Happy Holidays, New York!

Did you know? On December 29, 1934, Madison Square Garden hosted its first college basketball game.

In today’s NYC Newsletter:

Best NYE events, hidden gems, local headlines this week.

Let’s get to it.

– Sofia Kurd.

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The answer to last weeks trivia: Ellis Island is not technically part of Manhattan. It is federal land in New York Harbor, but a 1998 Supreme Court ruling gave most of the filled-in land (the larger, artificial part) to New Jersey, while the original, smaller island (including the main museum) remains part of New York.

NYC TRIVIA:

Which New York City neighborhood technically exists because the city lost a lawsuit and had to legalize it after years of informal occupation?

A) SoHo
B) DUMBO
C) Greenwich Village
D) Times Square

The answer will be revealed in the next newsletter.

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The Winner of 2025 New York City Newsletter Pet Holiday Outfit Contest Is…

Joka from the Bronx!

Happy Holidays, Joka!

NYRR Midnight Run + Fireworks NYE
Run four miles through Central Park at midnight, then watch fireworks from inside the park.
🔗 https://www.nyrr.org/races/nyrrmidnightrun

Soho Grand’s Black & White Masquerade Ball (16th Annual)
Soho Grand Hotel
A NYC NYE perennial, this black-and-white masquerade is an intentional nod to Truman Capote’s infamous 1966 Grand Masked Ball, with masks encouraged.
🔗 https://www.sohogrand.com/dining/new-years-eve/

New Year’s Eve at Maison Premiere
Maison Premiere — Williamsburg
Absinthe, oysters, chandeliers, and a New Orleans–meets–Paris atmosphere. Late reservations drift into a midnight toast.
🔗 https://www.maisonpremiere.com

New Year’s Eve at St. Mazie
St. Mazie — Williamsburg
Live jazz, candlelight, and a crowd that actually listens to the music.
🔗 https://www.stmazie.com

New Year’s Eve: Midnight Arcana
The Standard, High Line — Wednesday, Dec 31
The Standard’s annual NYE party returns with Midnight Arcana, a tarot-themed, immersive night spread across the hotel’s bars and dance floors, complete with DJs, drinks, and theatrical visuals.
🔗 https://www.standardhotels.com/new-york/happenings/nye-midnight-arcana-2025

New Year’s Eve Dinner & Party at Peak
Hudson Yards
A modern, international crowd gathers for a multi-course dinner followed by champagne and views from one of NYC’s highest dining rooms.
🔗 https://www.peaknyc.com

Freezing rain and ice disrupt travel across the NYC region
Freezing rain moved through the city and surrounding suburbs, creating slick roads and delayed commutes as temperatures hovered around freezing. Officials warned that even light precipitation could quickly turn dangerous due to untreated surfaces.

NYC luxury real estate tests the market with $22.5M resale
A condo at 50 West 66th Street hit the market for $22.5 million, marking the first resale in the ultra-luxury building. The listing is being closely watched as a signal of how high-end buyers are responding to tighter financial conditions.

MTA prepares for the full phase-out of MetroCards
The MTA confirmed plans to fully retire MetroCards as OMNY adoption reaches critical mass across the system. The transition marks the end of a payment method that defined NYC transit for more than three decades.

City challenges Central Park carriage-horse operators
NYC officials warned that horse-drawn carriage operators could face suspensions after refusing new animal testing requirements. The dispute reignites long-running tensions between animal welfare advocates, drivers, and City Hall.

Governor Hochul signals support for mayor-elect’s childcare plan
Kathy Hochul expressed tentative support for mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s universal childcare proposal while stopping short of committing state funding. The comments suggest early alignment on goals but uncertainty on execution.

City Council passes revised property-purchase law favoring nonprofits
The NYC Council approved changes to the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, giving nonprofits expanded ability to bid on certain residential buildings. Supporters say the move protects affordability, while critics warn it could slow private investment.

Winter storm cleanup continues after snowfall
Sanitation crews continued clearing streets and bike lanes following one of the season’s heavier snowfalls. Transit and air travel gradually normalized as plows and salt trucks worked through the backlog.

Flu cases surge across New York, pressuring hospitals
Health officials reported a sharp rise in flu cases statewide, with NYC hospitals seeing increased admissions. Doctors urged vaccinations and precautions as holiday travel and gatherings amplify spread.

During the winter of 1917–1918, prolonged sub-zero temperatures caused the Hudson River to freeze thick enough that people walked and skated across it, with contemporary reports documenting horses, wagons, and even early automobiles on the ice. The frozen river briefly functioned as an improvised crossing between Manhattan and New Jersey.

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