THE HOLIDAYS IN MANHATTAN

OUR 2018 NEW YORK CITY BUCKET LIST

For our December feature last year, we highlighted classic scenes of ice skating in Central Park, roasting chestnuts, holiday windows, and Bryant Park’s Annual Winter Wonderland. We still recommend you take in these iconic New York City staples, but we’ve also included some lesser known gems in this year’s round up. With jazz for the adults, spectacular trains for the children, and some special holiday beverages (for both kids and adults), here’s our must-do list for the holidays this year:

Winter JazzFest

Always one of the year’s best jazz festivals, Winter Jazzfest never fails to deliver a lineup of jazz’s top talent. Held over several nights, the event includes more than 100 artists, with this year’s lineup including, but not limited to: Meshell Ndegeocello as the artist-in-residence, Bilal, alt-jazz giants The Bad Plus (Jan 7), Akenya. Alexis Cuadrado Group, Alfredo Rodriguez & Pedrito Martinez Duo, and Amina Claudine Myers. The festival proudly supports social and racial justice, gender equality, and immigrant rights, with their lineup always chosen specifically to give a platform to courageous and socially engaged artists. 2019’s festival has announced their strong support for current issues including #blacklivesmatter, #metoo, and #wehavevoice, and “seeks to address discrimination, sexism, immigration injustice and other issues deeply threatening this inclusive music community and beyond.” This year’s festival will begin Friday, January 4th and will run through Saturday, January 12th, 2019.

For detail and tickets visit their official website (here).

Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal

A perfect winter option for families and children, The Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal returns for its 16th year. Featuring Lionel trains traveling through a two-level, 34-foot-long miniature New York City and countryside scene and vintage trains from the New York Transit Museum’s collection, the show is always a delight for children to behold. The showcase runs now through the New Year, with the theme of the show changing each year. Best of all, the event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please visit the NY Transit Museum website (here).

Indulge in a Piping Cup of Hot Chocolate

When the temperatures are down, there’s nothing like a quality cup of hot chocolate to warm you from the inside out. There’s no shortage of world-famous chocolatiers in New York to indulge in the beverage that tastes like the holidays. Perhaps the world’s most famous chocolate master, Jacques Torres, has a sinfully delicious spin on the classic beverage with his Wicked Hot Chocolate featuring allspice, cinnamon, ground ancho chili peppers, and smoked, ground chipotle chili peppers. Pop in any of their two chocolate factories and six shops throughout the City. His beverages have become renowned for his use of top-quality ingredients and 72-hour conching (the churning of cacao with sugar and cacao butter) process. Another chocolate great is Max Brenner, who offers a special Thick Italian Hot Chocolate served in a hug mug, specially designed for the hot chocolate drinking ceremony.

Indulge in More Adult Beverages at District M

Conveniently located onsite at the Row NYC, District M, is the perfect choice to indulge in an adult libation without having to face the outdoor chill. With an evening commissioned digital art gallery by paparazzo extraordinaire, Ron Galella and live music Thursday-Saturday night, District M is offering two new cocktails exclusively for the season. For scotch lovers, the Doctor’s Orders is a warming mix of Dewar’s, lemon juice, ginger, and honey, while lovers of the Manhattan can have a new twist on this classic cocktail with District M’s hot take on the beverage. Bundled Up is perfect for the holidays, with Dewars, cherry bitters, and orange garnish. The specialty cocktails will be served during evening hours at District M (Sun-Thurs 5PM-12AM, Fri-Sat 5PM-12:30AM).

For more information on District M visit them on the Row NYC’s official website (here).

Indulge in the NYC hotel that is more New York than New York. Book your New York experience with the latest offers and promotions from Row NYC Hotel (here)