One of the best things about the holiday season is all the nostalgic and delicious food we get to enjoy. Lincoln Square has many restaurants, cafés, and bakeries to find your favorite sweet and savory dishes for Christmas, Hanukkah, and the holiday gathering of your dreams!

Looking to celebrate by eating out? On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Nougatine by Jean-Georges (1 Central Park West) is offering a special three-course menu, and Jean-Georges, the two-star Michelin restaurant at the same address, has three- and six-course tasting menu options, available for three people or more on Christmas Day. Robert at the Museum of Arts & Design (2 Columbus Circle) has a three-course menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You can also celebrate at MO Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental, New York (80 Columbus Circle), which is serving a festive Christmas Day brunch buffet featuring a beef carving station, caviar, lobsters, and dessert stations—a great way to enjoy the holiday with loved ones.

Lincoln Square is also the perfect place to mark Christmas with a New York classic, Chinese food and a movie. Check out what’s playing at AMC Lincoln Square 13 (1998 Broadway at 68th Street) and Film at Lincoln Center (144 & 165 West 65th Street), and then head to Shun Lee West and Shun Lee Café (43 West 65th Street) for traditional fare in an elegant setting, or order in from Wok City (153 Amsterdam Avenue).

Lincoln Square’s supermarkets make it easy to entertain without cooking all day. Whole Foods Market (10 Columbus Circle) has special catering menus dedicated to Christmas and Hanukkah, Gourmet Garage (155 West 66th Street) has you covered with kosher and non-kosher Hanukkah packages and a winter holiday menu, and Morton Williams (2015 Broadway at 68th Street) has catering options that are great for hosting any holiday party. For an Asian-American twist on Christmas dinner, Momofuku Noodle Bar Uptown (10 Columbus Circle) is also offering a Christmas Bo Ssäm Take-Home Feast, available for pickup on December 23 or 24, featuring brown sugar-glazed slow-roasted pork shoulder with accompanying sauces and sides, ready to reheat at home.

Dessert takes center stage with many specialty items around the neighborhood. Breads Bakery (1890 Broadway at 63rd Street) is known for its babka, but it has many Hanukkah delicacies available for pre-order. At Breads, you can find sufganiyot (deep-fried doughnuts) in five flavors, as well as latkes and rugelach. Rosetta Bakery (1928 Broadway at 64th Street) is where to go for classic Christmas Holiday Specials, including panettone (a dome-shaped Italian sweet bread), and the Rosetta Christmas Tree, an artistic puff pastry composition with fresh custard cream. Maman (152 Columbus Avenue at 67th Street), the French bakery and café, has teamed up with none other than Martha Stewart to create a Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie made with freshly grated ginger. Click here for the rest of their menu, including more holiday-inspired treats! Magnolia Bakery (200 Columbus Avenue at 69th Street) has a wide range of holiday desserts and sampler packs with cute decorations. Cap off a cold winter night with an indulgent hot chocolate with a generous layer of whipped cream from Amorino (44 West 63rd Street) or hot chocolate with marshmallows from Breads Bakery (1890 Broadway at 63rd Street).

Lastly, while Chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurants in Lincoln Square are temporarily closed, you can still order one of his many holiday-themed gift boxes or Bûche de Noël in three different flavors. You can also roll up your sleeves with Chef Boulud’s Bake-at-Home Hanukkah Sugar Cookies Kit! Each kit has sugar cookie dough, Hanukkah cookie cutters, and royal icing to decorate for a guaranteed fun time in the kitchen.

With holiday food squared away, all that’s left is to find great gifts. For inspiration, visit the Lincoln Square BID’s Neighborhood Guide for a full list of businesses in the neighborhood and read our recent story about where to find unique gifts nearby.

By Mike Mishkin, I Love the Upper West Side

Lincoln Square is getting ready for a full slate of holiday programming, with the Lincoln Square BID rolling out a series of events throughout December. The season officially begins with the Magical Lights Ceremony on Thursday, December 4, at 4:30 p.m. in Dante Park (Broadway and West 64th Street).

This year’s kickoff features circus performances — including Princess Schneeflocken, stilt walkers, and jugglers — along with music by students from Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School Chorus. The Saints of Swing, known for their classic and eclectic repertoire, will follow.

