TLD 21 ✨ Miso Magic 🥣 Wreck the Halls 🎄Murder Mystery Dinner Theater 🔪
Friends!
This month, NYC is delivering all the festive vibes. Whether you're crafting your own bonsai tree, building a boozy gingerbread masterpiece, or spilling your deepest teen diary secrets at a live storytelling slam, there’s no shortage of unique ways to soak up the season. From pop-up markets to murder mystery dinners, from string quartets reimagining pop hits to a comedy show that roasts your holiday woes, December is brimming with cozy, creative, and just a little chaotic energy. So, grab a hot toddy, your best storytelling voice, or your most questionable first-date outfit—it’s time to close out the year with flair.
December 5 | Secret location in Williamsburg | $26
“Sofar transforms everyday spaces - like a rooftop or art gallery - and turns them into captivating, intimate venues for secret, live music performances, creating an immersive experience that brings guests and artists closer together. Each Sofar is small, and typically features three diverse acts, with no headliner.”
December 6 | Dashi Okume Brooklyn (50 Norman Ave.) | $75
“We’re thrilled to announce our first-ever Dashi Workshop! Let’s create umami-rich dashi and transform it into delicious miso soup. This exclusive workshop is limited to just 8 participants. First, our dashi expert will share scientific insights and secrets for enhancing umami to craft the perfect dashi. Then, you’ll blend your own dashi, and together we’ll use it to make miso soup. We’ll also prepare onigiri and enjoy the meal together.”
December 7 | Farm.One (625 Bergen Street) | $44
“Come join us for a night of fantastic music with Gaia Quartet as they perform string quartet arrangements of your favorite pop hits at Farm.One! Get ready to dance to pop hits such as Espresso and HOT TO GO! in a cozy and intimate setting. This event is a perfect opportunity to unwind, enjoy great music, and connect with community. Don't miss out on this amazing experience in a stunning garden space!”
💰 Upper East Side Walking Tour: A Clash of Titans
December 7 at 1:00 PM | NE corner Park Ave & 68th St | $30
“Explore one of the most luxurious neighborhoods in the world as we delve into the personalities, scandals, and institutions that have made it so legendary. While emphasizing the Gilded Age (the era not the television show), our tour will discuss the evolution of the area from the late 18th century farmland through the early 19th century development and ultimately its ‘discovery’ by the New York elites – the Upper 400 – and discuss the history behind The Gilded Age.”
👩❤️💋👨 Strategic Love Play
Now through December 7 | Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Ln.) | $50+
“After matching online, two strangers—Heléne Yorke and Michael Zegen —meet in real life. The vibe is off, and the conversation is a mess. Yet something is keeping them in their seats. What begins as a typical date off the apps spirals into something unexpected in a bold new production of Strategic Love Play, the show that sold out in London and took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm. From ‘Succession’ writer Miriam Battye and director Katie Posner comes the New York debut of the award-winning, razor-sharp ‘comedic tour de force” (The Guardian) that The Evening Standard calls ‘as gripping as a friend’s rapid-fire texts from a disastrous first date.’”
December 11 at 7:30 PM | Rodney’s (1118 1st Ave.) | $18
“The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition in which anyone can share a true, personal, 5-minute story on the night's theme. Sign up for a chance to tell a story or sit back and enjoy the show! Tonight’s theme is… STUBBORN: Prepare a five-minute story about foolish determination. Pig-headed allegiance to a bad idea. Sticking to your guns…to a fault.”
💔 Why Are You Single? A Singles Game Show with Marie Faustin
December 11 at 8:00 PM | The Bell House (149 7th St.) | $25
“Join comedian and host Marie Faustin on a hunt for dating red flags! Self-submitted single contestants are subjected to rounds of questioning, games, and a @reeezy-style interrogation all to uncover why on earth they are single. The contestant with the most red flags… wins? Submit yourself online today @whyare.yousingle on Instagram.”
🏠 Boozy Gingerbread House Building with Creamline
December 12 at 6:30 PM | Chelsea Market (75 9th Ave)
“Join us for a delicious evening of gingerbread house building with a twist at Creamline in Chelsea Market. Get your creative juices flowing as you build and decorate your very own holiday masterpiece while enjoying some delicious local drinks. Choice of a burger or sandwich, a side, two drink tickets*, and a gingerbread house kit.”
December 13 at 7:00 PM | Under St Marks (94 St Marks Pl.) | $22
“Every month, we remix current events to imagine what a slightly altered world could look like. Five brand-new radio plays, written with inspiration from the news, featuring a rotating cast and creative team, exploring alternate presents. The results range from the absurdly wacky to the poignantly reflective, from apocalyptic to aspirational—but they’re always clever, fun, and inspired. It's the news—only better.”
🎁 Eater Under Wraps Holiday Market
December 13 and 14 | 97 N. 10th St.
“The holidays are in full swing, and this year, we’re celebrating the season with a two-day holiday shopping event and hidden cocktail lounge with plenty of sweet surprises. Guests can expect a marquee lineup of Eater staff-curated treats, festive cocktails, and, of course, plenty of hand-picked products for checking off your holiday gift list from brands such as Fishwife, Maison Balzac, Dusen Dusen, and more. The two-day event will feature a market packed with holiday gifts, home essentials, cooking and bar cart goodies, as well as exclusive apparel from Katie Kimmel. Throughout the two days, guests can expect treat samplings from Eater favorites like PopUp Bagels, hot chocolate from the Color of Chocolate, and Fan-Fan Doughnuts, as well as cookbook signings from creator-authors Justine Doiron (aka Justine_Snacks) and Paola Velez.”
