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A New York City Christmas ?

While When the Clock Strikes Midlife is all about self-care for fellow Midlifers, self-care comes in many forms.

Traveling, seeing new sights, and having new experiences replenishes the soul and is absolutely a form of self-care.

I always get an urge to go to NYC at Christmas time. There is no other experience like it on earth. If you are planning a day trip, I have summarized our day trip below and include some tips for traveling to and around Manhattan, what to bring/not bring, where we ate and drank, and the must-sees that don’t, themselves, cost anything.

New York City Day Trip
? I’m going to make it after all ?

First, let me tell you the whole Christmas season in NYC starts the weekend before Thanksgiving through the week after the new year. While most stores and buildings do not decorate until Thanksgiving weekend, the holidays and the crowds are there early on. So you have ample opportunity before and after the holiday season for the New York City Christmas experience.

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Although I am a native New Yorker, I cannot navigate Manhattan as well as I would like. I have been living at the Jersey Shore for 35 years and I am now a tourist like the rest of you. After, arriving at Penn Station (I mention this again later, but please, take the train in), we walked to Rockefeller Center to meet the rest of the cousins and of course, to see “the tree” as we call it. In the Northeast, at Christmas time, when you refer to “the tree” you mean “THE tree” at Rockefeller Center. This is the first place I recommend you see, from there you can go on to many other one-of-a-kind Christmas experiences that you will only find here in NYC.

Since it was a few weeks before Christmas, this area was very crowded. Our group of twenty fit right in and attempted to all fit into one photo by “the tree.” We then had to pretty much walk together holding hands to not lose each other and to watch the ice skaters at the most famous ice skating rink in the world. We commented at how it looks much smaller in person than it does on TV.

Rockefeller Center NYC
Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center

We then took our time walking and decided to do a little pre-gaming and stop for cocktails at the Playwright Celtic Pub on 8th Avenue, a true Irish pub in the heart of the theater district and blocks away from Times Square. I just love the architecture of these old buildings and establishments. I always feel the rich history in these places that have an energy of their own. At first it was standing room only, but lo and behold within 15 minutes we had the first four high top tables near the bar. To warm up from the cold, I ordered a Mexican Coffee (made with Kahlua and Whipped Cream). OMG Yum! There we watched the end of the New York Giants v. Miami Dolphins Football game, a win for our NY team and then we all made our way to the famous Patsy’s Italian Restaurant for dinner.

I digress, on our way to dinner my husband had to buy gloves and a scarf on the street, as I was prepared for the cold weather, and he was not. I will discuss what to wear later on. Keep in mind that like traveling to islands or other cities, these street vendors will usually allow some bargaining if you are paying cash. He got both for $20. Not bad, although others in our group swore they could’ve gotten better deal!

Now to the main event. By the way, when you’re Italian, dinner is always the main event. We arrived at Patsy’s Italian Restaurant a half hour earlier than our reservation. I highly recommend reservations as this is the famous restaurant where all the stars have eaten since 1944. They have walls upon walls of celebrities’ photos dining at their restaurant and back in the day, it was a haven for the Rat Pack and countless generations of stars from singers, to actors from the stage, TV and nearby Broadway.

Patsy's RestaurantAlthough we took up their whole bar, our large party had enough time for one drink and they whisked us upstairs to our table ten minutes early! They had two large tables of ten waiting for us, and if we were celebrities, they would have drawn the curtain for our privacy. Maybe next time!

Christmas NYC
Our Party of Twenty

Now, I will tell you that this was the best Italian food I have ever had, quite possibly even out of my mother and grandmother’s kitchens. You see, I was born in the Arthur Avenue section of the Bronx. For those who know, they know that it is one of the most famous Little Italy’s in the United States. It is near Fordham University, the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Gardens (that will have to be another day-trip blog post). My husband’s family is from the Borough Park section of Brooklyn, so there was always amazing Italian food being served in both of our families. I say this again, with caution, and complete respect for our families and their incredible food, it was the best Italian food I have ever had … at a restaurant.

My mother’s eggplant parmigiana rivaled no other. One of our appetizers at Patsy’s was eggplant rollatine and it was absolutely delectable. It was the cheese (definitely a mix of cheeses, not your usual mozzarella & ricotta), the sauce, everything about it. I don’t know what the magic ingredient was, but it was magic. Then the fried calamari, fried zucchini and cold antipasto brought out family style to our tables. The service was very attentive, and we did not feel rushed. Everyone else raved about their meals. That is one of the few places my husband would order veal which I tasted and was amazing. For my dinner I ordered stuffed calamari and I have never seen this on a menu before.

My mother in law makes it on Christmas Eve as one of the fishes for the Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes. It is whole calamari, not breaded or fried and they stuff theirs with shrimp, calamari, crab and lobster in a tomato garlic sauce. Days later and I am still thinking about it.

