THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN NYC FOR JANUARY 

January 1, 2023 | Stefanie DiMartino
igloo gallery

By: Stefanie DiMartino

Happy New Year! If your New Year’s resolution is to travel more, then there’s no better place to start than with NYC. January can be cold and dreary, but there are plenty of things to make this a month of fun. I’m sharing my top January picks. These are all the best things to do and see, the best in dining/drinks, and the best entertainment and art/exhibits this month. 

The Top 10 Best Things to do in NYC this January 

And, for more of the best things to do in NYC in autumn/winter, watch my guide below: 

THINGS TO DO, SEE + PARTIES

WINTER JAZZFEST

January 12-18, 2023 | Various times 

Various locations in Manhattan & Brooklyn 

NYC Winter Jazzfest is back! “Winter Jazzfest is the annual New York home to the exciting and forward-thinking contemporary jazz music being made today.  NYC’s largest Jazz festival attracts a unique, deeply engaged, discerning audience, a diverse range of cultural enthusiasts and music fans from across North America and from over 20 countries.” – Winter Jazzfest

Photo by Victor Freitas/Pexels

MONET’S GARDEN

Extended! Now – February 26, 2023 | Mon-Wed, 10am-6pm; Thurs, 10am-8pm; Fri & Sat, 10am-9pm; Sun 10am-7pm | $35+

30 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005

“Awaken your senses and experience the world of Claude Monet at the brand-new immersive exhibition, MONET’S GARDEN.  Go on a 360-degree journey through the history and work of one of the greatest and most influential painters of all time.  Using state-of-the-art multimedia and multi-sensory technology, you can dive into the Father of Impressionism’s paintings and get a glimpse into the inner workings of his mind.  Explore his studio and learn about his life, struggles, and inspirations before stepping into the scenery of Monet’s Garden where you’ll be invited to walk across the bridge and enter the paintings through interactive projections, and finally float among the waterlilies in a completely immersive installation of Monet’s most famous work.” – Monet’s Garden

Photo by Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash

TEARDROP IGLOOS EXPERIENCE 

January 4 – March 1, 2023 | Wednesdays-Saturdays | 5-9:30pm | $324 (1 igloo up to 5 people, $60/person) 

Somewhere Nowhere, 112 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10001

Want to keep warm this winter with epic NYC views? Check out the Teardrop Igloos Experience at Somewhere Nowhere! “Perched high up in the sky, take in the stunning views of the New York City skyline with your loved ones. Enjoy some cocktails, small bites, and champagne in your very own heated and fully furnished igloo with a plush loveseat, velvet chairs, a built-in fireplace, and fur throw blankets.” – Fever

Photo: Somewhere Nowhere NYC

FUNKY EXPERIENCES: NYC TOURS AND VACATION PLANNING

Saturdays, Sundays, Custom day + time | Starting at $49+

I love New York City so much that I started a tourism company here. We offer a variety of tours around the city, from history, to sightseeing, to shopping, and one of my favorites – our food tour! 

Rated 5-stars on TripAdvisor and the winner of the “best of the best” award in NYC, you definitely do not want to miss out on any of these amazing tours! There are different tour options available to choose from to fit your interests AND your budget! For a truly unique experience, book a custom-designed private tour with our expert NYC guides!

Newest to our tour lineup is the Must-See Manhattan tour! This experience shows you Manhattan’s most iconic sites during a 2-hour walking tour. And, you can add on Top of the Rock tickets to end your experience with breathtaking views of the city’s skyline on a historic skyscraper! 

Visit and learn the unique history of iconic sites such as Times Square, Grand Central, the NY Public Library, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and more! Plus, we’ll take you inside Grand Central for an exclusive tour of its secrets.

Photo by Juan Pablo Mascanfroni on Unsplash

For the best of both worlds, with food and sightseeing, consider joining the Best of New York Food Tour offered on Sunday mornings. The tour includes five dishes at delicious restaurants and a historic walking tour through Brooklyn!

Another option is to join the Secrets of New York Tour on Saturday mornings and visit hidden locations in lower Manhattan and learn secrets most New Yorkers don’t even know! Tours book up fast, so get your tickets today!

