This and That: Things To Do in NYC (February 2024)
Looking for fun events in the city in February 2024? From fashion week to Lunar New Year to Black History month, there’s plenty of opportunity to get out for a good cause or a good time.
The Met Family Benefit: Enter the Metaverse
The Met Family Benefit. Image: BFA
What Is It: Forget leaving the kids at home for a night. Bring them along to one of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s most cherished and popular social events, the The Met Family Benefit. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Family Benefit will take on the theme of “The Metaverse”, converging where space and time meet. Family can dive through 5,000 years of artistic achievements to build their own world using The Met collection as inspiration. Past themes and activities included Heroes and Heroines, which focused on The Met’s large collection of early European works and featured stations where kids could create their own heroic personas by designing helmets, crowns, wrist cuffs, pendants, and standards, then crafted comic books to tell the story of their new heroic alter egos.
Why Go: As evidenced by the roaring popularity of Touch-a-Truck events and the turf wars of Girl Scout Cookies, kids love adult things (if only they really knew!). For parents, any chance to instill a sense of appreciation and wonder for the arts in their children is priceless. The Family Benefit combines both, letting children explore the legendary museum in a new way, with countless opportunities to engage with art and family. The benefit also happens to be celebrating its 30th Anniversary. Happy birthday!
What’s Involved: Food and refreshments are provided along with after-hours access to the museum. All guests will imagine what “The Metaverse” looks like for them and explore how technology and imagination can shape the future of Art. Children in fourth grade and above can enjoy the exclusive “Club Met”, a space where children can work with Met staff to create a short movie as though they are stepping into a painting.
Opportunity to support The Met
Among other ticketed packages with proceeds that go to the general operating fund, a standout is the Anniversary Package which includes the opportunity to host a private evening at The Met for up to 50 guests, enjoy a guided tour of a gallery of choice, live music, and a cocktail hour. The package includes The Met Family Circle membership for a year.
Thursday, February 8th, 2024 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Information and tickets here. All proceeds contribute to Museum’s general operating fund, which makes possible a robust slate of education initiatives.
Dine with Dez: Let It Be Black
Food by Habibi at Dine with Dez. Image: Calvin G Productions.
What Is It: Curated by entrepreneur/general genius Desmond Sam and experiential creative Ramses Rubio, Dine with Dez is a new dinner series on a mission to carve out time for powerful individuals to share moments and provoke ideas. The founding duo believe a sense of intimacy is essential for real conversations. Further hung on the idea that cultivation and manifestation starts with the people that truly move culture, it’s a grand experiment that seems to be working. The dinner series launched at the end of last year at Miami for Art Basel with Gitano Miami hosting a multi-course dinner. Since then, the dinner took over the members-only SAA Club in Brooklyn, with food by Habibi and drinks by Prima Pavé, a new zero-proof bubbly from Italy.
Guests at Dine with Dez. Image: Calvin G Productions.
For the third edition, Dine with Dez will take place on the opening weekend of NYFW and in the center of Black History Month with a theme of “Let It Be Black”. Sure to be a stimulating evening, the event will again bring together an impressive list of thinkers and creatives along with decadent dining.
Why Go: With a guest list that is tighter than the Met Gala, be flattered you got the invite in the first place. Redefining community and context, Dez and Ramses have a sick yet beautiful addiction to persuading a bunch of grand personalities to sit together and see what happens. Respectful of the intimacy of breaking bread amongst friends old and new, you’re here because you’re doing something right. Past attendees have included model Yves, stylist Jess Xu, creative Jae Gurley, writer Marisa Kalil-Barrino, editor Kayla Curtis Evans and more.
What’s Involved: Dinner and drinks plus rich conversation. Dress code is “yes”.
Thursday, February 8th, 2024 from 6:30pm onward at a private location. Invite only, but you can follow the dinner series on Instagram.
