The winter blues? Fuhgeddaboudit! Just because the weather outside is frightful, doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of things to do in the Big Apple. Here are four events you won’t want to miss this month.If you haven’t seen the Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade at least once in your life, now’s the time. Back for its 15th year, the festivities mark the year 4712 on the Chinese calendar, which begins on January 31. Kicking off the Year of the Horse, the parade takes place on February 2 and wends its way through Little Italy, Chinatown, and lower Manhattan. Colorful costumes, traditional Chinese treats, and elaborate equine floats round out the celebrations (www.betterchinatown.com).It’s that time of year again. That’s right, Fashion Week 2014 is here. Although we’re still in the throes of winter, designers from around the globe are in town to reveal their fall collections. The heavy hitting shows, like Mercedes-Benz, require registration or even invitations. But Couture Fashion Week — which runs from February 14-16 — is much less exclusive. Entry is open to any fashionista who splurges on a ticket, which ranges in price from $40 to $220 (www.couturefashionweek.com).Treat your Valentine to an evening under the stars. On February 14, the Museum of Natural History opens the Hayden Planetarium for its Romance Under the Stars event. Couples can enjoy a cocktail reception with an open bar; why not sip some Champagne, sit back, and watch the stars put on a show (6:30 p.m. $85. www.amnh.org).The popularity of craft beer is exploding in our region — and that includes in New York City. In honor of all the praiseworthy suds, the New York City Brewers Guild hosts the sixth annual New York City Beer Week. More than 100 venues participate in some 300 events — some featuring celebrity chefs — during this 10-day festival, which highlights 12 NYC breweries — like Brooklyn Brewery, Eataly Birreria, and KelSo — and their frothy concoctions. The festival runs from February 21-March 2; check www.newyorkcitybrewersguild.com for a complete list of participating locations and events.
Chinese cheer: Chinatown celebrates the Year of the Horse |