There is no more magical time in NYC than Winter when everyone really steps it up to spread some Holiday cheer before the bah-humbuggery that starts on January 1st and continues until the sun comes out in April. There are many must-dos in December and here are my recommendations:
1. O Tannenbaum
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| Rockefeller Center |
Now since the holidays are a time to spend with your friends and family, why not spend it with 2 million of your closest friends milling about
Rockefeller Center? The 74-foot Christmas tree on display above the ice skating rink is a beauty and definately the most impressive in New York. It's worth a look but be prepared to stand with elbows out as you try to navigate the crowds!
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| The Tree at The Met |
If one isn't enough, then you should head over to
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (which you should be visiting anyway, since it is an incredible museum!) and see their annual display; a Christmas tree covered in over 200 "18th century hand-sculpted Neopolitan creche figures". Beautiful and elegant.
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| Natural History Museum |
The third tree to visit is at the
American Museum of Natural History, where their enormous Christmas tree is covered in over 500 handmade origami ornaments with this year's theme of "Discovery". An original take on the traditional light and glass balls.
2. Skate like you Mean It
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| Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center |
Another holiday tradition in NYC is ice skating outdoors. The most popular location is, once again, our friend
Rockefeller Center. With the backdrop of the enormous Christmas tree, in the heart of the 5th Avenue shopping, this scenic space makes for a fun and festive escape from the stress of shopping. The cost is about $21 a person, with a $10 fee for skate rental. This is the busiest of the skating locations, however, so if you do want to go I suggest making it on the earlier side. You can also check their website for advanced bookings.
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| Citi Pond at Bryant Park |
An alternate location is
Citi Pond in Bryant Park. Located behind the New York Public Library, this rink is larger and less crowded than Rockefeller Center. It is surrounded by The Holiday Shops, with many different vendors selling cute and unique gift items, as well as 'witchcraft, Top Chef's Tom Colicchio's sandwich shop. The cost of skating is free, with a $14 fee for skate rental.
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| Wollman Rink |
Central Park also offers a scenic spot for ice skating at their
Wollman Rink. Surrounded by trees with our famous skyscrapers peeking out from the tops, the rink offers ice hockey, skating lessons, and free style skating. The cost is $11-$16 depending on the day, with a $7 skate rental fee.
3. Window Shop til You Drop!
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| "Carnival of Animals" |
What would New York be without the ornate window displays on the 5th Avenue? Boring! Every year the fanciest of fancy shops on 5th avenue have elaborate windows that are sure to blow you away. This year,
Saks Fifth Avenue has a "Snowflake & Bubble Spectacular",
Bergdorf Goodman a "Carnival of Animals", and
Barneys a "Gaga Workshop" by our old friend (yawn) Lady Gaga. Not to be missed!!
4. And Everything else..
I also suggest picking up some roasted chestnuts from a street vendor (don't be scared!), a fun treat to munch on while wandering around and looking at the shop windows. Visiting Santa at Macy's in Herald Square and seeing the Rockettes doing their thing in
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular are both fun for the whole family!
If you need to step out of the cold and grab a beverage to warm you up, check out Time Out New York's list of
best places to grab a hot chocolate in NYC .
And last but not least, sit by a fireplace and grab a Hot Toddy! I suggest
The Bowery Hotel's Lobby Lounge, but check out
New York Magazine's list of fireplace bar/lounges in the city.
Happy Holidays!
