Virtual Advent Tour 2013: Day 17
This is a fun and festive blog tour hosted by Kelly and Marg. Visit their beautiful blog, Virtual Advent Tour, to see the other terrific blog participants and their holiday posts!
When
I was growing up on Long Island, a suburb of NYC, my parents would take my
sister and I to the city for a weekend. It was the start of the Christmas season for us. My father’s firm had an apt for clients to
use when they were in from out of town.
My dad would make sure, really early in the year, that we could stay there
one weekend after Thanksgiving.
This is a fun and festive blog tour hosted by Kelly and Marg. Visit their beautiful blog, Virtual Advent Tour, to see the other terrific blog participants and their holiday posts!
Christmas in NYC
Friday
night was always casual and relaxing. We’d
usually go someplace super casual, like a pub for burgers. After a leisurely dinner we would walk back to
the apartment passing Lord & Taylor’s department store to see their window
display. Every year their windows are decorated in some type of Christmas theme with each window telling part of a story. Some other stores do this, too, but L & T’s have always been the best.
Saturday was always a shopping day for my mom, sister and me. My dad usually went to his office for a few hours to get some work done. My sister and I would meet him at a store later in the afternoon, usually Tiffany’s and from there we’d go to Rizzoli’s bookstore, to help him Christmas shop for my mom.
We always walked past the NY Public Library, too to see their stately lion and their tree
On
Saturday night, we usually saw The Nutcracker Ballet, a favorite of my sister
and I, at Lincoln Center. 
Although, after several years of The Nutcracker, if
there was a Broadway show we were interested in or Radio City Hall’s show
enticed us, we might see that instead.
It didn't matter. Anything we saw
we enjoyed and the night was always magical. 
This was particularly true after the ballet or show because we would go over to Rockefeller Center to see the huge Christmas Tree there. Even late at night, there are a lot of people around, but fortunately not the crowds there during the day. And we always stopped at St. Patrick's Cathedral across the street.
Sunday
was always brunch and a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see their tree and many
other exhibits. This was an especially
good day because my dad spent the entire day with us…no work!
One fun place to visit, which we didn't get to every year, is the greatest toy store around -
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you and yours!!
One fun place to visit, which we didn't get to every year, is the greatest toy store around -
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you and yours!!
Posts
No place else is like NYC at Christmastime!
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful....I love NYC but at Christmas its even more special...
DeleteThank you for visiting my blog!
What amazing memories! I have never been to NYC, and while I am not a fan of the cold and snow, I would love to be there around Christmas time--or right after Thanksgiving to experience some of what you describe.
ReplyDeleteWell, today it's 55 degrees so come to NYC and see the Rockefeller Center tree, do a little ice skating, enjoy the store windows and more in the warmish weather!
DeleteMaybe when Mouse is a little bit older, you can come during holiday time. I'd love to see some of the NYC Christmas sights with you!
One day I will see NYC for Christmas. It must be so pretty this time of year. Great post
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy, thank you for visiting! The Rockefeller Center area with the big tree, the ice skating and St. Patrick's Cathedral is especially beautiful this time of year. But even just walking down Park Avenue is great because there are trees strung with lights and other Christmas decorations down the middle of the avenue. And many of the office buildings have decorated trees in their lobbies.
DeleteI hope you get to visit NYC during the holidays soon!
That sounds like a magical way to spend a weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt was, Kathy. When my sister and I were little (10 and under) we would get all dressed up for The Nutcracker and we were so excited. I loved that weekend in NYC when I was a teenager, too, but Christmas time when you're a child is especially magical.
DeleteChristmas in NYC is on my bucket list!
ReplyDeleteGreat! And no matter when you come, there will always be beautiful sights to see and excitement in the air. But I hope you come to visit NYC at Christmas time soon!
DeleteWhat wonderful memories… there is something so special about New York City at Christmas-time!
ReplyDeleteThere really is, JoAnn. It almost feels like a different city especially later at night around Rockefeller Center, the Cathedral and some of the holiday-themed department store windows. I love visiting those spots when the crowds have died down later at night.
DeleteAmy, what beautiful Christmas memories you have of your childhood. The images are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane! I love looking at the photos from those weekends in NYC and remembering what fun we had. I really enjoyed sharing some of my memories with you. I'm glad you enjoyed my post!
DeleteThis is great! It looks like you have some wonderful Christmas memories. :) Merry Christmas and thanks for participating!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting the Virtual Advent Tour! I really enjoyed it! It's a fantastic idea and a great way to celebrate the holiday season. I'm going to mark it on my calendar for next year so I sign up early!
DeleteMerry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you!
WOW, so lovely! I can't imagine NYC during Christmas -- must be incredible!! Thanks for sharing your story, memories, and the pictures -- it puts me in the mood for the holidays! Hope you and all the kitties are doing well!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Audra! NYC looks a little different during the holidays and the air carries a feeling of magic and excitement especially in the evenings and at night.
DeleteHappy Holidays to you, your wife and fur kids :o) !!
What beautiful Christmas memories you have, Amy! You made me feel like I was in NYC :)
ReplyDeleteHi Stacy, thank you for visiting! I'm so happy you enjoyed this post. Maybe when he's older you'll bring Gage to the city over the holidays. He'd love FAO Schwartz, it's the toy store in the movie "Big". A lot of the toys are available for testing out while you're shopping so it's a really fun store!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you & your family...I'm sure you'll have fun with Gage!
What wonderful childhood memories! I grew up in Kew Gardens, Queens NYC and my parents would also take us on trips into the city during the holidays. I now live in Florida. I do miss Christmas in NYC. Hope your holidays were wonderful. Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete