Things to Do in Lower Manhattan

Things to do in Lower Manhattan

november

Winter Roundup of Activities in Lower Manhattan

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Winter is coming, but New York is far from a ghost town. Downtown Manhattan still has plenty of new events from an art installation house on the West Side next to the Hudson River to an incredible array of pop up tiny cabin houses on the East River at Pier 17.

Winter Roundup of Activities in Lower Manhattan

The mini lawns have been replaced with outdoor mini cabins that each seat up to 10 people. Enjoy your pod’s company and order amazing food from The Greens and some of the best views of the city. There are only 28 mini cabins and reservations go live every Monday.

1. The Greens

Date: Open now through winter

Reservation Times: M-W 12 pm – 10 pm and Th-Sun 11 am – 10 pm

Location: The Rooftop at Pier 17

Reservation Fee: $5 for a lunch reservation and $50 reservation fee for a weekend lunch/dinner reservation, which includes a $5 donation to charity

Age(s): All ages welcome

Please Note: The reservation window opens up every Monday at 10 am.

FiDi Families Insiders: While there, check out the annual pumpkin arch on the first floor, featuring over 500 pumpkins for a free photo opp through the end of this month! Thereafter, check out the South Street Seaport Christmas Tree for another free photo opp!

To book a reservation, please visit their website HERE.

 

Winter Roundup of Activities in Lower Manhattan

Now that all NYC DOE public schools are fully remote for the unforeseeable future, jump over to WonderFilledKids.com for curated print outs and activities for your kids!

2. Wonder Filled Kids

Fee: Free for the entire month of December!

Age(s): 3-6 years olds

To learn more, please visit their website HERE.

 

Winter Roundup of Activities in Lower Manhattan
Ready to kick off the holiday season with a socially distant outdoor silent dance party? This fun event features a different DJ each week on Tuesdays during lunchtime. Take a break from your daily routine, join us via Mixlr (an app that broadcasts live audio) on your own device and headphones, and dance your heart out! Socially distanced ground markers will provide a place for you to dance safely in Zuccotti Park. Grab a holiday treat after you enjoy the music.

3. Silent Snow Ball

Date: Tuesdays, December 1st, 8th and 15th

Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Location: Zuccotti Park, One Liberty Plaza (165 Broadway)

Fee: Free

Age(s): All ages welcome

RSVP: No registration required; In order to participate, just show up!

FiDi Families Insiders: The free program is first-come, first-served, so don’t be late

To learn more, please visit their website HERE.

 

Winter Roundup of Activities in Lower Manhattan

 

4. Brookfield Luminaries

Visit Brookfield Place NY and admire their annual wishes and light shows. This year the wishing stations are touchless, but each wish will still come with a $1 donation, up to $25,000, from Brookfield Place to a local Charity.

Date: Friday, November 27th – Sunday, January 3rd

Time: 8 am – 10 pm

Location: Brookfield Place Winter Garden

Fee: Free

Age(s): All ages welcome

FiDi Families Insiders: Be on the lookout for their incredible light show at the top of every hour.

To learn more, please visit their website HERE.

 

Winter Roundup of Activities in Lower Manhattan

 

Swing by to check out Mildred Howard’s “The House That Will Not Pass for Any Color Other Than Its Own” on display at Belvedere Plaza along the Hudson River.

5. BPCA Art Installation House

Date: Open now through early 2021

Time: on display 24/7

Location: Belvedere Plaza

Fee: Free

Age(s): All ages welcome

To learn more, please visit their website HERE.

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Budding Bakers with Battery Park City Authority

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For kids only! Young chefs will challenge themselves at this after school program by learning techniques that will last a lifetime! All the healthy and delicious gluten, dairy, and soy-free ingredients for these vegan recipes are included. Children will take home scrumptious samples to share with the family each week. Led by Ilana Eck, founder of Stylish Spoon.

11/6: Bake Your Own Granola- Learn to mix up a batch of this quick and healthy breakfast cereal and create your own delicious parfaits with fruit and yogurt (dairy-free option available).

11/13: Try Your Hand at Thumbprint Cookies- Leave a mark on your handmade cookies filled with a delicious selection of fruit jams.

11/20: Create Mini Cookie Pies- Learn to make a healthier cookie dough and decorate your own personal cookie pies with chocolate chips, sprinkles and other delicious toppings.

