Things to do on a Sunday in New York

Having put The Nutcracker to bed for another year, NYCB returns to Lincoln Center for six more weeks. Principal among the offerings are the world premieres of resident choreographer Justin Peck's Mystic Familiar, set to a commissioned score by Dan Deacon, and artist in residence Alexei Ratmansky's suite of dances from Paquita. Other attractions include a centennial salute to ballerina Maria Tallchief and the return of Christopher Wheeldon's Carnival of Animals, narrated by John Lithgow; the engagement concludes with a two-week run of Peter Martins's full-length version of the Tchaikovsky classic Swan Lake (February 19–Mar 2). Also on the lineup are multiple pieces by Wheeldon and City Ballet's legendary founding choreographers, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. The troupe's current constellation of étoiles includes Ashley Bouder—who bids farewell to the company on February 13, after 25 years, in Balanchine's Firebird—alongside Tyler Angle, Chun Wai Chan, Adrian Danchig-Waring, Megan Fairchild, Jovani Furlan, Emilie Gerrity, Joseph Gordon, Anthony Huxley, Isabella LaFreniere, Sara Mearns, Roman Mejia, Mira Nadon, Tiler Peck, Unity Phelan, Taylor Stanley, Daniel Ulbricht, Andrew Veyette, Emma Von Enck, Peter Walker and Indiana Woodward. Visit the City Ballet website for a full schedule of events.

Ashley Bouder in Firebird | Photograph: Courtesy Erin Baiano

It's going to be a pup paw-ty at Meet the Breeds, the nation's largest canine extravaganza held in New York City this month. At the event, meet and play with more than 1,000 dogs while learning about responsible pet care. 

All are invited to the event hosted by the American Kennel Club on the weekend of January 25-26, 2024 at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Tickets cost $35 for adults and $10 for kids (use promo code MEET for $5 off). 

Expect to learn about 100 breeds of dogs and determine which might be the best type for your lifestyle, from Affenpinschers to Yorkshire Terriers and everything in between. You'll learn about each breed's country of origin, as well as historical purpose and function. Plus, get a chance to discover new breeds and talk to breed experts. 

You won't believe how seamlessly good comedy can work with pole dancing (you can read about it here). While stellar stand-ups deliver sets, pro dancers give the crowd something stare at. Think of it as a full-brain experience. Comics Dan Goodman, Joanna Ross and special guests will welcome talented pole dancers and comedians from across NYC. 

Each show features a different musical theme, and each one is full of surprises. This time, on Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25, the show is celebrating its its 12th anniversary with U2 theme. Think "With or Without You," "Beautiful Day," and more.

Expect to hear jokes from five comics and see performances by five dancers. "They're not strippers, it’s not burlesque. It’s aerial dance with a side of crazy gymnastics, and death defying tricks that make your jaw drop," event planners explain.

As the event organizers say: "If you don't see shows like this, why are you even paying the NYC rents?" See it at Drom in the East Village.

Walk through 5,000 years of art and design at The Winter Show, the city's premier art and antiques fair. Art lovers won't want to miss this event, which is returning for its 71st edition at the Park Avenue Armory from January 24 to February 2. Explore booths from more than 70 exhibitors who will showcase museum-quality works from ancient to contemporary, including rare masterpieces from Europe and the Americas.

A few highlights include a drawing of a sailboat made by a young King Charles III around 1957; a selection from the world's largest collection of playing cards; an assortment of rare
works by Auguste Rodin; and an antique clock made from duck eggs, which measures not only time but also phases of the moon and the schedule of the tide.

Special events during the show include the Opening Night Party on January 23 and Young Collectors Night on January 30. DIAGEO will present an immersive exhibit of the 2024 Special Releases Collection, including rare Scotch whiskies aged in carefully selected casks from around the world, including Oban and Lagavulin. 

Stroll through the Flatiron-NoMad area to see two colorful, interactive pieces of public art. "The Diamonds" by Perséides Studio and "Spectrum" by Mirari is on display through February 28.

"The Diamonds" is an interactive work composed of three luminous structures that light up when spun around by passerby. The trio of 13-foot-tall rotating sculptures work together to harmonize light, music and motion to create a mesmerizing symphony of sensory experiences aided by the slew of diamonds that make up the actual work. Each diamond will also play its own music—original melodies composed by musician Stefie Shock. 

"Spectrum," on the other hand, will focus on the act of communication: pedestrians will be invited to speak across a series of rings, observe their voices travel through space and light up various portions of the sculpture.

Perhaps your idea of "curling" in the winter involves curling up on the couch with a mug of hot cocoa and a good book. Honestly, same. But New Yorkers are now invited to shed their blanket cocoons and go curling at Edge in Hudson Yards.

The new pop-up for the winter sport, where players slide stones on a sheet of ice, welcomes all to get their adrenaline flowing from the game—and from the stunning views at the city's highest indoor/outdoor sky deck. In addition to curling, guests at Edge's Sky Chalet can enjoy specialty cocktails and seasonal treats at this wintry escape, which is open through March 16.

Tickets, bookable here, include a 50-minute curling session on a private lane, plus access to Edge after your session. Whether you're a beginner or a curling pro, the team at Edge promises you'll pick up the game quickly.

The idea of climbing into your swimsuit when it’s freezing outside might not sound appealing, but hear us out. These winter spas in NYC make it worth it to brave the cold (briefly) in your swimwear.

With Scandinavian-inspired ethos and design, The Winter Pool House at The Rockaway Hotel and the Winter Spa at The William Vale will help you get into the Nordic hygge spirit for a relaxing escape.

It's said that the early bird catches the worm, but this Saturday, the early bird scores free admission to ice skate at Wollman Rink. The first 75 skaters at the door on Saturday, January 25, will get into the rink for free as Wollman Rink celebrates its 75th birthday. The rink opens at 10am, so prepare to get there early!

Even if you don't nab free admission, skating this Saturday promises a nostalgia-packed experience with an interactive photographic journey through Wollman Rink's storied history and live performances, plus classic treats inspired by the past seven decades. 

ARTECHOUSE, the immersive art experience in Chelsea, typically features the work of a single artist exploring a single topic, such as Afrofuturism, AI·magination and outer space. But for their new installation, ARTECHOUSE has turned over the venue to dozens of emerging artists for a wide-ranging, year-long art extravaganza.

Titled “Submerge,” the show will feature more than 100 artists over the course of 2025. The work of artists from across the globe will rotate every four months amid an open call for submissions. Expect to see everything from 3D animation to AI innovation to multimedia storytelling—anything that takes creativity out of confines of computer screens and onto an IRL canvas. Submerge is open to all ages through December 31 with tickets starting at $23.85.

New York is a city filled with ordinary people who do extraordinary things for their communities—yet, these everyday icons don't always get the flowers they deserve. Just ahead of the Lunar New Year, Poster House is partnering up with Welcome to Chinatown to curate an exhibition that will highlight some of the neighborhood's most beloved figures. 

Starting January 20, the museum will showcase work from Amanda Phingbodihipakkiya and Christina Young, the artists in the museum’s 2025 Artist in Residence program. Amanda Phinbodhipakkiya's exhibition will showcase a collection of four intergenerational portraits from Chinatown residents, while Christina Young's poster shows 30 locations across Chinatown. 

You can buy tickets to Poster House here.