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Welcome to this special, wintry edition of THE CITY SCOOP! I’m Haidee Chu, and I’ll be your guide on things to do between now and New Year’s Day.
In case you missed it, the winter solstice passed just this Sunday, which means we’ve officially survived the shortest, darkest day of the year! In many cultures, it’s a time when loved ones gather to celebrate the turn to light and to look to the future.
I, for one, have been floating the idea of hosting a “graduation” party for my friends to celebrate things we’ve accomplished this year. Think: DIY yearbooks, paper plate awards for our wins, making vision boards and bingo cards for next year’s goals. (Or “bingoal”, as a friend of mine calls it.)
If you don’t have your own supplies and can spend around $15 to $30 to get your hands on some, you can consider visiting art cafes like Happy Medium, Recess Grove and the Drawing Room. But if all you need is a creative open space and a cup of coffee, then Still Life in Gowanus is the place to go.
If energy is low and you prefer something more passive, then intimate bookstores are nice places to hibernate. I especially like those with cafes, reading nooks and comfy chairs. And there’s something about the dark, gothic vibes at The Twisted Spine bookstore, specializing in horror and dark literature, that just gets me into a deep winter mood. The Little Bookshop is one I’ve been dying to check out, while Yu & Me Books will always be a favorite of mine. If you simply want a beautiful public library to curl up and read, check out Jefferson Market Library in Manhattan, Othmer Library in Brooklyn and Hunters Point Library in Queens.
We asked our staff about their favorite things to do when the city’s nice and quiet between now and New Year’s Day. Here’s what they have to say:
“Besides reorganizing my apartment? Swim at the Y when no one is around. Going to revival movies, at FilmForum or Metrograf or BAM or Lincoln Center. Catch up on exhibits while there's a little more space — the Ruth Asawa retrospective at MOMA and the Red Brooms slash "Ruckus Manhattan" exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, which have been on my list for months, and I'll finally see if too much news doesn't break. Part of my challenge is restraining.”
“Forget gingerbread houses — go see gingerbread bridges, gingerbread skyscrapers and a gingerbread wastewater treatment plant at the Museum of the City of New York on Fifth Avenue and East 103rd Street. Their "Great Borough Bake-Off" is open through Jan. 19 and admission is pay-what-you-wish for city residents (regular tickets are priced at $23 for adults, $18 for seniors and free for kids). It's the perfect thing to do on a quiet between-holidays weekday. Just remember: The museum is closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.”
“Once I finish cleaning my apartment, I want to see a LOT of movies (theaters, have earlier showings!) and the Man Ray exhibit at the Met and Ken Ohara's exhibit at the Whitney. I'll also still get to do my Polar Dip in Rockaway to kick off 2026, although it'll have to be a day or so late so I can cover the inauguration!”
“One of my favorite things to do in any season is to take long, meandering walks, but the time between Christmas and New Year’s lets me do that while luxuriating in the calmness. The two best strolls, in my opinion, are along the Rockaway Beach boardwalk — bundled all the way up, of course — and in lower Manhattan, where the crowds are sparse. The Lower East Side, East Village and Chinatown are particularly nice for window shopping and popping into hype bakeries that usually have long lines.”
— Samantha Maldonado, senior reporter
Things To Do
Here are some free and low-cost things to do around the city this week.
Friday, Dec. 26: Did the holiday dinner table stress you out? Skate it off at Xanadu’s weekend warm up. 4 p.m. 262 Starr Street, Brooklyn.
Friday, Dec. 26: If you’re sick of staring at fake stars on top of Christmas trees, consider joining the Amateur Astronomers Association for a night of gazing at actual stars. Starts 30 minutes after sunset, from roughly 5 to 6:30 p.m. Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn.
Saturday, Dec. 27: Join a special holiday tea party and taste the season with urban park rangers at H.H. Biddle House. They’ll demonstrate how natural teas are brewed and walk you through their significance to the holidays. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Conference House Park, Staten Island.
Sunday, Dec. 28: Walk off your holiday meal at Inwood Park, where park rangers will teach you how to identify trees even after their leaves have fallen. 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at West 218th Street and Indian Road.
THE HOLIDAY KICKER: When you’re ready to say fir-well to your Christmas tree, take it over to one of the Parks Department’s annual Mulchfest locations to get them chipped up.
Love,
THE CITY
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