Surely the snow globe was invented in New York City. It must have been. The city looks so idyllic in December that I often feel like I’m standing inside of one.
If you’ve never been to New York and have always wanted to visit, the holidays are THE perfect time to go. The city is at her best -all decorated and, if possible, even more, lit up. This big, bad city actually feels kind of wholesome and charming this time of year. It’s packed with tourists and shoppers, not to mention chestnuts are literally roasting on every street corner. Oh yeah, and there’s ice skating! Lots of ice skating.
Of course, Rockefeller Center comes first to mind with its iconic rink. Check out Santa.
Bryant Park has a European-style Christmas market AND an ice-skating rink. If you bring your own skates, it’s free! But even if you don’t skate, there’s plenty of seating around the rink. You can grab a hot chocolate or mulled wine and sit and watch other people skate.
But Wollman Rink is the ideal place to actually skate. Wollman (incidentally, owned by Donald Trump) is located in Central Park and relatively spacious, not just by New York standards. Of course, it’s surrounded by skyscrapers, but also by trees. You can see the sky in this rink and feel the sun on your back.
In New York City, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off the holiday season, and the ball drop at Times Square caps it off. But in between, you may want to check out:
- Balanchine’s Nutcracker at Lincoln Center.
- The Rockette’s Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. My personal favorite is the toy soldier dance (and collapse). But the show’s highlight since 1933 has been the live nativity scene featuring real sheep, donkeys, and camels! All blessed by a Cardinal and exercised daily, early morning and late night, on the streets of mid-town Manhattan. Now that, I would love to see. I would also love to peek backstage. Can you imagine?
- 5th Avenue’s holiday windows
- America’s Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center
BUT… there is also Christmas in Hawaii.
AND… Christmas in Montana.
Not to mention…. Christmas in my own backyard: San Fransisco
on the top of Nob Hill
The Fairmont builds a two-story gingerbread house every year. It requires over 500 hours to assemble and baking starts in July. It takes 8,000 gingerbread bricks, 1000 lbs of powdered sugar, 150 gallons of egg whites, 1900 lbs of candy to decorate.
So, that is where in the world Paula has been this holiday season. But, where ever you are and whatever you celebrate… I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Happy Kwanzaa, and a Happy New Year! (and anything else I’ve missed)
Beautiful pictures!
Why are there no skaters in Bryant Park at nighttime?
Because they were cleaning the ice.