Blouse || Jeans || Heels || Clutch || Belt
This month’s NYC Update is going to be solely dedicated to the holidays in the city. All of the hype that you’ve heard about how gorgeous it is, it’s all real! The Christmas trees are up, the lights are twinkling, and I finally am ready to get in the Christmas spirit. This is all a ‘learning as I go’ thing, but I’ve been looking into some of the holiday festivities around town. Between now and going back to Florida for the holidays, I’ll be dragging David (and camera) to as many stops as we can to take in all of the cheer. Here are some of the top picks on my to-do list…
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: CHECK! I’m pretty sure this was the coldest Thanksgiving the city has ever seen, but this is the official start to the holiday season. Regardless, we braved the cold and wind to enjoy a bit of the parade. It’s one thing to watch the parade on TV, but I felt like such a kid seeing all of the balloons go by in person. Giddy, I think, is the closest word. We started near the Museum of Natural History, which turned out to be their staging area, but we strolled down to see more of the parade action. Now that we know the lay of the land, we’ll have a better game plan for next year.
- Rockefeller Center: The Center’s Christmas tree is lit and ready for the holidays. If the weather holds up, I’m hoping to stop by this weekend to visit the tree and, who knows, maybe work up the courage to go ice skating. I can’t think of a better setting to try out skating for the first time!
- Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes: CHECK! (sort of)… A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of starting off the holiday season with Talbots and a few of the Rockettes. While it was just a taste of the Christmas Spectacular, I was able to see these gorgeous ladies up close and in person. I even got a quick lesson in how to perfect that trademark kick!
- Hotel Hop: I’m hard-pressed to think of anyone who does holiday décor better than NYC hotels. It seems like they all have an unspoken contest with each other and I just don’t know who’s winning. If you have a free afternoon, hop from hotel to hotel to see who your favorite is. Whether it’s the Plaza, Lotte New York Place, or the St. Regis, you really can’t go wrong!
- Window Shop: No matter who you are, window shopping will always fit in your budget. This time of year, apartment stores and designer boutiques alike deck the halls with the dreamiest of window displays. I love waking up early to stroll down a quiet Madison Avenue and take in all of the store fronts, leading to the coup de grace from the department stores in Midtown.
- Find the Perfect Hot Chocolate: As the weather gets cooler, you’ll be needing a hot drink to keep yourself warm. So many shops in NYC put their own spin on this winter staple, you’ll just have to sample them all and find your favorite.
- Give Ice Skating a Try: I am not what you would call graceful, but I’m still itching to get out on the ice rink for the first time. I know there will be a lot of spills and falls, but it’s still a must do in the city. Whether you’re skating at Rockefeller Center or Central Park, it’s going to be winter magic!
- Get Cozy at a Holiday Bar: After you’ve checked everything on your list, snuggle up in one the many holiday bars around the city. You’ve earned it! Rolf’s in Gramercy Park is always the spot on the top of everyone’s nice list, but Pete’s Tavern or Lillie’s Victorian are great alternatives.
I hope I get through my little list this year. If there’s another NYC Christmas must be sure to let me know!
Love from NYC,
Katie