Weekly Highlights in NYC #26: February 17-23

新年快乐! It's Lunar New Year and here are some fun ways to celebrate the holiday. Also, some excellent things going on in the city this week for Winter Break.

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• 新年快乐 // Happy Lunar New Year! There are some fantastic things going on this week to celebrate the holiday:

  • At the Peninsula Hotel: There’s a traditional Lion Dance in the hotel lobby on February 17 at 9:30 a.m.

  • On Saturday, February 21, Hudson Yards will host performers from The New York Chinese Cultural Center, with performances at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.

  • China Institute (100 Washington Street) will host a Lunar New Year Family Festival on Saturday, February 21, from 2–5 p.m. There will be a lion dance, traditional music, hands-on workshops, crafts, and other interactive cultural stations.

  • Moon Over Manhattan – Lunar New Year Family Day: On Saturday, February 21, from 1–4 p.m. at Asia Society (725 Park Ave), families can celebrate the Year of the Horse with lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, interactive music and sing-alongs, shadow puppets, hands-on crafts, and festive activities. It looks like it’s sold out online, but it’s worth checking to see if there’s a waitlist.

  • Or dine out at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants: Cafe Evergreen (favorite on the UES), Super Taste (best delivery), Din Tai Fung (my family’s #1), CheLi (great vibe and a fun St. Marks Place throwback), Phoenix Palace (great for big groups, also a vibe)

• NYC Ballet Family Saturdays: Saturday, February 21, at 11 a.m. A one-hour, kid-friendly program at Lincoln Center featuring excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty, performed by NYCB dancers and orchestra. Hosted by Principal Dancer Megan Fairchild, it offers a playful introduction to ballet’s story, music, and movement for families. Tickets are required for all ages.

• There are some great things at The Morgan Library that I’m looking forward to checking out. There is family programs like Family First Saturdays, an hour-long storytime, gallery tours, and art activities for ages ~3–7. Free with museum admission; kids 12 and under are always free. They also just announced upcoming Spring concerts that look great. Plus, a family concert (music of Mozart) on April 18th.

No school this week? There’s no shortage of great daytime events to keep kids entertained—definitely worth adding a few to your calendar.

• MoMA Family Festival – Color Play: This winter arts celebration turns MoMA into a creative playground. Explore artist-created environments, hands-on art labs like Art Lab: Sound, cardboard city building, chalkboard play, puppet interactions, family film screenings, dance parties, gallery activities, and more. Most activities are drop-in, and timed tickets are required. Today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday, February 18) are the last days to check it out.

• It’s Kids Week at the Intrepid Museum: Running through February 21, families can dive into themed days of hands-on STEAM fun—from aerospace and space exploration displays with NASA demos and VR experiences to arts and culture activities with author meet-and-greets, live performances, maker workshops, robotics, science experiments, and more. Interactive fun for all ages.

• It’s also Kids Week at Bryant Park: Running Tuesday, February 17, through Friday, February 20, kids take over the rink with free morning skate sessions, complimentary group lessons, and themed activities from 9:30 a.m.–noon. Each day features unique fun like Winter Games, Medieval Faire crafts, Earth Day learning, and Pizza Palooza events—all free and family-friendly.

• School Break Family Afternoon – Build a Bridge Fun at The Met: On Tuesday, February 17, and Thursday, February 19, at 1 p.m., children ages 3–11 can drop in for free, hands-on bridge-building activities inspired by The Brooklyn Bridge Up Close. Materials are provided, creativity is encouraged, and space is first-come, first-served. No museum admission is required for this family program.

• Cooper Hewitt Family Programs – Midwinter Break: Running Tuesday, February 17, through Thursday, February 19, from 1–4 p.m. Kids ages 5–12 can drop in for hands-on design fun: Sonic Adventures (February 17), Toy Makers & Tinkerers (February 18), and Mansion Explorers (February 19). Free with museum admission; first-come, first-served.

• Or check out my NYC Indoor Activity Guide for plenty of go-to ideas on where to go and what to do around the city.

