This and That: Things To Do in NYC (January 2024)
While it might be a new year, it’s the middle of the winter season in NYC. Looking for fun events in the city? There’s plenty of opportunity to get out for a good cause or a good time. Here are a few events worth your time in January 2024.
This and That: Things To Do in NYC (January 2024)
The 20th Annual MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation
Sherlock Jr. 1924. USA. Directed by Buster Keaton. Image: Lobster Films.
What is it: Whether banned or censored or newly recut, recolored, and reconstructed, MoMA’s acclaimed film preservation festival will return to showcase more than eight newly preserved features and shorts from 18 countries, many enjoying their global or North American premieres. To offer example, this year’s lineup includes Andy Warhol’s never-before-seen Bitch (1965) in conversation with Mike Nichols’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) along with North American premieres of Wim Wenders’s Lightning over Water (1980); Chantal Akerman’s All Night Long (1982) and Hôtel des acacias (1982); Agnès Varda’s The Creatures (1966), starring a young Catherine Deneuve and Michel Piccoli; Agnieszka Holland’s Fever (1981), and Idrissa Ouédraogo’s Yam Daabo (1987), which follows the fortunes of one peasant family in Burkina Faso.
SUGGESTED READING
Why go: You get to see some rare stuff, maybe for the first and last time in your life. The festival will open with the North American premiere of the 1926 Douglas Fairbanks swashbuckler The Black Pirate with an introduction by filmmaker Alexander Payne (Election, Sideways). MoMA and The Film Foundation’s complex restoration faithfully reconstruct the film’s original palette of rich browns and greens, capturing the look of Technicolor’s Process Two such as it has not been seen in nearly 100 years. This year’s lineup also includes several banned or globally-censored and recut films that have been reconstructed as closely as possible to their original versions.
What’s involved: A series of screenings and events featuring the newly-restored films from MoMA’s extensive archives. Film at MoMA is supported by Chanel.
January 11 through February 4, 2024 at the Museum of Modern Art, Floor T2/T1 (The Debra and Leon Black Family Film Center). Information and schedule of screenings and engagements here.
Visions of America: A Culinary Experience Hosted by Thom Browne and Sotheby’s
Backstage at the Thom Browne Autumn/Winter 2023 Show. Image: Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images.
What Is It: Sotheby’s has tapped CFDA chairman and celebrated fashion designer Thom Browne to host a one-night dining experience inspired by the ingenuity of the Americas and the auction' house’s month-long Visions of America series of sales and engagements. For this particular event, you’ll be joining the Mr. Browne and interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins for cocktails at Sotheby’s headquarters (with a peek at Jenkin’s 1,000-square-foot design showcase modeled after a pied-à-terre) before making your way downtown for a grand multi-course dinner taking place under the Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass ceiling of the New York Stock Exchange (don’t worry— transport is provided).
Why Go: From the company (Thom Browne) to the location (The New York Stock Exchange’s boardroom), situations like this don’t arise often. Host chefs Ryan Ratino (Jônt; Bresca) and Josiah Citrin of Mélisse will team up with their combined five Michelin stars to present a culinary journey, expertly paired with wines from Dalla Valle Vineyards, Hourglass, Staglin Family Vineyards, and The Vice.
In its inaugural year, Visions of America features Browne as a curatorial partner as the auction house dives into American art through several sales, including an auction whose proceeds will benefit Council of Fashion Designers of America Scholarships.
What’s Involved: Cocktails followed by dinner at the New York Stock Exchange.
Thursday, January 11th from 6pm onward. Information and tickets here.
World Premiere of Pride House at The Flea Theater
Fire Island. Image: Cybele O'Brien via Getty Images.
What is it: New York City’s oldest and longest producing LGBTQIA+ theater company, TOSOS, will launch its ground-breaking 50th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of Pride House, a new play by the award-winning Chris Weikel. Though spare on specifics, we know the plot centers on 1938-era Fire Island (an established Gay summer colony) and a woman planning to host a cadre of her flamboyant theater scene friends there. According to the synopsis, “Things take a decidedly stormy turn” as some conservative visitors arrive.
Why go: Chris Weikel is no stranger to standing up new plays. His play, Penny Penniworth: A Story of Great Good Fortune, was produced off-off-Broadway by the Emerging Artists Theatre and went on to be staged at FringeNYC. Weikel was also commissioned by the American Stage Theatre Company to write an adaptation of Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales for the company's 2000 season. Further, the premiere serves as an opportunity to see Igor Goldin (Yank!, With Glee) direct a cast of thirteen including London Carlisle, Gail Dennison, Dontonio DeMarco, Desmond Dutcher, Jessica DiSalvo, Jamie Heinlein, Alex Herrera, Aaron Kaplan, Jake Mendes, Patrick Porter, Raquel Sciacca, and Tom Souhrada.
What’s involved: A stage performance with a run time of two hours and thirty minutes, including intermission.
Opening Night: Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 7:00PM at The Flea Theater. Information and tickets here. Performances: Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7PM, Thursday, January 18 until Saturday, February 10, 2024 at The Flea Theater. Information and tickets here.
The Winter Show
The Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory. Image: The Winter Show.
What Is It: The Winter Show, among the United States’ longest-running and most prestigious art, antiques, and design fairs, is now entering its 70th year and it stronger than ever. The show will bring together 68 highly-vetted exhibitors from around the world to present a curated selection of treasures from antiquity to modern masterpieces. Taking over the Drill Hall of the Park Avenue Armory, all ticket sales to the The Winter Show benefit the East Side House Settlement, a community-based organization serving the Bronx and Northern Manhattan. Its programs focus on education and technology as gateways out of poverty and as the keys to economic opportunity.
Why Go: Once contending with a famously quiet NYC social calendar that is the month of January, the show was stopped altogether thanks to COVID-19 until a roaring return in 2022 made The Winter Show the de facto start of a new type of social season centered around art. While acres of treasures await your perusal, it is the quality and breadth of the collection that is remarkable: representing over 5,000 years of human creativity, every piece on display is carefully vetted by a panel of experts across a range of fields.
What’s Involved: The opportunity to explore the stands of international sellers presenting works of cultural, decorative, or historical significance. During the run of the fair there are a series of special events including an Opening Night Party, a Design Luncheon, and a Young Collector’s Party.
Friday, January 19th until Sunday, January 28th, 2024 from daily hours at the Park Avenue Armory. Information and tickets here.
Whitney Art Party 2024
CT Hedden. Image: Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images.
What Is It: The Whitney Museum of American Art is the preeminent institution devoted to the art of the United States. The Art Party, held at the towering Renzo Piano-designed Meatpacking District building and hosted by the Whitney Contemporaries group of patrons is one of the museum’s most critical fundraising opportunities, primarily supporting its its celebrated Independent Study Program, designed to champion young and emerging artists.
Why Go: Art-lovers can indulge in an after-hours exploration of the entire museum as well gain access to a preview of the highly-anticipated Harold Cohen: AARON exhibition. Past guests have included Nili Lotan, Nadja Sayej, CT Hedden, Katie Holmes, Karlie Kloss, model and advocate Ashley Graham, Candace Bushnell and more.
What’s Involved: A “botanical theme” party with the entire museum open all night for viewing exhibitions. Wine from Dry Farm and cocktails featuring Casa Dragones tequila. Dancing with a DJ set by MGMT.
Tuesday, January 30th, 2024 from 9:30PM-12:30AM at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Information and tickets here.
Other Things Around the World
United States: The 63rd Annual International Red Cross Ball takes place at The Breakers Palm Beach on Saturday, January 6, 2024. The 34th Annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance will bring together the broadest international gathering of Black Dance professionals, agents, artistic directors, artists, choreographers, and more from Wednesday, January 24 to Sunday, January 28, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. France: The Paris Fashion Week Menswear shows, organized by Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, will run from Tuesday, January 16 to Sunday, January 21, 2024. The Haute Couture Week will run from Monday, January 22 to Thursday, January 25, 2024. United Arab Emirates: The long-awaited One & Only One Za’abeel Hotel opens to guests in Dubai.
