Stuff to Do

More Enticing Valentine’s Day Events and Specials

I love how creative New Yorkers, especially Brooklynites, can be about how to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Brooklyn’s New York Transit Museum’s annual “Missed Connections” party (thank you, Craigslist) celebrates the possibilities public transit encounters. Sexy, fun, and subterranean, the party kicks off at 6:30pm on Valentine’s Day, with refreshments provided by Brooklyn’s own Brooklyn Brewery, Brittle Barn, Brooklyn Winery, The Chocolate Room, A Cook’s Companion, and Grand Central Oyster Bar Brooklyn. Raffle prizes, too. Boerum Place, Brooklyn. Tickets at https://51281.blackbaudhosting.com/51281/Missed-Connections.

Just want the spa experience? At the Guerlain Spa in the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria, couples can enjoy the “Love the One You’re With” couples’ massage, spa treatment suite shower with dual rain showerheads and private steam room, champagne and truffles. Single ladies aren’t left out either: the “Just for the Girls” package gives you a choice of manicure and pedicure, massage, or facial, along with two Kir Royale cocktails. Each package concludes with the spa’s signature “Final Touch” treatment, a choice of shoe shine, garment steaming or make-up refresh. www.guerlainspas.com. www.towersofthewaldorf.com.

Sugartooth Tours will feed your sweetheart cravings with a special “Sweeter than Sugar Valentine’s” tour down the High Line with hot chocolate and dessert tastings as you stroll from Chelsea to the West Village. A finale of a wine and beer pairing can be added. Choose from two-and-a-half hours tours on four dates: February 13, 14, 15 or 16. 917-856-6761. www.sugartoothtours.com.

I’m completely taken by this concept – chocolate is just sooo yesterday. MitchMallows, headquartered in Chelsea, are marshmallows that come in crazy flavors like banana split, pretzels and beer, churros, ginger wasabi and creamsicles. Use your imagination – there’s probably a flavor just for you. Search the “Classic,” “Whack’d” or “Seasonal” selections for your favorite hand-crafted pick. And, for Valentine’s Day, they have sparkly mallow hearts in cherry coated in pink and red sugar, all packaged in a polka dot heart-shaped box ($16). 212-645-1121. www.mitchmallows.com

While many restaurants offer special Valentine’s Day dinners, usually with a rose and a glass of champagne as a token gift, Stanton Social is having a dance party. Starting at 6pm, the restaurant’s DJ will spin sexy slow jams to get you in the mood. A second DJ will heat up the scene with party tunes. A special menu of restaurant classics along with aphrodisiacal treats is paired with an open bar of premium top-shelf selections for your two-hour celebration. $125 per person. Email: Natalie@thestantonsocial.com, 99 Stanton Street, Manhattan, 212-995-0099. http://stantonsocial.com/

Hotels Offer Valentine’s Day Specials for Valentine’s Day

New York City excels at creating romantic experiences for lovers all year round. On Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s Arrow knows no limits. Here are some choices for consideration to wow your sweetheart.

From 8pm – midnight on Valentine’s Day, you can search out a love target or murmur sweet nothings to Miley Cyrus’s tune while you sip Bar Se7en5ive’s signature red-tinged “Wrecking Ball” vodka-and-champagne cocktail at the Andaz Wall Street’s fun, love evening. Spot a perfect valentine, summon the Cocktail Cupid to deliver a “Wrecking Ball” along with a vintage valentine provided in the Connection Caddy, and take your chances. Anyone who participates will be entered into a drawing to win a night at the hotel with breakfast in bed, drinks on the house, or a cooking lesson for two. 75 Wall Street, Manhattan, 212-590-1234 www.andazwallstreet.

Not single but not necessarily happy? The Wolcott Hotel wants couples “On the Mend” to enjoy a getaway to resolve marital tensions.

Snuggle and rekindle in a two-room suite – so you each can have your own space if you need it – and read up on counseling literature provided for you, or take advantage of discounted activities like yoga or an aphrodisiacal wine-and-chocolate dinner to get you back on track. 4 West 31^st St., Manhattan, 212-268-2900 www.wolcott.com

To quote Beyoncé, “all the single ladies” have an option, too: the “Insider Shopping Package” at the Z NYC Hotel, with deluxe accommodations overlooking the Manhattan skyline from the Queens side. Shop ‘til you drop with a customized three-hour shopping tour with a fashion industry pro, followed by cocktails and “show-and-tell” in the Z Lounge. 11-01- 43^rd Ave., Long Island City (Queens), 212-319-7000 www.zhotelny.com

