Holiday Roundup: Shop, Dine & Celebrate in LM This Season

By: Jessica Ainlay

This holiday season in Lower Manhattan you can skate with Olympians, brunch with Santa, attend Latkepalooza, listen to live music almost everywhere, make crafts, see the city from unparalleled viewpoints and shop to your heart’s content at holiday villages throughout the neighborhood. We know you have friends and family outside of Lower Manhattan, but we’re sure you can do all of your shopping, dining and celebrating without ever leaving. Plus, with the deals at the end of this roundup, you might decide to get your loved ones a room and host them here, too. Read on to find out why #downiswhatsup this holiday season.

Holiday Market at the Oculus
Westfield World Trade Center
From November 24th

A unique, indoor Winter Wonderland is now open at Westfield World Trade Center, a holiday market with the stunning backdrop of the Oculus. Visitors will find a gorgeous Christmas tree, a Hanukkah menorah fabricated from steel taken from the original World Trade Center towers, a 20-foot-high snowman, and a winter wonderland village, with stands from top brands, plus an animated GIF photo booth creating holiday postcards, a Holiday Arts & Crafts kiosk, and live performances on the Oculus stage showcasing Westfield’s Holiday Concert Series.

ONEderland
One World Observatory
Now through January 7, 2018
Open daily 9am – 9pm

For the next few weeks, come visit the winter wonderland set 1,250 feet above Lower Manhattan. Through January 7th, One World Observatory has transformed its experience into “Winter ONEderland: A Holiday Experience Above It All,” which invites visitors on a magical journey to the top of world, led by mascot Ollie the Owl. The extensive multi-media experience starts at the entrance where the halls to the elevators have been transformed into Glacier Cave, a magical underground grotto. 

Light Up Luminaries
Brookfield Place
November 28th from 5:30pm – 8pm

Returning for the third year, Luminaries is back for another exciting holiday season from November 29th  – January 5th 2018. To kick it all off, Brookfield Place is hosting a free community holiday event, a two-hour long holiday extravaganza Light Up Luminaries which will feature live performances, free ice skating, sweet treats, and the lighting of the Christmas tree along with the Luminaries themselves, a canopy of glowing lanterns suspended from the glass-vaulted atrium, each changing color and intensity. Guests can send holiday wishes into the world at wishing stations, and for every wish sent, Brookfield will donate $1.

94th Annual Lighting of the New York Stock Exchange Christmas Tree
11 Wall Street
November 30th from 2:30-6pm

This year’s tree-lighting ceremony at the NYSE will see Z100 on-air personality DJ Niko emcee the event, which also includes a spectacular performance by the Radio City Rockettes, Chilina Kennedy, aka Carol King in Broadway’s Beautiful, a visit from the Budweiser Clydesdale, and Santa Claus, with appearances by: Daymond John of ABC’s Shark Tank, Miss America, Mr. Met, Ready Jet Go!, and Harlem Globetrotters. There will be activities and entertainment for kids and hot cocoa served by Twitter.

New Belgium Brewery Bike Raffle
Stone Street Tavern
52 Stone Street
December 1st at 8pm

Just in time for the holidays, one lucky winner will go home with a brand new bicycle from the historic Stone Street Tavern. Come before 8 to enter the drawing, and walk away with the perfect give for one lucky loved one (or yourself!).

Santa’s Winter Workshops
ATRIO | Conrad New York
December 2, 9 and 16

Head to the Conrad New York in Battery Park City on three Saturdays in December for sweet treats prepared by the hote’s culinary team, holiday activities provided by the Children’s Museum of the Arts and illustrations by Deanna First. Tickets are $45 per child and $35 per adult (which also including a glass of champagne.) The Conrad also has set dinner menus for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and a New Year’s Eve dinner and drinks package, too.