The ceremony also marks the return of the BID’s audio-reactive light and sound displays, which will illuminate Dante and Richard Tucker Parks. The installations respond to clapping, singing, and ambient city sound, and in Dante Park, the lights will sync with recordings from the Metropolitan Opera and Jazz at Lincoln Center. The nightly light-and-sound shows begin at 4:30 p.m. and will run throughout the season.

Additional lighting has also been added along the Broadway Malls from 60th to 70th Street, where trees will be wrapped from trunk to branch.

Beyond opening night, the BID’s Holidays in Lincoln Square lineup includes the return of the WinteRamble, an illuminated procession featuring Frost Giant puppets created by Processional Arts Workshop. That takes place on Wednesday, December 17, and advance sign-ups are available online.

Caroling will also pop up across the neighborhood, with the Fabulous Fezziwigs scheduled to perform at rotating locations from 5:30–7:00 p.m. on seven dates: December 5, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, and 18. Locations will be announced on the BID’s social channels.

More details about this year’s programs — along with event listings and promotions from Lincoln Square businesses — can be found at HolidaysinLincolnSquare.nyc. Information is also available at the BID’s three information carts at Dante Park, Richard Tucker Park, and Columbus Circle.

This holiday season, The Shops at Columbus Circle at Deutsche Bank Center (10 Columbus Circle) is decked out with a series of holiday performances and events!

Each night through Sunday, January 4, 300,000 twinkling lights and 44 illuminated stars will shine bright for Holiday Under the Stars, a choreographed light show. The stars in the Great Room light up for a show every 30 minutes from 5:00pm to midnight. The special events continue with live music performances.

Broadway Under the Stars is your chance to hear your favorite numbers from award-winning Broadway musicals, including Maybe Happy Ending, Chicago, The Lion King, and more. All performances take place on the second floor stage from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. Click here for show dates.

Through Wednesday, December 31, Santa’s Secret by Voss Events is a mature show (ages 21+) taking place on the fourth floor at The Shops. Wander through a maze of twinkling installations before uncovering a hidden bar and a jaw-dropping variety show featuring live music, burlesque, and festive cocktails. Tickets begin at $69.87 and are available here.

There are shows especially for kids, too. Join Jazz at Lincoln Center’s WeBop for a Holiday Jazz Jam on the second floor of The Shops. There are six free performances coming up in December—find the details here. On the fourth level of The Shops, you can find Passport to Santa by Voss Events, an exciting journey into the North Pole. Along the way, kids can find games, crafts, challenges, and more. Tickets begin at $35 and can be purchased here.

Get involved in festive workshops to create your own holiday décor. Color Me Mine, the ceramics painting studio, is hosting ornament painting events on the second floor of The Shops. Participants can use stencils, paints, and other decorative materials to personalize their ornaments. Tickets are required (starting at $35) for the workshops, which take place on Mondays and Fridays through Friday, December 19, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.

Make your front door beautiful at a holiday wreath making workshop, led by local floral studio Flowers by Special Arrangement, taking place on the second floor of The Shops from 6:00pm to 7:00pm through Tuesday, December 23. Tickets are available here, starting at $65.

While enjoying these events and activities, use your time at The Shops to shop for presents. Conveniently, The Shops at Columbus Circle has created a Gift Guide with picks for him, for her, for home, and for kids. There are also many restaurants and cafés in The Shops, making it a great place to rest and recharge. Find a list of eateries and make reservations here.  

The Shops at Columbus Circle are a holiday destination for everyone!

Photo credit: The Shops at Columbus Circle

There are many great stores and markets in Lincoln Square where you can find the perfect holiday gifts for friends and family.

Stylish and sophisticated gifts can be found in the gift shops at Lincoln Square’s cultural institutions. The Met Opera Shop (30 Lincoln Center Plaza) has recordings of your favorite operas, as well as books, accessories, and more. The Juilliard Store (144 West 66th Street) is the place to pick out gifts for lovers of music, dance, and theater in your life. The Store at MAD in the Museum of Arts and Design (2 Columbus Circle between Broadway and 8th Avenue) has a wide range of distinctive jewelry, accessories, home goods, and more that will be sure to catch your eye. Books, décor, and toys for kids can also be found at the Shop at the American Folk Art Museum (2 Lincoln Square at Columbus Avenue and West 65th Street).

