Hanukkah is just around the corner, and New Yorkers are ready to celebrate the happy challah-days.<\/p>\n
This festive season in NYC can feel like a smack in the face of all things Christmas, but the Festival of Lights \u2014 beginning at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 14, and ending at sundown on Monday, Dec. 22 \u2014 also shines brightly at this time of year. There are plenty of events and activities happening here to properly commemorate the joyous Jewish holiday.<\/p>\n
Here are some of the lit events to check out this year.<\/p>\n
World\u2019s largest menorah(s)<\/p>\n
Guinness World Records has deemed this Manhattan-based menorah the largest across the globe. Billy Tompkins\/ZUMA \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n
Two menorahs battling over the title of \u201cworld\u2019s largest\u201d \u2014 one in Manhattan, the other in Brooklyn \u2014\u00a0will light up both boroughs each night of Hanukkah starting this weekend.<\/p>\n
The official victor \u2014 according to Guinness World Records<\/a>, which cited it in 2006 \u2014 is a 32-foot-tall, 4,000-pound structure erected at Midtown\u2019s Grand Army Plaza, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, across from the Plaza Hotel. Its rival, a menorah at Brooklyn\u2019s Grand Army Plaza, also tops off at 32 feet, but there is debate that it may be taller by a half-foot<\/a> because its shamash, or center candle, adds about six uncounted inches to its height. However, a representative for Guinness told The Post that the largest menorah is measured by the overall height\/length of the menorah, excluding candles. <\/p>\n The Manhattan menorah will follow this lighting schedule:<\/p>\n The Brooklyn lightings will take place on:<\/p>\n In Brooklyn, the musical group Pumpidisa<\/a> will host a kickoff concert at 4 p.m. on the 14th, before the lighting; each night will have live music, hot latkes and gifts for children.<\/p>\n Dec. 14 to 21<\/strong>; Grand Army Plaza, Fifth Avenue at the north side of 59th Street at Central Park, Midtown; Grand Army Park at Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn<\/strong><\/p>\n Shine Bright at Hudson Yards<\/p>\n The Hudson Yards menorah lighting will take place on Dec. 15. Hudson Yards<\/p>\n Kick off Hanukkah at Shine Bright at Hudson Yards <\/a>with a menorah lighting and celebration on Dec. 15, at around 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Presented by Wells Fargo in partnership with Chabad of Midtown, the Public Square and Gardens will have daily lightings at sundown. Guests can enjoy other holiday festivities at Hudson Yards after the ceremony, such as the glittering holiday light display or a hot chocolate pop-up at the nearby La Maison du Chocolat.<\/p>\n Dec. 15 to 22; 11th Avenue and Hudson Boulevard<\/strong><\/p>\n Chanukah menorah lighting and celebration at Seaport<\/p>\n One of the more unique menorah lightings in the city \u2014 if seeing the \u201cworld\u2019s largest\u201d too ho-hum for you \u2014 will take place at The Seaport, which will celebrate the season with a six-foot Hanukkah lamp made of LEGOs. <\/p>\n The annual neighborhood event<\/a>, hosted by the Chabad Jewish Center of FiDi, will be 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, and will feature latkes, hot chocolate, live music, arts and crafts, face painting and a musical performance by the FiDi Hebrew School.<\/p>\n The celebration is free, but an RSVP is encouraged<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dec. 14 at 3 p.m.; Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17, 89 South St.<\/strong><\/p>\n Chanukah on Ice<\/p>\n Central Park visitors can skate under the festive lights at Wollman Rink from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, during Chanukah on Ice NYC 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n General admission tickets<\/a> for the event, featuring a live DJ, kosher treats and a menorah lighting, cost $35 until 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13; they go up to $40 from Dec. 14 through noon on Dec.16. Children under 2 years old skate free; tickets include skate rentals, food and beverages.