Over-the-top is something you can certainly find in Manhattan. And, if money is no object, this one’s for you. The Hotel Plaza Athénée on the Upper East Side has a Valentine’s Day package for $7400 per night that will put you in one of the hotel’s deluxe suites with a private dining room, granite kitchen and townhouse furnishings. Flowers will surround you throughout as you sip your special bottle of 1999 Cuvée Louise Pommery champagne in your own gold engraved champagne glasses. For even more decadence, you’ll also receive a gift of an original Picasso lithograph. And, there’s more. You’ll enjoy a “Suite Heart” couples’ treatment at Spa Valmont in a private treatment suite, starting with a full-body exfoliation and romantic candle-lit steam shower, and ending with a 90-minute massage with rose aromatherapy oil or a Valmont facial. Your breakfast will be served in your suite’s dining room, with Valentine’s Day red velvet waffles highlighting the opulent menu. Call for availability. 37 East 64^th Street, Manhattan, 212-772-0958 www.plaza-athenee.com.

The Kimpton Group is at it again with ultra-sexy two-night packages for a New York City Valentine’s Day getaway (or hideaway). At the Ink48 hotel, you’ll pick your desired level of “heat” — low, medium or high — and pick the amenities that are best suited for you. “Low Heat” encourages you to be a “devil with a halo” and visit the Museum of Sex, followed by a retreat to your room to enjoy an aphrodisiac-filled basket of almonds, seeds, bananas, strawberries, red wine and absinthe. Or turn up the flame to “Medium Heat” and be a “devil with a conscious,” reading your gift of “Go Green between the Sheets and Make Your Love Sustainable,” or using an array of eco-friendly massage oils after your private in-room wine tasting which includes two bottles of sustainable wines. For the full effect, the “High Heat” package transforms you into a “devil in the centerfold.” Are you a closet exhibitionist? With this package, you’ll get a one-hour photo shoot with make-up and styling with a magazine-style book of boudoir photos. In your room, you’ll find an iPod pre-loaded with sexy tunes to get you in the mood, along with red wine, chocolates, and two disposable cameras. Prices for the packages range from $399-$899 per night. To book, info@ink48.com. 653 11^th Avenue, Manhattan, 212-757-0088 www.ink48.com.

2014 Chinese New Year — Celebrate in Flushing This Year

The Chinese Year of the Horse has arrived. One of the best places to celebrate is among the Chinese community in Flushing, Queens, a quick hop from Manhattan on the 7 train. One of the three largest Asian communities in New York City, along with Sunset Park (Brooklyn) and Chinatown (Manhattan), Flushing will embrace the Lunar New Year with their annual Lunar New Year Parade, starting at 10am on Saturday, February 8. Join the crowds enjoying dragon dancers, steel drummers and fireworks. People line the route which begins at Union Street and 37^th Ave. and ends near Main St. and 39^th Ave. Viewing stands are placed at Flushing Library (Main and Kissena streets) and at the parade’s end. For more information about the parade, Queens, and other NYC neighborhoods, NYC & Co. provides information through its Neighborhood x Neighborhood site, nycgo.com/neighborhoods.

What to do after the parade:

Flushing is a lot more than LaGuardia airport.

Go shopping at The Shops at Queens Crossing, sampling dim sum and bubble tea in-between store visits. (Main Street and 39^th Ave., http://www.queenscrossing.com/index.php/shopping)

Eat, eat, eat – Joe’s Shanghai (136-21 37th Ave, http://www.joeshanghairestaurants.com/flushingstore_eng.html) still has, in my humble opinion, the best soup dumplings in New York City. The no-reservations policy guarantees a wait, but it’s usually fairly quick. Cash only. Save room for dessert at Tai Pan Bakery (37-25 Main Street, www.taipanbakeryonline.com)‎ – just point to what you might like to try and explore. Spicy & Tasty (39-07 Prince St., spicyandtasty.com/) is rated as one of the most authentic and least inexpensive restaurants in Flushing. I suggest that you bring a large group so you can try a variety of dishes, from tame to killer Szechuan hot.

Bring the kids – the New York Hall of Science (47-01 111^th St., Corona, nysci.org) ‎ is a favorite for hands-on exploration, as is the newly renovated Queens Museum of Art (www.queensmuseum.org/) with its mammoth panorama of New York City. If the weather isn’t too chilly, you can also walk through the Queens Botanical Garden (43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org/‎) for a taste of winter vegetation (and a beautiful park setting). For more outdoor fun, Flushing Meadow Park is always a favorite with its imposing remnant of the 1964 World’s Fair, the Unisphere.

History and the Arts – The Voelker Orth Museum (14919 38^th Ave., www.vomuseum.org/‎) is an 18^th-century house and museum, bird sanctuary and Victorian garden. Another landmark home, the Kingsland Homestead, depicts farmhouse life of the 18^th century and also houses the Queens Historical Society (http://queenshistoricalsociety.org/).

