Welcome to Things to Do in New York City! I'm Oly Bennet, your globe-trotting, adrenaline-pumped, sports-obsessed host with a fierce love for everything weird, wild, and wonderful about the Big Apple. It’s Thursday, November 20, 2025, and the city is buzzing more than a caffeinated squirrel at a chess tournament.

Today, New York’s got that late-fall crispness: think black puffer jackets, pumpkin spice in the air, and leaves crunching beneath hurried feet. Skies are mostly clear and cool, perfect for adventure—no matter if you want to get indoorsy or tackle the boroughs head-on. According to Secret NYC, holiday events are igniting the city, and the energy’s picking up with Thanksgiving just a week away.

For listeners who want a mix of the arts, music, family fun, and even a little retail therapy, New York delivers in full force today.

Up first, culture vultures should swoop down to the Brooklyn Museum for “Monet and Venice,” the largest collection of Monet’s dreamy masterpieces to hit New York in 25 years. Out of 100 paintings, 19 original Monets are waiting to dazzle you—ideal if rainclouds threaten and indoors is your vibe, but honestly, Monet’s got more water lilies than Central Park’s got pigeons.

If your soul craves drama (or just a lively debate about existentialism), the Hudson Theatre is staging “Waiting for Godot” at 7 p.m. tonight. That’s right, Godot’s still not here, but the debate over his arrival will be as amusing as a subway saxophonist on a sugar rush.

For concert lovers, Maroon 5 rocks Madison Square Garden tonight as part of their “LOVE IS LIKE” tour. That’s sure to be a banger and, let’s face it, a night at the Garden gives you true New Yorker bragging rights.

Families, hold onto those mittens: The city’s largest indoor light show, Holiday Under The Stars, is twinkling away at The Shops at Columbus Circle from 5 p.m. onwards. Picture this: 44 illuminated stars, 300,000 lights, and synchronized music every half hour until midnight. Don’t forget the free Broadway Under The Stars pop-up at the same location around dinnertime—a medley of hits from shows like Moulin Rouge!, The Lion King, and Mamma Mia!

If you love your bargains as much as your beauty sleep, MUJI’s Fifth Avenue is throwing a Friends & Family Shopping Night from 5-8 p.m., with cake, live music, and 20% off everything. Yes, you heard right—cake, steals, and celebration for their 10th anniversary. Don’t forget your ID; it’s 21 and over.

Tonight, VR fans and adventure-seekers can test the latest at Eclipso Entertainment NYC with a free 30-minute VR session. You might not leave the city physically, but your mind will take a holiday.

Now for some quick city update action: The FDNY is lighting up the campaign for the Great American Smokeout today—if you see fire trucks that look extra enthusiastic, that’s why. Transit is running smooth, but as always, check the MTA for surprise dance parties, I mean, service changes. And foodie news—keep your eyes peeled for new pop-ups in NoHo and the West Village, especially if quirky fusion and hidden speakeasies are your thing.

If you want a pro move for memory-making: Head to Bryant Park for skating at the Winter Village, already glittering ahead of Thanksgiving, or catch a glimpse of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree arriving for its holiday transformation—nothing says NYC spirit quite like staring up at a tree taller than your ambition.

Fun fact to wow your friends: Did you know the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924 and featured real animals from Central Park Zoo? These days, it’s all about the supersized balloons, but that OG chaos was peak New York.

Looking for more? Make sure to catch tomorrow’s launch of the Wicked: For Good Soundtrack Boutique at Penn Plaza, and get ready for even more holiday magic over the weekend as Saks Fifth Avenue launches its light...