Head to the West Side YMCA Parkside Lounge (5 West 63rd Street between Central Park West and Broadway) for handmade creations at the 47th Annual Holiday Pottery Show & Sale from the Community Arts Pottery Studio at the West Side YMCA. This holiday tradition features original, handmade art by students, assistants, and teachers from the Community Arts Pottery Studio. The event takes place from Thursday, December 4, to Sunday, December 7. Find more details here. 

Starting on Tuesday, December 2, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market returns to Lincoln Square. Check off gifts for everyone on your list at the dozens of stalls selling art, jewelry, home goods, and delicious food from artisans and designers. The market is open from Sunday to Thursday from 11:00am to 7:00pm and from 10:00am to 8:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The market ends at 4:00pm on Wednesday, December 31. It is only closed on Thursday, December 25, for Christmas Day.

To visit multiple stores in one place, visit The Shops at Columbus Circle (10 Columbus Circle), which has compiled a Gift Guide to help you find ideal gifts from top brands in fashion, wellness, beauty, and home. For more gift inspiration, visit Lincoln Square BID’s Neighborhood Guide for a full list of businesses in the neighborhood.

Photo credit: West Side YMCA

The holidays are fast approaching, so don’t wait to plan your visit to these popular festive performances happening soon in Lincoln Square!

Venture into a world of dancing snowflakes and toy soldiers with the New York City Ballet. The Nutcracker®, George Balanchine’s holiday classic, runs from Friday, November 28, to Saturday, January 3, with a Sensory-Friendly Performance on Sunday, January 4. For a variation on this theme, check out Spotlight: The New York Nutcracker, a cabaret parody taking place at 1887 Broadway (David Rubenstein Atrium) on Thursday, December 18. The Magic Flute, performed by The Metropolitan Opera, is another holiday tradition to savor. This English-language production of Mozart’s fairy tale runs from Thursday, December 11, to Saturday, January 3. Children and families can also join The Met Opera’s Holiday Open House, which takes place at 12:00pm on Sunday, December 14. The Open House is free to all ticket holders for the December 14 performance of The Magic Flute.

The New York Philharmonic and Jazz at Lincoln Center are getting into the spirit of the season with a host of holiday-themed shows beginning in December. Holidays with the NY Phil is a series of concerts, highlighted by Handel’s Messiah from Wednesday, December 10 to Saturday, December 13. On Sunday, December 7, the Holiday Jazz Jam, a fun, interactive show for families, will take place, starring Jazz at Lincoln Center’s WeBop Family Jazz Band. There are many other holiday shows from a wide range of jazz luminaries throughout the month, including these special celebrations: A Very Irby Christmas featuring saxophonist and composer Sherman Irby on Christmas Eve (Wednesday, December 24); and Dizzy’s New Year’s Eve with Carlos Henriquez Nonet, a bassist and composer, on Wednesday, December 31.

The thrills and excitement of the Big Apple Circus return to 155 West 62nd Street (Damrosch Park) on Friday, November 7. The shows under the big top run through Sunday, January 4, featuring a wide range of aerial, balancing, and comedy acts that delight kids and adults alike!

Celebrate the magic of the season in a way you’ve never seen before with Santa’s Secret, presented by Voss Events. In this immersive experience, you can explore a maze of twinkling holiday installations before uncovering a hidden bar and a jaw-dropping variety show featuring live music, burlesque, and festive cocktails. Tickets for this winter wonderland for adults (ages 21+) at The Shops at Columbus Circle (10 Columbus Circle) are available from Thursday, November 13, to Wednesday, December 31. The Shops at Columbus Circle’s dazzling star shows are back beginning on Monday, November 10, at 5:00pm. These nightly shows, happening through Sunday, January 4, are part of the wide range of festive entertainment, shopping, and dining experiences at The Shops at Columbus Circle. There will be live music, activities for kids, a series of ceramic ornament painting workshops led by Color Me Mine, and more! 