The Nutcracker
Brookfield Place
Evening performances December 2nd and 3rd, matinee on the 3rd

The Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara and all your favorites from the Nutcracker are coming to Brookfield Place. With New York Theatre Ballet choreographer Keith Michael choreographing the one-hour ballet set to Tchaikovsky’s famed score, audiences are sure to be in for a treat. Before the performances on Friday and Saturday evening and Saturday’s matinee, audience members will be able to take photos with their favorite characters two hours before the show begins. Seating is first come, first served, so make sure to get there early!

Sea of Light | Seaport District
19 Fulton Street
December 5th at 5:30pm

Like no winter light show you have seen before, Sea of Light is a fully immersive sensory adventure that will be available throughout the holiday season. Come celebrate the opening day of Sea of Light, a celebration with live music choreographed to lights sculptures with free Xylobands, hot chocolate and mulled wine served at 5:30 sharp!

Brunch with Santa at 2West Restaurant
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park.
2 West St
December 9th from 11am – 1:30pm

Join Santa for a delicious brunch with a special child-height, ‘kids only’ buffet, alongside an adults a la carte brunch menu at 2West Restaurant. 

Latkepalooza
Museum of Jewish Heritage
December 10th from 10am – 12pm

Kick off Hanukkah right! The Museum of Jewish Heritage’s is throwing Latkepalooza, a celebration of the Festival of Lights with an interactive event that features music, hands-on activities, and of course – Latkes! Other food will be served as well, of course, and activities include latke-making, menorah-making and crafts. This event is presented by the Museum, The Workmen’s Circle and the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. Tickets are $10 at the door, free for children and grandchildren of museum and theatre members.

Seaport District’s Hanukkah Party
Seaport District
December 12 from 6pm – 8pm

Head to the South Street Seaport on the first night of Hanukkah and dance to live Klezmer music by Grammy winner Alicia Svigals, and enjoy a candle lighting ceremony led by Rabbi Katz of Chabad of Financial District.  In the holiday spirit there will be plenty of latkes, jelly donuts and gelt, along with an indoor, heated room of Hanukkah themed arts and crafts.

La Fete du District
Le District
225 Liberty St (Brookfield Place)
December 31st from 8pm – 2am
Tickets are $195 each 

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Le District!  Located inside Brookfield Place, with gorgeous views of the Hudson River, Le District brings a taste of France and Parisian flare to heart of Downtown Manhattan.  Enjoy the best from the market including unlimited french fries from Bar A Frites, cheese and charcuterie boards at the Boulangerie and oysters at the Poissonerie.  Raise a glass and toast to the new year at Le Bar with a selection of beer, wine and cocktails, and dance into 2018 with live music all night.

New Year’s Eve at The Beekman
The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel
December 31st 8pm

Greet the New Year in style at the award-winning Beekman Hotel, and celebrate in Chef Tom Colicchio’s acclaimed Temple Court restaurant. Dinner is served tableside on Gueridons, plus dancing and spectacular balloon drop will happen at midnight from the hotel’s majestic nine-story atrium.

HOLIDAY DEALS

Check out the following holiday deals from our Lower Manhattan businesses

Local Neighborhood Rate
Millennium Hilton New York Downtown
For stays between December 17th -28th

Got friends and family in town? Want to have a holiday staycation of your own? For locals who live and/or work in the Lower Manhattan area, the Millennium Hilton is offering 15 percent off the best available rate (based on availability) on stays from December 17th – December 28th.

The Rob Mathes Holiday Concert
Schimmel Center, 3 Spruce Street 
December 17th , 3pm 

Come for an afternoon of funk and R&B-laden original tunes, holiday classics, and audience favorites to put you in the spirit of the season! Save 20% with code DOWNTOWN20 at checkout. 

Winter Wonderland in NYC – 5,000 Bonus Points
Residence Inn World Trade Center
On stays from December 17th – March 11th 2018

Whether you’re a local who needs more space beyond your NYC apartment or you have friends and family coming to town, as long as you are a Marriott Rewards member, choose the Residence Inn World Trade Center to get up to 5,000 bonus points for your getaway. From December 17, 2017 – March 11, 2018, earn 1,000 Marriott Rewards bonus points per night, up to 5,000 bonus points per stay.