By: Stefanie DiMartino

A new month is here and it’s the month of love! There are some new and exciting things happening in the city. So, if you’re looking for all the best things to do and see, best in dining/drinks, and the best entertainment and art/exhibits, then these are my top NYC picks this February!

Don’t want to freeze when visiting? You can watch my what to wear in winter in NYC guide here: 

The Top 15 Best Things to do in NYC this February

THINGS TO DO/SEE + PARTIES

THE GREAT GATSBY PARTY

Friday, February 11 & Saturday, February 12, 2022 | $125+

Capitale, 130 Bowery, New York, NY 10013

While the new age of the 20s didn’t start how we all imagined it, The Great Gatsby Party® returns 100 years after the era that inspired it. Get ready to channel your inner Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan along with the spirit and decadence of the Roaring Twenties. 

The Great Gatsby Party® made its debut in NYC in 2015 and it’s back and better than ever!

Not surprisingly, the historic Capitale has been “hand-picked for its distinct ambiance, sophistication, and style—channeling the glamour of the time with every room a perfect backdrop for an evening of transportive elegance, merrymaking, and perhaps even a little mischief. Guests of The Great Gatsby Party® are invited to revel the night away in their black tie and flapper-inspired finery while the dancing commences, the Freixenet Cava flows, and the caviar and petit fours are served. Truly a feast for the senses, the evening’s entertainment features live music, aerialists, theatrical acts, contortionists, showgirls, acrobats, dancers, stilt walkers, and more, all adding an air of possibility to the event.” – The Great Gatsby Party®

Truly, this is one of the best things you can do in NYC this February. Don’t miss this epic event! 

DAYBREAKER LIVE: HEART AND SOUL DANCE PARTY

Saturday, February 12, 2022 | 11am-1pm | Virtual + Free! 

“Love is in the air. We’ve got an epic dance party planned so invite your boo, your fam, your friends, and your pets, and prepare to feel the warmth of our community’s hearts & souls across the world. This time, we’re honoring the sounds of soul and R&B as we celebrate romance. It doesn’t matter where you are on planet Earth, join us online on Saturday, February 12th at 11am EST as we dance with reckless abandon and spread the love world-wide.” – Daybreak 

BRYANT PARK BUMPER CARS ON ICE

Now – February 27, 2022 | M-F, 2pm-8pm, Sat & Sun, 11am-5pm | $20+

Bryant Park, 40th – 42nd Street, 5th – 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10018

The Bumper Cars on Ice are back! You can bump, slide, and spin. And, new this year are special late-night rides on select dates. The Winter Village at Bryant Park is the perfect winter wonderland in the heart of the city. It also offers ice-skating along with rink side eats and drinks! Plus, there are plenty of great photo ops and you can leisurely stroll around, and people-watch. You can enjoy The Lodge, open daily (10am-10pm) until March 6, 2022.

CELEBRATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR

Lunar Ice at Brookfield Place

Thursday, February 3, 2022 – Saturday, February 5, 2022 | Free! 

230 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10281

“Ring in the Year of the Tiger at Brookfield Place! Experience a multi-day celebration that includes a live ice carving, kids crafts, and more!” – Brookfield Place

Bryant Park 

The Lunar New Year display at Bryant Park will be up Tuesday, February 1st and remain up until the celebration on Sunday, February 6th. 

Bryant Park Wishing Tree

Sunday, February 6 | 2:00-4:00pm | Free! 

“During our Lunar New Year Celebration, follow the silk lanterns and find our Wishing Tree on the Rink Deck. We invite you to come to our wishing station, write and hang your wishes, and welcome luck and good fortune for the year to come.” – Bryant Park

Bryant Park Lion Dance

Sunday, February 6 | 3:00-3:30pm | Free! 

“As a part of our Lunar New Year celebration, watch a lion dance performed by New York Chinese Cultural Center. This traditional dance is performed to bring good fortune and prosperity to viewers of all ages! The performance starts on the Northwest corner of the Rink Deck at 3pm. Find your way by spotting the silk lanterns and wishing tree.” – Bryant Park

Year of the Tiger at Hudson Yards

“The Year of the Tiger officially arrives February 1, and it’s bound to bring much energy and excitement—after all, the sign is considered to represent, among other things, ambition, courage and enthusiasm. As always, there is no better place to experience the buzz than at Hudson Yards. The neighborhood-wide celebration reaches from colorful decorations on Level 1 of The Shops to a special cocktail high up at Edge. 

A massive red lantern inside The Shops & Restaurants serves as a harbinger of health and happiness and an attention-grabbing backdrop for a photo moment. Swing by the Great Room on Saturday afternoons through February 12 for traditional lion dances and ribbon-twirling performances by The New York Chinese Cultural Center. Then enjoy a three-course Lunar New Year menu at Wild Ink that includes pocket dumplings, spring rolls, tiger buns and more. $65; available February 1-5. The fun continues on the 100th floor, with Edge’s offering of traditional Chinese small bites and its “Water Tiger” drink, a blend of Ming River Sichuan Baijiu.” – Hudson Yards

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The key components of celebrating Black History month are education and appreciation.

For black-owned businesses to support, read more here. 

African Pop-Up Festival

Saturday, February 19, 2022 | 12-9pm | $15+

Hudson Station, 440 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10001

The African Pop-Up Festival is an opportunity for all attendees to support culture and local business and experience a unique and curated cultural market in a festive environment. There’s nothing better than food, culture, and community. 

The event will also include a market place, DJ with Afrobeats/Global sounds, cultural dance and music performances, art exhibitions, and food from Africa/Caribbean/Black Diaspora. 