Just in time for holiday shopping, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market returns to Lincoln Square on Tuesday, December 2. Check off gifts for everyone on your list at the dozens of stalls selling art, jewelry, home goods, and delicious food from artisans and designers. The market is open from Monday to Friday from 11:00am to 8:00pm and from 10:00am to 8:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The market ends at 4:00pm on Wednesday, December 31. It is only closed on Thursday, December 25, for Christmas Day.

The Lincoln Square BID is also getting into the action with our Holidays in Lincoln Square series of free events! Our Magical Lights at Dante and Richard Tucker Parks are coming back, beginning with the Magical Lights Ceremony taking place on Thursday, December 4, at Dante Park, when we will light up Lincoln Square. On Wednesday, December 17, will be our 4th Annual WinteRamble—an illuminated community procession with the Frost Giant puppets from Processional Arts Workshop. The BID will also turn on the enhanced holiday lights in our ten Broadway Malls from West 60th to 70th Street and will be organizing other festive activities for the holiday season. Stay tuned for more exciting updates, but save the dates now! 

Anticipation for these holiday events is already building—we hope to see you there!

Photo credit: Erin Baiano (New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®)

By Robert Beck, West Side Rag

It was cold last year, just above freezing and breezy. We came fifteen minutes early to Dante Park in case there were a lot of people. A lot MORE people, I should say, as Dante is in front of Lincoln Center, where there is already plenty of traffic without a procession of Frost Giants.

It turned out there was no huge crowd, and it looked so normal that those who came for the Solstice WinteRamble were asking each other if this was the right time and place. The notice said it was starting at an undisclosed location and would go around the Lincoln Square Neighborhood, which is pretty vague. If it was your first time (and it was), you didn’t know what to look for.

Like I said, it was cold. At twenty after the stated time, my wife went home. About ten minutes later, I heard the sound, and the first tall, buoyant puppet figure emerged from a side street south on Broadway. It headed north at a slow walk, accompanied by six others like it and a flock of ice lanterns surrounded by a fair-sized crowd of celebrants.

The audio accompaniment was an artistic recording of thumb pianos—the small plunky instruments with metal tabs you flick with your finger. It was played loudly to compete with the ambient New York cacophony, greater than the portable system could handle, and came across more as a distorted rhythmic roar than music. That seemed appropriate, however. These were Frost Giants, and the sound was very winter weather-ish.

Solstice is an astronomical event, but celebrations through history reflect ancient rituals and beliefs. Our ancestors were smart enough to notice what was happening but lacked the means to determine why, so they made up good stories. We know why now, but we don’t always know better. We still enjoy the mysticism and the party.

There is just enough human-like articulation to the Frost Giant figures to play with your head. The idea behind puppets is to have you forget that their life and spirit come from without, and the point of the Ramble was fun and diversion, and there was plenty of that. The participants had a good time snarling traffic on a clear December evening, and the Frost Giants were pretty nifty, if unspecific in their duties. The solstice may be a phenomenon of exacting times, measurements, and consequences spanning thousands of millennia, but it’s a niche celebration on Broadway. The change to longer days and our moment of maximum tilt away from the sun only means so much to Upper West Siders. The majority of Thursday evening New Yorkers pouring out of the Lincoln Center subway station merely glanced at the block-long-plus procession without breaking stride or interrupting their phone conversations. The cab drivers stuck on the cross streets just shook their heads at one more thing.

By Rossilynne Skena Culgan, Time Out New York

The holiday magic is in full effect at Lincoln Square’s Magical Lights. Stroll along Broadway around 60th and 70th Street to explore this cool immersive audio and light installation. 

Strands of icicle lights decorate the trees inside Dante Park (at Broadway & 64th Street) and Richard Tucker Park (at Broadway & 65th Street). That’s beautiful enough to see but then the magic comes in. The trees change color and respond to singing, clapping, music, and even the NYC soundscape. They’ll glow in green, pink, purple, and golden hues for a dazzling interactive spectacle.  

Plus, given the parks’ location in a major cultural hub, The Magical Lights at Dante Park will also dance along to festive recordings from two of Lincoln Square’s iconic performing arts institutions: Jazz at Lincoln Center and The Metropolitan Opera.

In addition to the nightly light show, also expect free entertainment all season long, including: Giant puppets, icicle lanterns and carolers. Here’s the full schedule.

