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Arriving in New York City the week before Christmas we were hoping for a white Christmas but not to be this year.
However, New York was still full of fun, excitement and Christmas cheer. Walking down 5th Avenue, the lights on the stores, the big bow and lights on the Tommy Hillfiger store along with all the decorations in the smaller stores are breathtaking.
Walking around Times Square, with the giant Santa on the billboard looking down on the crowds below and the colourful Christmas decorations adds to the atmosphere.
Large red Christmas balls sitting atop a waterfall on 6th Avenue near Radio City between 50th & 51st and the big wooden toy soldiers outside nearby buildings attract a lot of attention from passersby.
For a bit of fun we visited Santa at The North Pole Village in Macy’s on 34th Street, where there is a spectacular display. The fairy lights adorn the trees on the sidewalk around Columbus Circle. A walk in Central Park takes you to the big ice rink where you can grab a hot dog from a street vendor and watch the kids having fun ice skating.
The Rockefeller Center with the famous Christmas Tree that stands with thousands of lights towering over the ice rink looks fabulous during the day but really comes into its own at night when all lit up.
Holiday Market at Columbus Circle
A magical city at any time of the year, New York becomes even more captivating at Christmas. As well as carol singers and twinkling lights aplenty, the Big Apple also has a popular annual Holiday Market at Columbus Circle. Modelled after its hugely successful European counterparts, this colourful market is jam-packed with stalls offering a variety of Christmas gifts and holiday decorations from around the world.
A magical city at any time of the year, New York becomes even more captivating at Christmas. As well as carol singers and twinkling lights aplenty, the Big Apple also has a popular annual Holiday Market at Columbus Circle. Modelled after its hugely successful European counterparts, this colourful market is jam-packed with stalls offering a variety of Christmas gifts and holiday decorations from around the world.
Bryant Park Christmas Market
We also visited the Bryant Park Christmas Shops. The whole park is turned into a stall city with so many varieties of crafts, jewellery, photos, and of course Christmas decorations. You can even get your favourite decoration personalised while you wait. There are so many to choose from and the atmosphere is great with everyone getting into the Christmas spirit.
You can go iceskating if you wish, the kids just love it. There is also a large Christmas Tree and several spots to get something to eat. It was not snowing the day we were there but it still had a great feel about it. New York really is the fun place to be over the Christmas & New Year period.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular, New York
This is one of those shows you hear about and know it will be good but not until you actually get to see it that you realize how good it is. We ordered our tickets online many months before we arrived and picked them up on the day of the performance. The queue’s were long but one of the benefits of booking in advance means you get a priority entrance to Radio City.
This venue alone is unique holding in excess of 6000 people, the furnishings and chandeliers are stunning. Once the show starts it is non stop enjoyment all the way through. Visits from Santa, the Radio City Rockettes with legs that go on for ever, the Christmas songs, it was just as they say spectacular.
We have been to see the spectacular several times over the years and never get tired of it. It is just a feel good show and the big kids will love it just as much as the little kids. They come up with something different every year. This was such a great fun night. You are allowed to take photos without a flash but there is enough light for them to come out.
If you only see one show in New York at Christmas It has to be this one.
Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular
This venue alone is unique holding in excess of 6000 people, the furnishings and chandeliers are stunning. Once the show starts it is non stop enjoyment all the way through. Visits from Santa, the Radio City Rockettes with legs that go on for ever, the Christmas songs, it was just as they say spectacular.
We have been to see the spectacular several times over the years and never get tired of it. It is just a feel good show and the big kids will love it just as much as the little kids. They come up with something different every year. This was such a great fun night. You are allowed to take photos without a flash but there is enough light for them to come out.
If you only see one show in New York at Christmas It has to be this one.
Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular
Our apartment in Greenwich
A week in a great apartment in Greenwich Village was a unique opportunity to experience the more conventional lifestyle of a New Yorker. Observing the daily activities of the locals, interacting with shopkeepers and just enjoying being part of the crowd in a regular environment was a revelation when compared with staying in an uptown hotel.
