Weekly Highlights in NYC #16: November 4-November 10
It's Election Day - don't forget to VOTE! This week there's the Chelsea Textiles annual sale, next week it's the Brick Church Fair (my favorite!), and some florals I love.
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It’s Election Day! The only time I’ll get political in this newsletter is to remind you to vote today. You can find your polling location and other key information here.
Chelsea Textiles’ Annual Sale returns November 5–7 at St. Ignatius Loyola Church (basement). There will be steep discounts on furniture, fabrics, and home accessories from Chelsea Textiles, Robert Kime, Holland & Sherry, Vaughan Designs, and more. In past years, I’ve scored bolts of fabric and furniture, but my favorite finds were the stunning embroidered pillows I gave as gifts.
Space Club just opened its third Brooklyn location in DUMBO this past weekend. The new 28,000-square-foot indoor play space features trampolines, a three-level jungle gym, a massive bead pool, a Lego room, a Magna-Tile zone, and so much more. I’ll definitely be taking my kids this winter.
This looks like a fun event for kids at MoMA, Family Gallery Talks: Line, Shape & Color, on Saturday, November 8 (10:15-11:15 a.m. and 12-1 p.m.), for kids ages 4-10. And this one is for kids aged 11-14. Free with museum admission—online registration required.
Canstruction at Brookfield Place: Now through November 10, check out impressive sculptures made entirely of canned food, designed by architects and engineers. This free exhibition features live builds, guided tours, kids’ activity sheets, and a food drive benefiting City Harvest.
If you’re a Family-level member, registration is now open for Winter 2025 children’s classes at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Registration for the general public begins Wednesday, November 5 at 10 a.m. These classes fill up quickly and often sell out. Note: the dates listed on the website are incorrect—an email with the correct registration details was sent.
Diller‑Quaile School of Music is having another Rug Concert® (my favorite!) on Saturday, November 8 at 9:30 a.m. (and again at 11 a.m.). These 45-minute sessions blend bluegrass string-band fun with instruments, singing and movement—ideal for kids age 6 and under.
The Brick Church Fair: my favorite annual holiday market—returns next week, November 11–13. Browse dozens of vendors offering apparel, gifts, décor, treats, and more—perfect for early holiday shopping. Entry is free and all ages are welcome. Santa will be there on Thursday from 3–5 p.m., which is always a hit with the kids.
New York Philharmonic, Young People’s Concert: On Saturday, November 22, young listeners (ages 6+) become musical detectives as the orchestra explores Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2, uncovering its story through live performance and interactive pre-concert activities.
Michael Hearst and The Unusual Creatures at Lincoln Center: Saturday, November 15 at 11 a.m. Enjoy a playful, family-friendly concert featuring songs about unusual creatures, extraordinary people, curious machines, and oddball instruments—perfect for kids. This event is free.
How fun does this sound? Live Art Duel at FIT: Thursday, November 13, 6–9 p.m. Watch student artists compete in three rapid-fire rounds to create original works of art in real time. The finished pieces will be auctioned off, with all proceeds benefiting FIT students and the FIT Foundation.
Do you have too much Halloween candy like we do? I try to get it out of the house as quickly as it arrives. We often donate ours—my son’s school is collecting for Red Door Place, and this organization sends candy to U.S. troops. You can also check with your pediatric dentist, as many run collection programs. Or, what about some fun science experiments?
I’m having a big artificial floral moment, and here are my favorites: paper florals from The Green Vase, porcelain from Samuel Mazy, and mixed metals by Tommy Mitchell (they’re all soooo good!). For a playful pop of color, I love these botanical Legos, and I’ve even ordered a set for my son’s birthday next week. But the most breathtaking of all remains Vladimir Kanevsky’s collection of porcelain florals on display at The Frick until the 17th—truly stunning and worth a visit.
In real flower news, I finally planted some paperwhites! I always admire them over the holidays, and every year I tell myself I’m going to plant some—but this year I actually did, and it was much easier than I expected. This simple guide from Leanne was helpful and I got my bulbs from Dutch Grown. They take about 4–6 weeks to bloom, so now is the perfect time to plant!
How gorgeous are the turning leaves right now? For peak leaf viewing, I’m planning a ride on The Bronx Zoo Monorail with my kids, I know they’d love it. Plus the Tree top walk in the children’s part of the NYBG is now open, and it looks really cool!