Things to Do in NYC: Ditch that bad habit
Whether it’s your boyfriend, dentist or religion, the brand new My Best Break Up podcast hosted by comedian/author Maeve Higgins is all about people who have changed their lives for the better by ditching a toxic habit. Watch a live taping this Thursday with writer/educator Ashley C. Ford, former nun Kelli Dunham and heartbreak song covers by Jen Kwok, and learn how the best beginnings can start with an ending. Nov. 15, 7 p.m., Jerome L. Greene Space at WNYC, 44 Charlton St., $20, thegreenespace.org
Things to Do in NYC: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
It’s been a big year for Grand Central Station, where the holidays are already in effect with its annual pop-up market of upscale gifts and stocking stuffers in Vanderbilt Hall. This Thursday, swing by the New York Transit Museum’s shop inside the terminal for its also traditional (and free!) holiday train show: a two-story scene with 34 feet of track leading from the train station all the way to the North Pole. Nov. 15-Feb. 3, 2019, free, grandcentralterminal.com
Things to Do in NYC: Taste the best of Asia
It’s been a good year for Asian representation, so this year’s LuckyRice Feast — the ninth annual showcase of New York’s top Asian restaurants paired with the continent’s spirits and cocktails — is making family its theme. Chefs from Tim Ho Wan, DaDong, Bessou, Junzi, Kimbap Lab, Baar Baar, Rawsome Treats and more will create off-the-menu items and shake up cocktails that represent their regions, and your ticket includes unlimited tastes of everything. Nov. 16, 7-10 p.m., Bowery Hotel, 335 Bowery, $88, luckyrice.com
Things to Do in NYC: Enjoy Kentucky bourbon for free
America’s native spirit is touring the country, and this weekend it’s NYC’s turn. The Bourbon Legends Boxcar Tour transports visitors to Kentucky, the heart of bourbon country, with an Instagram-ready walk-through of scenes where you taste, touch and see how brands like Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek and Basil Hayden are made. The free event includes tastings plus a craft cocktail bar and authentic Southern cuisine. Nov. 16-17, 6-10 p.m., must be 21+, somewhere in Midtown, register at bourbonboxcar.com
Things to Do in NYC: Take a fantastic voyage
Terrence Malick (Tree of Life) is known for his expansive visions of the world, but Voyage of Time takes it to a new level. The decades-in-the-making dream project is a love letter to the wonders of life, from the Big Bang to the constant creation going on here on Earth. British actress Lily James (Baby Driver) provides live narration to the “ecstatic images,” which are also accompanied by a live score by the Wordless Music Orchestra and Chorus. Nov. 16-17, $35 and up, bam.org
Things to Do in NYC: The dark side of Obsession
At a certain point in the ‘90s, you probably owned a piece of clothing with a gigantic Calvin Klein logo on it. Somehow, those same items are trendy again, which is as good a reason as any to mount a satirical play about the famous designer’s wild life. From the creative mind of Ryan Raftery, who also brought us the Anna Wintour and Martha Stewart musicals, The Obsession of Calvin Klein is a biography with a heavy dash of Black Swan and featuring a soundtrack of reworked pop hits from the past four decades. Nov. 16, 9:30 p.m., Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., $35-$35, publictheater.org
Things to Do in NYC: Meet Al Capone in Coney Island
The unofficial mayor of Coney Island Dick Zigun has done it again, writing another action-packed play featuring one of history’s most notorious gangsters. The Education of Al Capone, As If Told by Jimmy Durante imagines the Chicago mob boss as an 18-year-old honing his “skills” at a Coney dive bar. Funny but also crass (it’s set in 1918) and violent, audiences should be prepared for weaponized pasta and sexual situations. Nov. 16-18 and 23-25, Coney Island USA, 1208 Surf Ave., $20, coneyisland.com
Things to Do in NYC: Shop locally grown crafters and artists
Looking for a totally one-of-a-kind gift? Stop by the School of Visual Arts’ Makers Market this weekend, exclusively featuring products handmade by new graduates and alumni. This is no ordinary holiday market — you’ll find gothic and fossil jewelry by Fire & Bone, pop culture portraits by Mike Brennan and modernist ceramics by Shy. Nov. 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St., second floor, free, sva.edu
Things to Do in NYC: Add some cuteness to your weekend
The Javits Center is going to the dogs — and cats, birds, guinea pigs and all our other four-legged friends for PetCon, two days of panels, activities and (for VIPs) meet & greets with Instagram celebrity pets including Tuna Melts My Heart and Reagandoodle. Bring your own furry BFF to browse the booths and see if anything catches their eye, or cuddle up with adoptable pups in the dog garden and cat cafe. Nov. 17-18, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., 655 W. 34th St., $75-$325, petcon.co
Things to Do in NYC: Just in time for the cold weather, chili!
Because it’s officially puffer coats and knit hats season — with possible snow on the way this weekend! — it’s time to enrich your diet. Start at the Brooklyn Chili Takedown, where more than 20 home cooks vie for the glory of knowing they’ve pleased one of the toughest food crowds in the world. Your ticket includes unlimited samples until they’re done. Nov. 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Murmrr Ballroom, 17 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, $25, thetakedowns.com
