Christmas in the City

Everyone has told me that Christmas in the City is the best time of year. This month, I made it a point to experience as much of the holiday spirit as possible.

We kicked off the season in true festive fashion with a holiday tacky sweater party hosted at our apartment. Most everyone came dressed to impress, but I don't mind saying that I may have taken home the most creative prize. While the City offers a number of fabric stores, after searching high and low, I couldn't find any Christmas fabric. Instead, I purchased a plastic and velvet table cloth, complete with burgundy Santa Claus prints and made a tunic dress....best described by my fashion editor friend, "so holiday couture!"














This past Tuesday we did the most tourist thing possible: Radio City Christmas Spectacular! We luckily found discounted tickets, so a group of my closest City friends met for dinner and drinks prior to the show. Now, in its 49-year-stretch, this year the producers remade the show to include a 3D set incorporating a video game (hello millenium)! I wasn't crazy about the show and could've settled for just the Rockettes...they were amazing! I joked during the show that I should've never given up tap dancing, but unless I can grow another two inches to meet the 5'6"-5'10" height requirement, I don't think I'll ever make it to that stage.












Other than the Rockettes, the show included 14 scenes, such as Santa Flies to New York, The Nutcracker, The Parade of Wooden Soldiers and one of my favorites, The Living Nativity. This scene ended the show, and what a finale-- there were live camels, sheep and donkeys! Who knew Bethlehem was so urban?!












Post show we were able to stop by and see the Rockefellar tree. Thank goodness because a week earlier I battled the crowd with a friend to try and participate in the Lighting of the Tree Celebration, only to be practically stampeded by the thousands of onlookers and turned away before I could make it close enough to see the tree. Thanks for the early announcement of your performance at the event, Justin Bieber!

Additionally, I've strolled through a number of pop-up street markets, also known as holiday markets. They're located all over the City (Union Square, Bryant Park and Rockefellar Center), and they feature local vendors with Christmas trees and wreaths, home goods, gifts, jewelry and clothing. They're a great thing to check out after work or if you are going out for a coffee with a friend.

Overall, New York City did not fail me this holiday season. In most recent years I feel as though I've missed the season, lost in the chaos we sometimes call life, but this year, I remember the joy that Christmas brings. This truly is the most wonderful time of the year.