NYC Christmas Windows With Ribbons and Lights and Magical Displays

Bundle up, hook arms and admire the City’s festive window displays. New York is absolutely magical during the holidays. The spirit is cheerful, little shops are wrapped in ribbons and lights and the biggest stores are totally decked out for the holidays through New Years. Grab a cup of steamy cocoa and hit the pavement, fa la la la la, la la la la. Here’s a little, self-guided walking tour.

Begin at the Lord and Taylor windows (38th and 5th Avenue; 212/391- 3344 at Fifth Avenue).

Walk north up Fifth Avenue, past the New York Public Library, to the Saks Fifth Avenue windows at 611 Fifth Avenue (at 49th Street; 212/ 753-4000).

Cross the street to admire the larger-than-life Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Continue walking north up Fifth Avenue to Bergdorf Goodman’s windows at 754 Fifth Avenue (at 58th Street).

Walk one block east to Madison Avenue and then three blocks north to the windows at Barney’s at 600 Madison Avenue; 212-826-8900.

If you want to take in Bloomingdale’s windows (at 100 Third Avenue), walk two blocks south to 59th Street and then a couple of avenues east to Third Avenue.

Note: The Macy’s window displays are also engaging. Macy’s is located at Herald Square and Broadway between 34th and 35th streets.

Murder, She Wrote. Jessica Fletcher Comes to NYC at Christmastime

 

New York City dazzles in December with lights, ribbons, carols and jingles. And then there’s this:

Manhattans and Murder is the Murder, She Wrote novel I co-wrote with Donald Bain, my father. I’ve written several with him and this was the second in the series–and now there are 42 novels. And all the novels I wrote with him are still in print and selling strong.

Manhattans and Murder is a great read for those who love a little mystery, a little Jessica and a little NYC at Christmastime.  Jessica comes to Manhattan for a visit and guess what happens? She also visits Sea Cliff, the sweet town on the Long Island Sound where I lived at the time I wrote the scene. It’s about 25 miles from Manhattan.

So, if you feel like a little Christmas, a little mystery and a little New York City, cozy up with this cozy mystery! Oh, and this novel came out awhile ago, but was reissued more recently. How do you like them apples? Also, I have two engagements coming up after the holidays where I’ll be speaking about writing the books, as well as my other writing. I’ll fill you in, so stay tuned.

Thanks, spread the love this holiday. Make it  good day and a better day for someone else. Especially your children and grandchildren 🙂

Heartbroken NYC

christmas paint (Photo credit: cassie_bedfordgolf)

New York, like the nation, is heartbroken. It’s difficult to embrace the season–the joy, the merriment, the silliness…  I was in the City yesterday, there were so many people in the pouring rain at Rockefeller Center to see the tree. Went to a beautiful evening Christmas service at a darling church downtown. Picked up my son at Port Authority–he took the bus home from college and is home for Xmas 🙂 The City is wrapped in ribbons and lights but the sadness is heavy, as it should be. When you’re visiting Rockefeller Center and the Christmas tree, please take time to cross the street to St. Patrick’s Cathedral to light a candle for the five-and-six-year-old angels, to give them light.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

English: Uploaded from : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/5/5c/Rockefeller_Center_Weihnachten.JPG Das Rockefeller Center in New York City zur Weihnachtszeit Eigene Aufnahme Lechhansl 15:53, 20. Jan. 2007 (CET) Dezember 2003 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Brrr, bundle up the kiddies for tonight’s tree lighting! Special night for New Yorkers, especially young ones who can’t get enough of all the magic of the night. I love this night. I used to work a couple of blocks away and it was such a madhouse of festive fun. I do have one gripe this year (bah humbug, I know.) Okay, here goes. Well, Hurricane Sandy was, of course, awful in so may ways. One of those involves hundreds and hundreds of hundreds-year-old trees, beautiful oaks and maples and yes, evergreens. Majestic evergreens. I listened as the Rock Center peeps were so happy that the chosen tree had survived Hurricane Sandy! Yes, that was fantastic. And then…and then they went ahead and cut.it.down. so it could be brought to Rock Center. I don’t know. I think maybe a little creativity, not to mention sensitivity, could have been put to use here. Hey, how about not kill another glorious tree and instead use one of the fallen trees. I’m just saying.

 

So, when I visit the tree this year, I will be the tree hugger.

 

Merry Christmas, happy holidays and enjoy this special evening. It is magical. Not perfect. But magical.

 

Metropolitan Museum of Art Christmas Tree

NYC – Metropolitan Museum of Art – Annual Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche (Photo credit: wallyg)

 

The Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche will be on display beginning tomorrow, November 20! It is such a special spot, hope you can enjoy it this season. And, remember, $25 admission is suggested, not mandatory.

 

Metropolitan Museum
November 20, 2012—January 6, 2013

 

Christmas Windows in NYC

NYC – Macy’s 2007 Holiday Window Display – Santa’s Big Night (Photo credit: wallyg)

Time to dazzle! Some of NYC’s dazzling holiday windows are already glittering and there’s a lot more glam to come in the coming weeks. Want to see the best of the best of the gussied-up window displays? Of course, you do, my little merrymakers. And well, what do you know, here’s a book that’ll take your hand and walk you to Saks and Bergdorf‘s, Macy’s and Lord & Taylor, to name a few of the sensational stores that will be wrapped in ribbons and lights. http://www.amazon.com/Self-Guided-Chocolate-Christmas-Displays-ebook/dp/B004774MWO

The best part? It doesn’t cost a dime to hook arms and stroll the streets admiring the joys of the season. And please take the time to help those you meet along the way. There are more homeless people than ever this season thanks to Hurricane Sandy, not to mention a hurting economy. Keep them in your heart–and, if you can help, please reach out.

Enjoy the windows–they’ll make you smile. Promise.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting!

Image by satosphere via Flickr

Hello merry merriers. Tonight is one of NYC’s biggest celebratory events–the bigger-than-life 74-foot tree at Rock Center is all gussied up and will sparkle with a gazillion lights, officially ushering in the Christmas season. I used to work on 54th and Fifth, just a few blocks away from Rock Center. I would watch the anticipation build throughout the day with crowds of children and tourists and, yes, New Yorkers, who would gather to join in the merriment. Some years it was so blustery cold I was amazed they’d hang in there. Not this year!  The weather is cooperating, not too cold, but enough of a chill so that you might want a nip of hot chocolate to warm your tootsies and hearts. Here, some spots for hot cocoa, some near Rock Center, others a bit of a skip, but definitely doable and worth the quick jaunt.

Maison du Chocolat at Rockefeller Center

Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Guy at Bryant Park

Lily O’Brien’s across the street from Bryant Park

Serendiity3 by Bloomies

Happy Holidays to a town that knows how to put on the glitz!

Best Hot Chocolate in NYC

The tree has arrived at Rock Center and the spirit of the holiday season is in the air.

As promised in my last blog in which I wrote about self-guided walks to see the dazzliest Christmas window displays in town, here are hotsy spots to warm up with a steamy cup of insanely delicious cocoa. Sip and savor,  weary walkers.

Maison du Chocolat at Rockefeller Center

Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Guy at Bryant Park

Lily O’Brien’s across the street from Bryant Park

Serendiity3 by Bloomies