Here’s What Is Open, Closed & Running On A Different Schedule For Christmas

Santa Clause waving from the roof of Good Shepherd Church.
Santa Clause waving from the roof of Good Shepherd Church. (Photo: Alex Ellefson / Sheepshead Bites)

Christmas is Friday, December 25; if you are going away for the holiday, we wish you safe travels and good weather. However, if you’re sticking around the neighborhood, note that Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, is not an official city holiday, so all city government offices, including courts, will be open.

Here’s some information you might need to know for the holidays this week:

Government Offices, Parking, and Sanitation

  • All government offices are closed on Christmas Day, including courts.
  • There is no mail delivery.
  • All NYC public schools are closed Thursday, December 24 through Friday, January 1, 2016, for Winter Recess. Students return to school on Monday, January 4, 2016.
  • Alternate side parking regulations are suspended and parking meters do not have to be paid on Christmas Day. Additionally, no stopping, no standing, and no parking regulations are suspended, except where those regulations are in effect at any time or seven days a week.
  • There is no sanitation collection on Christmas Day. If Friday is your regular garbage or organics day, place your items out after 4pm on Friday, December 25. If Thursday is your regular recycling day, wait until after 4pm on January 2 to put out your recycling.

Subways and Buses

The New York City Subway will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Thursday. On Friday, New York City subways and buses will operate on a Sunday schedule. Below are some service changes to keep in mind.

B Line

Brighton Beach-bound B trains make local stops at Avenue U and Neck Road .
Days, 9:45am to 3pm, Thursday, December 24.
Please allow additional travel time.

F Line

The Manhattan-bound platform at Avenue X is closed for renovation.
All times until winter 2015/16.
Travel Alternatives:
Avenue X
For service to this station, take the F to Avenue U and transfer to a Coney Island-bound F.
For service from this station, take the F to Neptune Avenue and transfer to a Jamaica-bound F.

Q Line

Astoria-bound Q trains skip Neck Road and Avenue U.
Days, 9:45am to 3pm, Thursday, December 24.
Trains stop at Church Avenue and Newkirk Plaza.
For service to these stations, take the Q to Kings Highway and transfer to a Brighton Beach-bound B* or Coney Island-bound Q.
For service from these stations, take the B or Q to Sheepshead Bay and transfer to an Astoria-bound Q.
*This detour has taken into account additional planned service changes.

The Sheepshead Bay Library and other select branches of the Brooklyn Public Library system will be open on Thursday from 9am-1pm. However, all branches of the New York library systems are closed on Friday for Christmas.

Also, take note that neighborhood mainstays like Randazzo’s Clam Bar, il Fornetto, and Delmar Pizza plan to close for the holiday. Legendary sandwich makers Brennan & Carr and Roll-N-Roaster will also not be open.

For a list of some of the restaurants that will be open on Christmas, check out this list.