This week in New York City, get some holiday shopping done at one of the many craft fairs and holiday markets, explore behind-the-scenes of a New York City historic location, attend a holiday concert and more! Check out our Untapped picks for things to do in New York City this week:
Friday, December 6th
Browse Crafts at the Cathedral inside the stunning Cathedral of St. John the Divine. In medieval Europe, the Cathedral served as the center of not just religious life in a town, but often the civic and commercial life, too. Commerce was conducted in the naves of many great Cathedrals, and St. John the Divine is honoring that tradition. The craft fair starts at noon today and runs until 8:00pm. There will be more than 75 exhibitors selling handmade goods and unique items. The fair will also be open on Saturday and Sunday.
Experience Al Carmine’s Christmas Rappings 50th Anniversary Concert at Judson memorial Church. This concert began in 1969 and continues to this day with a joyous oratorio based on the Christmas story as presented in the four gospels. The music by the late Al Carmines covers all genres, from country to classical to blues to gospel, plus a tango to “show tunes.”
Saturday, December 7th
Explore the New York City subway from the very first station to the present day, on Untapped New York’s Underground Tour. As you use the 6 train as a personal time machine, learn about the comically short route of the mythical “Subway before the Subway,” Alfred Ely Beach’s Pneumatic Transit System, discover remnants of Union Station as you learn about a hidden art installation, and more!
The story of Grand Central Terminal is that of New York City itself: the structure embodies the social, cultural, economic and technological evolution around it. It is one of great men, feuding architects, ingenuity, rejuvenation, secrets and surprises. On this tour of the secrets of Grand Central Terminal, learn about what once was, what could have been, and what can be; about the struggle to save and restore Grand Central as a preserved icon of the past, and of challenge to ensure that it serves New York’s future.
Discover 26 site-specific collages by the world-renowned artist JR inside the abandoned hospitals on Ellis Island throughout the Unframed JR Tour of the 100+ year old site. All artworks are life-sized archival photographs of immigrants taken on Ellis Island that reactivate this long forgotten complex. This tour grants guests access to 10 locations that are completely closed off to the public and open exclusively to attendees of this tour, including the second floor of the general hospital and the visually stunning “Blue Room!”
Buy a gift you sure won’t find anywhere else at the Oddities Flea Market “Holiday of Wonders.” Curated by Ryan and Regina Cohn, the market features a unique mix of vendors from all across the country, offering goods like anatomical curiosities, natural history items, taxidermy, obscure home decor, one of a kind dark art and more. Now at Villain in Williamsburg, there will also be Roberta’s wood-fired pizza available for purchase. You can acquire free VIP tickets if you are an Untapped New York Insider! Not an Insider yet? Become a member today to gain free access to behind-the-scenes tours and special events all year long! Already a member? Book here!
At first glance, it might seem like there’s not much left of Dutch New Amsterdam, but there’s much more than meets the eye. This includes the massive one hidden in plain sight: the original street grid embedded in lower Manhattan grid today. Tour of the Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdamwith our expert guide and discover the many hidden Dutch relics south of Wall Street, as you trace the streets of Manhattan in 1667. You’ll hear about New York’s founding myths and facts while standing in the very spots they all happened.
[Gaslamp Lighting at Gage & Tollner], 1956, Photographic print, 2016.034; Brooklyn Historical Society
Learn how a Downtown Brooklyn landmark is making its comeback at the Brooklyn Historical Society’s Restaurant Resurrection: Putting Gage & Tollner Back on the Map. Whet your appetite for the reimagined eatery with a multi-course banquet of the legendary establishment’s history. Start with archival materials from the Othmer Library, and finish with a panel discussion featuring co-owner St. John Frizell, head chef Sohui Kim, and Janet Pawlukiewicz, whose family ran the restaurant for 40 years. Cocktail columnist for the New York Times and author Robert Simonson leads this culinary conversation. If you are an Untapped New York Insider, you can attend this event for free! Find out how here!
Tuesday, December 10th
Get you hands on a piece of artwork from the artist at the Art Students League. From today through December 22nd, The Art Students League of New York’s Annual Holiday Art Sale will be open in the Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery. For 12 days The League will rotate more than original 500 works of art for sale for as little as $50. Paintings and prints— landscapes, portraits, still lives, and abstractions — sell for no more than $1,000. Prices for sculptures do not exceed $1,500.⠀
Photograph Courtesy of Empire Outlets
Explore the old and the new on Staten Island’s north shore in the historic town of St. George. Join Untapped New York for behind-the-scenes tours of the New Empire Outlets and the 90-year old St. George Theater! At Empire Outlets, a sprawling waterfront shopping center designed by SHoP Architects, guests will see splendid holiday decor and areas that are not yet open to the public. After a tour of the outlets, head down the road to the historic St. George Theater. Opened in 1929, the theater has since hosted performances by musicians such as Tony Bennet, Pat Benatar, and Ringo Starr, and comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Joan Rivers and Kevin James. You can attend this tour if you are an Untapped New York Insider! Not an Insider yet? Become a member today today!
Wednesday, December 11th
Search for the perfect gift at theThe Brooklyn Home Company (TBHCo) Holiday Market. From 5pm until 9pm, the market will take over The Gallery at TBHCo, located at 80 4th Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 (between Hoyt and Bond). The market will feature work by As Ever, Intiearth, Lucky Fish, Delphine Dores, Hilary Robertson, Tamar Mogendorff, and Lost Quarry.
Do you have a bunch of old books lying around? Find out how much they might be worth at the New York Public Library’s work shop, Old Books, Rare Books; Learning the Value of your Books. Attendees will learn about the tools and resources that the antiquarian community uses to value a book.
Thursday, December 12th
Go behind-the-scenes at the historic Art Students League inside the landmarked American Fine Arts Society building. Famous artists like Jackson Pollock, Georgia O’Keefe and Robert Smithson all learned their craft here. The league’s Digital Communications Manager, Rudy Bravo, and Assistant to the Executive Director, Allison Green, will lead guests through the historic 1892 building to see inside galleries and studios and learn the storied history of the renowned art school. You can attend this tour if you are an Untapped New York Insider! Not an Insider yet? Become a member today today!
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
[Gaslamp Lighting at Gage & Tollner], 1956, Photographic print, 2016.034; Brooklyn Historical Society
Photograph Courtesy of Empire Outlets
