NYC Christmas 2013

We spent several days in New York City before Christmas again this year.  Scott's parent's and my mom were there and we actually had a very relaxing time.  Well, as relaxing as New York at Christmas can be when there are 10 million people around you trying to get their Christmas shopping done.  Here are a few of the highlights.

We spent the first night walking from our apartment to Times Square.  We especially enjoyed the Helmsley Building and the Empire State building. Both were totally decked out with red and green lights. At Times Square the kids were on a mission to get to Toys R Us, ride the Ferris Wheel and spend their money as quickly as possible.  Harley was ecstatic when she got the My Little Pony Cart.  The boys settled for a Mega Bloks Taxi. Boy, were they relieved.

 

 We saw the fabulous Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. I loved how the spectacular show ended with a live nativity with real camels and sheep. It was beautiful. Of course, Nash wouldn't admit that he enjoyed it. He is way too macho for that.

 

 One morning I caught the kids sitting in the window of their bedroom playing I-Spy while they looked over the Manhattan skyline.  They love the city so very much.

 The weather was remarkable for New York in December.  One evening we took the Staten Island Ferry just to look back on the skyline.  It was gorgeous.

 After tons of walking my mom, mother-in-law and I were complaining about our sore feet. The kids decided to make us a spa.  They massaged our tired feet, wrapped them in hot towels, covered them in lotion and then painted our toe-nails. Isn't it lovely?

No trip is complete without risking your life or at the very least the chance of incarceration in China Town and Little Italy.  At one point on my search for the perfect Tory Burch handbag, as Atley and I were being led by a particularly shady character into a dark dungeon complete with one dingy swinging light bulb and a dirty cot in one corner, well beyond the possibility that anyone could hear our screams for help, I thought to myself, "Self, maybe this isn't worth it!"  But, then I realized dying for a new purse will always be worth it. So, we proceeded and succeeded in our quest. However, perhaps next time I will risk only my own life and not the life of my son.  He doesn't have as great a love for fashion as myself. And yes, I am thankful for that.

 

 We strolled down Fifth Avenue enjoying the lights, stopping at the Plaza Hotel in hopes of seeing Eloise. I insisted we buy chestnuts from a street vendor.  That was a truly disgusting experience.  With the exception of Nash we all found them utterly inedible.  Go figure! My pickiest eater is a fan of Chestnuts and Vietnamese food. Finally, we took a moonlit carriage ride through Central Park. 

One of my favorite things about visiting New York at Christmas is seeing all of the window displays. Here are a few of my favorites from Macy's, Tiffany's & Saks 5th Avenue.

 

Before heading home we visited Macy's Santaland.  We only had to wait about an hour and half but as we were leaving, the line to see the big guy was more than four hours long.  We also saw the most adorable puppet show at Macy's, depicting the true story of Virginia O'Hanlon.  You might have seen the Christmas special, "Yes, Virginia."

 

NYC @ Christmastime

What we did...

 

Ice Skating at Central Park

 

Walking and admiring the amazing lights and store windows.

 

Sony Wonder Tech Lab. So, much fun and it is FREE!! Above Atley is performing open heart surgery.  

 

Freezing at Times Square.  Check out one of the biggest ads.  That's right. The Mormons!!

Saw a show on Broadway.  We saw Nice Work if You Can Get It!

It was hilarious. At one point I was laughing so hard I hit my head on the seat in front of me. Apparently, the lady sitting in that seat gave me a killer look. But, I was a little too dazed to notice. 

Santaland at Macy's. Worth the long lines.

 

Riding the Subway to Grand Central Station.

 

Train Exhibit and market at Grand Central.

Where We Ate...

Most of the time we ate at our apartment, with a view like this why go out. So when we did go out we chose very carefully.  

First, stop. Dylan's Candy Bar Cafe.  

Carnegie Deli.  As you can see Nash was not as excited about Corned Beef, Pastrami and pickles as Harley.

Nash was a lot happier at Giovanna's in Little Italy. (Just off of Canal on Mulberry Street) The best Italian I have ever had!!!

Where we shopped...

FAO Schwarz of course!

 

and Chinatown, where Harley got her very own  Louis Vuitton. She was so happy we found her sleeping with it that night.  This is a girl after my own heart!

The BIG Apple

My kid's love New York City.  Atley has a huge photograph (courtesy of Ikea) above his bed of midtown Manhattan.  He knows the layout, he can identify all of the buildings and each of the Burroughs and we feel lucky to be only a 4 hour drive away from the most exciting city in the world.  Last weekend we took Granny on her first journey to Manhattan.  I am not sure if she has any desire to ever return. Scott reminded me that it is an acquired taste.  After dropping mom and the kids off at our hotel, I set out to find a reasonably priced parking spot.  An hour later after arguing with a rather unsavory looking fellow, I agreed on a price and parked my car with a prayer in my heart that it would actually still be there when I returned.  My mom later told me that she was convinced that I had been kidnapped and that she was going to be stuck alone with my three kids in this unfamiliar city. It all worked out and we set out on foot.

 

First stop...

Then some more walking to the cross roads of the world, Time's Square, where we ran into a familiar character and one of Harley's all-time favorite friends-Cookie Monster.

 

 

We caught a show on Broadway.  It was fantabulous!

 

 

 

It was cold and rainy but not too late to go to the Toys R Us or take a few more pictures before hailing a cab back to the hotel.

 

 

 

Check out the view we had from our hotel room.  Nothing like gazing at the lights of the Empire State Building while you fall asleep.

 

 

The following morning we hopped on a double-decker bus equipped with hot chocolate to see the sights. Quick story about the hot chocolate. At one of the bus stops we were parked right above a trash can. Of course, this is New York city and there were at least a thousand people by the said trash can as well. This fact didn't stop Nash from trying to drop his almost empty cup of hot chocolate into the trash can below.  Guess what? He missed and it hit a not so happy gentleman in the shoulder before splattering on the sidewalk.  We all ducked and then cracked up laughing all while hoping that the guy didn't have a gun.

 

 

Empire State By Day

 

 

Atley's Favorite-The Flat Iron Building

 

 

The new Freedom Tower on the World Trade Center Site. The building will be about 300 feet taller than the Empire State building when completed.

 

 

I  had the opportunity to see the World Trade Center before 9/11.  We went back with the boys when there was just a gaping hole and very little to memorialize what had happened.  This time we had a chance to visit the recently completed memorial.  The memorial is two 30 ft. deep fountains surrounded by the names of those who lost their lives.  The fountains are in the exact location where the tower's stood.  It was a special experience for all of us.

 

 

We had lunch at Battery Park and saw Lady Liberty.  One of the kids favorite things about the entire trip was chasing the pigeons. I am sure that there is a lesson about simplifying in there somewhere.

 

 

We ended our day with a trip to Rockefeller Center, where we visited the LEGO store. Somehow Nash became separated from my mom.  He tends to wander.  Well, after locking down the LEGO store and some terrified tears from my mom,  (I was with Atley and completely oblivious to what was happening), Nash was found. Finally, we took the elevator to the Top of the Rock.  The view was spectacular even on an overcast day.