THE WOMAN IN BLACK: A GHOST STORY IN A PUB

Now – February 27, 2022 | $84-$114+

The McKittrick Hotel, 530 West 27th Street, New York, NY 10001

LAST CHANCE! Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Closing February 27, The Woman in Black is an award-winning production that tells the tale of a “lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the spectre of a Woman in Black. He engages a skeptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul.” 

While there are some jump scares, I cannot recommend this show enough (even if you scare easily like I do)! At its core, it is a simple ghost story. But in its telling, The Woman In Black is clever, suspenseful, thrilling, and entertaining. And, you really cannot top the acting. You are gripping your seat the entire time, enthralled by the story and mystery. 

So, who exactly is The Woman In Black? If you’d like to know, then be sure to get tickets  before February 27!

CLASSIC HARBOR LINE: SUNSET CRUISE ON YACHT MANHATTAN 

All of February – Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays + 2/14 and 2/17 | $78+

Chelsea Piers, Pier 62 (W. 22nd St.) New York, NY 10011

Classic Harbor Line cruises are always a fun and great experience. You can enjoy a beautiful New York City sunset and the lit-up skyline during a comfortable and unique NYC Harbor sunset cruise through the Hudson and East Rivers. Sit back, relax, and take in the gorgeous 360-degree view of the island from the open decks or the glassed-in back deck observatory of these Gatsby-esque 1920s style yachts. 

SARAHFUNKY NYC TOURS

Saturdays, Sundays, Custom day/time | $49-$699

There is no time like the present to book a SarahFunky NYC tour. Rated 5-stars on TripAdvisor, you definitely do not want to miss out on any of these one-of-a-kind experiences! 

There are quite a few tour options to choose from to fit your interests and your budget!

For a truly unique experience, book a custom designed private tour with either Sarah, Luis, Marcus, Gary, or Nicola! For the best of both worlds, with food and sightseeing, consider joining the Best of New York Food Tour with Luis- offered onSunday mornings. The tour includes four epic spots and behind the scenes experiences! Another option is to join A 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! Each guide is an NYC expert and enjoys showing others around the city they love, so be sure to book today!

And now, you can also get expert help with planning your dream NYC vacation with FunkyTours Concierge! You can make your NYC trip and experience more special with custom-designed plans that fit your budget and your unique interests.

CITROVIA AT MANHATTAN WEST

Daily | Free!

Winter Citrovia is now here! New York City’s lemon-themed immersive installation just got an icy makeover! Be transported to an expansive and extraordinary lemon citrus garden. Featuring thousands of oversized, hand-made lemons, billowing fabric clouds mimicking a sunrise and sunset, along with leaves and 19-foot-tall lemon trees, you definitely do not feel like you’re in the middle of a busy city! Don’t miss out on this bright, colorful, and wintery “lemon-land.”

DINING/DRINKS

THE POLAR LOUNGE AT HARRIET’S ROOFTOP

Now – February 27, 2022 | Thursday-Sunday, 5-10pm | $25+

Harriet’s Rooftop, 60 Furman Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Talk about cool, literally! Take in epic Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge views while “chilling” and enjoying an ice-scape with custom seating, sculptures, and cocktails, all carved from and served in ice! It’s the first ice bar in NYC since Minus5 shut down. If you’ve been wanting to experience an ice bar, hurry and check this one out before it melts! 

NYC RESTAURANT WEEK 

Now – February 13, 2022 | 2-course lunch, 3-course dinner | $29+

NYC Restaurant Week is back! It is no secret that NYC has some of the best restaurants in the world! Now until February 13, you can enjoy 2-course lunch & 3-course dinner options across all 5 boroughs. Prices range from $29-$59.

MUSEUM/ART EXHIBITIONS

INSPIRING WALT DISNEY: THE ANIMATION OF FRENCH DECORATIVE ARTS

Now – March 6, 2022 | $25+ | NY, NJ, CT – pay what you wish

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

Attention all Disney lovers! This is the exhibit for you. Since it’s on display all February long, that is why it’s one of the best things to do in NYC this month. You do not want to miss this special exhibit.

“Pink castles, talking sofas, and objects coming to life: what sounds like fantasies from the pioneering animation of Walt Disney Animation Studios were in fact the figments of the colorful salons of Rococo Paris. The Met’s first-ever exhibition exploring the work of Walt Disney and the hand-drawn animation of Walt Disney Animation Studios will examine Disney’s personal fascination with European art and the use of French motifs in his films and theme parks, drawing new parallels between the studios’ magical creations and their artistic models.” – The Met 

BUILDINGS AND BLOCKS AT TOP OF THE ROCK

Now – March 13, 2022 | Free with Top of Rock purchase ($40+) | 11am-7pm

Top of The Rock, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112

“A brand-new interactive art experience, BUILDINGS AND BLOCKS will be on display at Top of the Rock until March 13th. The installation, inspired by the skyline and shapes of New York City as viewed from Top of the Rock observation deck, features three 23-foot towers, and 37 black and white-striped pieces resembling children’s building blocks.” – Top of The Rock

BROADWAY/SHOWS

NYC BROADWAY WEEK

Now – February 13, 2022 | $59+

You can’t mention NYC without automatically thinking of Broadway. While Broadway has struggled due to the pandemic, it is making its comeback and will be stronger than ever! NYC Broadway Week is back this winter with its signature deal: 2-for-1 tickets to some of the best musicals and plays on stage right now. Prefer to splurge? Opt for upgraded seats at $125 per ticket. 

NYC OFF-BROADWAY WEEK

February 14 – February 27, 2022 | $25+

If you can’t get enough of live theater, plays, or musicals, then make sure to get your tickets for Off-Broadway shows, too! Discover new productions with the fantastic 2-for-1 ticket deal! 

In conclusion, these are the top best 15 things to do in NYC this February. Have fun and stay safe!