Good afternoon, this is W42ST Lifestyle Editor Sarah Beling with an (early holiday edition) of “Make Way For The Weekend” — your curated guide to the best of New York events in one convenient newsletter!
Here comes my monthly disclaimer that while I’m not a reviewer I am a recommender yadda yadda yadda — and I HIGHLY recommend that you check out two excellent (and vastly different!!) shows I saw recently: The Blood Quilt, Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall’s superb new family drama playing now through December 29 and helmed by a firing-on-all-cylinders cast; and the I-can’t-believe-it’s-happening-and-I-can’t-look away parable of female rage, Teeth, from fellow Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning Michael R Jackson, now showing at New World Stages. Off-Broadway for the win (as usual 😉)!
Have a wonderful (long) weekend! ❤️
…when you can only think as far ahead as Monday!
🎄🩰 cue the tree!!!!
I think I’ll always have a soft spot for The Nutcracker (now showing NYCB’s version November 29-January 4 at Lincoln Center), not only for Tchaikovsky’s soaring melodies during the Sugar Plum pas de deux but because dancing in a local Nutcracker as a child was the first time I had the chance to tell people that I wAs a pRoFeSsIoNaL lolol what fun I am. Also don’t forget Mark Morris’s The Hard Nut is on December 4-22 at BAM!!!
🎭 your nightmare pto
Eureka Day — the fictional private elementary school at the center of Jonathan Spector’s new play, showing now through January 19 at Manhattan Theatre Club and starring the likes of Amber Gray, Jessica Hecht and Bill Irwin — is “a private California elementary school with a Board of Directors that values inclusion above all else — that is, until an outbreak of the mumps forces everyone in the community to reconsider the school’s liberal vaccine policy. As cases rise, the board realizes with horror that they’ve got to do what they swore they never would: make a choice that won’t please absolutely everybody.” This sounds JUICY y’all!!!!
❤️ in remembrance
The Whitney commemorates World AIDS Day December 1 with a screening of Red Reminds Me… — a series of films addressing the complex emotions around HIV and AIDS, and a post-showing discussion with artists Milko Delgado, Imani Harrington, David Oscar Harvey and Vasilios Papapitsios.
❄️🍹 winter wonderlands
Decompress after a day of fighting the holiday crowds (I love the tree too OK but it’s an INTENSE experience trying to get anywhere near it) by popping in for a beverage at one of the city’s many seasonal themed bars like Snowday in Brooklyn, giving you ski chalet vibes now through December 31, and Whiskey Wonderland at Great Jones (giving you whiskey in a wood-paneled setting) now through January!
🎭 be all my sins remembered
After spending several years literally dragging a hardcover copy of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare to acting school every day (no, this is not a joke, they did make us do this lol), I’m intrigued by Caveat’s Shakespeare Translate: The Complete Works December 1, where two clowns perform old Bill’s Google-translated plays to demonstrate “how we interpret the classical text in the 21st century, while also allowing the Shakespearean text to let loose from its academic chains and be funny once more.” Sounds fun and don’t tell the ghost of Stella Adler!!!!!!
🎂 chisholm centennial
Head to the Museum of the City of New York for their Shirley Chisholm’s Centennial Birthday Celebration, and honor the late lawmaker’s legacy with interactive exhibits, scavenger hunts, sweet treats from Amy’s Bread and an “Ask a Curator” session with Puffin Curator of Activism Sarah Seidman November 30!
🎤 did you hear
You know that I cannot resist any gossip-themed property (yes, I have watched the original Gossip Girl series multiple times in all its absurd glory), so I was excited to see an evening of standup at Union Hall entitled Hot Gossip November 29 that’s hosted by “comedian and local gossip Jonathan van Halem” with special guests Daniel Simonsen, Dina Hashem, Carson Olshansky, Chandler Dean, Catherine Cohen and Jamie Wolf!
🎶 piano prodigy alert
Yunchan Lim, the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious international Van Cliburn piano competition, comes to the New York Philharmonic in Yunchan Lim Plays Chopin November 27-December 1. Lim will perform Chopin’s Second Concerto and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. and bonus: conductor Kazuki Yamada makes his NYPhil debut with the New York premiere of Dai Fujikura’s Entwine!
🎶🖼️ jingle jangle
ASMR-mania takes on the holiday season in Tingle Bells now through January 5. Despite the somewhat titillating-sounding name 😂, this all-ages interactive exhibit “offers a retreat for your mind, body, and soul” through “gentle whispers, delicate sounds, and entrancing visuals” to help you combat holiday season overstimulation. Fine with me, as long as they don’t include those damn influencer nail taps!!!
🎶 native american heritage day
The American Indian Museum hosts Native American Heritage Day: Stomp Dancing with Hithla where the dance troupe comprising members of the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole and Creek Nations will perform song, storytelling and stomp dancing, November 30!
🎶 album release party!!
Boogie your way over to Drom for Basilico Georges’ album release concert December 1 and hear the musician’s unique blend of Flamenco, jazz, salsa and blues accompanied by live dance performances!
…what’s happening before and just after I hit your inbox next!
👯 kyle abraham comes to the armory
Choreographer and MacArthur fellow Kyle Abraham brings his latest Armory commission, Dear Lord, Make Me Beautiful, an evening of pieces designed to “explore the growing sensitivities of life and transition, and nature and humanity, in our chaotic world” to the venue December 3-14!
🎤 the science behind doomscrolling
In what may be a fairly unsettling (but also informative!!!) session, UCLA professor Homa Hosseinmardi and NYU professor John Jost “explore the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the ways in which society interacts with digital tools, including social media, and how they play a role in rising social and political divisions” — at the Museum of Natural History’s SciCafe: Digital Divides December 4. FIX US PLZ NO PRESSURE!!!
🎞️ yippie ki-yaye…
It’s that time of year — make your way to Nakatomi Plaza (or Nitehawk Cinemas) for a seasonal screening of Die Hard December 4. I don’t know if this will be the kind of screening where you can call out your favorite lines but at the very least you can take in Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Reginald VelJohnson’s iconic performances!!
…for when you need to secure those hot tickets before they sell out!!!
🎞️ just like the ones i used to know
As someone who has done at least two productions of White Christmas (anyone need an old fading showgirl???? Call me!!), I can tell you that the Irving Berlin classic is a true smooth-brain joy. You too can experience the cheery, cheesy vibes at Symphony Space’s White Christmas sing-along December 15!
🎄 rocking around the christmas club
It’s almost time to set that extended OOO, ya know? Celebrate by dancing the (early evening) away at Club Matinee: Holiday December 14 at Mr Purple, where you rock your favorite holiday party outfit and “enjoy the sweet sounds of millennial hits with some sprinkled holiday cheer!”
🔥 Hot tip
Many thanks to my W42ST colleague Michael for recommending a visit to Garage Sale vintage, where not only can you browse lots of fun (and sustainable!!!) fashion, but sip on margaritas and dine on tacos while you do so. Sounds like an ideal day to me!!!
⚠️ Omg I forgot to tell you
3 Dollar Bill is hosting a free Thanksgiving-weekend party November 30
The William Vale Winter Spa is back
If you’re staying in town, here’s the parade route!
The Moth story hour returns to the Bell House December 2
The first day of the Grand Holiday Bazaar is December 1
That’s it for now! Call me beep me if you want to reach me! (sarah@w42st.com)
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