WINTER WONDERLAND IN NOMAD
A flashy and fun new hotel in the NoMad neighborhood, Sir Richard Brandon’s Virgin Hotels New York City, has 460 chambers, including 39 one-bedroom suites and two penthouses. The 39th-floor sky lounge has quickly become one of Manhattan’s most popular event spaces for holiday soirées, and the lobby has been transformed into a winter wonderland complete with a Christmas tree on the third-floor terrace and Mrs. Claus candy bar. The hotel’s Everdene restaurant serves hot cocktails in cozy chalets to warm up along with an all-day brunch menu on Christmas Day. Holiday sip-and-paints will also be available throughout December. 1227 Broadway, virginhotels.com/new-york

START YOUR ENGINES
The dizzying debut of Aston Martin’s first ultra-luxury flagship boutique in Manhattan gives exotic car enthusiasts the opportunity to rub elbows (virtually) with designers directly from the factory. Located behind a giant pane of glass dubbed the Champagne Frame on the corner of 57th and Park, Q New York grants pre-approved clients access to a vast range of physical and digital customization options, so they can curate their fantasy ride. A lineup of iconic AM models sits up front, including the all-new DB12 and Valkyrie AMR Pro hypercar, all illuminated by a 131-foot, 2,100-bulb chandelier. 450 Park Avenue, astonmartin.com

SPIKE LEE SPOTLIGHT
The Brooklyn Museum presents Spike Lee: Creative Sources, a rare glimpse into the world of one of America’s most influential and prolific directors. Organized around seven themes Black history and culture, Brooklyn, sports, music, cinema history, family, and politics the exhibition draws connections between the people, places, and ideas behind Lee’s creative endeavors. It also marks Brooklyn’s first major exhibition on Lee, an artist whose persona is synonymous with the borough. The exhibition comprises more than 300 objects, representing the wide range of media that inspired Lee, and will be on display through February 4, 2024. 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, brooklynmuseum.org

OMAKASE ALL NIGHT
Yet another omakase sushi restaurant has opened in New York, this time a sushi atelier in SoHo inspired by “kintsugi,” the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold to embrace imperfections. Executive chef Victor Chen (formerly of Sushi Ko) and his team remove much of the rigidity found in many omakase sushi services around the city in favor of a more relaxed experience that focuses on care and passion. Chen serves ten guests at a time around his jewel box sushi counter, with three tiers of omakase prepared in the traditional edomae style, sourcing fish both locally and from Japan. One signature piece is lightly smoked uni nigiri, blending four different uni-varieties draped over rice. 28 Grand Street, kintsuginyc.com

KNICKERBOCKER NYE
Ring in the New Year just 150 feet below the Times Square Ball the closest live view of the event in the world at the Knickerbocker’s rooftop cocktail party with live DJs, a dance floor, heaters, and blankets. The Platinum Party Package includes a dinner buffet at Charlie Palmer at the Knick with lively communal seating and entertainment, including a sushi station by Sushi Noz, an extensive raw bar, 24-month aged parmesan wheel pasta, and a decadent dessert display, along with a Dom Pérignon midnight toast. Tickets sell out quickly, and there’s also a non-seated Silver Package for rooftop festivities only. 6 Times Square, knickerbocker.NYC