Planning a vacation to NYC? If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin, we are here to help! With Funky Tours Concierge, our team of experts can help you plan your dream NYC vacation! You can make your NYC trip and experience more special with custom-designed plans that fit your budget and your unique interests.

The vacation planning team!

DINING/DRINKS

NYC RESTAURANT WEEK

January 17 – February 12 | NYC

NYC Restaurant Week, winter edition is back this month! “From January 17 to February 12, get a taste of the City and enjoy prix-fixe meals at hundreds of restaurants across the five boroughs.” NYC Go/NYC Restaurant Week 

DINING IN THE DARK

Select Sundays January-March, 2023 | 6pm or 8:30pm | $110+

Leuca, 111 N 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249

For a limited time, you can experience one of the most unique dining experiences in the city. Taking place at Leuca Restaurant in Brooklyn, you can eat blindfolded in the dark! 

“Studies show that 80% of people eat with their eyes — and with that sense eliminated, the theory is that your other senses (namely, taste and smell) take over to elevate your meal to a whole new level. Get your tickets now to Dining in the Dark and immerse yourself in a mysterious and interactive experience!” – Fever/Dining in the Dark

MUSEUM + ART EXHIBITIONS

CUBISM AND THE TROMPE L’OEIL TRADITION

Ending Soon! Now – January 22, 2023 | $30+ | NY, NJ, CT – pay what you wish

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028

“This exhibition will offer a radically new view of Cubism by demonstrating its engagement with the age-old tradition of trompe l’oeil painting. It explores how Picasso, Braque, and Gris engaged with the pictorial tradition of illusion and deception in their influential Cubist works.” – The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art. NYC
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash

SERENGETI: JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF AFRICA

Opens Monday, January 9, 2023 | $28+ 

American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

New at American Museum of Natural History is Serengeti. This exhibit allows you to “Experience one of nature’s most spectacular events—the annual migration in the Serengeti—on a 40-foot-high, 60-foot-wide screen.

SHOWS

COMPANY XIV: COCKTAIL MAGIQUE

Extended! Now – August 20, 2023 | $145+ | Age 21+

17 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Save 10% using code SARAHFUNKY

Company XIV is known for Nutcracker Rouge, an imaginative retelling of the classic Nutcracker, combining burlesque, acrobatics, aerial arts, theatre, dancing, and singing all into one memorable show. Now, they have an experience known as Cocktail Magique. It’s an amazing theatrical event and absolutely perfect for date night!

“Cocktail Magique is an extravagant variety show of intoxicating illusions that takes place in a luxurious new venue nestled in the heart of Brooklyn’s Graffiti Alley. Every guest is served a tantalizing selection of petite cocktails and small bites while burlesque stars pour immersive cocktails at the speakeasy bar.” – Company XIV

BROADWAY WEEK

January 17 – February 12

Broadway is synonymous with NYC. If you love the theater, then you’re in luck if you’re visiting between January 17 and February 12, which is Broadway Week! You can get 2-for-1 ticket deals to some of the best shows that Broadway has to offer. 

Photo by Sudan Ouyang on Unsplash

COLIN QUINN: SMALL TALK

January 6 – February 11, 2023 | $41+

Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014

Colin Quinn, native New Yorker and comedian most famously known for his work on SNL. “In his latest attempt at humor, Colin breaks down the one area he’s actually gifted in: Personality. Mr. Quinn has been chatting it up with friends, family, municipal employees and counter people for his whole life and now he can teach you how to stop sucking the energy out of the room.” – Colin Quinn Small Talk

In conclusion, these are the top 10 best things to do in NYC this January. If you’re planning a trip to the city soon, then make sure you don’t miss out on these best things to do in NYC!

2 Responses

  1. I will miss this next January. I am moving out of NYC. I am both so sad and happy and the same moment. Overall I think it is time for a new challenge. Bye NYC, for now!

    • Savitri says:

      You three will be as happy as can be because you’re a family, because you’re flexible and your type of work is not location specific. I have faith in your abilities plus you’ve got to go where the monthly 🌰 is not so huge.

      I am very thankful for your posts, your personalities shine through.

      I wish you would share your lip colors, they are so vibrant…like you😄

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