Photo: Nicole Freezer Rubens

We have several fun things to tempt you to button up that puffer coat this week and head out. Union Square is glowing with a new interactive installation, the Westminster Dog Show marks its 150th year, and winter restaurant and Broadway deals are still going strong. The Met offers a romantic Valentine’s escape, while our Long Island Spotlight introduces a woman who built her own castle. Art lovers can explore the world of Chaim Gross, and the NYC Insiders’ Club is enjoying exclusive outings. And looking ahead, our 10th Annual Renewal Summit is gearing up with an extraordinary lineup.

A New Glow in Union Square

The Union Square Partnership is brightening the heart of winter with a captivating new interactive art installation, Patterned Behavior by MASARY Studios. This dynamic light experience transforms Union Square into a canvas of color, movement, and play — a welcome burst of energy during the season’s darkest days.

Visitors can enjoy the installation every evening from dusk until 10 PM, now through Tuesday, February 17. Designed to engage passersby, Patterned Behavior responds to motion and presence, inviting New Yorkers to step into the artwork and become part of the visual story.

It’s a perfect reason to bundle up, take an evening stroll, and experience Union Square in a whole new light. GET MORE DETAILS.

Now-Feb. 3. The Westminster Dog Show’s 150th Anniversary

Here’s a great way to spend a frigid day in NYC—head to The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show with more than 3,000 competing dogs, and a full weekend of canine pageantry across Manhattan. This year marks the 150^th anniversary with a special Westminster Legends presentation honoring standout winners from the show’s storied history. Dogs from 202 breeds, representing all 50 states and 17 countries, will compete for top honors.

When & Where

This year’s show unfolds over three days:

• Saturday, January 31 – Masters Agility Championship, Flyball Tournament, and early breed judging at the Jacob K. Javits Center.
• Monday, February 2 – Best of Breed judging for Sporting, Working, and Terrier groups at the Javits Center, followed by Group Judging at Madison Square Garden.
• Tuesday, February 3 – Best of Breed judging for Hound, Toy, Non‑Sporting, and Herding groups, culminating in the Best in Show finale at Madison Square Garden.

And what dog will be selected Best in Show?

This year’s show takes place at Javits Center and Madison Square Garden. Get details and tickets.  And if you’d rather hunker down at home, TV coverage airs across the FOX family of networks, including FOX, FS1, FS2, and FOX One.

There’s Still Time to Savor NYC Winter Deals

NYC’s beloved winter promotions are in full swing, and there’s still time to take advantage of the city’s best cultural and culinary steals. NYC Restaurant Week continues with prix‑fixe menus at standout spots across all five boroughs, offering a perfect excuse to try that new place you’ve been eyeing. And for theater lovers, NYC Broadway Week is serving up 2‑for‑1 tickets to some of the season’s most talked‑about shows — an irresistible way to add a little sparkle to these chilly days. Whether you’re planning a cozy dinner, a spontaneous night out, or a mid‑winter pick‑me‑up, these limited‑time deals make it easy to enjoy the very best of New York before the season wraps. GET THE DETAILS.

A Romantic Valentine’s Date Night at The Met

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s celebration that feels magical, meaningful, and unmistakably New York, Date Night at The Met is a perfect pick. Every Friday and Saturday evening, the museum stays open late and transforms into an intimate, art‑filled escape — ideal for couples, friends, or anyone who wants a beautiful night out.

Stroll hand‑in‑hand through iconic galleries, enjoy live music curated by MetLiveArts, and take advantage of 2‑for‑1 drink specials at select museum cafés and lounges. From the glow of the Temple of Dendur to the quiet corners of European Paintings, the setting is effortlessly romantic without ever feeling overdone.

It’s also one of the city’s most accessible Valentine’s options: admission is pay‑what‑you‑wish for New Yorkers, and the experience can be as relaxed or as art‑immersive as you want it to be. Pair it with a cozy Upper East Side dinner or a twilight walk through Central Park, and you have a Valentine’s evening that’s thoughtful, memorable, and uniquely NYC. GET THE DETAILS.

Renewal Summit

We have an amazing line up of speakers and guests already booked for this year’s 10^th summit, with a few more exciting announcements to come. Resilience and Longevity is this year’s theme. We have several ticket options and the first 25 people who sign up for the full day single tickets will get a fabulous gift bag and a chance to win a Caribbean Island vacation.  GET THE DETAILS.

A Woman Who Built A Castle

In this month’s Spotlight on Long Island Women, our reporter Andrea Peponakis introdu es us to  Chris McNamee — a woman who has spent her life building, creating, reinventing, and imagining without limits. From photo labs to daycare classrooms, from Habitat for Humanity job sites to starring in cult‑classic horror films, Chris has followed every passion with courage. And today, she lives inside her greatest creation yet: a handcrafted medieval castle in Medford that proves magic isn’t just found in storybooks — sometimes, it’s built by a woman with vision and grit. GET THE DETAILS.

Roving in a Hidden Gem

Nicole Freezer Rubens writes:

Chaim Gross was a true gift to the American art scene and the kind of gift that keeps on giving. He was born in Hungary in 1902 and fled age-old antisemitism, immigrating to New York City in 1921. He studied and taught at the Educational Alliance Art School on the Lower East Side and the Art Students League before he first exhibited his sculpture in 1926. His career took off and he became an important fixture in the art world.

Gross’ life reads like a charmed fairytale. He married and had a son and a daughter Mimi who wed the artist Red Grooms. The man was a true lover of life, people, women, and particularly his wife Renee, clearly his constant muse. Gross was an avid collector and a shrewd negotiator. As his career continued to boom in 1963 he was able to move his family from Harlem to a luxurious 4 story building in Greenwich Village, where he lived and worked until his death in 1991. 526 LaGuardia Place remains intact today as a testament to how the man made art, entertained, read, and carved every last detail out of life. The Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation is one of the great hidden gems and a place to witness what it was like to be part of the city’s thriving 20th century art scene. Tours are available and show his studio, family home and only a small part of the art and artifacts he collected, with everything left intact. I highly recommend taking this intimate tour and immersing yourself in his world. www.rcgrossfoundation.org

As his friend the poet Allen Ginsberg wrote after Chaim Gross’ death, “So he’s now sitting drinking tea with old acquaintances, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso & the Soyer Boys in heaven or whatever shul their shades attend.”

~Nicole Freezer Rubens author of “The Long Pause and the Short Breath”

Join in the Adventures of the NYC Insiders’ Club

Here’s some of the fun we’re having: February: Brunch this Sunday at the Harmonie Club; a private event at Guerlian Spa at the Waldorf; March: an exclusive music event at the Aman Club; a musical premiere theater event of Monte Carlo; and April brings the Gotham Jazz Festival and a private tour of Radio City Music Hall. GET THE DETAILS.