A Trip To New York At Christmas

Okay, so I’m a day late in wishing everyone a proper MERRY CHRISTMAS! Here’s the card I created but ever got around to printing. Thankfully I made it though the night without being eaten alive after taken these photos!

Thought it would be neat to share some of the sights and sounds of the Holiday Season in NYC with a bit of history thanks to a range of online resources (mostly Wikipedia I must admit!).

Let’s start with an iconic symbol of the start of the holiday season in NYC, the very impressive Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center.

The first “official” tree was erected at Rockefeller Center in 1933 (though in 1931 construction workers did put up a 20-foot tree in the midst of construction). The tree is lit on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving and normally up through the “epiphany” (January 6th). However, this year, the 85-foot Norway spruce from Bloominsburg, PA, will be lit-up through 8pm January 7th (my Birthday – yay!).

The trees are donated not purchased and usually from the United States though it seems there was once a tree from Ottawa, Canada that sneaked in there, though it’s unclear how!
The trees are in fact recycled, one was donated to Habitat for Humanity and the others to various organizations like the Boys Scouts.- it’s unclear, however, how they made use of such a large amount of wood.

Madison Square Park (left) and Gramercy Park (right)

Above left, the tree at Madison Square Park, a park that had fallen into disrepair and was reborn in the late 1990s. It’s situation opposite the Flatiron Building. On the right, the Christmas Tree in Gramercy Park, the only private park in Manhattan (requiring a key held by a select member of area tenants for entry).

Below, the prettiest tree in my opinion, the one at my folks’ place! They keep threatening it’s the last year they’ll put one up. Lucky for me they put another one up this year!

As anyone who reads this blog knows my love affair with the Empire State Building. I have a wonderful view from Madison Square Park, near where I live.

Around the holidays and during other special occasions it changes colors. The building holds a special place in my heart. Whenever I crossed the corner of 23rd & 5th Avenue before September 11, 2001, I always took a moment to stop and take a look to the at the Empire State Building, and to my left, the Twin Towers….

A now a little short trip down 5th Avenue.

The very whimsical lobby at Henri Bendel. When I first moved to New York City it was a complete department store with clothing and make-up. Today it sells only accessories – scarves, gloves, candles, jewelry and bags.

The Harry Winston store (below), the same Harry who donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian – not quite sure how he got it in the first place however! I love how it’s all decked out in jewels!

Never been in, but I wouldn’t mind getting dressed up and going in one of these days!

The building below look familiar? It’s Tiffany & Co, and American luxury jeweler founded in 1837. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie, but you can’t really have breakfast there. I love how the lights look like broaches.

The Salvation Army collectors this year were very festive and giving it their all. Just seeing this guy put a big smile of my face and made me realize why I love this city so much!

Below, the tree at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine on the Upper West Side. I’m unsure of the significance of the cranes…..does anyone know? The cathedral is the fourth largest Christian church in the world. Construction began in 1892 and has yet to be completed!

I attended a special holiday show there a few weeks ago where they illuimated the church and ceiling – it was quite stunning…

Below, a photo of Chelsea Market, originally built in 1898 for the National Biscuit Company (now known as Nabisco). The building is wonderful, they’ve maintained the original building and it’s now full of small gourmet restaurants, shops and boutiques.

Below, Grand Central Terminal (not to be confused with Grand Central Station which is a post office) on the day I commuted home from the city of December 22nd for Christmas.