Every year we head into NYC to "see the tree". I often wonder if you said that to someone from somewhere else, would they even know what you mean? This year was no exception. We headed in on Sunday afternoon, 4 days before Christmas. There was a homegame at the Meadowlands so I thought the Lincoln would be a poor choice. Instead we went through the Holland - the first time for us! It was a bit longer but we hit no traffic snarls at all so timewise it worked out about the same, minus the aggravation of stop and go on 3. As we pulled to the tollbooth we noted that even the tunnel entrance was decorated! That is the wonder of Christmas- everyone seems happier, decorations abound, there is a hustle and bustle in the air, an unseen excitement!
After we got through the Holland we were down in the financial district and had to make our way to the apartment so just kept heading north. Eventually we came to 23rd street and from there we knew we were almost home! After having the car parked and getting our bags up the elevator we made our traditional 'first night in" dinner walk down to Mike's Pizza for some great NYC pizza. Next morning it was off to Cosmos for breakfast, then uptown via the bus for some Christmas!!
First stop is always FAO Schwarz to see the live toy soldiers, the newest toys- which this year seem based on the upcoming "Hotel For Dogs" movie and paly with anything we can get our hands on. Then we start our leisurely stroll down 5th avenue, window shopping at Gucci, Feragamo, Prada and all the other big designer stores. We duck into Trump to see the five story gold waterfall , into Tiffanys's to browse, and finally into St.Pats to light a candle for those we have loved and lost. It is another cold day and people are lining up to buy pashminas and gloves from the street vendorrs. Finally we see the tree, every year looking prettier then the year before. There are people smiling and speaking languages we have never even heard before taking pictures and hugging, the children so excited! Skaters abound at Rockefellar Center and this is NY Christmas magic.
We finished our stroll heading over to Broadway to see the lights, admiring Times Square, and finally into Macys to see Santa Land. By now we are very cold so we catch a crosstown bus over to 2nd and then transfer to the bus going down 2nd. Tonight it will be Noodles On 28 for dinner where I can never get enough shrimp and asparagus cellophane dumplings! Another Christmas visit behind us, and a year to wait till next year to see another tree and another round of happy folks. I wish us all a happy, healthy and hopefully better 2009.
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