Check out the full calendar here! These are my Top 10 picks for events and activities happening in and around the Upper East Side this week. Don't miss out on all the fun, and please be sure to let them know you saw it in Macaroni Kid NYC Upper East Side! Events are subject to change or cancellation. Please confirm events before attending.
TOP 10 for the Week
Friday, December 10th
1. Shababa Fridays at 92Y - Get ready for Shabbat with music, dancing, puppets and play! Sing and celebrate with Rebecca Schoffer, 92Y Director of Jewish Family Engagement, and the whole Shababa community! No experience celebrating Shabbat necessary! Get ready to move and groove your way into Friday morning! We will be meeting in a large space at 92Y, so there will be room to spread out and distance (and dance!)
Saturday, December 11th
2. Skate with Santa at the Rink at Brookfield Place - Sign up for a skating session with Santa and enjoy two solo performances by the jolly man in red at The Rink! Santa will be on the ice carving up lots of holiday cheer from 10:15 AM – 3:00 PM on Saturdays, December 11 & 18. Book your weekend reservation to skate with Santa! Reservations to open shortly.
3. 'Twas the Night Before: Chickenshed NYC at the 14th Street Y: The production of an original musical that brings to mind the holiday tradition of British Panto. It’s New Year’s Eve, and a group of children are traveling through time to stop the cold-hearted Snow Queen from freezing time forever! Will they make it before the stroke of midnight? Whether it’s 2021,1976 or even 1836, these children learn that making new friends and joining together is the only way to save the day. Featuring Drag Artists Blair Queen and Phoebe Jeebies alongside The Chickenshed Players, this theatrical extravaganza is sure to delight and entertain both young and old.
4. Frostbite Follies in Washington Heights: the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus: - Bindlestiff Family Cirkus presents Frostbite Follies, bringing performing arts to neighborhoods that have minimal arts programming and those areas hit hardest by COVID. Performances will take place upon an innovative series of parade float stages featuring circus artists from all five boroughs. There will even be a calliope wagon providing authentic circus music. Harkening back to the days when the grand circus parade came through towns across the country and captivated everyone who saw it, the Frostbite Follies will bring much-needed celebration and art back to the streets. The repurposed parade floats are equipped to showcase incredible and eclectic talent from clowns, jugglers, wire walkers, acrobats, aerial acts, and more.
Sunday, December 12th
5. Jim Heson's Otter's Jug Band Christmas (Sensory Friendly) at the Victory Theater: Treasure a new holiday tradition with Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas! Based on Jim Henson’s beloved television special, this tuneful tale takes us to Frogtown Hollow where Ma and Emmet Otter risk what little they have to make each other’s holiday dreams come true. Featuring a lovable cast of performers with puppets from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, and a toe-tapping score by legendary songwriter Paul Williams, this very merry musical will warm the hearts of a new generation for winters to come! During this special performance, there will be modified lighting and sound, a judgement-free, inclusive environment, a calming corner and activity area & specialists and support resources.
6. Cocktails and Carols: A Christmas Sing-Along - The musicians of Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish lead holiday revelers in spirited holiday caroling in the outdoor garden, with unlimited hot mulled wine, other adult beverages and non-alcoholic beverages like hot cider available, as well as some treats. Booklets with music and lyrics are provided (you know, just in case you don't remember the third verse of "O Come All Ye Faithful"). Doors open at 5:30pm. The music starts around 6pm. 100% of the $40 adult ticket fee goes directly to Trinity's Services and Food for the Homeless, a year-round soup kitchen and food pantry.
Monday, December 13th
7. Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Gardens - The New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show returns for its 30th year! For 2021, a new replica of the LuEsther T Mertz Library Building takes its place among the classic NYC landmarks—all presented in a uniquely immersive special exhibition space in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. As always, model trains zip through more than150 landmarks, each re-created with bark, leaves, and other natural materials. G-scale locomotives hum along among familiar sights- including the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and Rockefeller Center - on nearly a half-mile of track. Reserve in advance - it's been known to sell out.
Tuesday, December 14th
8. Santaland at Macy's Herald Square -You’ll need to book a spot in line to meet & snap a photo with the busiest man of the season. St. Nick will be at Macy’s Santaland inside our Herald Square store, so bring your wish list. After all, he’s known for making wishes come true. A professional photographer will be on hand to capture the moment or you're welcome to snap your own photo with Santa. You can now make a reservation online 5 days in advance of your visit.
Wednesday, December 15th
9. Virtual Creative Clubhouse Stories: If Picasso Painted a Snowman- - Have you ever wondered what a snowman would look like if it was painted by Picasso? Or Monet? Or Georgia O’Keeffe? Let’s find out! In this class, we will explore snowpeople in the style of famous artists and even create our own. Creative Clubhouse Stories is an interactive storytime class that uses children’s literature to explore diverse narratives through theater, music, and movement! This month we are celebrating Winter! Classes run for 45 minutes live on Zoom.
Thursday, December 16th
10. Stroller Tours at the Guggenheim - Enjoy a special stroller-friendly tour for children and their caregivers. Led by museum educators, this interactive exploration of current exhibitions includes touchable objects, art-making, and adult conversation.
