dinners and drinks.  For 2018, there is a $118 prix fixe menu (for a minimum of two guests) featuring the best of Hakkasan’s modern Cantonese signature dishes. Dishes have been selected for the cultural significance of their ingredients and their ability to portend good fortune. Baked Chilean sea bass with kumquat glaze will bring prosperity as eating fish at the New Year is said to increase wealth. Similarly, oysters, traditionally symbolizing fortune and good luck, are included in Szechuan oyster with lotus root and crispy rice in mantau.  Fat choy is an ingredient that means “to grow wealth” in Chinese and is found in the abalone fried rice in bean curd wrap with Chinese sausage and shiitake mushroom.

Hakkasan’s dinner also features a special Chinese New Year cocktail, the Good Fortune, made with Grey Goose Orange and fresh blood orange ice (oranges are traditionally given during the new year to symbolize good luck, happiness and abundance); five-spice pomegranate syrup, adding red to the drink, an important color of good luck, and the pomegranates to inspire fertility; satsuma godai; lime juice; and an orange peel rosette to add a touch of floral design, signifying rebirth and luck. Toast away!

A sweet finish is provided with Hakkasan’s reimagined fortune cookie, the macartune, which has 88 (8 represents prosperity in Chinese tradition) New York-centric fortunes written by author Jay McInerney like “Your train will arrive on time and there will be a seat available” (happy) or “A new skyscraper is being built next door to your building and your view is about to disappear” (sad). The writer of “Bright Lights, Big City” and Hakkasan  Executive Pastry Chef Alexander Zecena have imagined the vanilla-flavored cooked as a riff on New York’s beloved black and white, with one half coated in chocolate and then stamped with a red chocolate seal to symbolize good luck for the New Year.

Another tradition continues at Hakkasan, too, the annual wishing tree. Guests receive a red ribbon upon arrival on which they write their wishes. Ribbons are hung around the dining areas, a custom that is said to have begun hundreds of years ago in Hong Kong. In Lam Tsuen, Hong Kong, villagers would arrive to visit the secret Wishing Trees and hang notes on the branches with wishes for the year ahead.  Today, as yesterday, guests are encouraged to write their wishes with the hope that all written down will come true. www.hakkasan.com/newyork.

Little Tong Noodle Shop in the East Village pays homage to its Yunnanese roots with its first-ever 16-Day Chinese New Year Celebration.  The mixian menu here is enhanced with a special dish at both lunch and dinner such as Day 3’s goubull 18-fold dumplings and Day 16’s Yuan Xiao, a sweet sticky rice ball soup.  Each day represents a different celebration starting with the Celebration of the Chicken on February 16 with shaokao, fire-grilled chicken wings with gingko and the Celebration of the Dog on February 17 and finishing with the Celebration of the Dragon on March 1 when red snapper and dragon fruit slaw will be served. The grand finale happens on March 2, the Lantern Festival. www.littletong.com.

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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16 Sweet Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in New York City

Haven’t figured out what to do yet for Valentitne’s Day? Here are 16 intriguing ideas.

Make a Reservation

Rice & Gold, Dale Talde’s new restaurant in the Hotel 50 Bowery is offering a special Asian Fusion Valentine’s day pairing dinner. Mixing up Asian flavors with sweet treats, wine and specially curated cocktails, the dinner showcases the intriguing food combinations that fans have loved since chef’s first restaurant in Park Slope.   https://www.riceandgoldnyc.com/

Another Asian favorite has created a special off-menu Valentine’s Day evening. Mixian noodles, Little Tong Noodle Shop’s Yunnanese specialty, combine with choices like ghost chicken and beef tartare, all guaranteed to add significant spice to your palate and your evening.  For a sweet balance, the evening will finish with a special dessert and a glass of sake.  Three seatings only on Valentine’s Day.  https://www.littletong.com/

My vote for “bringing sexy back,” Zuma is offering three omakase options for Valentine’s Day, showing off their top-notch sushi and Japanese izakaya dishes. Diners will begin with a glass of Champagne and finish with a romantic surprise dessert.  If you’re one of the couples to book the restaurant’s three private rooms overlooking the main dining room, a private chef will create a very personalized experience with wine and sake pairings. Extend your night in one of the ultra-romantic booths in the lounge and listen to tunes spun by a live DJ.  https://www.zumarestaurant.com/zuma-landing/new-york/en/welcome

