What's Happening In NYC: November 2016

This month, the city is gearing up for the holidays. The tourists are already packing their bags to visit, so you better have a plan for coping with the influx of family and being unable to get a seat at your favorite restaurant. Here are our suggestions for what to do this month in NYC. Pro tip: Wear your stretchy pants because many of them are all-you-can-eat.

Openings

Todd English is setting up shop in the InterContinental New York Times Square Hotel. The James Beard Award-winning chef has opened his first-ever cocktail-focused concept, The Stinger Cocktail Bar & Kitchen. The bar will utilize the hotel's rooftop beehives in both the menu of small and shared bites and the cocktail program by Francesco Lafranconi, one of the world's leading mixologists and the executive director of mixology and spirits educator for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Nevada.

Nov. 5–12: Fall Truffle Festival

For the first time ever, Urbani Truffles and Prunotto Wines have brought the Alba White Truffle Festival to New York City. If you're looking for a place to forage for fungi, participating restaurants include:

For a limited time, America Cut TriBeCa and American Cut Midtown will offer truffle shavings on almost any dish on the menu. For high rollers, order 7 grams of white and black truffles to top the 52-ounce Porterhouse steak for $99, but more reasonable options will be available.

The New York Yankees Steakhouse will also be offering truffle dish specials and a Prunotto wine flight. Try the white truffle gnocchi ($50) with bacon, asparagus, hen of the woods mushrooms, and white truffles in a Parmesan cream sauce. Or add shaved white truffle to your steak for $40 per half ounce. A three-course wine flight can be added to any meal for $30.

Scarpetta will be offering its truffle season tasting menu every Sunday and Monday. The menu is $125 per person with an optional wine pairing for $55. A few highlight dishes include the ricotta cappellacci featuring black burgundy truffles and the tagliatelle with white truffles.

Nov. 12: Bloody Mary Battle

The ultimate Bloody Mary Battle takes place Saturday at Villain. Sample more than a dozen of the city's best bloodys from places like Bubby's, Buvette, and more. The all-you-can-drink tickets start at $45.

Nov. 14: Virginia's Guest Chef Series

Manhattan restaurant Virginia's continues its guest chef series by welcoming Eric Ramirez, who prepares new Peruvian cuisine at his Brooklyn restaurant Llama Inn. Ramirez and chef Matt Conroy will prepare alternate courses for this five-course feast. Tickets are $65 per person.

Nov. 19: Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

Cranksgiving is a scavenger hunt on your bicycle for Thanksgiving food that you donate to a food bank, plus a party. Bring $20, a backpack, and a bike lock.

Nov 19: Whiskey Tasting

Taste 40 different whiskeys and cocktails with fall-inspired bites at Whiskey Feast — a live music and fun time festival at the Brooklyn Expo Center.

Nov. 19: NYC Autumn Wine Festival

Sample 175 wines with hors d'oeuvres and live jazz during NYC Autumn Wine Festival,  which is being held at New York Yankees Steak in Midtown.

Nov. 23–27: Eat Your Science

Alton Brown is on the road again, this time with Eat Your Science, a culinary stage show featuring puppets, songs (yes, he sings), cooking demos, and more.

Stay tuned for our complete listing of where to eat and drink in New York City for Thanksgiving. In the meantime, click here for more information on the city's eating and drinking scenes.