Photos and text by Daniel Krieger

As the holiday season gets underway, Christmas decorations are festooning the city. And on Tuesday evening, in front of Lincoln Center at Dante Park (West 63rd Street), the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District kicked off its Magical Lights programming.

This year, there’s an expanded array of attractions. Along with last year’s interactive sound-sensitive lights adorning the park’s London Plane trees, music will now be played nightly from speakers hidden in the trees — recordings of Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Met Opera – which the lights react to. These lights will also be on display at Richard Tucker Park on West 66th Street. And, from West 60th to 70th streets, 36 trees on the Broadway Mall will be illuminated.

As twilight approached, an eager crowd gathered. Locals came for the performers, to drink hot chocolate served by Rosa Mexicano, and to celebrate the turning on of the lights that officially marks the start of the holiday season. The jubilant spectators circled the stage area next to the Movado clock tower.

The festivities began with caroling by the Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School Chorus, which was accompanied by the antics of The Department of Spectacle, a playful circus group with jugglers, a unicyclist, and a mischievous stilt walker with large angelic wings.

Lots of local media showed up, including ABC Eyewitness News, and in the run-up to the lighting, Gale Brewer went up to a podium and wished everyone well along with other speakers, including Monica Blum, the president of the Lincoln Square BID, and Nina Pineda, a broadcast journalist with WABC-TV. 

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for – switching on the lights. As light snow momentarily began to fall, a group of two dozen children led the countdown from seven to one. Then the crowd erupted into boisterous midnight-on-New-Years-Eve style cheering as the lights went on, followed by a shower of confetti as the Saints of Swing launched into Christmas classics, like Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

For the rest of the month, and into January, every day at 4:30 p.m. the lights will go on and the music will play, explained Monica Blum, the BID’s president, who was orchestrating the holiday season kickoff.

“We want to bring people to Lincoln Square to create a sense of community here, which is really what we’re all about,” she said. “I’ve been doing this for 29 years and the whole idea is to bring the neighborhood together.” Surveying the large turnout and festive scene, she observed that they had once again achieved that goal. 

After the lighting, Kristy Ledley, a local mom who had come with her husband and toddler, expressed appreciation for the family-friendly event.

“I like that it’s not a typical Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which makes it stand out from the other tree lightings in the city,” she said as she looked up at the twinkling lights. “These lights add pizzazz to the trees and light up the square really well.”

On seven nights this month, the caroling group the Fabulous Fezziwigs will perform in various spots around the neighborhood donned in their signature Victorian costumes (December 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 17th, and 18th.) Check the Lincoln Square BID on Instagram for time and place updates. Also, the third annual WinteRamble Workshop and Procession will take place on December 18th. To register to take part in the WinteRamble Workshop and Procession, click here, and to learn more about Magical Lights events happening this month go here.

By Brandan Mohler, I Love the Upper West Side

Lincoln Square will be lit up for the holidays beginning next Tuesday, December 3, thanks to Lincoln Square BID’s Magical Lights program. The month-long celebration will kick off at 4:30 p.m. on December 3 in Dante Park, according to a press release.

The “festive celebration of light and sound” will feature a variety of installments including singing trees in Dante Park (the small, triangular park just across Columbus from Lincoln Center’s main steps) near West 64th Street. Dante Park’s London Plane trees will be decorated with audio-reactive lights designed by Limbic Media.

Just a few blocks north, Richard Tucker Park will also feature audio-reactive lighting that will “twinkle, move to the rhythms of the city, and brighten up [the park],” between West 65th and 66th streets along Broadway and Columbus.

The BID will also illuminate 36 trees throughout the Broadway Malls between West 60th and West 70th streets.

“Whether you’re on your way to a performance, dining and shopping in the neighborhood, or on your way home, we hope our light and sound installations will brighten up the holiday season for everyone,” Monica Blum, President of the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District, said in the release.

The December 3rd kick-off in Dante Park will include holiday-themed circus acts along with a free performance by the Kaufman Music Center’s Special Musical School Chorus. A swing band called “The Saints of Swing” will liven the environment with a special performance, as well.

Can’t make it on December 3? The festivities will continue throughout the holiday season, including performances on seven nights (12/4, 12/5, 12/11, 12/12, 12/13, 12/17, and 12/8) by the caroling group the Fabulous Fezziwigs. The WinteRamble Workshop and Procession – where locals can participate and volunteer in the parade – is scheduled for December 18.