• I’ve been a fan of Scott Galloway for a while, and his recent conversation on the goop podcast was incredibly eye-opening. He shared the challenges facing boys and young men today—from emotional development to shifting expectations of masculinity and mounting societal pressures. Some of the statistics were genuinely startling. The episode has already changed how I think about parenting my two sons, and I immediately downloaded Galloway’s new book, knowing it will continue to shape my thinking.

• My son is loving reading this book together, and I can already see how much he’s getting out of it. He’s fully engaged, and it’s sparked such thoughtful conversations about confidence, responsibility, discipline, and what it means to keep going when things feel hard. It’s come at a really meaningful time for my first grader, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.

• CrunchLabs subscription kits are a huge hit in our house. (My son asked me to share them in this newsletter.) Each monthly box lets kids build a hands-on engineering project, guided by Mark Rober, turning problem-solving and STEM into something that feels like play. My son is completely hooked. The kits also pair with Rober’s YouTube videos, which he loves. We’re pretty limited with screen time, but I feel okay about him watching on occasion.

• With all this time off school, I’m always looking for ways to keep my kids thinking (and having fun). These are a few of our go-to favorites we try to pull out on car rides or at restaurants: Sight Words Flash Cards, Phonics Flash Cards, a math keyboard, and workbooks.

• Everyone’s talking about LoveStory on Hulu, and I’m right there with them. I love CBK and can’t wait to watch. And if you haven’t read Once Upon a Time yet, I highly recommend adding it to your book list.

• Here are my favorite kids books at the moment: How Dreadful!, Triangle, and Ladybug Girl series. My toddler son absolutely loves The Story Orchestra books series. The Magic Flute is his favorite, but this one, this one and this one are all great too.

• Dry winter skin is real, here are some beauty products that are saving me this winter: I love this shower mitt for a great exfoliation, this is my favorite face mask (warning: it smells horrific, but it works!), this brightening Vitamin-C serum is excellent, and cannot rave enough about this cleansing oil, which I’ve repurchased again and again

Eliza Crater Harris is the Chief Creative Officer of the iconic brand Sister Parish Design. I’m a longtime fan—we have Sister Parish wallpaper in my son’s room and our powder room, and I’m eyeing this for our guest room and this performance fabric for our outdoor cushions (they’re all so good). Eliza is a great-granddaughter of legendary decorator Sister Parish, and brings fresh, modern taste to the brand’s timeless textiles and wallpapers, blending classic style with effortless chic. She’s currently redecorating her new West Village studio and sharing smart, inspiring tips along the way. Below, Eliza shares her NYC favorites with us:

• “John Derian Company: John’s store in New York is my favorite home destination because it reminds me so much of my grandmother. My grandmother is an amazing decoupage artist herself and worked with John years ago. John curates the most delightful quilts, sheets, glasses, napkins, and of course, beautiful decoupage pieces. I also love his selection of upholstery and antiques. You’ll always find whimsical items that surprise and inspire.

• deVOL Kitchens: deVOL recently opened a stunning showroom and I am completely obsessed. Whether you’re renovating your kitchen or simply need some design inspiration, this space is full of beautiful paint colors and thoughtful ideas for how to live well in your kitchen.

• KRB NYC: KRB is an absolute must-visit for design lovers. My dear friends (incredible artists themselves) sell their art and furniture there, Mary Nelson Sinclair and Corbin Cruise. I’m also obsessed with the new Woodard Wave × Billy Baldwin furniture collaboration that is new to KRB.

• Pearl River Mart: A fun and easy stop for parties, gifts, and unexpected treasures. I share more of my top finds here on Instagram. This is always worth a visit if you’re looking for quirky home pieces or entertaining essentials that won’t break the bank! Also, if you’re having a party and need flowers, Dutch Flower Line is a must along with Jamali for easy containers and baskets.

• American Folk Art Museum: I had to make this stop and left feeling so inspired. The museum’s collection celebrates American folk and self-taught artists, and it’s a perfect blend of tradition and creativity. Thank you to Bode for the recommendation, and I also love popping into their store and checking out nearby Suzi Kondi when I’m on the Lower East Side.”

Love your tips, thank you for sharing, Eliza!