December 20, 2013

In this Edition:

Cultural Pursuits

Curtain Up

Special Feature

Previous Weekly Snapshots

Weekly Snapshot

The holidays are upon us and even though this weekend will be warmer, winter has arrived. It is a time to get together with family and friends, to look forward, and to give back. This week's Special Feature focuses on those cozy cocktails to enjoy with friends and the best hot chocolate to keep you warm as the temperature declines. Merry Christmas!

Make sure to visit my latest snapshots for all the musts during the season:

Norma's Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday Windows & Dazzling Lights

Holiday Markets & Pop Ups

City Ice Rinks

Happy Holidays!

Norma Knows New York City

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See the below categories for my event picks for the

coming week.

General & Holiday Events
Cultural Pursuits
Curtain Up

General & Holiday Events...

December 22 It's a Wonderful Life

My favorite holiday movie is playing at the United Palace of Cultural Arts.

December 25 Christmas Day Movies!

Although many families have scheduled a festive day, many New Yorkers look forward to the opening of blockbuster movies later in the afternoon... I'm one of them! Although I'm a fan of both Meryl and Leo, my family and friends have opted to see the Wolf of Wall Street on Christmas night. Other movie picks opening on Christmas Day:

August: Osage County - Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, Ewan McGregor, Abigail Breslin
Lone Survivor - Mark Wahlberg, Emile Hirsch, Eric Bana
Labor Day - Kate Winslet & Josh Brolin
The Invisible Woman - Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones, Kristin Scott Thomas

Through December 30

Cocoa and Carols or Holiday Jazz Cruise

90 minute festive cruise on the Hudson to see all of NYC lights. Live music, beautiful views, and warm treats.

Through February 7

New York Cares Coat Drive
Start your own coat drive, donate coats of your own, or attend a special event. Help those in need as the temperatures continue to drop this winter.

Cultural Pursuits...

Through January 11

Intimate Portraits of Elizabeth Taylor & Other Hollywood Legends

Fine art photography at the Keith de Lellis Gallery. Up Close and Personal photographs by Roddy McDowell. I was mesmerized by the one of Paul Newman!

Through January 12

"Lose not heart": J. D. Salinger's Letters to an Aspiring Writer

At the Morgan Library & Museum, the letters shed light on the stages of Salinger's career. Also at the Morgan is one of my favorite yearly exhibits, Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.

Through February 2 Chagall: Love, War and Exile

Exhibit at the Jewish Museum explores the period in the artist's career from the 1930s through 1948 when in Paris and then exiled to New York.

Through April 13 The American West in Bronze, 1850-1925

Celebrate the timeless appeal of painting sculptures and film during this period, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Curtain Up...

December 20 & 21 The 6th Annual Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular
Order your tickets now for next week's performances at 54 Below (254 West 54th Street).

December 20 & 21
A Broadway Christmas with Brian Stokes Mitchell

A Broadway celebration at Avery Fisher Hall (10 Lincoln Square).

December 21 An R&B Christmas

At the Brooklyn Center Performing Arts (2900 Campus Road, Brooklyn). Listen to doo-wop artists perform - they'll sing well-known hits, as well as popular Christmas tunes.

December 21 A Charlie Brown Christmas

For both young and old... tickets are still available for Carnegie Hall's (881 7th Avenue) Family Holiday Concert featuring The New York Pops.

December 21 Make Music New York: Winter

Classical music will be played all over town in celebration of the shortest day of the year.

Through December 21 Handel's Messiah
NY Philharmonic's annual concert at Lincoln Center... choral pieces to light your heart on fire.

Through December 21 Paul Winter's Winter Solstice Concert

New York's favorite holiday alternative to the Nutcracker and Radio City's Christmas Spectacular. This event is a contemporary take on ancient solstice rituals - at St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Avenue).

Through December 22 American Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker

Last chance to see this production at BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Avenue - Brooklyn)!

Through December 23 42nd Street Jazz Festival

Celebrate the holidays with a wide variety of jazz artists from New York City and around the world.

December 24 Christmas Eve!

Stargaze in Grand Central Terminal's Celestial Ceiling, and purchase tickets to hear the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. If you can't go this evening, the orchestra is also performing on the 28th.

December 24 to 28 Michael Feinstein

I plan to get tickets for the performance on the 27th at Birdland (315 West 44th Street) - one of my favorite performers!

December 26 through 31

Wynton Marsalis Septet

The renowned performer will be at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola (10 Columbus Circle) through the end of the year.

Through December 30

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

For those of you that haven't seen the Rockettes, their stage door tour is still available.

Through December 31 Steve Tyrell

One of my favorite entertainers performs at Cafe Carlyle (35 East 76th Street) through New Years Eve.

Through January 4 G. Balanchine's The Nutcracker
The yearly anticipated Nutcracker by Tschaikovsky opens at the David H. Koch Theater (20 Lincoln Center). Even if you've seen this Nutcracker, you might want to take in the performance on December 22nd to see the newly crowned Sugarplum and Dewdrop.

Through January 4 The Magic Flute

Holidays are magic at the Metropolitan Opera. Performances through January 4th.

Through January 4 Chris Botti
Legendary trumpeter makes his way to Blue Note (131 West 3rd St).

Through January 5

Alvin Alley American Dance

Performances at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street).

Special Holiday Feature...

Cozy Cocktails & Hot Chocolate

COZY COCKTAILS

Apotheke

9 Doyers Street

This hot spot offers rare culinary cocktails with seasonal herbs... just what the doctor (or pharmacist) ordered.

Bar Pleiades
The Surrey - 20 East 76th Street

It's all luxury at The Surrey and the bar is no exception, especially when crafted by Chef Daniel Boulud. Enjoy seasonal delights mixed to perfection.

Bar Seine
Hotel Plaza Athenee - 37 East 64th Street

A civilized Upper East Side lounge. The atmosphere feels like you're having your drink in a friend's living room, but the decadent cocktails bring you back to reality.

Bemelmans Bar

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel - 35 East 76th Street
A New York institution... the timeless location paired with live jazz entertainment continues to attract socialites and movie stars with its extensive drink menu and nightly performances. Try the Spiced Cranberry Margarita...

Brandy Library

25 North Moore Street

A comfy spot on a cold night, sample a rare Single Malt for the holidays.

Clement

The Peninsula New York - 700 Fifth Avenue
The adjoining bar to Clement Restaurant feels like a quintessential New York home. They serve made-to-order cocktails so feel free to get inventive with your selection.

King Cole Bar & Salon

The St. Regis Hotel, New York - 2 East 55th Street
Evoking the jazz age experience, the bar offers six different Bloody Marys, perfect for all seasons.

Kingside
Viceroy New York City - 120 West 57th Street
Kingside's bar is just as alluring. Grab a craft beer or a specialty cocktail like the Smokey Santillana.

Library
NoMad Hotel - 1170 Broadway
Innovative cocktails are served in an impressive space which hosts a fully curated, two-level library. One of their classic cocktails is the "Bamboo" featuring orange bitters.