New York Fashion Week Men’s Day
A.Potts at NYFW Men’s Day 2023. Image: A.Potts.
What Is It: A sartorial extravaganza, New York Fashion Week Men's Day is like going to chic jury duty— editors, stylists, buyers crowd in to witness a remarkably concise survey of the state of American men’s fashion as designers take over white-box spaces to share their side of the story. Like New York Fashion Week is for broader fashion, Men’s Day is an ode to the ever-evolving tapestry of male fashion from the perspectives of sustainability, inclusion, and overall design innovation and craft. As part of the official CFDA Fashion Calendar, NYFW Men’s Day is supported by luxury haircare brand Oribe, who is providing products and teams and Augment, providing make-up teams and products.
Why Go: Despite being only one day, New York Men’s Day punches far above its weight in terms of influence and raw talent. Past debuts at NYFW Men’s debuts include N.Hoolywood, Bode, and Willy Chavarria, so there is a real pleasure of seeing the next big designer plant seeds in real time. Also, the people watching is magical.
What’s Involved: Morning and afternoon sessions of fashion presentations from a variety of new and returning designers including Y.Chroma, The Salting, Jack Sivan, and more.
Friday, February 9th, 2024 from 10:30am-6:00pm at a private location. Invite only. Follow along on Instagram.
This image is the official album artwork for BB/ANG3L.
Tinashe BB/ANG3L Tour at Terminal 5
What Is It: Artist Tinashe is celebrating the release of her latest album BB/ANG3L with a tightly-curated tour with a stop in NYC. Showcasing a versatile blend of R&B, pop, and dance influences, Tinashe's sultry vocals and captivating performances have earned her acclaim in the music industry. Rising to fame with hits like 2 On and All Hands on Deck, the artist has maintained a largely independent career over several albums with an emphasis on experimentation. At just seven songs, BB/ANG3L has still managed to spawned hits such as Uh Huh and Needs.
Why Go: With her independent status, Tinashe is able to control nearly every aspect of her fan experience and that extends to her celebrated live shows which are known to be engaging and intimate. The BB/ANG3L tour should be no different. In an interview with The Knockturnal, she explained to Vinesh Vora:
“This era is very intimate, very honest, very raw. I wanted to get rid of a lot of the distractions and extra things so it felt very close and personal … And then also feel like you could just touch me – like a lot of the videos are shot extremely intimately. And a lot of the songs feel very intimate and honest, almost like a journal.”
What’s Involved: A concert with UNIIQU3 as opener, known for her explorations of the Jersey Club sound.
Friday, February 9th, 2024 from 7pm until late at Terminal 5. Tickets From $35. Information and tickets here.
oneoneone x SoundGallery x Internet.Hotspot: Party 004
What Is It: After the candlelit dinner, make way to Eli Escobar’s new club Gabriela, which is throwing its first ever Valentine’s Day party. Located in the former Kinfolk space, friends, lovers, and couples are all welcome to revel in romance and grooves. NYC’s hottest party collectives, oneoneone, Internet.Hotspot, and SoundGallery are all coming together to DJ the night of love. Fall for whatever you need: make out sessions on the dance floor, business class networking, texting in the corner all night (actually don’t do this), or simply taking a mellow drink on the second floor lounge… this is the party for you.
Why Go: Gabriela is considered the most important club in NYC right now. Come for the guarantee of a fun and flirty time, but stay for the best DJs of NYC nightlife. The night will include back-to-back sets from Brooklyn’s finest like the lush DJ Thank You and the hardcore Heartbreaker. While Gabriela is known for music and atmosphere, the bartenders are equally as amazing. The drinks are as strong as the beats.
What’s Involved: Dancing and drinks in a lush multi-level space.
Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 from 8pm-3am at Gabriela. Information and tickets here.
Lunar New Year Celebration at the Seaport
Lunar New Year at the Seaport. Image: Seaport.
