Good Morning, New York!

Did you know? On today’s date, December 15, 1988 – Federal authorities indicted 17 members of five Mafia families in New York in what became known as the “Windows Case.”

In today’s NYC Newsletter:

Holiday shows and events, expanded job training programs, holiday travel delays.

Let’s get to it.

– Sofia Kurd.

Happy Hanukkah to all celebrating!

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New York Question Of The Day

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NYC OPINION:

Is congestion pricing helping or hurting NYC?
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Click reply to share your perspective. Your response is anonymous. The majority response will be revealed in the next newsletter!

The answer from last week’s riddle was: The deepest NYC subway station is 191st Street (1 train)

Best Events

Mon 4pm + 7:15pm – Some Like It Hot (1959) – Angelika’s “Classics in Black + White” series returns. Film showing of Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot.

Mon 7pm – And Scene: Actors x Improvisers – Broadway and TV actors perform scripted scenes alongside improvisers who have no idea what’s coming.

Mon 7pm – Molière in the Park: Don Juan – A free staged reading of the French tragicomedy at Prospect Park’s Picnic House. Free.

Mon 7pm – NYC Trivia Night at Pete’s Candy Store – Williamsburg’s coziest bar hosts a Monday trivia night with prizes and brainy regulars. Free to play.

Tues 7 pm — The Great Chanukah Doughnut Duel @ The Moxy Williamsburg
Chefs bring inventive sufganiyot creations to a playful but culinary‑serious competition — ideal for foodies who appreciate both creativity and craft.

Tue Dec 16, 6pm – Chanukah on Ice (Wollman Rink, Central Park)
Live DJ, kosher snacks, hot cocoa, and a giant menorah lighting — all while skating under the lights at Central Park’s most iconic rink.

Tues–Sat, 5–11pm – Bar Après Ski Pop‑Up (Olly Olly Market)
A cozy alpine‑themed speakeasy hidden inside Olly Olly Market with twinkling lights, faux fur throws, and fall/winter cocktails that feel like you're in Aspen.

Thru Apr – The Mad Mad World of Jonathan Adler (Museum of Arts and Design)
Ceramicist Jonathan Adler curates 60+ works from MAD’s collection alongside his own maximalist designs, in a wild install co-created with Simon Doonan.

Thru Apr – Dinosaur by Iván Argote (High Line at 30th & 10th)
The High Line unveils a new plinth: a 21-foot hyperrealistic pigeon sculpture towering over the Spur.

Hidden Gems

We’ve tracked down some great hidden gems in the city to try this winter:

Local News

• Dec 15 – Workforce advocates and city leaders are pushing for expanded job training programs and better pathways to good jobs as a core part of NYC’s economic agenda. Documented

• Dec 14 – Hanukkah events and menorah lightings continued across the city this weekend, bringing festive crowds and community celebrations to public plazas and parks. amNewYork

• Dec 15 – A holiday nostalgia train experience is drawing global tourists to NYC this season, with airlines capitalizing on the city’s festive rail travel vibe. Travel And Tour World

• Dec 13 – A report on NYC’s economy showed overall resilience in 2025, with low unemployment and job growth in outer boroughs even as affordability challenges persist. Gothamist

• Dec 15 – A new wellness “bathing club” opened in the Flatiron District offering Scandinavian‑inspired sauna and cold plunge sessions that New Yorkers are calling the next big wellness trend. New York Post

• Dec 13 – Holiday art shows are lighting up NYC this season, with exhibits ranging from immersive installations to tree‑themed works at major museums. Artnet News

• Dec 14 – Winter weather snarled flights out of LaGuardia and JFK, with JetBlue and Delta canceling dozens of Sunday departures due to the snowstorm. New York Post.

• Dec 15 – Emily Blunt headlined a film screening in NYC this weekend, part of a wave of screenings during the holiday season. People.com

New Yorkers Through History

The Confino Family

In 1905, Victoria Confino arrived at Ellis Island as a 12-year-old immigrant from Greece and settled with her family on the Lower East Side. By her teens, she was already a translator and survival guide for newly arrived immigrants—teaching them how to navigate tenement life, where to buy food, how to avoid scams, and how to find work. She didn’t make headlines, but she changed hundreds of lives just by being resourceful, kind, and tough. Today, the Tenement Museum tells her story to thousands of visitors each year—not as a celebrity, but as a girl who made New York more livable for everyone who came after her.

NYC Predicts

Take this month’s NEW prediction survey and share your take on major NYC and national storylines. At the end of each month, we randomly select one respondent to receive a $75 gift card.

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