<\/p>\n Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.; Wollman Rink | 830 Fifth Ave<\/strong>.<\/p>\n MatzoBall 2025<\/p>\n Exuberant attendees hit the dance floor at the MatzoBall. MATZOBALL<\/p>\n If you\u2019re Jewish, single and ready to mingle, check out Matzoball<\/a>, the annual rite of passage for those faithful with nothing to do on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n \u201cThe nation\u2019s No. 1 Jewish Singles Holiday Party,\u201d as it\u2019s billed, brings together non-coupled folks \u2014 some already using the Jewzz<\/a>\u00a0dating app, created by the event founders \u2014 for a night of schmoozing, dancing and, in their G-rated assessment, \u201cromantic possibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n MatzoBall<\/a> is for people 21 and over, kicking off at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and shutting down at 4 a.m. on Christmas Day.\u00a0Tickets are $55<\/a>, or $80 for a VIP, line-skipping \u201cfast pass\u201d ticket. Table prices range from $235 to $407.<\/p>\n Dec. 24 at 10 p.m.; Musica | 637 W. 50th St. <\/strong><\/p>\n The Jazzukkah Project<\/p>\n The musicians behind The Jazzukkah Project<\/a> celebrate the holiday by reimagining songs such as \u201cMa\u2019oz Tzur,<\/a>\u201d \u201cI Have a Little Dreidle\u201d and \u201cSevivon<\/a>\u201d as electric jazz tunes.<\/p>\n Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Grove NYC | 125 MacDougal St.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2018Jumping off the Roof\u2019<\/p>\n Elana Polin<\/a>\u2018s cheekily named one-woman musical<\/a>, \u201cJumping Off the Roof\u201d explores the seven-member family from the classic \u201cFiddler on the Roof\u201d in a parody from the females\u2019 point of view. <\/p>\n The play asks: What really happens to Tzeitel in the New World? How does she really feel about Motel, the tailor? And how has the Dairyman mentality and community protected and prepared her for life?<\/p>\n Dec. 13 to 15 at 3:30 p.m.; The Triad Theater | 158 West 72nd St.<\/strong><\/p>\n The 8 Nights of Hanukkah with\u00a0Yo La Tengo<\/strong><\/p>\n Yo La Tengo will return to Bowery Ballroom this holiday. Getty Images<\/p>\n Indie rock band Yo La Tengo is back with their annual Hanukkah run<\/a> at Bowery Ballroom \u2014 a tradition in New York City nearly every year since 2001.<\/p>\n They will perform different setlists each night<\/a> of Hanukkah from Dec. 14 through 21.<\/p>\n Dec. 14 to 21 at 7:30 p.m.; 6 Delancey St.<\/strong><\/p>\n Zamir Choral Foundation Hanukkah Concert<\/p>\n On Saturday, Dec. 13, Zamir Chorale, a premier Hebrew singing choir in North America, and Zamir Noded, a Jewish choir for young professionals, will collaborate on a concert conducted by maestro Matthew Lazar.<\/p>\n \u201cCelebrating Hanukkah: Jewish Independence, Resilience and Hope<\/a>\u201d will feature both ensembles singing separately and together. Tickets are available online<\/a> for $40 for balcony seats and $65 for orchestra.<\/p>\n Dec. 13 at 8 p.m.<\/strong>; Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center | 129 W. 67th St. <\/strong><\/p>\n The Great Chanukah Doughnut Duel 2025<\/p>\n The annual battle for the \u201cGolden Doughnut trophy\u201d is billed as the \u201cultimate holiday showdown\u201d to find Hanukkah\u2019s best sweet treat in the Big Apple.<\/p>\n Hosted by comedian Eitan Levine, NYC\u2019s top chefs will go head-to-head at The Moxy Williamsburg on Dec. 16, bringing their most creative sufganiyah \u2014 the round jelly doughnut pastry eaten around the world during the Jewish holiday \u2014 to the neighborhood.<\/p>\n Guests will sample bold, over-the-top doughnuts and cast votes to help decide this year\u2019s champion. Tickets are available online<\/a> for $36.