Local restaurants had a different feel about them as did the fruit and veg. and general food stores.
The pace of life seemed more leisurely and more appealing than uptown right in the tourist area.
Local restaurants had a different feel about them as did the fruit and veg. and general food stores.
The pace of life seemed more leisurely and more appealing than uptown right in the tourist area.
If you have the chance to spend New Years Eve in New York City and to be in Times Square to watch the ball drop it will be an unforgettable experience.
The crowd in Times Square starts building from early in the morning on New Years Eve.
The police and security start putting up barricades the day before. I have never seen so many police in one place as on NYE. There were over 1500 police on duty, they were everywhere.
As the afternoon progressed the crowds were building. Even a little rain it did not deter anyone. Around 6.00pm people were selling pizza’s and drinks to the people waiting it out. I think they were paying a lot for their food but if you leave your spot you cannot get back in.
Every year as midnight grows near the focus is on Times Square. Everyone’s anticipation runs high as NYE in Times Square has become a tradition for New Yorkers.
Everyone cheers as the clock strikes twelve. It is estimated that more than a million people gather at Times Square to watch the famous crystal ball drop down the pole.
People everywhere tune their televisions in to see this spectacle in NY and other major cities around the world, to welcome in the new year with much hope and to say goodbye to the old year.
What an amazing time to be in New York, if you can do it, it’s awesome. See below Countdown.
The crowd in Times Square starts building from early in the morning on New Years Eve.
The police and security start putting up barricades the day before. I have never seen so many police in one place as on NYE. There were over 1500 police on duty, they were everywhere.
As the afternoon progressed the crowds were building. Even a little rain it did not deter anyone. Around 6.00pm people were selling pizza’s and drinks to the people waiting it out. I think they were paying a lot for their food but if you leave your spot you cannot get back in.
Every year as midnight grows near the focus is on Times Square. Everyone’s anticipation runs high as NYE in Times Square has become a tradition for New Yorkers.
Everyone cheers as the clock strikes twelve. It is estimated that more than a million people gather at Times Square to watch the famous crystal ball drop down the pole.
People everywhere tune their televisions in to see this spectacle in NY and other major cities around the world, to welcome in the new year with much hope and to say goodbye to the old year.
What an amazing time to be in New York, if you can do it, it’s awesome. See below Countdown.
Countdown minus 1 minute (11:59 p.m.)The Times Square Special Guest will push the Waterford crystal button that signals the sixty-second Ball Lowering.
The Ball The lighted Ball descends 77 feet in sixty seconds. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, six feet in diameter, weighing approximately 1,070 pounds. The Ball is covered with 504 Waterford crystal triangles, 696 multicolored light bulbs, 96 high intensity strobe lights, and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors. Marking the New Year at the stroke of Midnight, the light bulbs on the New Year’s Eve Ball are turned off as the numerals of the New Year burst to life shining high above Times Square.
Fireworks A two-minute pyrotechnic display will brilliantly illuminate the sky above One Times Square.
Confetti The world-famous New Year's Eve confetti is released from rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square as the revelers celebrate the New Year, creating a brilliant panorama of color.
The Ball The lighted Ball descends 77 feet in sixty seconds. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, six feet in diameter, weighing approximately 1,070 pounds. The Ball is covered with 504 Waterford crystal triangles, 696 multicolored light bulbs, 96 high intensity strobe lights, and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors. Marking the New Year at the stroke of Midnight, the light bulbs on the New Year’s Eve Ball are turned off as the numerals of the New Year burst to life shining high above Times Square.
Fireworks A two-minute pyrotechnic display will brilliantly illuminate the sky above One Times Square.
Confetti The world-famous New Year's Eve confetti is released from rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square as the revelers celebrate the New Year, creating a brilliant panorama of color.