Feel like making a “getaway” of it? Several neighborhood hotels area available including the Hotel de Point in College Point (http://www.hoteldepoint.com/), a contemporary property with eco-friendly amenities, and The Parc Hotel in Flushing (http://www.theparchotel.com), an upscale boutique hotel which opens in March. More choices lie closer to LaGuardia Airport.

Chagall Exhibit Closing February 2 — Don’t Miss

Closing February 2, the Chagall: Love, War, and Exile, exhibit at the Jewish Museum in Manhattan should not be missed. This exhibit of paintings, prints and artifacts makes its debut in the United States, showing an important period in Marc Chagall’s artistic career: the effect of the fascism and World War II on his creativity. It also show the impact of the death of his wife Bella in 1944 and the inclusion of his new wife Virginia Haggard McNeil into his paintings, which are filled with many familiar icons of earlier works.

Always hearkening back to Vitebsk, the village in Belarus/Russia of Chagall’s birth, the paintings include fondly remembered symbols of the shtetl or village, such as the cow, a brightly colored horse, houses, violinists, religious villagers and mothers with children. Later, darker paintings incorporate Chagall’s memories of the Bolshevik Revolution, a dark period of exile from his beloved Russia to France. The exhibition includes 31 paintings and 22 works on paper, as well as telegrams, letters, poems, photos, books and more, all works of Marc Chagall or ephemera from his life.

Chagall: Love, War and Exile focuses on the artist’s works from the 1930s through 1948, following his move to Paris in 1922 (where he changed his name from Moishe Shagal/Segal to the more French Marc Chagall and incorporated much French style into his paintings), and during his second exile to New York at the invitation of Alfred Barr of the Museum of Modern Art. One of the most revered modernist painters, Marc Chagall (1887–1985) displays here the influences on his style from folk art, religious painting, Cubism and even Surrealism (one painting shows a “walking” street lamp). Especially interesting is his attempt at outreach to both Christians and Jews, showing frequent depictions of the Crucifixion of Jesus as well as of Jesus in the form of Jewish figures wearing Jewish religious vestments, both functioning as an everyman symbol of anyone who has been the victim of persecution.

Moving from the folk style of Russian art, to French-influenced flower-filled paintings, darker persecution-themed paintings, and mourning images following his wife’s death, Chagall finally shows splashes of color again in the final paintings of the exhibit. World War II has ended, Chagall has re-married and has a second child. Themes of his past — “the village” that he so adored — remain but are now more vibrant, showing the Chagall that one has come to know more familiarly from his earlier paintings like “I and the Village” (1911) at the Museum of Modern Art.

The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Avenue, 1109 5th Ave, Manhattan, (212) 423-3200 http://www.thejewishmuseum.org

Buy Your “Choice Eats” Tickets Now — Other Manhattan and Brooklyn Food Events This Week

Are you ready for the best foodie event in Manhattan? It’s not until March 25, but tickets are now on sale.

The Village Voice’s “Choice Eats” always has about 60 restaurants to sample treats from, from 35 or more different ethnicities. To date, 26 restaurants have voiced their commitment including Bear, Bhatti Indian Grill, Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter, Brooklyn Koloache (love those savory and sweet pastries), Butter & Scotch, Coppelia, Devi, Dirt Candy (vegetarians rejoice), Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue, Indian Clove, Jimmy’s No. 43, Kaia Wine Bar, Louro, Luke’s Lobster, Mables Smokehouse, Maima’s Liberian Bistro, No. 7 Oda House, Ovelia Psistaria, Pete Zaaz, Queens Comfort, Red Hook Lobster Pound (is this your favorite or is it Luke’s?), Robicelli’s, The Kati Roll Company, The Meatball Shop, Xe Mayu Sandwich Shop. Back by popular demand, “Choice Eats” will offer all ticketholders an array of dessert offerings in the “Choice Sweets” section of the event. March 25. www.villagevoice.com/choiceeats.

Since this is the seventh event, you know it’s going to be a lucky one! The location this year is new (not the 69th Armory as in the past): Basketball City at Pier 36 in Lower Manhattan (299 South Street). Three hours of eating from 7-10pm, with a VIP-only hour from 6-7pm. Tickets are $60 for General Admission, or $85 with the VIP sign-up.

New this year, “Choice Eats” will be accepting volunteers to assist The Village Voice team on-site at the event. In addition, to free entry to “Choice Eats,” this is a pretty cool way to get a free general admission ticket to The Village Voice’s Third annual “Choice Streets” Food Truck Tasting Event to be held later this year in May. To apply, you must be 21 years or older and fill out this application, http://bit.ly/CEvolunteer.

Two other foodie events happening in NYC this week:

23rd Taste of the NFL at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

Held in Red Hook (Brooklyn) at “heated” Pier 12, the Taste of the NFL is holding its annual party, with lots of celebrity chefs fêting their favorite NFL team, each with a special dish. This year’s event – no surprise – is being held the night before the Super Bowl. As a nod to the Super Bowl’s straggling both New York and New Jersey, there will also be a special appearance this year from cast members of TLC’s “Cake Boss.” Proceeds go to local food banks in NFL cities. 72 Bowne Street, Brooklyn.

