Photo: Nicole Freezer Rubens

NYC will be bursting with energy and festivities during the Lunar New Year! We have a few fun suggestions for celebrating the Year of the Snake. The poignant Anne Frank Exhibit opened last week at the Center for Jewish History—the first of its kind outside of Amsterdam. We are shocked that the Bryant Park Grill’s lease has not been renewed—it’s long been a favorite of ours. NYC doesn’t have a lock on top hair salons—our Long Island reporter shares a few of the Island’s most prestigious salons. Robin Lyons, our 2021 Tomatoes Got Talent winner, is performing at The Green Room 42—she’s awesome. There’s a psychedelic art exhibit in the East Village and our roving photographer has captured its essence.

Celebrate the Year of the Snake

New York City bursts with color and energy as it welcomes the Lunar New Year with a host of vibrant celebrations and cultural events. From the lively Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade to the serene beauty of the Queens Botanical Garden, the city offers a diverse array of festivities for all ages. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in traditional lion dances, explore artistic workshops, or dance the night away to electrifying music performances, NYC has something spectacular to offer. Join in the joyous celebrations and experience the rich cultural heritage that makes the Lunar New Year a truly unforgettable time in the Big Apple.

1. Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade:

1. • When: February 16, 2025
   • Where: Starting at Mott and Canal Streets, ending at Grand Street
   • What: Witness vibrant dragon and lion dances, colorful costumes, martial arts performances, and live music. The parade also features traditional Chinese floats and is one of the most anticipated events in NYC’s Chinatown. Arrive early to grab a good spot and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere.
2. Lunar New Year Celebration at Queens Botanical Garden:
   • When: February 8, 2025, from 12 PM to 4 PM
   • Where: Queens Botanical Garden
   • What: This family-friendly event includes lion dances, tai chi and kung fu demonstrations, arts and crafts, storytelling sessions, and more. It’s an excellent opportunity for kids and adults alike to learn about and experience Chinese culture in a beautiful garden setting.
3. Lunar New Year Celebration at Lincoln Center:
   • When: February 1, 2025, from 10 AM to 3 PM
   • Where: Lincoln Center
   • What: Enjoy lion dance performances, interactive storytime, live music and dance performances, and delicious snacks. This event is perfect for families and includes a variety of activities to engage and entertain children and adults.
4. Spring Festival: Lunar New Year at Avant Gardner:
   • When: January 30 to February 1, 2025
   • Where: Avant Gardner
   • What: Celebrate the Lunar New Year with an electrifying mix of electronic music performances by top artists like ILLENIUM, DJ Deisel, and DJ Snake. This event is perfect for those who love nightlife and music festivals. Get ready for high-energy performances and an unforgettable celebration.
5. Lunar New Year Celebration at the Seaport Museum:
   • When: February 1, 2025
   • Where: Seaport Museum
   • What: Participate in Chinese calligraphy workshops and make your own Chinese lion chain craft. This event provides a hands-on experience to learn about traditional Chinese art forms and is suitable for all ages. It’s a fantastic way to explore cultural heritage in a creative and interactive manner.
6. Lunar New Year Celebration at Hudson Yards:
   • When: Through February 9, 2025
   • Where: Hudson Yards
   • What: Enjoy traditional lion and ribbon dance performances and explore the stunning “Golden Tree” installation. The celebration features live performances and beautiful decorations that make Hudson Yards a must-visit destination during the Lunar New Year.
7. Lunar New Year Celebration at the Metropolitan Museum of Art:
   • When: January 25, 2025, from 12 PM to 5 PM
   • Where: Metropolitan Museum of Art
   • What: Participate in art workshops, watch live performances, and engage in interactive activities designed for all ages. This event allows you to explore and appreciate the rich artistic traditions associated with Lunar New Year and offers a diverse range of activities for visitors.

Say It Ain’t So….

The Bryant Park Grill, which has been a fixture behind the New York Public Library for 30 years, is set to close at the end of April 2025. It will be replaced by a new restaurant from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The new restaurant is expected to open by May 2026 after a $12 million renovation. We have long loved the Bryant Park Grill. It wasn’t overpriced and was a great gathering place for groups. So what will the new place be like? Big question mark.

Now – April 30. The Anne Frank Exhibit

The Anne Frank Exhibit opened last week on International Holocaust Day at the Center for Jewish History. It offers a deeply immersive experience, showcasing a meticulously recreated full-scale replica of the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II. This exhibit is the first of its kind outside of Amsterdam and provides a powerful glimpse into the lives of those who lived in hiding.

Visitors can explore the five rooms filled with period furniture and personal belongings, including a reconstruction of Anne’s writing desk where she penned her famous diary. The exhibit also features over 100 rare artifacts, such as Anne’s first photo album, handwritten poetry, and translated editions of her diary, offering a multifaceted view of Anne as a girl, a writer, and a symbol of resilience. This poignant exhibit runs through April 30, 2025, and aims to educate and inspire empathy through Anne’s story. GET THE DETAILS.

Long Island’s Upscale Salons for Stunning, Healthy Hair

Let’s face it—maintaining beautiful hair, whether curls, waves, or the ever-changing texture of time, isn’t always effortless. The secret? Finding a salon that doesn’t just style hair but understands it—one that treats every strand with the same care and precision you bring to choosing the perfect look. Andrea Peponakis has the scoop on Long Island’s most prestigious salons, where luxury meets artistry for your most fabulous hair yet. GET THE DETAILS.

Roving at the Brandt Foundation

Our roving photographer, Nicole Freezer Rubens writes:

“Meet George Jetson” at the Kenny Scharf exhibit at the Brandt Foundation. This survey of his work since the 70’s is housed in a beautifully restored Con Edison utility building. The stark contrast of the minimalist, functional space and the psychedelic work is a perfect showcase, reiterating how the artist takes everyday objects and characters and sets them in the intimidating vastness of the jungle or outer space.

I have been following Scharf’s career since his early days as a street artists. To see this wonderful survey of his work is to understand the journey he has taken us on over the past five decades. His surrealist, fantastic whimsy is demonstrated on every surface, down to making his own frames teeming with personality and adding sculpture to a painting.

This phenomenally fun show is up through February 28th. The Brandt Foundation is tucked away in the East Village at 421 East 6th Street. Gas up your flying car and go!

~ Nicole Freezer Rubens is author of “The Long Pause and the Short Breath”

Robin Lyon at the Green Room 42

Robin Lyon our 2021 Tomatoes Got Talent winner, made her cabaret/nightclub debut in 1983 with Michael Orland at the piano while she was in the original run of “A Chorus Line” on Broadway.  Having appeared all over the country throughout the years with all different cabaret shows,  doing not only her shows, but also fundraisers and benefits and charity events –  Robin & Michael are back at it celebrating over 40 years of friendship and musical marriage – and so excited to be back at their favorite room The Green Room 42 with her new and revised show “Been There, Done That, Now What”. The show contains songs range from pop to Broadway to originals and some fun special material thrown in there. Don’t miss it! GET YOUR TICKETS.