Holiday Gift Guide: Lincoln Square’s Cultural Institutions

Looking for a special gift to help make the holidays brighter this year? Look to Lincoln Square’s cultural institutions and organizations for some unique presents this year—you’ll be putting a smile on a loved one’s face while supporting the arts during this difficult year.

The American Folk Art Museum Shop is selling a selection of handmade, felted and tin ornaments in a variety of whimsical designs. At The Shop online or in-person, you can also find fun accessories and jewelry, including gloves for the cold winter weather and unique necklaces, as well as home décor, books, and more.

The Met Opera Shop has a number of unique items to purchase online for the holidays. You can purchase a stocking stuffer like a Violin Magnet or a Ruth Bader Ginsburg Action Figure. Or, choose from larger gifts, like a "La Bohème" 1000-Piece Puzzle. There’s so much to choose from—you can even snag a classic holiday card with a Met Opera inspired image.

The Juilliard Store has put together a gift guide online, which features a special Juilliard Tote as well as the suggestion of buying yourself or someone else the gift of Evening Division class credit. The Juilliard Evening Division offers a wide array of courses taught by a distinguished faculty of recognized experts in their fields, open to students of all ages. Evening Division Classes for spring 2021 will be held online, so this experiential gift can be enjoyed from the safety of home.

Enjoy a special streaming of the New York City Ballet’s beloved annual production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, which was recorded in the winter of 2019. Stream the production from the comfort of your own home through Marquee TV here through Sunday, January 3, 2021.  Also, couple this experiential gift with a special Nutcracker Glass Ornament or another Ballet-centric gift from the New York City Ballet’s Shop online.

Jazz at Lincoln Center's Shop is selling albums from the organization's featured collection, which includes Big Band Holidays and Big Band Holidays II. These records are a wonderful addition to any jazz lover's collection, and will also inspire holiday cheer at home. You can choose from several media options on the site for those who prefer a vinyl to a CD. Click here to browse the available albums and bring some jazz home for the holidays.

For the holidays this year, Kaufman Music Center is offering on-demand gift subscriptions to two virtual performance series filmed in Merkin Hall: Broadway Close Up and What Makes It Great?.  This on-demand content is great for at-home enjoyment during the colder months. Also, Lucy Moses School is now offering trial, online instrument lessons that you can gift prospective young and adult students. Sign them up for 1, 2 or 3 online lessons with an expert faculty member. All ages, instruments and skill levels are welcome. Click here for details. 

You can also still gift membership to some of our cultural institutions for a special present that supports the arts. Although in-person events are not happening, museums are open and there are still membership perks being offered by some organizations for discounts and online content. Check out the benefits currently offered for members with organizations like Kaufman Music Center, Film at Lincoln Center, American Folk Art Museum, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, and more. Plus, you can always purchase tickets to future shows and concerts to give your loved ones something to look forward to! 

Also, just outside of our boundaries the Store at Museum of Arts and Design has a selection of home décor, jewelry, and other unique gifts for art and design lovers. If you’re not comfortable stepping into the store in person, the museum has created a virtual, 3D rendering of the inside layout, so you can shop virtually from home and feel like you’re browsing the actual shop! Click here to check out the 3D matterport. MAD’s Store has a selection of artist-designed face masks, too. 

Happy gift hunting!

Photo credit: Collage; items from left to right
Felt peacock ornaments-Folk Art Shop
Limoges porcelain box-Met Opera Shop
Red music note bowtie-Met Opera Shop
Tin elephant & giraffe ornaments-Folk Art Shop
Snowy blues house-Folk Art Shop
Three dancers snowglobe-NYCB Shop
Feather pen set-Met Opera Shop