Happy Holidays from all of us at the Three Tomatoes! As the year winds down, we’re taking a little break to recharge and celebrate—but don’t worry, we’ll be back with our NYC newsletter in January, ready to share more city highlights and cultural gems. In the meantime, New York is brimming with festive cheer, from holiday markets and Hanukkah celebrations to dazzling dining and joyful performances. May your season be filled with warmth, wonder, and community, and we look forward to ringing in the new year together.

This weekend: The Japanese Holiday Market

This weekend, Japan Village in Brooklyn transforms into a festive Japanese Holiday Market, offering handmade gifts, seasonal food, and cultural experiences. The market runs from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM both Saturday and Sunday at Japan Village, Industry City (220 36th Street, Brooklyn). Visitors can browse stalls featuring Japanese artists and makers, with offerings ranging from jewelry and accessories to home goods and fashion crafted from traditional fabrics. Beyond shopping, the event brings a lively “Winter Wonderland” atmosphere to the newly opened Yokocho Alley, complete with build-your-own ramen, comforting oden dishes, holiday drinks, s’mores by the fire pit, and even a Christmas tree lighting. It’s a chance to enjoy Japanese craftsmanship while soaking in the warmth of holiday cheer.

Whether you’re hunting for unique, one-of-a-kind gifts or simply want to savor Japanese flavors in a festive setting, this market is a perfect seasonal outing. For full details, including participating artists and ticket information, visit the official event page here UpcomingEvents.com.

This weekend: Celebrate Hanukkah with Spin, Sing & Shine

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan invites families to celebrate Hanukkah with Spin, Sing & Shine for Hanukkah, a festive three‑day program running December 19–21, 2025. Through music, puppetry, and hands‑on creativity, children and caregivers can explore the traditions of the holiday in a joyful, interactive way. From decorating dreidels and crafting paper candles to making holiday cards and joining in puppet play, the museum offers activities that bring the spirit of Hanukkah to life for all ages.

On Sunday, the celebration culminates with a lively performance by Tkiya, featuring Hanukkah songs in Hebrew, English, Ladino, and Yiddish, complete with bubbles, parachutes, and plenty of movement to keep kids engaged. With programs tailored for both older children and those under four, Spin, Sing & Shine for Hanukkah is designed to be inclusive, creative, and fun. Admission is included with museum entry, and full details can be found on the Children’s Museum of Manhattan website.

The Best Restaurants for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve is a long tradition at Aquavit. Enjoy their traditional Holiday buffet served all day on Christmas Eve from 1pm-9pm.

New York City’s dining scene sparkles with festive flavor this holiday season, as top restaurants open their doors for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feasts. Time Out New York is a full guide. Here are some highlights:

For a Scandinavian twist, Aquavit offers its lavish Julbord, a traditional spread of seafood, cured meats, Swedish meatballs, and warming glögg. Over in Brooklyn, Leland Eating and Drinking House serves a family‑style Feast of the Seven Fishes, with mussels, pollock, oysters, and roasted porgy anchoring the menu. If French‑Mediterranean elegance is more your style, Cathédrale in the East Village presents à la carte specials like confit duck, truffle fettuccini, and a festive Bûche de Noël.

For those seeking comfort and community, Red Rooster Harlem pairs soulful holiday dishes with live music on Christmas Eve and a family‑style feast on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, Le Crocodile at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn offers a prix fixe menu featuring roast beef, halibut, and maple‑butterscotch pears, perfect for a cozy yet refined celebration. And for a truly indulgent experience, Kappo Sono delivers a three‑hour kaiseki holiday menu with monkfish liver, Wagyu shabu‑shabu, and truffle rice. Whether you’re craving fine dining or festive comfort food, NYC’s restaurants ensure that holiday cheer is served with every plate.

Get the Full list and details: Time Out New York – Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Restaurants

Dec. 31 @7 PM New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace

A perfect way to ring in the New Year—St. John the Divine Cathedral lcontinues its tradition of welcoming the new year with the New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace, founded by Leonard Bernstein in 1985. This year’s program features Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy), performed by the Cathedral Choir and Orchestra, with narration by journalist Harry Smith. The concert offers a powerful message of unity and hope, making it one of New York City’s most meaningful ways to ring in the new year.  Full details and tickets: New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace

A Double‑Decker Carousel Spins Holiday Magic in Midtown

Just steps away from Herald Square, you will find a magical double-decker carousel at 33^rd and Broadway. The dazzling ride will spin joy through January 6, 2026. With two stories of twinkling lights, festive music, and whimsical storybook creatures, the carousel is designed to enchant visitors of all ages, offering a playful escape in the heart of the city.

More than just a ride, this holiday centerpiece transforms Greeley Square into a destination for celebration and wonder. Families, friends, and passersby can step aboard to experience the swirl of color and sound, making it a perfect stop during seasonal shopping or sightseeing. Whether you’re seeking a cheerful outing with kids or a nostalgic moment of delight, the double‑decker carousel promises to spin holiday cheer straight into the new year. RESERVE A RIDE.

Thank You Andrea Peponakis

As the year draws to a close and Long Island glimmers with holiday lights, we thank our Long Island reporter for her weekly Spotlight on Long Island, reflecting on the extraordinary women whose stories she illuminated.  With resilience, creativity, and heart, they became beacons of inspiration—reminding us that light lives in our communities, our conversations, and the courage to share our journeys. READ MORE.

 Roving Through SantaCon

Our roving photographer writes:

The booziest bar crawl wove its way through Manhattan last Saturday, spreading cheer all over the island! SantaCon 2025 brought back the annual tradition carried on by young New Yorkers who dress as Santa or one of his cohorts from the North Pole, and spend the day spreading cheer, reveling in the holiday spirit. They start in Midtown and sleigh ride down to the Village throughout the day. For a small entry fee of $17 participants have access to the 50 participating pubs, where there are actually some rules of conduct in place. This “Santa Code” enforces being nice over naughty and encourages being well mannered and respectful to the bar staff and the community.

Over the years this charitable event has raised a million dollars for the City Parks Foundation, the Children’s Heart Foundation, City Harvest and other organizations New York City is proud of.  The SantaCon tradition began in San Francisco in 1994 as Santarchy, an event commenting on the excessive consumerism surrounding Christmas. The festivities expanded around the world and landed in New York in 1998, now the biggest-bellied SantaCon there is!

I always enjoy walking around and seeing the merrymakers who never look cold in their creative, coat-less costumes. Watching the youth of our city stumble together as a coterie warms my heart and is how I know the holidays are finally here!

Ho Ho Happy to all!

~Nicole Freezer Ruben, author of “The Long Pause and the Short Breath.”