Passing through Grand Central Terminal? Agern, the Scandinavian import with noma heritage will give you reason to miss your train with a special red-toned menu for two (think: radishes, beef heart tartare, beets, blank currants and more).  http://agernrestaurant.com/

The iconic New York restaurant Gotham Bar and Grill will pair jazz by the Gabrielle Gorman Quartet with a special dinner on Valentine’s Day. As part of the romantic evening, the restaurant will offer two varieties of their signature house-made bonbons: a Taittinger Rose Bonbon made with Taittinger Champagne and the Chocolate Lovers’ Box, a selection of bonbons and housemade chocolate bars appropriately named “intense, ““passion,” and “wild” for Valentine’s Day. www.gothambarandgrill.com.

A retro favorite for the 21st century, The Empire Diner beckons with a special menu from Executive Chef Justin Nuebeck. The highlight of the Valentine’s Day evening is a 12-layer chocolate Sweetheart Cake complete with icing message (call ahead to have yours personalized). http://www.empire-diner.com/

Dessert also stars at newcomer DaDong with a special five-course menu with the restaurant’s acclaimed Peking duck, geoduck clams, and squid ink soup. Dessert is a chocolate heart dessert branded with “DaDong Loves You.” http://www.dadongny.com/

The Wayfarer, around the corner from Carnegie Hall, hits all the right romantic notes on Valentine’s Day with a special menu that includes foie gras, caviar, lobster, rack of lamb, and truffles.  For a sweet finish, three desserts with red highlights are offered: red velvet cake truffles, passionfruit Pavlova with red berry sorbet, and hazelnut chocolate mousse with strawberry coulis. http://www.thewayfarernyc.com/

Food and More

Nicoletta invites couples to a “Pizza Class for Lovers.” You’ll start with some Prosecco to get the inspiration following, followed by snacks, the class itself and then a pizza dinner with beer and wine. How fun is that!  http://nicolettapizza.com/new_york/

Want a broader selection of shareable cooking experiences for Valentine’s Day? The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) invites you to a Valentine’s Day Dinner Date where you can choose to learn to make an aphrodisiacal meal of grilled oysters, rack of lamb, molten chocolate cake and special swoon-worthy cocktails. https://recreational.ice.edu/Courses/Detail/16078

Perhaps you’re more in the mood for dinner and a “love” movie?  Check out the Nitehawk Cinema for their Love Series during the month of February. You’ll dine and cuddle at the same time. https://nitehawkcinema.com/williamsburg/film-series/love/

And Now for Something Completely Different

Opt to join the frenzy surrounding the second movie installment of the sexiest book series in recent years, “Fifty Shades Freed.” The Gregory Hotel is offering a “Fifty Shades of Gregory” package for Valentine’s evening for a staycation or escape with Champagne, streaming service via Google Chrome to watch the previous Fifty Shades of Grey, a signature Gregory Do Not Disturb tie to take home, Gregory candle by Apotheke to help set the mood, and a passion-inspiring handcuffs bracelet. “Mr. Gregory will see you now.” https://www.thegregoryhotelnewyork.com

The Shakespeare at The William brings Burlesque performer Rosie Cheeks to Manhattan in a dinner-show evening. The evening’s special tasting menu provides equally seductive moves with lobster, lamb, truffles and chocolate on the menu. https://www.theshakespearenyc.com/

Serious culture lovers should quickly book the after-hours Valentine Tours at MOMA, the Museum of Modern Art.  With two scheduled small group tours, you’ll begin your evening exploration of the museum with a candlelit wine reception and hors d’oeuvres or dessert, depending on the time slot selected. Hurry, these will book quickly. The museum will stay open just for you on this special evening. https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/4086

Theatrically, Sweeney Todd www.sweeneytoodnyc.comis where you want to be for Valentine’s Day. Special for the holiday, “Angels Above, Devils Below” cake will be served in the pie shop along with sparkling rose to toast your sweetie.  Don’t’ worry, you can still order a meat pie as well. www.sweeneytoodnyc.com.

