It's December!

(In case you didn't notice.)

Today I’m running off a high from spending yesterday geeking out on my own vibes. I got rolling on a few mini paintings, sought out and acquired two more vintage bags to paint on, started and completed one of said painted bags, and impulsively bought a Christmas tree that called out to me directly. (“Rosalee!” It said. “I am for you, and you are for me.”) My house smells like fresh fir and lilies that opened up while I was away (my friend Kendra brought them when she came over for dinner last week). My Black Friday purchases have been opened, tried on and admired in the mirror. Tubes of paint are everywhere. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!

It’s cold out there, folks, so don’t forget your gloves or moisturizer (not in that order).

Here’s what’s up in New York December 1-7:

NEW HAPPY HOUR ALERT

LORING PLACE – An already excellent establishment that has unreserved bar seats, making it a prime place for an impromptu happy hour (or a planned one before a dinner reservation). Monday-Friday from 6-7pm, you can have a $1 pizza slice served with a $10 Cosmopolitan. (You can get the pizza with any other cocktail at its standard price, but that would just be…sexist? Homophobic? IDK, but I’m saying it’s weird to be so anti-Cosmo that you spend more money to have something else!) Anyway, let’s go :)

TIMELY IDEAS

TREE LIGHTINGS – ‘Tis the season for ceremoniously lighting up enormous evergreen trees! In fact, ‘tis the week for it:
Tues. – Tavern On The Green + Seaport
Wed. – Rockefeller Tree (in person and online) (divas get their own night)
Thurs. – Central Park + DUMBO Archway + Battery Park City
Fri. – Fort Greene + Roosevelt Island + Woodhaven
Sat. – Bronx Little Italy
Sun. – Carl Schurz Park (UES) + Park Avenue at Brick Church
Washington Square Park is incoming next week; I guess they’re a little late this year?
(I’ve already lit my own teeny tiny tree, sorry, you missed it, it was just for me.)

Until December 14 – POP UP – Cafe Piecework: Piecework, a cutesy puzzle brand, is taking over a West Village coffee shop for a holiday pop-up. Shop, sip coffee, and explore other brand partnerships sprinkled throughout the next two weeks.

Tues., Dec. 3 – CHARITABLE DRINKING – Giving Tuesday at Ray’s bar, where $1 per drink goes to the Bowery Mission.

Wed., Dec. 3 – TALKS– A Screaming Blast: Holiday Entertaining with Rebecca Gardner (a lunchtime thang)

Wed., Dec. 3 – COOKING – Eat Offbeat: Tunisian Cuisine Dinner + Cooking Demo at Atelier Jolie

Thurs., Dec. 4 – CRAFT WORKSHOP – Santa’s Workshops at Ostudio: among a couple of other workshops, my new friend Anne will be teaching how to knit a zig-zag scarf with recycled yarn. (I have exactly zero knitting experience myself, but if you have a little bit, this is for you.) It’s literally giving Missoni, okay!

Thurs., Dec 4 + Fri., Dec. 5 – GIFTS – Librae’s launching holiday ceramics, and on Thursday and Friday from 2-4pm, the artist will be there to personalize pieces with monogramming.

Fri., Dec. 5 – COLOR + SCENT – Pura x Pantone: The Pantone Color of the Year 2026 NYC Pop-Up

Fri., Dec 5 – ART – American Artists Professional League: oil portrait demo at the Salmagundi Club with acclaimed oil portraitist and AAPL Elected Artist Member Scott Nickerson

Sat., Dec. 6 – MUSIC – Songs of the Season, a sing-a-long with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center

Sat., Dec. 6 – HOLIDAY SHOPPING – Holiday Vendor Market at Drawing Room Williamsburg

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ONGOING THINGS

Thursday Night Bike Ride every Thursday at 7pm through Central Park

Free admission on Wednesdays at the New York Aquarium

Check out the Events at Drawing Room for some social crafting.

Pay-What-You-Wish at the Guggenheim on Mondays and Saturdays

AMC Tuesdays AND NOW WEDNESDAYS, TOO! – Tickets to any AMC movie only $8 each, and small combos (popcorn + drink) are only $5.

Free Fridays at the Whitney – Just as it sounds. Pre-reserve a time slot, show up, and enjoy.

Free Friday evenings at The Morgan Library – Live music begins at 5pm! Damn, I love the Morgan. (Reservations are required.)

Not Your Standard Bingo at The Standard Grill every Sunday night at 10pm.