The holidays are finally here! This week in New York City, celebrate with a Hanukah themed burlesque show, attend a Christmas Eve gospel choir performance, catch a holiday movie screening and more. Check out our picks for things to do this week:
Friday, December 20th
Witness The Moth StorySLAM at the Bronx Museum this evening. This open-mic storytelling competition is open to anyone with a five-minute story to share on the night’s theme, regrets. To be selected to participate, arrive by 7pm and enter your name in The Moth “hat.” Tickets are $15 for the general public and a select amount of complimentary tickets for Bronx residents are available here!
Immerse yourself in a Grand Victorian Christmas celebration at the Mount Vernon Hotel and Museum. The evening will start with guided tours of the former mansion and its gardens. The party will be held inside a fully decorated, candle lit ballroom filled with music and caroling, Christmas treats, and a Christmas tree. You can take a photo with a vintage Santa, taste wassail (a traditional mulled cider), play Victorian parlor and card games, and more!
Saturday, December 21st
Bring the kids out to see How the Grinch Stole Christmasat Industry City with the Sunset Park Kids’ Cinema Club hosted by Rooftop Films. This afternoon screening is free and open to the public. You will stay nice and warm inside as the screening will be held on the Factory Floor in BLDG 1.
Sunday, December 22nd
Join Untapped New York’s expert tour guide Justin Rivers for a trip back in time. On thisUnderground Tour of the NYC Subway, guests will use the 6 train to travel back more than 100 years as you ride through the first station in City Hall Park, travel through abandoned stations, and see where the subway is headed next. Along the way you will discover surprising art installations hidden in plain sight and learn fascinating tidbits that will surprise even the most seasoned subway rider!
Walk the original coastline of Manhattan as you uncover remnants, both large and small, left over from the colonial days of Dutch New Amsterdam. On this walking tour of Lower Manhattan, see how the Dutch laid out the first street grid, touch the vestiges of an 18th century wall, and learn how the first European colonizers in the city still impact it today.
It’s the first night of Hanukah! Celebrate the beginning of eight festive nights at the 13th Annual Menorah Horah. This burlesque show hosted by The Schlep Sisters will feature live and DJ music, comedy, latkes, and some of New York City’s favorite burlesque performers.
Experience an authentic gospel choir performance at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Harlem. This one hour gospel concert on Christmas Eve will have you “hand-clapping, foot-stomping, and singing along.” There will be a repeat performance of this special holiday set on Christmas Day as well.
Uncover the secrets of Grand Central Terminal, one of New York City’s most famous landmarks. On this expert led walking tour, discover hidden tennis courts, secret staircases, and off-limits glass walkways. While you walk around the iconic terminal, learn about the golden age of rail travel and how Grand Central was almost lost forever!
Nicole Saraniero is the Insider-in-Chief at Untapped New York, leading our Untapped New York Insiders membership program. Nicole graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Science in Televis