Show your love to the world by renewing your vows in Times Square.  On the iconic red steps by the TKTS Booth at 47th Street, the open ceremony invites all lovers to come together on Valentine’s Day at 6pm.  The celebration of love is free to all. www.TimesSqu

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Where to Dine on Korean Food to Celebrate the 2018 Winter Olympics

With the 2018 Winter Olympics starting this week in Pyeongchang, South Korea, it’s a perfect time to explore Korean food and flavors without leaving New York City.

The newest Korean restaurant in Manhattan, Soogil, is a modern Korean spot in the East Village named after Chef/Owner Soogil Lim from South Korea. A CIA grad, Chef Soogil was the first Korean Sous Chef at Restaurant Daniel. Among Chef’s must-dry dishes at his eponymous restaurant are housemade tofu flan with shrimp, squid and manila clams in a spicy seafood broth made with dried herring and kombu stock poured tableside; shredded Brussels sprouts tossed with raisins, crushed peanuts, and topped with slices of pan-fried warm tofu and julienne of crispy seaweed; and pan-fried mung bean sprout pancakes served with a kimchi sprout salad. 108 East 4th St, NYC; 646-838-5524; https://www.soogil.com/

The wildly popular Baekjeong deserves its near-cult status with Korean BBQ elevated to the finest levels. Beef, short ribs, pork and more are served by attentive waiters who ensure that the meat is cooked properly and instruct about the proper combination of accompanying sauces, salts, egg, corn and cheese, kimchi and veggies. The atmosphere is festive and upscale, markedly different from the many Korean BBQ restaurants that line Koreatown. If you have a large party, you can make a reservation, but the best strategy to avoid lines is to come at lunchtime or after prime-time dinner – that shouldn’t be a problem as the restaurant stays open until the wee hours of the morning. 1 East 32nd St, 212-966-9839 http://baekjeongnyc.com/

If you’re commuting to the city, the Pennsy Food Hall above Penn Station will be your destination to watch the Olympics and enjoy some Korean cuisine. Pennsy vendor will be serving up tasty treats to enjoy while watching the games on one of the 14 TVs in the food hall.  Or, if you’re looking for something more interactive, Plaza33 will transition into the Olympic Village from February 12-15, 12Noon -3pm, hosting curling tournament and decorated with ski lodge décor straight out of South Korea.  To eat: at Pat LaFrieda, try the Korean-style sticky “short rib” sandwich,” a Korean inspiration topped with ginger-sesame aioli; or the Korean bipimbap “sushi style” at Sabi Sushi.  http://www.thepennsy.nyc

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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April is Autism Awareness Month – Lincoln Center’s Arts Program Offers Interactive and Educational Programs for Parents and Children — April 10-May 6

Here’s an arts program with a mission: from April 10-May 6, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ month-long program, the Big Umbrella Festival, is an international endeavor that brings together arts professionals and thought leaders, and offers performances and participatory workshops for children on the autism spectrum.

Special presentations will be offered by Lincoln Center’s resident organizations throughout the festival, including film screenings, concerts, and interactive music and dance workshops by The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Film Society of Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. In addition, workshops will be held to offer first-hand involvement in the arts. For a full schedule, BigUmbrellaFestival.org.

Highlights include:

Festival Kickoff events – April 14:

10:30 am, David Rubenstein Atrium:

Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Brady Rymer leads a whimsical Americana mashup, bringing his rootsy, accordion-laced pop and rock tunes to Lincoln Center for a relaxed Saturday morning show.

Actionplay Chorus
Made up of a group of young performers on the autism spectrum and led by music therapist Gabriel Lit, the Actionplay Chorus performs original music in professional settings. In recent years, the Actionplay Chorus has performed with Weird Al Yankovic on Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars, with the Greenwich Village Orchestra, and at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

Silent Clowns Film Screening
11am, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Bruno Walter Auditorium, Free

The Silent Clowns Film Series is NYC’s longest-running regularly scheduled showcase for classic silent film comedy, presenting the silent movies of Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, and others, with live musical accompaniment by renowned silent film composer Ben Model.