What Is It: Embrace the enchantment of the Lunar New Year's resplendent jubilation at Seaport Square. Amidst the historic allure of the South Street Seaport with its antique buildings and cobbled roads, the ethereal symphony of celebration beckons, orchestrated by the New York Chinese Cultural Center and the South Street Seaport Museum.
Why Go: This event is an open invitation to all cultural enthusiasts, families, and individuals eager to immerse themselves in the vibrant tapestry of the Lunar New Year. Families seeking shared experiences will delight in the mesmerizing traditional Lion Dance performances. Art enthusiasts can explore the intricate world of Chinese calligraphy through expert-led workshops. The celebration, crafted with inclusivity in mind, welcomes those who yearn for a day filled with cultural richness, festive joy, and the symbolic ushering in of the auspicious Year of the Wood Dragon.
What’s Involved: Three Lion Dances lasting 15 minutes each, crafts, Chinese calligraphy workshops and social opportunities.
Saturday, February 17th, 2024 from 11am-4pm at South Street Seaport. Free. Information here.
New York Botanical Garden’s Annual Orchid Dinner
2023 Orchid Dinner benefitting The New York Botanical Garden. Image: Darian DiCianno for BFA.
What Is It: A captivating and long-running event showcasing imaginative orchid centerpieces supports global plant research, conservation, horticultural programs, and education initiatives.
Why Go: The atmosphere and craftsmanship tends to make first-timers become lifelong attendees. In addition to a sale of rare orchids, each year the event features 40 tables dressed in fantastical, large-scale orchid arrangements created by the country's most innovative designers, florists, and landscape enthusiasts. This annual celebration not only highlights the beauty of orchids but also underscores the Garden's commitment to advancing plant science and environmental stewardship, making it a must-attend event for nature enthusiasts and philanthropists alike.
What’s Involved: Cocktail hour and sale of rare orchids plus a tour of installations followed by an elegant dinner and dancing.
Thursday, February 23rd, 2024 from 6:30pm at The Plaza Hotel Information and tickets here.
Outsider Art Fair
2021 Outsider Art Fair. Image: Outsider Art Fair.
What Is It: The Outsider Art Fair's 32nd iteration in New York will bloom as a kaleidoscopic tapestry of artistic brilliance. With over 62 exhibitors hailing from 32 cities across 8 countries, the event is a resplendent celebration of unbridled creativity. Amidst this creative symphony, the fair ardently champions self-taught artists, cultivating a sanctuary for their unique expressions. A sense of accessibility and relevancy pervades this particular show, unique among art fairs.
Why Go: The OAF Curated Space, in collaboration with the renowned Creative Growth Art Center, promises an extraordinary glimpse into never-before-seen artworks, marking the center's 50th anniversary. Additionally, a captivating exhibition curated by Anne Waldman, featuring the works of Beat Generation poets, adds a literary and historical dimension, making the fair a mesmerizing and culturally enriching experience.
What’s Involved: Art show suitable for a wide range of budgets.
Sunday, February 29th, 2024 until Sunday, March 3rd, 2024, daily at Metropolitan Pavilion. Information and tickets here.
Other Things Around the World
United States: The Fifteen Percent Pledge will host its annual gala in Los Angeles, celebrating the finalists for its Achievement Award while toasting Tracee Ellis Ross, the recipient of the Trailblazer Award. Mexico: Designers Kouros Maghsoudi and Ayanegui with jointly debut work as a part of Mexico City Art Week. The work will be on display from Wednesday, February 7th until Thursday, February 29th, 2024 at Gallery H14. United Kingdom: Burberry is presenting an exclusive camping-inspired shopping experience at iconic London department store Harrods, running from now until Thursday, February 29th, 2024. Fiji: The International Women’s Association will hold its annual Valentine’s Ball at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on February 10th, 2024. Singapore: The Singapore Airshow returns to the Changi Exhibition Centre from February 20th until February 25th, 2024.