<\/p>\n Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.; The Moxy Williamsburg | 353 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn<\/strong><\/p>\n Hanukkah food offerings in NYC<\/p>\n Of course, along with events, there are plenty of notable food offerings across NYC for Hanukkah. With everything from traditional holiday eats to creative spins on classics, here are some options for the foodies:<\/p>\n Mama Mezze<\/p>\n Mama Mezze<\/p>\n Chef Einat Admony at Mama Mezze<\/a> will serve a\u00a0crispy latke with apple sour cream, combining the two highly debated toppings into one. The apples are roasted with Aleppo pepper, honey, rosemary and thyme, then blended with yogurt and sour cream.<\/p>\n 1123 Broadway<\/strong><\/p>\n Acadia<\/strong><\/p>\n For Hanukkah dinner from Dec. 14 through 22, Acadia<\/a> offers a ltkes special with freshly grated latkes and a broad range of toppings, such as smoked salmon, lamb ragu, silan-ginger applesauce, schug, sweet-and-sour harissa, and tahina\u2013amba. They also serve a crispy potato latke with two eggs, smoked salmon and labneh\u00a0at lunch and brunch year-round.<\/p>\n 101 W. 57th St.<\/strong><\/p>\n Russ & Daughters <\/strong><\/p>\n Russ & Daughters<\/a> locations will serve their classic, gold-standard potato latkes, handmade in small batches. They come with applesauce or sour cream, with the option to add smoked salmon or roe.<\/p>\n 179 E. Houston St. | 127 Orchard St. | <\/strong>502 W. 34th St. | <\/strong>141 Flushing Ave<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Gertie<\/p>\n Gertie\u2019s<\/a> will offer three latkes with mix-and-match toppings, such as apple butter and sour cream, lox with dill, hot-and-cold smoked salmon with hot honey mayo, pickled herring, tuna melt or reuben-style.<\/p>\n 602 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn<\/strong><\/p>\n 12 Chairs Caf\u00e9<\/p>\n 12 Chairs Cafe<\/p>\n 12 Chairs Caf\u00e9<\/a> has a Hanukkah-only latke, served with classic toppings such as sour cream and applesauce, plus Middle Eastern-forward sides including labneh and smoked salmon.<\/p>\n From Dec. 15 through 22, both SoHo and Williamsburg locations will serve sufganiyot, and candles will be lit at 6 p.m. nightly throughout the holiday.<\/p>\n 56 MacDougal St. | 342 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn<\/strong><\/p>\n Misi<\/strong><\/p>\n Williamsburg\u2019s Misi<\/a> is bringing an Italian twist to Hanukkah, serving latkes with whipped ricotta and rosemary apple butter, available for holiday pre-order.<\/p>\n 329 Kent Ave<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Levantine<\/strong><\/p>\n Head to Levantine<\/a> in Williamsburg to get sweet potato latkes\u00a0with a yogurt-chive dip, a modern variation on the crispy holiday standard.<\/p>\n 361 Graham Ave<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Edith\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n There are multiple latke-centric dishes at Edith\u2019s<\/a> this holiday season, including the BEC&L, a bacon-egg-cheese on a crispy latke; bite-size\u00a0Totkes; and a\u00a0Latke, Egg & Cheese\u00a0on a bagel or malawach.<\/p>\n 495 Lorimer St.<\/strong><\/p>\n Miriam<\/strong><\/p>\n Will Rivas<\/p>\n Miriam<\/a> will be serving their beloved gluten-free\u00a0chickpea latkes, made extra-crispy with chickpea flour, for Hanukkah this year, thanks to a trick passed down from chef and owner Rafael \u201cRafi\u201d Hasid\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n Plus, the restaurant will have house-made raspberry sufganiyot\u00a0dusted generously in powdered sugar, as well as DIY-style latkes, which will have add-ons like labneh, smoked salmon, salmon roe, applesauce and crudit\u00e9s.<\/p>\n The specials will be available at all restaurants \u2014 Park Slope, Upper West Side, Upper East Side and West Village \u2014 from Dec. 14 through 22.<\/p>\n 300 Amsterdam Ave. | <\/strong>79 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn | <\/strong>140 Seventh Ave. South | <\/strong>973 Lexington Ave. | <\/strong>81 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn<\/strong><\/p>\n Miznon<\/p>\n Miznon NYC<\/p>\n\n
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