For more information on all Magical Lights events or to register for the WinteRamble Workshop and Procession, visit the Magical Lights website here.

By Janis Sasso, Patch

Lincoln Square BID Announces Magical Lights & WinteRamble for 2024 with Nightly Sound and Light Shows, Free Entertainment around Lincoln Square & More

Magical Lights Kicks Off Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. in Dante Park

Upper West Side, NY– Lincoln Square will shine brighter than ever this holiday season as the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (BID) unveils its Magical Lights program, a festive celebration of light and sound. The expanded 2024 holiday programming will transform the neighborhood into a vibrant wonderland with interactive light displays, enchanting sound installations, and beloved traditions.

The festivities kick off on Tuesday, December 3 with a celebration at 4:30 PM in Dante Park to officially turn on the holiday lights than are bigger, better, and brighter than ever before.

Expanded Features for 2024 Magical Lights include:

• Singing Trees in Dante Park: The iconic London Plane trees in Dante Park (Broadway & 64th Street) will feature a new sound installation, added to its audio-reactive lights, that will make the trees sing as the lights dance along in sync with festive holiday music.
• Interactive Lights expanding to Richard Tucker Park: A new audio-reactive light installation complementing Dante’s light show will twinkle, move to the rhythms of the city, and brighten up Richard Tucker Park (Broadway & 65th Street).
• Illuminated Broadway Malls: This year, 36 trees in the Broadway Malls from 60th to 70th Street will illuminate Broadway’s global corridor.

The audio reactive lighting system has been designed by Limbic Media, a trans-disciplinary team of artists and engineers transforming public spaces with high-tech interactive art and light installations that invite participation and bring communities together.

“This year, we are making Magical Lights even more magical for locals and visitors to enjoy in a celebration that captures the sights and sounds of the neighborhood and the opportunity to create magical memories right here,” said Monica Blum, President of the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District. “Whether you’re on your way to a performance, dining and shopping in the neighborhood, or on your way home, we hope our light and sound installations will brighten up the holiday season for everyone.”

Additional highlights and entertainment for the kickoff at Dante Park include:

• The Department of Spectacle will kick off this magical evening with holiday-inspired circus acts, including stilt walkers, jugglers, and the whimsical Princess Schneeflocken.
• Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School Chorus will add to the holiday cheer with a free performance. The concert choir features high school vocal students from Kaufman’s K-12 public school that provides students with an intensive music education program with fully funded lessons, music classes and ensembles along with academics.
• The SAINTS of SWING, an extraordinary collective of some of the tri-state area’s finest performers specializing in eclectic and electric selections of foot-tappin’ Swing classics, will fill the air with lively music as visitors dance along under the twinkling lights. Vocalists Kati Mac and Jim Mola will lead the group. Kati Mac has six acclaimed albums focusing on fostering peace and connection through music. Songs of Revolution, Songs of Peace is her latest release. Jim Mola brings a robust vocal portfolio, with contributions to iconic shows and brands like Saturday Night Live, Family Guy, and even the voice of the Jolly Green Giant.

Additional holiday programming and entertainment include:

• Follow the Fabulous Fezziwigs December 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 17, and 18.
  • Throughout December, the Fabulous Fezziwigs will wear their festive Victorian costumes and bring joy to Lincoln Square with their spirited caroling of timeless classics and contemporary holiday favorites.
• Wednesday, December 18 – WinteRamble Workshop 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. & Procession, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Procession starts at 1886 Broadway (between 62nd & 63rd Streets)
  • The Lincoln Square BID invites the public to the third annual WinteRamble – an illuminated community procession of Frost Giant puppets and icicle lanterns led by Processional Arts Workshop. The procession begins at 5 p.m. from a central location and then meanders along the sidewalks of Lincoln Square. Visitors and residents can participate in the WinteRamble by volunteering to carry a crystalline icicle lantern, creating and carrying their own mini lantern, or joining J.C. King’s Kalimbascope, a rolling ensemble of acoustically-enhanced thumb pianos. Those interested in participating or attending are encouraged to sign up at MagicalLights.nyc.