A New York City Christmas
"New York City was a city where you could be frozen to death in the midst of a busy street and no one would notice."
- Bob Dylan
Upon stepping outside of Penn Station, the freezing air hitting my face, the smoke rising up from the subway grates I heard yelling. I turned my head and there in the middle of the street was a man waving his hands and screaming what sounded like "Satan is the apocalypse" (fair point).....Oh how I love New York.
My travel companion (TC) and I go to NYC every December, see the tree, eat good food, shop the sales. We typically go the first weekend in Dec, but this year we went the weekend before Christmas. The city was crazy (which I love) but the sales get even better the closer you get to Christmas - so if shopping is what you're going for then this is the time to go.
New York is great no matter when you visit (perhaps skip Jan), but I'll always be partial to Christmastime. The Cartier store lit up with the big red bow, the light show on the Saks storefront, and my favorite - the Bergdorf Goodman windows (the Rockefeller tree is a given).
To Eat:
Essex - go for brunch, make reservations. Cash only ($24.95 pp, includes 3 drinks. Done.)
Stanton Social - Get the French Onion Soup Dumplings and the doungnuts.
Elephant & Castle - British restaurant - go for brunch. Try the champagne carlton
Spice - best.thai.food.ever. Get the shrimp dumplings and vegetarian duck
Shake Shack - go to the one in Madison Square Park. Order anything and walk to Eataly afterwards
Babycakes - it's a vegan bakery but you'd honestly never know. Order the cookie sandwich and the doughnuts.
Magnolia Bakery - get the banana pudding. It'd be my "last meal dessert" (their cupcakes are a bit too sugary for me, but many people swear by them)
ABC Kitchen - get the crab toast and a glass of rose
The Dutch - go for brunch, get the biscuits (glazed in honey)
La Frite - they serve french fries belgian style, in a cone with cutouts in the table to set it. They have 10 dipping sauces to choose from. They're amazing (no need to fret about carbs, just walk to the UES after :)
To Do:
Jin Soon Nails - a 45 minute manicure is around 35 bucks but the polish stays on for a week and it's incredibly relaxing. Jin Soon is a famous nail artist for fashion shows and editorial shoots.
Broadway Show - we saw Kinky Boots this time. I HIGHLY recommend. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Other good ones: The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked. You can go to the 1/2 price ticket booth in Times Square, but be prepared for long waits and sold out tickets by the time you get to the front of the line (get in line around 2:00 for the 3:00 opening for the best chance at tickets). We just went on stubhub the day of and got tickets for 60.00 each.
Chelsea Market - I used to go all the time in college but hadn't been back in years. They have expanded and now have even more shops and restaurants to choose from. We ate breakfast inside and it was fantastic and affordable.
The Doughnuttery: they make the doughnuts as you order them
Columbus Circle - I worked at the JCrew here in college, so I'm incredibly biased, but it is a beautiful building full of a lot of great stores. Plus it's right across from Central Park.
To Stay:
The Millenium Hilton - right across from the 9/11 memorial and both times I have stayed there I have had a room on an upper floor that overlooks the memorial and the Hudson river - beautiful at night. The closer you get to Christmas, the cheaper the room rates get. Our room rate per night (including the view) was only about $200 (for a room that is normally around $450-$500)
To Shop:
Maje - French brand. Enough said
Bergdorf Goodman - even if you only go to see the windows (but please stop in the shoe salon)
Barneys New York - go to the shoe sale. Go. Now.
Dylans Candy Bar - the best candy store in the world (even if it is 6.99 a pound for sour patch kids)
Intermix - go to the one on Spring street
Helmut Lang - right around the corner from Intermix
Rag & Bone - a mens store and a womens store side by side. Merchandised beautifully.
5th Avenue - just walk the street. Take it all in, even if you never step into the stores, window shopping is enough (but do go into Zara)
- Bob Dylan
Upon stepping outside of Penn Station, the freezing air hitting my face, the smoke rising up from the subway grates I heard yelling. I turned my head and there in the middle of the street was a man waving his hands and screaming what sounded like "Satan is the apocalypse" (fair point).....Oh how I love New York.My travel companion (TC) and I go to NYC every December, see the tree, eat good food, shop the sales. We typically go the first weekend in Dec, but this year we went the weekend before Christmas. The city was crazy (which I love) but the sales get even better the closer you get to Christmas - so if shopping is what you're going for then this is the time to go.
New York is great no matter when you visit (perhaps skip Jan), but I'll always be partial to Christmastime. The Cartier store lit up with the big red bow, the light show on the Saks storefront, and my favorite - the Bergdorf Goodman windows (the Rockefeller tree is a given).
To Eat:
Essex - go for brunch, make reservations. Cash only ($24.95 pp, includes 3 drinks. Done.)
Elephant & Castle - British restaurant - go for brunch. Try the champagne carlton
 |
| Champagne Carlton |
Shake Shack - go to the one in Madison Square Park. Order anything and walk to Eataly afterwards
Babycakes - it's a vegan bakery but you'd honestly never know. Order the cookie sandwich and the doughnuts.
Magnolia Bakery - get the banana pudding. It'd be my "last meal dessert" (their cupcakes are a bit too sugary for me, but many people swear by them)
ABC Kitchen - get the crab toast and a glass of rose
The Dutch - go for brunch, get the biscuits (glazed in honey)
La Frite - they serve french fries belgian style, in a cone with cutouts in the table to set it. They have 10 dipping sauces to choose from. They're amazing (no need to fret about carbs, just walk to the UES after :)
To Do:
Jin Soon Nails - a 45 minute manicure is around 35 bucks but the polish stays on for a week and it's incredibly relaxing. Jin Soon is a famous nail artist for fashion shows and editorial shoots.
Broadway Show - we saw Kinky Boots this time. I HIGHLY recommend. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Other good ones: The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked. You can go to the 1/2 price ticket booth in Times Square, but be prepared for long waits and sold out tickets by the time you get to the front of the line (get in line around 2:00 for the 3:00 opening for the best chance at tickets). We just went on stubhub the day of and got tickets for 60.00 each.
The Doughnuttery: they make the doughnuts as you order them
Columbus Circle - I worked at the JCrew here in college, so I'm incredibly biased, but it is a beautiful building full of a lot of great stores. Plus it's right across from Central Park.
To Stay:
The Millenium Hilton - right across from the 9/11 memorial and both times I have stayed there I have had a room on an upper floor that overlooks the memorial and the Hudson river - beautiful at night. The closer you get to Christmas, the cheaper the room rates get. Our room rate per night (including the view) was only about $200 (for a room that is normally around $450-$500)
To Shop:
Maje - French brand. Enough said
Bergdorf Goodman - even if you only go to see the windows (but please stop in the shoe salon)
Barneys New York - go to the shoe sale. Go. Now.
Dylans Candy Bar - the best candy store in the world (even if it is 6.99 a pound for sour patch kids)
Helmut Lang - right around the corner from Intermix
Rag & Bone - a mens store and a womens store side by side. Merchandised beautifully.
5th Avenue - just walk the street. Take it all in, even if you never step into the stores, window shopping is enough (but do go into Zara)