FiDi Families Insiders: fastest way to register, Call 212-267-9700 or email registration@bpca.ny.gov with “your and your child’s full name, your child’s D.O.B., a contact phone number for yourself, and which classes you are interested in (11/6, 11/13,11/20, or all 3).”

Date: Wednesdays, November 6, 13, and 20

Time: 3:30 pm — 5:00 pm

Location: Asphalt Green 212 North End Avenue

Cost: $15 per session, registration required

Age: 8-10

For more information, please visit their website HERE.

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November NYC Round Up of Family Fun

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November NYC Round Up – so many fun things happening in NYC as we kick off the holiday season! 

 

November NYC Round Up of Family Fun
Photo Credit: Brookfield Place
 
Canstruction at Brookfield Place
Date: 11/3 – 11/16
Time: 10am – 8pm
Address: 230 Vesey Street (Brookfield Place)
This annual design competition founded by the Society for Design Administration challenges dozens of teams made up of some of the most talented architects, engineers and students to create large-scale sculptures made from unopened canned goods. Hundreds of cans of food are used to put together the display. At the end of the event, all cans are donated to City Harvest for those in need. 
FiDi Families Insiders: Don’t forget to get a ballot to vote for your favorite People’s Choice Award! The public is invited to donate canned food at the time of the exhibition.
Union Square Holiday Market
Date: 11/17-12/24 (closed on Thanksgiving) 
Address: 14th & Union Square
It’s already time to start thinking about the holiday season and shopping! Bypass the big department stores and head over to the Union Square Holiday Market and find something for everyone on your list. From Artwork and handmade Winter items to Jewelry, Soaps and Lotions  
 

Annual Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Gardens
Date: 11/19-1/16
Price: $20 adult/$10 kids
The New York Botanical Garden’s annual Holiday Trade Show is returning to celebrate their 25th year. Over 150 replicas of New York City buildings and famous landmarks (Grand Central, Brooklyn Bridge, Radio City Music Hall) created from various plant parts will on display all surrounded by over 25 model trains and trolleys. This year will debut Coney Island’s Cyclone, Wonder Wheel (complete with LED sign) and the Queensboro Bridge.
FiDi Families Insiders: If you can get there during the week, the mornings are very quiet!

Website: http://www.nybg.org

macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-photocreditdestination360
 
Inflation of Macy’s Parade Balloons
Date: 11/23
Time: 3pm-10pm
Address: 79th & Central Park West
The balloons start coming to life on Thanksgiving Eve in front of the American Museum of Natural History . Featuring favorites like Spiderman, Pillsbury Dough Boy, Paddington Bear, Skylander’s, Elf on the Shelf and more.
FiDi Tip: Dress warm and come early, lines are long to get a good view- but remember the balloons don’t full inflate until closer to nighttime as it take a while to fill them
 

 

The 90th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 

Date: 11/24
Time: 9am-12pm
Address: 77th & Central Park West ending at 34th & 7th Avenue 
One of my favorite NYC traditions- since I was a kid we would wake up early and head uptown to watch the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Although there are crowds, and you need to be there early to get a good front row view- once it starts it’s worth the wait. Hundreds of marching bands from high schools near and far, cheerleaders, clowns, decadent floats with everyone from guest celebrities to special appearances by bands and the larger-then-life size balloons. And ofcourse, to end the morning, Santa shows up in his sleigh.  

FiDi Families Insiders:  Although the most crowded, if you can snag a view by 34th Street (Macy’s) that’s where all of the full performances take place- Broadway Show numbers, Bands and more. If you are looking to avoid the crowds steer away from the main viewing areas and try for a spot on Central Park Website
Website: http://social.macys.com/parade/

Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm
Date: 11/26 opens to cut your own christmas tree for the holiday season 
Time: 10am-4pm
Address: 1335 Whitehill Road Yorktown Heights, NY
With several acres of Cut-N-Choose Christmas Trees, Wilken’s farm is just a quick 1 hour drive from the city.  Celebrating their 100th season in harvest, the farm offers pick your own Apples, Peaches and Pumpkins seasonally. Onsite is a bakery, country store and apple farm market with baked foods, holiday crafts, cider and more. 
FiDi Families Insiders:  Make sure to call before you plan your visit as their hours and days are weather permitting, Christmas trees are available until they sell out
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