Okay, okay, now that I turned this into a food review, let’s get back to our day trip in NYC. Here are tips I have put together for traveling to NYC and around NYC:

What to Bring:

? Comfortable walking shoes, sneakers or boots. I can’t emphasize this enough. We did 15,000 steps that day, it is not a good time to break in new shoes.

? In the winter wear a jacket or coat with plenty of inside and outside pockets. Then you won’t have to carry a purse or backpack and everything will be on your person. Bring a hat, scarf and gloves if November through March. You probably will need them.

? Put cash and/or debt cards, credit cards or wallets in front pockets or inner jacket pockets. Better yet, if you can fit a fanny pack on with your coat, wear one in front of you, under your coat. Just to be cautious and be able to enjoy your experience without worry.

? You may want to bring a small backpack or a fold up tote bag in case you buy anything or have food left over from the restaurant, avoid purses, pocketbooks, etc., if possible.

? A pocket size anti-bacterial soap. Because.

? Lip balm. Also, because.

? Tissues. Noses run in cold weather. Don’t ask me why.

? Your phone charger, a portable one if you have one. New York has plenty of places to charge a phone as long as you have your charger.

Tips for traveling into Manhattan:

? Take the train. From wherever you are. Do not bring a car into Manhattan. It is ridiculously expensive if you can even find parking and every tunnel and bridge is $16. (If you must, check Groupon for parking garages at discount rates) I live a state away and even when we lived 30 minutes away we always would take the train. Avoid bringing a car in, unless you can get a car service or Uber to drop you off and pick you up. Even at that, when you drive in yourself, on a bus, or with a driver, you will be stuck in traffic.

??‍♀️ Walking or the subway is actually the fastest way to get around.

? Please remember, it is a big city, unlike any other. However, it is a city like every other, be aware of pickpockets on the street, in stores, on the trains, and especially when you are sightseeing and trying to take in the views. These thieves prey on the tourists and count on you to not pay attention.

Gear up for Your NYC Visit & Get $ Back on Clothing & Accessories

? Must-Sees for a Day Trip:

? For a day trip at Christmas time, you will most likely be able to do about 4 to 5 things that day. Depending on how fast you can walk or navigate around people and cars, and people (did I mention people?). You can plan your own itinerary using google. In my opinion, if you have never been to NYC or very few times, if you are going in specifically to see the sights at Christmas, this is what you must see and all are free except the last two recommendations:

1. ? ⛸ Rockefeller Center: “the tree” as mentioned above is a must see and also the sight of the famous ice skating rink with the most photographed sculpture in NYC, the gold statue of the god Prometheus. (not to be confused with Wollman skating rink in Central Park that you’ve seen in Home Alone 2, When Harry Met Sally, Enchanted, and countless other films). While in that area, you may want to visit NBC studios and the Lego Store. That area is a tourist trap this time of year and I suggest you eat several blocks away to avoid being price gouged. Even a burger at a chain restaurant can be expensive.

2. ? ? Saks Fifth Avenue: The light show on the building of Saks Fifth Avenue is the next “must see.” It can be viewed best from right from Rockefeller Center. To see both the lights and hear the music played in sync, however, you can go to the building between 49th and 50th streets. It replays every ten minutes and is awe inspiring to watch and hear. Beautifully done. Many people also stand in line to see their window display which is also a new beautiful theme each year. If you have the patience and appreciate the craft, the window displays are very creative, whimsical and full of holiday spirit.

3. ?Times Square: To the get one-day NYC experience, you must take a 15 minute walk to Times Square. This is where you will feel the energy of this city and its heartbeat. The lights and billboard displays are the reason they say it is the city that never sleeps. I can’t help but think of the lyrics to Alicia Keys’ song ‘New York,’ don’t know if I’m able to quote the lyrics here, so look it up and listen to the words, you will be inspired. Here, again, if you want to not pay the tourist price, eat a few blocks away on an “off street.”

? 4. Empire State Building: My last recommendations, since I truly believe to experience each sight without rushing, you will be able to see 4 to 5 sights. So I recommend you choose either the Empire State Building main deck on the 86th floor the highest open-air observatory in NY. You will have 360 degree views and has been the setting of dozens of movies and it is an unparalleled view of the city’s layout.

? 5. Holiday Train Show Display: If heights and views are not really your thing, or you have kids with you, the New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show displays more than 25G-scale model trains, ferries and trolleys that travel through miniature landmarks NYC. Afterward you can take a stroll through the snowy gardens on the Winter Wonderland tree tour.

Merry Christmas from “THE tree” ?

I hope you are able to cross off ‘NYC at Christmastime’ on your bucket list this year! Like Joe Pesci’s character says in Home Alone 2 “Here we are Marv, New York City, the land of opportunity.”

Rebates All Year Long…Amazon, Walmart, Kirkland’s Macy’s, JCPenney, Sephora, BB&B Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Ave, Crate & Barrel, Ann Taylor


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