December 17 | R&D Foods (602 Vanderbilt Ave.) | $88
“Our 3rd annual latke party got a little bigger this year! Celebrate the season with two of your neighborhood faves and the best latkes in the city. We've partnered with gertrude's for a Latke Block Party. Start in the garden at R&D with latkes, warm broth, hot cider and mulled wine by the fire pit. Stroll down the block to get cozy inside at gertrude’s with jello shots, latkes with roe, their signature B&W layer cake, plus an R&D jelly donut to cap off the evening.”
December 17 at 6:30 PM | Bonsai Bar (625 Bergen St.) | $90
“Come make your own bonsai tree! Bonsai Bar is hosting one of their amazing beginner workshops in the Brew Lab. You'll get your own tree, pot, and tons of hands-on teaching from one of Bonsai Bar's incredible instructors.”
December 21 at 9:30 PM | Caveat (21A Clinton St.) | $36
“We are excited to share and celebrate our favorite books and fantastic performers this holiday season! Featuring award-winning and debut authors reading excerpts from their books: Emily Nussbaum "Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV", Porochista Khakpour "Tehrangeles", Lena Valencia "Mystery Lights", Michael Waters "The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports", Thomas Grattan "In Tongues". Each author has been paired with a spectacular burlesque or drag performer who will be creating new acts inspired by the books they read! Starring Spookey, Malai, Antonio Amour, Gemma Smith and Desiree De Sade. Produced and hosted by Fortune Cookie.”
🎄 Wreck the Halls: The Second City New York’s Guide to the Holidays
Now through December 28 | Second City New York Mainstage (64 N 9th St.) | $29+
“Sure, the holidays are something to be enjoyed, but sometimes, they're something to be endured. The Second City New York will present their new Mainstage comedy show. Packed with original sketches, improv and variety delights, the spirited show will gift plenty of laughs as it roasts all of the things we love to loathe about the "festive" season, from the dreaded family obligations to the boring office parties to the ad nauseum Mariah Carey songs.”
🌙 Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy
Now through January 5 | The Shed (545 W 30th St.) | $44+
“Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy invites visitors into a colorful, riotous fun house of carnival attractions by visionary artists of the 20th century, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sonia Delaunay, Keith Haring, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, and more. The brainchild of artist André Heller, Luna Luna first opened in 1987 in Hamburg, Germany, as a spectacular fairground. And then, by a twist of fate, the park’s treasures were forgotten in storage in Texas for 36 years. With a blockbuster showing in Los Angeles in December 2023, Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy resurrected these artworks, to audiences’ delight. Now, the showcase arrives at The Shed, creating a can’t-be-missed event in NYC. The Shed’s presentation—installed in the soaring, iconic McCourt space and Level 2 Gallery—will include special performances and concert events. Featured artists include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Arik Brauer, Salvador Dalí, Sonia Delaunay, Monika GilSing, Keith Haring, André Heller, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, and Kenny Scharf.”
🏠 Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off 2024
Now through January 12 | Museum of the City of New York (1220 5th Ave) | $23
“Welcome to a snowy wonderland, where famous landmarks and icons of New York City are lovingly recreated in gingerbread. From ice skating in the parks across the five boroughs to holiday displays in department store windows, nowhere is more iconic than the city in winter. Now, sweet details and tasty history combine in a miniature frosted cityscape for our third annual bake-off. The Museum has invited bakers from across the five boroughs to create gingerbread displays on the theme of “Iconic New York”—creating distinctive buildings, places, or things that represent their neighborhood, community, or borough.”
January 25-26 | Jacob K. Javits Convention Center | $35+
“From Affenpinschers to Yorkshire Terriers and everything in between! The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is bringing back America’s largest educational dog extravaganza to the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City with its annual AKC® Meet the Breeds®. This family-friendly canine showcase is a unique opportunity for dog lovers to meet and play with hundreds of dogs and puppies while learning about responsible dog ownership and understanding which breeds may fit their lifestyle.”
🩸 Speakeasy, Die Softly: Immersive Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
Now through February 2 | Carmine’s (200 West 44th St.) | $138
“Speakeasy, Die Softly is the newest and most elaborate comedic immersive murder mystery ever performed by The Murder Mystery Company. During this killer show, guests will enjoy a three-course, family-style Italian feast in the newly-renovated Sinatra Room at the legendary Carmine’s in Times Square… The year is 1927, a time of flappers, mobsters, bootlegging and countless seedy speakeasies. Come on into Lou Zar’s and shimmy to the live music of the club’s famous songstress, Lucy Morals, and her accompanist, Keys Yacar, or, if you prefer, play some casino games and win big money you can blow on “soda pop.” Unfortunately, the fun can’t last all night– the feds have been sniffing around, so we need your help to flip the speakeasy into a “legitimate Italian restaurant” before the police raid the place. However, even amidst all these games, dames, and dons, someone had murder on their mind! You and your table team must help the detective solve the crime before the culprit escapes! But beware… the killer could be anyone… even YOU!”
Who’s down?!
xx
Anna