#PEPCITY in Bryant Park

PepsiCo will throw a three-day music and food celebration in Manhattan’s Bryant Park, starting Thursday, January 30 and ending Saturday, February 1. Free public events are scheduled from 2-6pm including performances from Broadway musicals. Nightly entertainment includes free ticketed concerts in the dome at 8pm. Food stations will be provided by local celebrity chefs David Burke (David Burke Townhouse, David Burke Kitchen, Fishtail by David Burke), Marc Forgione (Restaurant Marc Forgione) and Michael Psilakis (Kefi, Fishtag). 40th-42nd streets, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, Manhattan. Check out the video here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oJF-ipZ33c

Super Bowl Activities in New York City

If you haven’t been over to Times Square and Broadway yet, you’re in for a week of Super Bowl festivities.

Last night saw the testing of the New Jersey-New York Super Bowl Toboggan on Super Bowl Boulevard.

A very chilly experience at 41^st Street and Broadway. Broadway will be closed to cars from 47^th Street to 34^th Street so pedestrians can enjoy the shops, merriment and snacks amid the freezing temperatures. You can also register on-location for free access to the NFL Network, ESPN and FOX broadcast sets as well as the Vice Lombardi Trophy display. Some of the fun activities: take a photo with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, receive free autographs from NFL players, kick a field goal through NFL uprights, ride the 60’ toboggan, and enjoy giveaways and snacks throughout. Broadway between 47th and 34th streets, Manhattan. http://www.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2014/01/27/0ap2000000318290.pdf ; http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/48/events/boulevard

Other activities scheduled for the week are equally fun. Be sure to check out some of these.

Want some culture? Madison Square Garden will have you calling out and dancing to the 15th Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration led by Patti LaBelle, Mary Mary, Tamela Mann and the NFL Players Choir at 7:30pm on Friday, January 31 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Tickets start at $45. 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Manhattan http://www.theateratmsg.com/events/2014/january/the-15th-annual-nfl-super-bowl-gospel-celebration.html

Our favorite cultural institution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, shows off a more popular form of collection this week: the vintage football card collection of Jefferson R. Burdick. Burdick, an electrician from Syracuse, NY, collected some 303,000 cards through 1963. On display are 150 football cards in an exhibit entitled “Gridiron Greats.” Through February 10. 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82^nd Street, Manhattan. http://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-museum/now-at-the-met/2014/highlights-of-gridiron-greats

If you’ve missed the football greats making guest appearances at Super Bowl Boulevard on Broadway, you’ll have another opportunity to meet a legend in person… in the Bronx. At the Bronx Terminal Market, former New York Giants running back and Super Bowl XXV MVP Ottis Anderson will do a meet-and-greet and sign autographs between 1pm and 2pm. From Noon-3pm, there will also be a free throwing clinic conducted by local college football players. Other activities to be announced. “Touchdown at Bronx Terminal Market.” Saturday, February 1. 610 Exterior Street, Bronx. http://bronxterminalmarket.com/pages/events.aspx

If your child is too young for all this but still obsessed with sports, head back to Manhattan to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Here football takes over their myriad hands-on experiences with a play obstacle course, an instant-replay booth, and arts-and-crafts programs for kids to design their own referee flags, puppets and NFL coins. “You Make the Call: Learn to be an NFL Official” exhibit. Through February 28. 212 West 83^rd Street, Manhattan. http://www.cmom.org/

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Recent Posts

About the author

Stuff to Do

Hotels Offer Valentine’s Day Specials for Valentine’s Day

2014 Chinese New Year — Celebrate in Flushing This Year

Chagall Exhibit Closing February 2 — Don’t Miss

Buy Your “Choice Eats” Tickets Now — Other Manhattan and Brooklyn Food Events This Week

Super Bowl Activities in New York City

If you haven’t been over to Times Square and Broadway yet, you’re in for a week of Super Bowl festivities.

Other activities scheduled for the week are equally fun. Be sure to check out some of these.

Pages

Recent Posts

Tags

About the author

Stuff to Do

More Enticing Valentine’s Day Events and Specials

Hotels Offer Valentine’s Day Specials for Valentine’s Day

2014 Chinese New Year — Celebrate in Flushing This Year

Chagall Exhibit Closing February 2 — Don’t Miss

Buy Your “Choice Eats” Tickets Now — Other Manhattan and Brooklyn Food Events This Week

Super Bowl Activities in New York City

If you haven’t been over to Times Square and Broadway yet, you’re in for a week of Super Bowl festivities.

Other activities scheduled for the week are equally fun. Be sure to check out some of these.