Very Young People’s Concert: “Make-Believe”
4pm, New York Philharmonic
Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse
Tickets $18

Musicians from the New York Philharmonic invite audiences on a playdate where musical instruments are toys, songs become games, and kids can make-believe whatever their hearts desire. Philippe the Penguin and host Rebecca Young lead audiences on a journey to make new friends and share in the fun of music. Designed by Philharmonic musicians together with faculty of Columbia University’s Teacher’s College, Very Young People’s Concerts combine games, storytelling, and music in a fun-filled hour that unlocks children’s imagination and talent. This Very Young People’s Concert includes pre-concert musical games with musicians and a half-hour hosted performance of Martinů’s La revue de cuisine, including audience participation and story with Philippe the Penguin.

Theater

Three internationally focused theater companies, New York City’s Sidekick Theater Company (Up and Away), London-based Oily Cart (Light Show) and Australian Sensorium Theatre (Oddysea), will offer a variety of performances.  See schedule for dates and times.

Up and Away
Trusty Sidekick Theater Company
Clark Studio Theater
Tickets $25

Up and Away is both a story and an interactive experience, inspired loosely by the imagination of Jules Verne and his famous book Around the World in 80 Days. Seated in hot-air balloons, audiences join the Fogg Family Balloon Society on their 1,000th balloon ride. Featuring puppetry, live music, and interactive play, this “flight” travels through extraordinary places such as the Fog Bog, the Arctic Aviary, and Cloud Canyon, all with multisensory experiences. Each child in the audience has a one-on-one guide from the Fogg Family for the trip through the clouds.

Light Show
Oily Cart
Samuels Teaching Studio
Tickets $25

Creating distinct silhouettes in an exquisite play of light and shadow, Light Show brings audiences to a magical paper palace. The serene papery white landscape transitions from a beautiful warm day at the beach to a dreamy moonlit wonderland, creating a multisensory journey of textures, smells, and tactile experiences accompanied by live music from a virtuoso double bass player.

Oddysea
Sensorium Theatre
Samuels Teaching Studio
Tickets $25

Set within a beautiful undersea world, this immersive tale of best friends Crab and Turtle’s oceanic adventures comes alive through touch, smell, taste, live music and stunning imagery. Seated on beanbag sand dunes, audiences become part of the “oddysea” unfolding around them as they journey with Crab and Turtle from the beach through sparkling blue-sequined waves to a kaleidoscopic crocheted coral reef, encountering many memorable oddities along the way.

More Arts

Film Society Kids Screening and Discussion
Film Society of Lincoln Center
April 18, 5pm

Francesca Beale Theater, Free

This special showcase presents a selection of ten of the best short films made by students in Film Society Kids, a program that supports literacy learning through visual storytelling. These shorts will immerse viewers in the art of the silent film, as seen through the eyes of children of all abilities from neighboring public elementary schools. The screening, welcoming community members of all ages and abilities, will be followed by an audience discussion with the Film Society’s Director of Education.

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
LC Kids Storytime at the Atrium
April 21, 11am

David Rubenstein Atrium, Free

At this relaxed story hour, Caldecott Award–winning illustrator Sophie Blackall (Ruby’s Wish, Ivy & Bean) explores the life of a lighthouse through shifting seasons, changeable weather, and the tenure of its final keeper.

NYCB Access Workshop
New York City Ballet

May 6, 1pm

Samuel B. and David Rose Building, 7th Floor
Tickets $14

This one-hour movement workshop specially designed for children with autism will feature the music, movement, and themes from New York City Ballet’s treasured repertory. NYCB Teaching Artists guide children in a ballet warm-up and movement combination, concluding in a lively performance for accompanying family and friends. No prior dance experience needed.

CMS Kids
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
May 6, 2pm

Rose Studio
Tickets $25

Explore the up-close and friendly world of chamber music in the intimate Rose Studio. Host Rami Vamos and CMS artists show that the most personal of art forms speaks volumes to even the youngest listeners.
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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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