Cold enough for you? Hopefully you escaped to somewhere warmer for the “bomb blizzard” just after New Year’s. How does it feel to be in zero degrees fahrenheit, and a wind chill? We tried to give you a heads up on that to prep your closet.
But despite the cold that most Australians can’t even understand, as New Yorkers we still go out, so get your plan together for Friday‘s Australia Day celebrations – even if in the form of a flat white, caramel slice, lamington or hot meat pie delivery. The Australian is hosting a week-long celebration: classic Australian movies, karaoke, quiz night and parties with the Hottest 100. All the fabulous Aussie coffee shops, cafes and restaurants here are celebrating with their own take on Australia Day, so bring your American buddies along and give them a taste of Australia, or hang out with mates here, old or new. The AAA has the Australia Day Arts Awards from 6.30pm at the Skylight Modern in Chelsea, black tie event $1000 or $500 for under 35, which promises to be a magical evening. Check out the long list of what is happening for Australia Day in New York this year.
Are you playing host to visitors in New York? As ever, tickets for all kinds of entertainment including sport tickets (NHL, NFL, NBA), Broadway shows (Dancing with the Stars Live, Hamilton, Kinky Boots), and music concerts (Pink, Fallout Boy, Ed Sheeran, MGMT, Dave Matthews, Justin Timberlake, KidsBop, Billy Joel) in the New York area are available at Ticketmaster. It’s worthwhile getting on their email list to see the highlights, or special deals on tickets by calendar date.
Iceskating in New York is still happening as well, in January through to February. Join AWNY next Saturday, January 27 at Bryant Park for iceskating at 1.30pm. This event has moved a couple of times but you haven’t missed out. RSVP online at the Facebook events page and invite your friends.
Live recorded television programs are fun to catch, with or without guests in February. In New York there is The View, Good Morning America ABC, Rachel Ray and more. SNL and Jimmy Fallon only take email requests for tickets once a year – in August, FYI.
Want to try a little Opera? You don’t need to fly to Venice. Tickets start at $25 for the Family Circle up the top at the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center, so it won’t break the bank to get out for something different than what you might otherwise do. There’s Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Boheme and much more.
By the way, from now until February 4 is NYC Broadway Week with 2-for-1 tickets. Balcony tickets for Hello Dolly are $50 a piece including fees.
Also 2-for-1 tickets at Must See Week from January 29 until February 11 are on sale now at nycgo.com. You won’t believe the list of things to do – from Carnegie Hall Tours, Fashion Window Walking Tour, Intrepid, Lower Manhattan Tours, Top Dog Tours, NBC Studio Tour, galleries and museums galore.
Super Bowl Sunday will be February 4 at 6.30pm this year, with the New England Patriots defending their title against underdogs, Philadelphia Eagles. If you are going to be living here in the US, you probably should prepare the order for the wings and beer now, (plan the pick up strategy, Atomic Wings is uber busy) and all the venue/invitation details. As with the Melbourne Cup in Australia, the country stops and watches. The Super Bowl is a show stopper and worth a look even if just for the half time entertainment and ads, regardless if football is your gig. It’s an incredibly social calendar moment and the talk of the town, wherever you live. Get used to it. Be a part of the national conversation.
February 12-13 is the Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. You can get tickets online cheaper, or at the door it’s $35 for adults and $20 for children.
If you’re an Apple user, if ever you have time on your hands you can always schedule a session for what you are interested in at any of the Apple stores throughout New York City. From photo walks, to portrait photography, GarageBand, ProCreate, movie making, Sketch walks, Pro sessions – for kids and adults, free of charge. Search by date, location or interest. Be inspired!
Starting Saturday, February 24 at 4pm, Sam Eaton’s The Quantam Eye begins a weekly show. You can purchase tickets which also include dinner with the star himself after the show for $250, but General Admission is only $50 at Theatre 80 near St Marks. Have you been? How does he do that?
Sunday, February 25 is the Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown, the year of the Dog.
Keep your eye on the climbing value of the Aussie dollar, hitting a new high at the moment and headed towards 0.80 conversion rate.
Those who have children, or an interest, February 28 6-8pm register in advance for the Parents and Science event at Rockefeller University for their evening speaker session “Global Insights and Local Strategies: The Outlook for Children in the 21st Century”.
The Downton Abbey exhibit is on now and will finish April 2 in New York.
The Museum of the City of New York is an enduring trove of essential NYC, and tickets are half price through Goldstar currently for February.
So, although the highways are melting in Australia and the poor little baby bats brains are boiling in the 47 degree Celsius heat, on the other side of the planet here in New York we have the other extreme. If you haven’t found your perfect warm coat and outfit yet, you will start to see the sales in February. If you’ll be here next year you can get a jump on that in the upcoming month. Then, of course, the question must be asked – will it go into storage or is there enough room in your closet?
by Allison Jurjens
AWNY | Australian Women in New York 