The Blankman List: Things to Do in NYC, January 2024

The Blankman List is a monthly curated list of things to do in New York City. It showcases the full range of what there is to do, for residents and tourists alike.

I especially seek out artistic and cultural events like concerts, plays, and art exhibits, along with anything that is high-quality, notable, and/or free. There is at least one event for every day of the month, and no borough or event type is off limits.

Seeing events past the first week requires a paid subscription.

Disclaimer: before going anywhere, please confirm the date, time, location, cost, and description using the listed website. Any event is at risk of being rescheduled, relocated, sold out, at capacity, or canceled. Costs are rounded to the nearest dollar and may change. I try to vet quality and describe accurately, but I may misjudge.

Monday, January 1

• Luminaries

  • Art display with light shows and interactive elements; 8 am–10 pm; through Jan 6 (art display only after Jan 1)

  • Free

  • Brookfield Place Winter Garden

  • 230 Vesey St (Financial District, Manhattan)

• Coney Island Circus Sideshow

  • Series of circus sideshow acts; 1 pm, 2:15 pm, & 3:30 pm

  • $15

  • Coney Island USA

  • 1208 Surf Ave (Coney Island, Brooklyn)

Tuesday, January 2

• 41st Annual Wreath Interpretations

  • Art exhibition of wreaths made with unusual and unexpected materials; 9 am–5 pm; through Jan 4

  • Free

  • The Arsenal in Central Park

  • 830 5th Ave (Upper East Side, Manhattan)

Wednesday, January 3

• Michael Richards: Are You Down?

  • Artist retrospective exhibition; 11 am–6 pm; through Jan 7 (Michael Richards was in his World Trade Center North Tower art studio on 9/11)

  • Free

  • The Bronx Museum

  • 1040 Grand Concourse (Concourse, The Bronx)

• Carmen

  • Classic 19th-century French opera; 7:30 pm; various dates Dec 31–May 25

  • $37–$210+

  • Metropolitan Opera House

  • 30 Lincoln Center Plaza (Lincoln Center, Manhattan)

• Wine Wednesdays at Maggie Hall’s

  • Wine sold for $7/glass and $28/bottle all day; 4 pm–4 am; every Wednesday

  • Free entry

  • Maggie Hall’s

  • 34-06 30th Ave (Astoria, Queens)

Thursday, January 4

• The Fourth Annual Loving the Alien: A Bowie Tribute Dance Party

  • David Bowie dance party with music video projections; 9 pm–1 am

  • $7

  • Littlefield

  • 635 Sackett St (Gowanus, Brooklyn)

• Tenor Petr Nekoranec in Recital: The Year of Czech Music

  • Gala concert featuring vocal music by Czech composers; 7–9 pm

  • Free

  • Bohemian National Hall

  • 321 E 73rd St (Upper East Side, Manhattan)

• Marina Abramovic Discusses A Visual Biography with Katya Tylevich

  • Performance art-themed book talk and signing; 6 pm

  • $35 (includes $35 gift card to store) or $109 (includes book)

  • Barnes & Noble Union Square

  • 33 E 17th St (Union Square, Manhattan)

Friday, January 5

• Paul Rudolph Open House

  • Architectural interior open house; 6–9 pm

  • $20

  • The Modulighter Building

  • 246 E 58th St (Midtown East, Manhattan)

• The Little Match Girl Passion

  • Percussion and vocal performance; 7 pm; Jan 5 & 6

  • Free with museum admission, which is pay-what-you-wish for NYC residents and NY, NJ, CT students, otherwise $30 adults / $22 seniors / $17 students

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art Fifth Avenue, Gallery 305 (Medieval Sculpture Hall)

  • 1000 5th Ave (Upper East Side, Manhattan)

Saturday, January 6

• Earth Hound

  • Post-punk concert; 9 pm (Earth Hound Bandcamp)

  • Free entry

  • Pete’s Candy Store

  • 709 Lorimer St (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)

• Whiskey Business

  • Class on whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails; 2–4 pm

  • $200

  • Apotheke Chinatown

  • 9 Doyers St (Chinatown, Manhattan)

Sunday, January 7

• Here and Now Winter Festival: RITUALS

  • NYC premieres of contemporary classical music; 4 pm

  • $35

  • Bargemusic

  • Brooklyn Bridge, Pier 1 (Dumbo, Brooklyn)

• Brooklyn Nets vs. Portland Trailblazers

  • Regular season NBA [National Basketball Association] game; 3 pm (1:30 pm doors)

  • $36–$212+

  • Barclays Center

  • 620 Atlantic Ave (Prospect Heights, Brooklyn)

• NYCRuns Frozen Penguin Half Marathon & 5K

  • 5K and half marathon running race; 8 am (5K), 9 am (half marathon), 6:30 am event begins

  • $55 (5K) or $100 (half marathon)

  • Central Park

  • Starts on West Drive & 89th St (5K course map) or West Drive & 94th St (half marathon course map) (West Central Park, Manhattan)