holiday tree lightings (free admission):
► tues 4:30-5:45pm: madison square park holiday tree lighting: home of the first-ever public tree lighting in nyc in 1912. >>
► thurs 6-7pm: washington square park tree lighting ceremony: the arch at washington square park (greenwich village). >>
tuesday
tues 7am: free donuts: los angeles-based randy’s donuts is opening it’s very first nyc location in greenwich village, and the first 500 customers at today’s grand opening will receive a free glazed donut. 185 bleecker st (at macdougal st). >>
tues 8pm: sugar, we’re hoein down: line dancing x emo night: two worlds collide at this line-dancing party set to emo, alt, and pop-punk bangers (zero country). total beginner? they’ll teach you the steps. purgatory (bushwick), $10 adv, $13 door >>
sponsored
Selected Shorts joins forces with Slate’s hit podcast Death, Sex & Money for an evening of powerful storytelling about “the things we think about a lot and need to talk about more.” Don’t miss this special event, where acclaimed actors bring to life fiction that confronts the big questions and tough choices often left out of polite conversation. Hosted by Anna Sale, with readings by Peter Francis James (Funny Girl), Richard Kind (Only Murders in the Building), Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens), Amy Ryan (Sugar), and Michael Stuhlbarg (Your Honor).
Skint readers can get a $15 ticket (reg. $38) on Tier 2 using code: Sale
wednesday
weds 6:30pm: top shelf: 2025 fiction all-stars : isaac fitzgerald (dirtbag, massachusetts) moderates an end-of year panel discussion with fiction writers angela flournoy, katie kitamura, and sebastian castillo on their recent work. bonus: the first 75 attendees will receive a free book by one of the featured authors. nypl stavros niarchos foundation library (midtown), free admission. >>
sponsored: weds 7pm: death, sex + money with anna sale, amy ryan, michael stuhlbarg, and more: selected shorts joins forces with slate’s hit podcast death, sex + money for an evening of powerful storytelling about ‘the things we think about a lot and need to talk about more’ at symphony space (uws). don’t miss this special event, where acclaimed actors bring to life fiction that confronts the big questions and tough choices often left out of polite conversation. hosted by anna sale, with readings by peter francis james (funny girl), richard kind (only murders in the building), phoebe robinson (2 dope queens), amy ryan (sugar), and michael stuhlbarg (your honor). skint readers can get a $15 ticket (reg. $38) on tier 2 using code ‘sale’ >>
weds 7pm: basquiat: a quick killing in art: journalist phoebe hoban presents basquiat: a quick killing in art, her new biography on artist jean-michel basquiat, in a conversation with keith haring biographer brad gooch at strand bookstore’s rare book room (greenwich village). $10 admission, $19.99 ticket option includes a copy of the book. >>
weds 7pm (monthly): fantastic fiction at kgb: this monthly speculative-fiction reading series, hosted by editor ellen datlow and writer matthew kressel at kgb bar (east village), welcomes writers daniel braum (creatures of liminal space) and martin cahill (audition for the fox) for a night of readings and discussion. free admission. >>
weds 7pm (monthly): astronomy on tap: holiday party edition: things are looking up at astronomy on tap, a night where astronomy enthusiasts gather at a local bar for talks by professional scientists and educators—plus themed games and other cosmic fun. new location: somethin’ else in dekalb market hall (downtown brooklyn), free admission. >>
weds 7pm: artists + beers: pair cinema with cervezas at ‘artists + beers,’ a semi-monthly screening series highlighting short films, docs, and music videos by local filmmakers. hosted by nancy pop, curran banach, and chip parham. all night skate (bed-stuy), free admission. >>
weds 7pm: it’s cuffing season! a holiday variety show + dating game: lorna wren hosts a holiday retro-variety cabaret and dating game that blends comedy, music, burlesque, and audience matchmaking at caveat (les). save 20% with promo code ‘santababy’ >>
weds 7:30pm: i hate capitalism! with marcela onyango: comedian, town crier, and columnist marcela onyango (‘feel the news’ show) spreads their hate for capitalism and love for humanity at this one-hour stand-up show. friends and lovers (crown heights), $15. >>
weds 7:30pm: we have fun: a stand-up show: hosts zach sims and dan wilbur team up to bring the fun-ny to young ethel’s (south slope), with stand-up by aaron kominos-smith (comedy central), brad howe (joe pera talks with you), ashley bez (younger), and paco erhard. free admission. >>
weds 8pm (monthly): mortified storytelling show: you’re not the only one who had an awkward phase. from journals to angsty poetry to home movies, adults share their most embarrassing childhood artifacts at the mortified storytelling show. littlefield (gowanus), $12 adv, $15 day of. >>
weds 8pm (biweekly): flash comedy: have a picture-perfect night of laughs at the flash comedy show, where the hosts snap free polaroids of you and your friends to take home. hosted by claire parker (celebrity memoir book club), audrey black (cracked), and temi adeoye, tonight’s show features sila puhl, diego mata, maddie peck, ananya hegde, bridget foley, and jonathan van halem. mood ring (bushwick), $10 adv, $15 door. >>
