Wintry Wonders in NYC: Ice Skating, Art Museums, Candlelight Concerts, and More!

Welcome, listeners, to Things to Do in New York City! I’m Oly Bennet, your globe-trotting sports and silliness scout, and today NYC is serving peak winter energy: crisp chill in the air, clear enough for skyline selfies, and just the right level of “I can see my breath” to make a hot chocolate taste legendary. The city’s vibe today is classic January: puffy coats, steaming subway grates, and every New Yorker walking like they’re in a gold-medal speed-walking final. Bryant Park’s Winter Village is still buzzing with its ice rink and holiday-style shops, according to New York Family, turning Midtown into a cozy snow-globe scene. Let’s hit some standout events happening today. At Madison Square Garden, the PBR: Unleash the Beast bull-riding showdown thunders into town, with top riders trying to stay on 1,600 pounds of “absolutely not, sir,” as MSG’s event listing makes clear. Over on the Upper West Side, Jerry Seinfeld is performing at the Beacon Theatre, according to Ticketmaster, so you can trade Netflix for live comedy about socks, airports, and the meaning of nothing. Looking for something more atmospheric? NewYorkCityTheatre highlights a Candlelight Concert tribute to Adele at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, bathing “Someone Like You” in flickering candlelight drama. Families, you’re in luck too: New York Family reports kid-friendly fun at spots like MoMA, plus ice skating options all over town. For a quieter kind of magic, the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx is still running its Holiday Train Show and Evergreen Express experiences, according to NYBG’s calendar, with miniature trains zipping past NYC landmarks among lush greenery. It’s like a tiny city inside the big city. On the news-and-life-in-the-city front, transit is doing its usual winter dance, so expect some delays and leave a little extra time if you’re hopping between boroughs. Seasonal pop-up bars and cozy restaurants are still opening and evolving, especially around Midtown and Brooklyn; think heated patios, hot toddy menus, and limited-time comfort food that makes you forget you can’t feel your nose. Now, Oly’s must-do lineup for today. First, skate at Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center and pretend you’re in a sports movie montage. Then warm up in a museum: MoMA’s exhibitions, including New Photography 2025: Lines of Belonging noted by New York Family, are perfect for a culture power-up. Hit the Holiday Train Show at NYBG for a family-friendly adventure, then cap your night with either bull riding at MSG, jazz at Winter Jazzfest’s Manhattan Marathon across Lower Manhattan venues, or the Adele candlelight tribute for maximum dreamy vibes. Local tip: if you’re taking the subway to a big event, stand near the middle of the platform—those cars are usually less crowded, and you’ll often land closer to exits at major stops. And if you’re grabbing a bagel, order it “toasted with schmear” and you’ll instantly sound 37 percent more local. Before we wrap, a little tease for to This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.