Monday, Dec. 9
This evening on Pier 81 and Pier 83, witness the first Lighting of the Ships on the Hudson River. There will be a parade of New York Cruise Line ships led by a Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer-decorated tugboat, followed by more than 5,000 feet of sparkling and glittering lights. Sip hot chocolate and take your pics with Santa. Pier 81/Pier 83 are on the corner of 12th Avenue and West 42nd Street. From 5 p.m.
Acclaimed jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton joins up with the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet for a special seasonal concert featuring the songs of Hanukkah, the music of India’s Diwali, to the old English carols of the 16th century. At Brookfield Place, Winter Garden, 220 Vesey St., from 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 10
Tired of paying a tailor 20 bucks to shorten your skirts and pants? The folks at Make Workshop will teach you some tailoring basics including hemming (both by hand and on the machine), and how to make simple handsewing repairs such as sewing on buttons or fixing torn seams. From 7 p.m tonight at 195 Chrystie Street, #402, SoHo.
Who will don the most humorously hideous sweater this holiday season? That’s the question that a panel of celebrity judges will answer when New Yorkers strut their stuff across the stage at the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership’s second annual Ugliest Sweater Competition tonight from 6.30 p.m. at Flatiron Public Plaza (the Intersection of 23rd Street, Broadway & Fifth Avenue). The winner will receive a fabulous package of prizes for a weekend in the Flatiron District. Enter here.
Wednesday, Dec. 11
Did you realize there are more than 15 venues open for public ice-skating this holiday season? Here's where to go:
Manhattan
- Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. Sixth Avenue, between 40th and 42nd Streets.
- Henry Hudson Parkway, between West 138th and West 145th Streets.
- Central Park, northeast corner between 106th and 108th Streets
- Brookfield Place, Vesey Street and North End Avenue, Battery Park City
- Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue, between 49th and 50th Streets
- Fulton and Front Streets, South Street Seaport
- Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers. Pier 61, West 23rd Street and Hudson River Park
- Standard Hotel at 848 Washington St., between West 12th and West 13th Streets
- Trump Rink (Wollman Rink), Central Park, mid-park between 62nd and 63rd Streets
Bronx
- Van Cortlandt Park Ice Skating Rink
- Broadway and 242nd Street, Stadium at Van Cortlandt Park
Brooklyn
- Abe Stark Rink, Coney Island Boardwalk and West 19th Street
- Aviator Sports and Events Center Rink at Floyd Bennett Field, Flatbush Avenue and Belt Parkway
- Lakeside at Prospect Park, near Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Road entrance.
- McCarren Rink at McCarren Park, Lorimer Street between Roebling and Driggs Streets
Queens
- City Ice Pavilion at 47-32 32nd Place, between 47th and 48th Avenues
- World Ice Arena at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park
Staten Island
- War Memorial Ice Skating Rink at Clove Lakes Park, Victory Boulevard, west of Clove Road
Thursday, Dec. 12
At the intersection of theater, opera and visual art, director Robert Wilson’s "The Life And Death of Marina Abramović" reimagines performance artist Marina Abramović’s life, beginning with her difficult childhood in former Yugoslavia, and chronicles her journey to the present day. Abramović stars, playing herself (as well as her imposing mother), and is joined by Willem Dafoe and singer Antony, who will be performing original songs specially created for the event. Ten performances only. Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Ave, Upper East Side.
Meet legendary National Geographic photographers Steve McCurry (a photojournalist whose photos include ‘Afghan Girl’), James Stanfield and Thomas Nebbi as they gather to sign copies and celebrate the publication of Taschen's "National Geographic. Around the World in 125 Years," a collection of photos on 468 pages of three volumes. From 7.30 p.m. at Taschen, 107 Greene Street, SoHo.
Friday, Dec. 13
"A Queer History of Fashion: From the Closet to the Catwalk" explores the contributions gay fashion designers have made to the industry. The free exhibition at the Museum at The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) showcases more than 100 pieces, displayed in chronological order, that focus on subjects including androgyny, idealism and styles that might be considered socially unacceptable. Seventh Ave. at 27th St. From Noon until 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14
"Indie Essentials: 25 Must-Play Video Games" is a playable exhibition of more than two dozen games that represent the breadth and depth of the “indie” video game scene. The exhibition features recent cutting-edge titles, including the IndieCade 2013 award winners, alongside a selection of games that have had great impact on game design and culture in the last decade. open today from 11.30 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Museum Of The Moving Image, 36-01 35 Avenue (at 37 Street), Astoria, Queens.
Take a break from shopping to enjoy some hot buttered rum, courtesy of Apothecary Cocktails. Chat with author/cocktail whisperer Warren Bobrow, ask your mixology questions, and get a book signed. From 5 p.m. at Word Bookstores, 126 Franklin St. Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Sunday, Dec. 15
Last year Superstorm Sandy hit the tristate area with such force that neighborhoods of NYC and surrounding regions are still recovering. For the storm's October anniversary, Industry City — a burgeoning creative-arts incubator in Brooklyn's Sunset Park — hosted a two-month pop-up exhibition which is finishing today. The show features work from artists directly affected by the storm as well as work inspired by Sandy and the community solidarity that emerged in the weeks after. Paintings, photographs and sculptures by artists including Sallie Benton, Tom Doyle and Matt Benedetto will be on display during the exhibition; poetry readings, film screenings and panel discussions will take place as well. For more information, visit cometogethersandy.com. From 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. at 220 36th St., Sunset Park, Brooklyn.