26 Things We’re Looking Forward to in 2026
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The World in One Square Mile
There’s so much to see and do in Lower Manhattan
Spending a few days downtown? Check out these sample itineraries to make sure you don’t miss everything the neighborhood has to offer.
Your plans for the week are right here
Take a peek at our community calendar to learn about ongoing events in the neighborhood.
A one-stop-shop for your downtown business
Looking for research, statistics, market data or incentives? Find it all here.
A clean, safe and dynamic neighborhood
Serving an area from roughly City Hall to the Battery, from the East River to West Street, the Downtown Alliance manages the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District (BID).
Explore Life Downtown
It’s just not New York City without Lower Manhattan. It’s magnetic. It’s electric. It’s everything and a little bit more. Whether you’re making the most of a weekend getaway or looking for ways to mix up your lunch break, downtown has all the shopping, dining and entertainment you could ask for.
Come visit downtown
Get Inspired
New York saw its first major snowstorm in five years this weekend, with 11.4 inches of snow measured in Central Park on Monday. Never one to be left out, on Sunday Lower Manhattan turned into a veritable snowglobe, with the fluffy white good stuff covering our sidewalks, streets, parks and landmarks.
We took to the streets on Sunday to document this historic occasion, and caught plenty of plowing, sledding and snow angel-making. See the full snow day gallery at the link in our bio ❄️
Sharing this again today for no particular reason… 🥶
When the going gets cold, Lower Manhattanites are in luck. The subway system below our neighborhood is a vast labyrinth of underground passageways that provide a cheap, easy escape from the windchill. If you’re looking to stretch your legs or do your errands without getting frostbite, think of this east-to-west route like an elevated mall walk: you’ll end up in three shopping concourses (Fulton Center, the Oculus and Brookfield Place), and will have gotten your steps in while browsing all of the goodies these downtown destinations have to offer.
And if you just want to say you crossed nearly the entire island underground, start by swiping in at the route’s easternmost point – the subway entrance on William and Fulton Streets – and continue on until the Hudson River comes into view through the Winter Garden atrium.
On our site, we have more suggestions for cold weather activities, plus some important resources for keeping yourself and your community safe during these frigid times ❄️ Link in bio!
Question: The Seaport, the East River-side section of *this* iconic New York City neighborhood, was featured twice in Jeopardy clues this week
Answer: What is Lower Manhattan? 😉
@jeopardy 🤝 @theseaportnyc
The neighborhood got a little brighter last week with the addition of a colorful new mural, “I See the Sky From the Other Side,” which is now on view on construction fencing at 77 Water St.
The mural, by Greek/French visual artist @linardakiandco, is one of the six selected artworks derived from a partnership between the Downtown Alliance and local arts organization @artbridge to create a unique portfolio of Lower Manhattan-specific artwork that can be easily and affordably installed on temporary protective structures.
“I See the Sky From the Other Side” features a Lower Manhattan skyline with a vibrant blue sky and buildings wrapped in multicolored fabric patterns, recalling the neighborhood’s diversity and historical richness while highlighting downtown icons like One World Trade and the Brooklyn Bridge.
To learn more about the mural and our work with Art Bridge, head to the link in our bio 🔗
It seems like NYC Restaurant Week was just yesterday — but it was actually in July, and an entire meteorological lifetime has passed since then. Relive the magic of that beautiful, sunkissed season and book a reservation at one of the dozens of downtown restaurants participating in the 2026 winter edition of NYC Restaurant Week, which runs from January 20 to February 12.
Head to the link in our bio for a full list of participating spots 🔗
A gorgeous new restaurant has joined the downtown dining scene 🍽️
@terravitadowntown, open now at 17 Battery Place, makes a great first impression. Walking into the dining room, guests are greeted by sweeping ceilings, grand columns, organic lines and design elements informed by nature. Things only get better at the table, where Lebanese and South Asian flavors infuse familiar dishes like lasagne and burrata, and candy-colored cocktails go down easy.