weds 8:30pm: comedy on kingston: the comedy on kingston show returns with a night of stand up featuring jordan rock (netflix), carmen lagala (colbert), ian levy (con’t tell comedy), demetrius fields, and brittany brave. hosted by nolawee. salon on kingston (crown heights), $12. >>
weds 8:30pm: my kinda night! a queer variety show: billie bullock and sarah creamin’ onion host an evening filled with drag, cabaret, comedy, and more at medusa bar brooklyn (east williamsburg). free admission (bring $ to tip the performers). >>
thursday
thurs-fri (7pm thurs, 7:30pm fri): new york classical players: the new york classical players continues its 16th concert season with a program featuring works by kodály, martinů, and mendelssohn. bruno walter auditorium at new york public library for the performing arts (thurs) and church of st. luke + st. matthew in clinton hill (fri). free admission (donations welcome). >>
thurs 5pm (thursdays thru 12/18): broadway under the stars: enjoy intimate performances from broadway shows and conversations with the stars at the shops at columbus circle’s annual ‘broadway under the stars’ holiday series. tonight’s program features excerpts from six: the musical, two strangers (carry a cake across new york), and the queen of versailles. the second floor stage at the shops at columbus circle (uws), free admission. >>
thurs 6-9pm: sip + spark: lightning talks on sustainability: from circular design and community composting to local food systems and creative reuse, hear five-minute lightning talks on sustainability from leaders, makers, organizers, and community voices in a relaxed, social setting. hosted by zero waste nyc kings county brewers collective taproom (bushwick). $10 suggested donation. >>
thurs 6:30pm: film comment live: best of 2025: film comment editors devika girish and clinton krute, along with critics amy taubin and bilge ebiri, guide a real-time countdown of the results of film comment‘s year-end critics poll, sparking lively discussion and debate. the amphitheater at lincoln center’s elinor bunin munroe film center (uws), free tickets will be distributed at the box office starting one hour prior to the event. >>
thurs 6:30pm: presentation dating: anything goes, from powerpoints to interpretive dance, guitar solos, and odes to love, as single audience members put themselves on display for willing willing attendees at the presentation dating show. the gutter spare room (williamsburg), $15. >>
thurs 7pm: risk! live show and story slam: hear guests tell true stories they never thought they’d share in public at kevin allison’s risk! show. tonight’s ‘collateral damage’-themed show includes storytellers david zellnik, ali mack, and nick hornedo, plus a mini-story slam featuring short stories told by selected audience members. caveat (les), $14.64 with promo code ‘skint’ (reg. $24-25). >>
sponsored: thurs 7:30pm: isle of klezbos brings ‘cutting edge klezmer’ to the stage!: this powerhouse all-women klezmer sextet celebrates yiddish musical traditions with equal parts chutzpah and heart. blending neo-folkloric tunes, reimagined classics, and sound all their own, their ‘cutting-edge klezmer’ (new york magazine) is not to be missed! symphony space (uws). >>
thurs 8pm (monthly): savage! comedy show: savage comedy returns to logan’s run in park slope. hosted by lizzie martinez, melissa rocha, nonye brown-west, and chloé cunha, tonight’s show includes standup by casey james salengo (comedy central), ariel elias (kimmel), liv talley, jilberto soto, gabe pacheco, and amanda gordon. bonus: rsvp for a chance to win a free drink. free admission. >>
thurs 8pm (monthly): tip top tits comedy show: it’s comedy or bust at janet hyde and mary cella’s stand-up show, featuring april boddy (iheart radio), courtney magginis (comedy central), dave ross (james corden), jaron young (one-liner madness champion), and kendall farrell. bonus: $3 pbrs. tip-top bar + grill (bed-stuy), free admission. >>
thurs 8pm (+ sat): bad movies night brooklyn: jack frost and silent night, deadly night 5: sip a cold one and revel in the badness of jack frost (thurs at full circle bar in williamsburg) and silent night, deadly night 5 (fri at wild east brewing in gowanus). free admission. >>
thurs 8pm: the mari lwyd theatrical pub crawl: drama and drinks meet as a group of actors lead you through industry city’s watering holes, stopping along the way to perform short play scenes at the frying pan, fort hamilton distillery, gun hill publick house, bitter monk, and barrow’s intense tasting room. starts at bkone: the tom kane theatre. $10 admission (drinks extra). >>
thurs 9pm (monthly): comedy ugly: a comedy strip show: comedians reveal more than just punchlines at comedy ugly, a standup show where performers remove an article of clothing between jokes. featuring: kelly taylor, misha han, ken oonyu, and janelle draper. hosted by alysia hush, marisa riley, and kim dinaro. easy lover (east williamsburg), free admission. >>
ongoing
our roundup of 40+ ongoing events: holiday markets, ice skating, art shows, and more. >>
stay safe and healthy
– the skint
