The Holidays Look & Feel Different This Year

Did the Donald & his Dementos Suck the Cheer Right out of Us?

December 8, 2020 / NYC Neighborhoods / Things To Do NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunday, December 6th was St. Nick's feast day. This year it seemed like more people talked about it and celebrated it than in prior years. And Pearl Harbor Day was yesterday, Monday, December 7th. It was only 81 years ago that we entered into the second world war.

On Thursday, December 10th Hanukkah begins and runs through the following week. And Christmas is now only two and a half weeks away, falling on a Friday. But it just doesn't really FEEL like the holidays this year.

There's little hustle bustle, as about as much shopping was done online by folks in their homes as in stores. And the stores did about half their business via pickup or drop offs so the mingling and social element of shopping has been mostly absent this year. Then, the restaurants weren't and aren't filled with high energy, cheery get togethers and parties [party plans are reportedly down 90% this year], and the millions of tourists who bring fun, excitement and their hard earned currency, are nowhere to be found.

The Washington Square Tree Lighting is expected to take place on Wednesday, December 9th. But they're not encouraging a big gathering.

Politics. Meanwhile the CoVid pandemic rages on, while an incompetent, self-serving, egomaniacal, lame duck president continues to try to overturn the will of the people by propagating lies and disinformation. He seems aided and abetted by a plethora of dishonest media who repeat his fictional nonsense because it fuels their ratings and his and their pockets with cash. His cash comes via donations from millions of unsuspecting working class rubes, who he's convinced they're doing their patriotic duty by 'stopping the steal' when in fact they are unwittingly helping a billionaire pay off his debts, instead of helping themselves by paying down their own debts. And then there's Shanghai Mitch McConnell, who oversaw the largest deficit in American history - by multiples - and the fastest run up in American debt ever. Shanghai McConnell is in the process of changing his costume and rearranging his make up, so he can tell the American people he's now a fiscal conservative again.

Tis the season to be jolly, falla lala la, la, la, la, la.

I'm working through my post election, and anticipatory post pandemic angst, in order to begin the new year with a new mindset, and leave 2020 where it belongs ... in the rearview mirror.

• CLICK here to read the rest of this and our December 4th, 2021 reports on things to do over the holidays in NYC during the CoVid pandemic.

The Holidays Look & Feel Different This Year

Did the Donald & his Dementos Suck the Cheer Right out of Us?

December 8, 2020 / NYC Neighborhoods / Things To Do NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC. Continued.

Weather. The temperature highs will be around 40 Tuesday and Wednesday, and around 50 on Thursday and Friday. The temperature lows will be in the 30's through Thursday, rising to the low 40's by Friday. It will be partly cloudy on Tuesday and Friday, cloudy on Wednesday and sunny on Thursday. No precipitation is in the forecast during the week, with possibly a bit over the weekend.

Schools. Grades K - 5 reopened at the NYC public schools on Monday. Grades 6 - 12 continue via remote learning. This is expected to continue through the holidays, although there's some back and forth going on about that, as parents would like their older children back in the schools too.

Economy. The pandemic continues to take a toll on hospitality related businesses. This week colder weather arrived, thankfully quite late, as the outdoor dining has kept restaurants in business. One report estimates that a third of NYC restaurants won't make it through the pandemic.

There's some other news, as things are stirring around the boroughs, but I'm still challenged to work through some of the transition back to a semi-normal level of arts, culture and things to do reporting. I suspect this in part reflects the struggle encountered by the people and events I cover, as likely the next six months will be a struggle as we all to return to - not the new normal - but the new post pandemic normal, which should be a huge improvement, as some of the mirth and joy begins to return to our lives.

We're slowly getting there. New York has done a good job of keeping things moving, without reigniting a huge uptick in CoVid spread - even post the Thanksgiving holiday. So stay disciplined and patient and reward yourself with the little things in life, as soon 2020 will be history.

Things To Do This Weekend NYC

Mixed Weather Outlook, More Holiday Events Coming Later, More Going on than Expected, Behave Safely

December 4, 2020 / NYC Neighborhoods / Things To Do NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Weather. The temperatures highs will be in the low 50's on Friday, the high 40's on Saturday and about 40 on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the mid 40's on Friday, the mid 30's on Saturday and about 30 on Sunday. The winds will be 5 - 10 mph on Friday, gusting up to about 16 mph on Saturday, and winding down from 12 - 8 mph on Sunday. There's going to be rain on Friday, with about a half inch falling Friday evening and another half inch falling on Saturday - mostly in the morning. It should be clear after that. The humidity will be 80% falling to 70% on Friday, then falling from 70% to 60% on Saturday and then staying in the 50% - 60% range on Sunday.

We have also published other NYC holiday events and NYC holiday markets in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx & Staten Island in a November 27th report, which you can also access by clicking the link.

Things to do in Manhattan

Brookfield Place in Battery Park City has a light exhibit entitled Luminaires and an ice rink which is open from 10 am - 8 pm. There are also shops and restaurants open during that time too.

The NY Historical Society is hosting an exhibit entitled Toys & Trains from the Jerni Collection through February 21, 2021.

The photo at right was taken on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at Rockefeller Center shortly before they turned the lights on. It was crowded and the NYPD enabled folks to see it by walking up or down Fifth Avenue, without lingering. Photo by Michael Wood.

Things to do in Queens

The Queens County Farm is hosting an exhibit entitled The Winter Escape through January 10, 2021.

Things to do in Brooklyn

In Williamsburg there's a St. Nicholas Day celebration on Saturday, December 5th.

There are two movie screenings at the Skyline drive in movie theater in Greenpoint on Saturday and Sunday, December 5th & 6th.

The William Vale Hotel in Williamsburg neighborhood has a skating rink that's open through January 31, 2021.

Things to do in the Bronx

The Jolly Holidays carolers will be singing their way through the Bronx Little Italy neighborhood on Friday thru Sunday, December 11 - 13 and on Thursday, December 17 from 7 - 9 pm. They will also be there Friday thru Sunday, December 18 - 20, as well as Monday and Tuesday, December 22 & 23 from 6 - 8 pm.

Things to do on Staten Island

The Conference House is hosting its annual holiday lighting on Friday, December 4th.

We have published other NYC holiday events and NYC holiday markets in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx & Staten Island in a November 27th report, which you can also access by clicking the link.