Head to the link in our bio to read all about this new Battery Park City staple.
Happy National Gluten-Free Day to all who celebrate 🫡🥖🚫
Nearly all of our best foods, the ones universally beloved and savored over, have one microscopic thing in common: a complex combination of proteins colloquially known as gluten. Gluten is the thing that makes sourdough rise, develops the buttery layers of the best croissants, deepens the flavor of beer, and gives structure to everything from pasta to pizza dough to cookies and candy. But for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, this pesky little protein can wreak serious havoc.
Luckily, New York City is one of the best places in the world for eating gluten-free, Lower Manhattan especially. Here, we have fast-casual spots and fine-dining establishments alike that avoid wheat products without compromising taste. For anyone out there looking to nosh sans-gluten, this one’s for you.
For even more GF options in the nabe, check out the full guide at the link in our bio 🔗
The storefronts of Lower Manhattan 🛍️
Manifesting a downtown storefront for your small business in 2026? We can help bring your vision to life. Applications for RE:Store, the Downtown Alliance’s new initiative to transform vacant storefronts into temporary pop-up retail opportunities, are open NOW!
Re:Store works by pairing unleased spaces with qualified, dynamic short-term tenants. Businesses selected for the program will receive free rent for three months in high-traffic retail locations throughout the neighborhood, in addition to a $15,000 grant for tenant improvements and operating expenses. Expert support for insurance questions, legal matters, permitting and more will be provided, as well as marketing and communications services.
If you operate a small business in New York City and are looking to test a new market or expand your footprint – whether that means opening a second location or moving from an e-commerce site or a market table to a brick-and-mortar storefront – we encourage you to apply! Head to the link in bio, or go to downtownny.com/restore, for everything you need to know.
She’s beauty! She’s grace! She’s the Downtown Alliance’s Director of Storefront Business Engagement!
If you’re a small business owner in Lower Manhattan, chances are you already know Lauren Jefferson. She’s the über friendly, hard-working bridge between the Alliance and all of the neighborhood’s mom-and-pops, connecting them with grants, resources and other support services to help them thrive.
But for those of you who haven’t yet had the pleasure, we thought we’d introduce you to Lauren ourselves. We joined her for a busy day on the job, shadowing her as she took meetings, wrote her weekly newsletter, visited some of her tried-and-true spots and met with some brand new businesses in the nabe 🤝
Learn more about Lauren’s role here at the Alliance and our work at large at the link in our bio 🔗
Extra, extra! The Financial District has been ranked the #1 most in-demand neighborhood for buyers and renters in New York City by @streeteasy 🏙️
In the last year, StreetEasy searches for available apartments in the neighborhood surged by nearly 47 percent, a testament to Lower Manhattan’s convenience, vibrancy and continuing transformation into a residential hub.
As @timeoutnewyork writes, “the list shows exactly what New Yorkers are prioritizing right now: neighborhoods that feel lived-in, well-connected, and just flexible enough to handle whatever the city throws at them next.”
To us, this is no surprise! We know best how special and dynamic Lower Manhattan is, but it’s great to see it reflected back to us in this way. If you live downtown, leave a comment about why you love it!
About the Alliance
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At the Downtown Alliance, our staff is committed to your success.
Downtown Connection
Our free bus service makes 36 stops around the perimeter of Lower Manhattan.
Dine Around Downtown
Sample signature menu dishes at a feast of Lower Manhattan restaurants for $5 to $10 all at one community food festival.
LM Live
Our live programming initiative brings the Lower Manhattan community together around events that highlight the neighborhood’s talent, innovation, history and culture.
We are the Alliance for Downtown New York. We manage the Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District (BID) and provide service, advocacy, research and information to advance Lower Manhattan as a global model of a 21st century Central Business District for businesses, residents and visitors. Our district comprises Lower Manhattan south of the north side of Murray Street, roughly from City Hall at the north to the Battery at the south, and from the East River to West Street.