Halloween has just passed and you now have that urge to start blasting Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on repeat on your way to school or work. You begin to wonder about what big plans you have for the upcoming holiday season. You’re deciding between traveling to see family or fiends, taking a trip to somewhere warm or trying something spontaneous and new. In my opinion, there’s not one thing that can compare to spending the holiday season in New York City. Though I am slightly biased having grown up 30-minutes outside the city, there’s something to be said about the smell of warm chestnuts roasting on the sides of the streets (hence the song), seeing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the Rockettes. Though many may travel over to New York to see these tourist attractions, there is more to winter in NYC than the parade and tree lighting. Here I have compiled the many things you can do around the Big Apple during the holidays (while avoiding the tourists, of course).
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off the holiday season in New York City. This parade is held on the streets of NYC, with the more popular and entertaining events happening right in front of the Macy’s store. Here, most tourists will probably experience standing curbside with a cup of hot chocolate, squished up to the people next to them. A great alternative to watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade while avoiding the craziness of the crowds, is finding a warm building to reside in. My first time experiencing the parade in person, was by watching it from an office window. Though this may not sound ideal, it gives viewers a whole new perspective on what the parade is like. You will be (almost) face-to-face with the ever-so large balloons, while being able to overlook the floats from a birds-eye view. This is the best option for the travelers who don’t like large crowds, or the hassle of having to fight people to save a spot on the street. Plus, spending the parade indoors means you can have your own breakfast or brunch, along with family and friends. Hey, isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about? Be sure to stick around until the end of the parade to witness Santa Claus on his float!
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, picture taken by Anthony Quintano
Within the first week of December, Rockefeller Center lights up its famous (and humongous) Christmas tree. Many people can watch the lighting on television; however, the Christmas tree is lit up until the beginning of January. Many tourists gather to Rockefeller Center not only for the tree, but also to ice skate on the rink below. Whenever I’ve visited the tree, I’ve always had the expectation of taking the classic picture with family or friends with the tree in the background. Though, I unrealistically did not expect to have thousands of tourists walking around me while taking the not-so original holiday picture. Another way to explore Rockefeller Center and the Christmas tree is to explore what the Rockefeller Center building has to offer. Walk through the halls where NBC Studios lies, filming iconic shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live or Late Night with Seth Meyers. If not, you can always head up to the top of Rockefeller Center, where Bar SixtyFive resides. Bar SixtyFive is a bar and cocktail lounge with windows that go up 10 feet and look out over Manhattan.
Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, photo take by Anthony Quintano
Other exciting things to do while in NYC during the holidays:
SantaCon
New York City Ballet
Visit Macy’s Christmas Display
Union Square Holiday Market
Bryant Park Winter Village
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
There are so many activities throughout the city that will allow you to spread your holiday cheer. If you don’t know what SantaCon is, it’s a large bar crawl that goes throughout the streets of New York on one Saturday in December. During SantaCon you will find thousands of drunken Santa Claus’ stumbling from bar to bar. If you can’t make it all the way up to the city to experience this year’s SantaCon, which is on December 10th starting at 10am, there are multiple other cities across the country that put on a holiday bar crawl of their own. If you’re not into fighting off the crowds while shopping in the department stores, you can check out holiday markets such as the Bryant Park Winter Village, Union Square Holiday Market, Chelsea Market or the Grand Central Holiday Fair. There’s nothing better than finding small trinkets and pieces that you will most likely not be able to find elsewhere.
Besides attractions and shopping, there are countless amounts of places around Manhattan to go for a holiday brunch or dinner. When booking a brunch, there might be a small amount of planning or scheduling with your party. From past experiences, it is essential to get a reservation days in advance when brunching in NYC. It’s totally worth it though; I’ve had some of my most favorite brunch experiences with friends in the city. Plus, it’s not just a normal brunch, but also a holiday themed brunch? Yes, please. Some of my favorite brunch places that also offer holiday specials are Benoit, Black Tree Brooklyn in Williamsburg, and Mile End Delicatessen.
Some last tips for enjoying the holiday season in Manhattan is to steer clear of the major tourist attractions such as the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty. Whenever I travel to the city in the winter, it seems as if tourists like to flock over to the big city like to visit as much tourist attractions as they can. If all else fails and you don’t find any of these NYC holiday activities appealing, you can always dress up as Will Ferrell from the movie Elf. Go run through the streets and channel your inner Buddy the Elf!
Happy (almost) holidays!
