Weekly Highlights in NYC #21: December 30-January 5 + a 2025 Recap
Happy New Year! There are some great parties coming up, my top picks from 2025, and Rebecca Gardner of Houses & Parties shares her top 2025 picks...
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If you could take a moment to complete this anonymous survey (it’s only four questions and will take less than a minute) there’s an optional space to include your email—if you do, I’ll randomly select one respondent to receive a fun surprise gift as a thank-you at the end of this week. Thank you!
Here are some fun things coming up in the next couple of weeks that I’m excited to check out.
Carnegie Hall Family Concert: On Saturday, January 17 at 3 p.m., Carnegie Hall presents Musical Explorers, an interactive family concert ideal for kids ages 4–8. There will be lively music from around the world and engaging performances designed to spark curiosity and joy. Tickets are limited and selling out.
Bryant Park’s Bumper Cars on Ice is returning January 9 through February 28 at the Winter Village rink. Riders ages 7 and older can bump, slide, and spin in 10-minute sessions; reservations recommended. It’s a fun winter activity alongside holiday shops and skating at Bryant Park.
Neue Galerie’s Erich Heckel exhibition is closing on January 12. I highly recommend a visit to Café Sabarsky after—the perfect winter spot for a hot chocolate and a dessert.
There are some fantastic parties happening this month and next, with tickets on sale now—worth planning ahead for. I’d recommend grabbing tickets early to:
Sunday Funday: January 25 at the Metropolitan Pavilion. A fun-filled, family fundraiser benefiting the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), with games, sports, face painting, dance parties, and food—all supporting CMOM’s exhibits, learning programs, and outreach for NYC children.
The Met Family Benefit: Seeing Stars will be held on February 5. A special family fundraising event at The Metropolitan Museum of Art combining art-filled exploration and fun.
Young Hearts Friends Fest: February 10 at the Museum of Ice Cream. A sweet, family-friendly afternoon hosted by Nicky Hilton and friends, benefiting God’s Love We Deliver. The event brings kids and parents together to celebrate community, learn about giving back, and support meals for New Yorkers living with serious illness. Use promocode LINDAGREENBERG for a discount on individual tickets, courtesy of a friend involved with the organization.
Looking back on 2025, here are my favorite things of the year that I’d highly recommend. All in the spirit of less is more mindset…
Bridges and Le Veau d’Or were my favorite restaurants of the year.
The most complimented items this year have been my Kujten cashmere bandana scarf (shop in person at 69th and Madison) and my Dorsey tennis necklace
My favorite non-fiction reads were: Good Energy, The Tell, The Let Them Theory, Abundance, Supercommunicators, all the Gil Schafer books (the best coffee table books!)
My favorite fiction reads: The Secret History, The Marriage Portrait and Bel Canto (none new in 2025, but new to me)
Kids’ products that made the biggest difference this year: Tangle Teezer hair brush (a gem for my daughter’s hair), these reading lights, a subscription to Highlights (stood the test of time), the most magical stain remover that I’ve repeat-purchased so many times. I loved these zippered pouches (great for toy pieces and all the random stuff) and our entry-way closet was getting out of control and got a sports equipment rack, which has been game-changing.
Here are my ride-or-die beauty products I continue to purchase over and over again, year after year:
Skin: A face oil cleanser, this retinol, a Foaming Glycolic Face Wash, CeraVe face cream (I choose it over any of the fancy creams), Supergoop Glowscreen that makes my skin dewy with sun protection
Hair: The goop scalp scrub, I love this conditioner, and Roz hair serum which smells incredible
Other: Magnesium citrate (for a great night’s sleep), mouth tape, and the best lip gloss (nothing else works for me but this one)
Rebecca Gardner is the visionary behind Houses & Parties, transforming everyday moments—and the most memorable occasions—into celebrations of style. With her signature blend of beauty, wit, and joy, she creates spaces and experiences that feel effortlessly enchanting and truly unforgettable. I absolutely LOVE her new book A Screaming Blast, it’s the perfect coffee table book full of inspiration. Here, she shares her favorite things from 2025 with us…
“I loved so many things about 2025. Here’s a start:
Releasing my first book, A Screaming Blast, and traveling around the country on a tenacious tour. It was wonderful to meet so many lovely Houses & Parties customers, and joy makers.
Reading Heart the Lover. I cried and cried and cried - and then had the best sleep in years.
The John Singer Sargent exhibition at The Met blew me away. I went three times.
I discovered the incredible resource rooms at The New York Public Library and spent days there looking at old magazines, shop window displays, wallpaper samples and costume design. Heaven.
Demi Moore in Landman made me wish I could wear a pantsuit. I block entire weekends to catch up each season.
Simone Rocha’s fall collection with lots of pink satin ribbons.
Houses & Parties Ostentatious Sticker Jewelry proved to be useful for every occasion.
Oh, and, of course, The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere. Glenda the Good Witch is my fashion inspiration.”
Thank you, Rebecca!
If you could take a moment to complete this anonymous survey (it’s only four questions and will take less than a minute) there’s an optional space to include your email—if you do, I’ll randomly select one respondent to receive a fun surprise gift as a thank-you at the end of this week.