 |
(Photo: Bilgin Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) |
Get Out
Ambitious revelers can join New York’s bravest (craziest?) at the annual Coney Island Polar Dip, plunging into the icy Atlantic for a cause. Other morning events offer endorphins sans frigid swim: The five-mile Empire Hotel City Running Tour will showcase Upper West Side architecture and hidden neighborhood gems, while Brooklyn’s virtual Hangover Run promises a medal for sweating out last night's booze on your own schedule.
Feast Over a Live-Performance Brunch
Start the year with soul and delicious eats at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill with a performance from the legendary Harlem Gospel Choir. The hearty menu will feature eggs Florentine, Atlantic salmon, buttermilk fried chicken, and more.
Window Shop
Savor the final days of holiday window displays at New York’s department stores, from Henri Bendel’s fantastical vintage characters to the classic Macy’s facades. You’ll be dazzled under the stars at Time Warner Center and struck by Bergdorf Goodman’s magnificent haute culture showcase.
Hit Up Broadway
New Year’s Day is a great one to finally make time for a Broadway show. See the revival of Side Show to discover what made it such a cult favorite in the first place, or Pippin before it closes January 4. Or jam to the original Temptations and the Four Tops during a special one-week-only performance of their greatest Motown hits.
Ride the Subway A-Z
Seize the day—the entire day—and try the Rapid Transit Challenge for an extreme test of MTA knowledge. It’s the ultimate New York City puzzle, in which a rider stops at every subway station, on every line, in the shortest amount of time. Six British men completed this absurd feat in 22 hours, 26 minutes, and 2 seconds to set the Guinness World Record in 2013.
Get Cultured
Spend the afternoon museum hopping for a smattering of cultural pursuits. Little ones will love the New-York Historical Society’s toy-train "Holiday Express" exhibit, while adults can peruse the stunning photographs on display in the "Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage" exhibition. Or take the entire family to see MoMa's "Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs" or the literal eye candy on display at "GingerBread Lane" at the New York Hall of Science.
Jump-start Your New Year’s Resolutions
Educate yourself before splurging on a pricey gym membership at the Jewish Community Center’s New Year’s Fitness for Everybody Fair, where you’ll find (free!) exercise classes, giveaways, and personal training consultations.
Skate on Ice
Check ice skating off your winter bucket list before it's too late: You can enjoy gorgeous views of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings at Bryant Park’s Winter Village (free), or glide under Rockefeller Center’s iconic Christmas tree if you’re ready to fight the crowds ($30 adults, $15 seniors and children under 11). The ice is also top-notch at Central Park’s Trump Rink (formerly Wollman; $18 adults, $6 children under 11) and Prospect Park's LeFrak Center ($8).
Hang Out With Your Friends
If leaving the house just isn't an option, curl up on the couch, order from Seamless, and begin your epic Friends rewatch, as the full series hits Netflix streaming on New Year's Day morning.
Poetic Extravagance
Listen in awe at the Poetry Project’s 41st annual New Year’s Day Marathon Benefit Reading, with performances by more than 140 writers, musicians, dancers, and artists. Tickets are available online ($20).
