Countless NYC youth spend their winter break doomscrolling on TikTok and watching the days pass them by. There always seems to be an issue that prevents the plans from leaving the group chat.
Often, activities in our community are not marketed to high school students. The Edison Light’s winter itinerary includes the perfect solutions to student boredom during the break, featuring suggestions by the Edison community.
Regarding the challenges faced over the winter break, “As a New York City student, a lot of us don’t have the means to go out. Not everyone has the money or permission” Senior Maryam Akbar, said.
When it comes to new hangout spots, students often have little opportunity to step outside of their comfort zone. This repetition is usually caused by inflated New York prices, transportation, or just not knowing about other fun and accessible options.
Lubna Trisha, senior, spoke of this experience. “It’s unfortunate that there’s so much to do in New York, but a lot of fun things always just cost so much,” she said.
If you ever find yourself in Queens or want to explore Manhattan, this article includes a plethora of things to do.
Eat Your Way Through Queens
Queens is the most diverse borough of NYC, so it is no surprise that it holds the best cuisine. If you’re in the mood for Chinese, Flushing is the place for you. Whether you are looking for a snack, like bubble tea and croffles, or a full-course meal, like hotpot, Flushing has it all.
“So the New World Mall, in the basement of New World Mall is like the single best place to get a lot of budget friendly food,” Mr. Ollivierre said. “My favorite place to get dumplings in the entire city is there and you can get, like, crazy deals. It’s very, very authentic. So sometimes you might struggle to order because, like, things are literally in different languages.” A hidden gem with the perfect combo of authenticity and affordability!
Taking the Q13, Q24, or Q27 East, you’ll run into Bell Boulevard in Bayside. Their streets are filled with Greek, Mediterranean, Italian, and classic American staples. Traveling West with the Q27 or Q31 before transferring to the Q74, you’ll find yourself in Forest Hills. Known for its charming architecture, peaceful streets, and diverse food options.
If you’re craving a sweet treat down the bustling streets of Austin near Queens Blvd, you can find Martha’s Country Bakery! Their infamous homemade desserts and sweets will certainly steal your heart.
Once you’re full, Queens offers an abundance of interactive activities. The Museum of Moving Images, in Astoria, walks you through the history of film for free every Thursday.
Manhattan On a Dime.
Manhattan is the epitome of winter entertainment. But it is easy to get caught up in expenses and the crowds of tourists, so here are places to go that are student-friendly in NYC.
You can head up to Upper Manhattan to Riverbank State Park to ice skate for $5 (adults) and $6 for skate rentals. After you walk through the streets, you can stop for a free showing of the Christmas choir at St. John the Divine, which is free at 5pm daily.
If you’re looking to escape the cold, find your way to 6th Avenue and 34th Street to visit Macy’s Christmas window displays in Herald Square.
Manhattan also hosts the notorious Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met has a “Pay What You Wish” ticket policy for residents of New York. Recently, they opened the Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Créche exhibit until January 6th. The twenty-foot tree offers a unique, yet beautiful sight of ornamental angels, a sight you won’t want to miss.
The New York Public Library is also open to the public for free. NYC high school students have access to millions of books through a free library card. After picking up a new book visit The Polonsky Exhibition of NYPL’s Treasures, which features 4,000 years of history including a handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson.
LIMITED TIME EVENTS
New York is a magical, and iconic, place to be during the holiday season. It is also famous for its holiday pop-ups, dozens appearing across the boroughs. Luckily, the Edison Light has uncovered a few pop-ups that you won’t want to miss.
Catch the Holiday Nostalgia Rides every Sunday through December!
At the cost of a regular subway fare, the Holiday Nostalgia Train operates every Sunday from 10am to 5pm. The train will depart from 2 Av–Houston St on the uptown F line and 96 St–2 Av on the Q line!
Take a trip to Brooklyn to visit the Bay Ridge Holiday Houses OR the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights! Iconic Brooklyn homes with lights and decor that can take your breath away.
The Queens Botanical Garden does a Winter Wonder showcasing, featuring a live musical performance. Students can take advantage of $4 tickets when they bring their school ID card.
Don’t want to spend the holidays alone? Check out the Adventure Buddy program! Stop by Best Friends Pet Adoption Center (EX: 307 W Broadway, NYC) during their opening hours and take an adoptable dog out for the day!
Not all these locations are usual for students in New York City. Most of the youth either stay in their neighborhood, or find trending spots on TikTok that are usually expensive.
Ms. Petroutsos, a social studies teacher at TAEHS, used to assign a scavenger hunt activity around NYC over the spring break. Inspired by this project, the winter break itinerary focuses on similar aspects. In an interview, Ms. Petroutsos discussed the importance of the humanities department’s project, and how students benefit from having access to the city.
“There’s so many ways that our students are excluded from participating as residents of this so called great city,” Ms. Petroutsos said, “The project offered them an opportunity to go out and explore, see something that maybe they learned about in their class, see a new place, maybe find a great food place next to it and explore some flavors of New York City.”
For more things to do around NYC, check out online platforms such as eventbritenyc.com, as well as @nycforfree and @nycfamilyexplorer on Instagram!
