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By Kara Kimbrough
Watching the televised lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City always conjures up delightful memories of a special trip; ones that I pull up and think about as soon as the month of December rolls around. Hopefully by the time you finish reading this, you’ll be planning your own trip to what I can only describe as a magical place during the holidays.
In the meantime, you can experience a little piece of NYC this Christmas by ordering a special gift from the shopping mecca of the world or at the very least, making one of the city’s most famous delicacies to enjoy during the holidays.
But back to my reminiscing. A few Christmases ago, I was standing near the magnificent Rockefeller Center Christmas tree gazing up with awe at thousands of multi-colored tree lights and a brilliant star composed of 70 spikes covered with 3 million brilliant Swarovski crystals. At that time, visitors could walk right up to the tree, shoot photos and generally bask in the awesomeness of the glorious structure.
Across the street, Christmas music synced to an awe-inspiring light show along the front of Saks Fifth Avenue added to the magical experience. A chilly December wind whipping the colorful flags circling the skating rink (and our hair) added to the excitement of the Hallmark movie-like moment.
I would have missed this memorable sight if I hadn’t decided to leave the Rainbow Room on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center early with part of my travel group from Mississippi and Texas. On a whim as we exited Rockefeller Center, my friend Robin's husband, Word, guided us around the corner to the site of the tree near the ice-skating rink. This last-minute decision created special memories that we still talk about to this day.
Fast forward to 2024 and visitors are no longer allowed to get up close to the Rockefeller tree due to security issues. And, Saks recently announced it was discontinuing its famous music and light show. Our impromptu detour to see the tree was indeed fortuitous, as that magical experience can never be recreated in quite the same way.
Despite these setbacks, literally thousands of amazing light shows, Christmas decorations, entertainment with a holiday theme (the Radio City Rockettes come to mind) and much more are spread throughout the five boroughs of NYC for visitors to enjoy from now until New Year's.
If you’ve visited NYC before and want to give a gift straight from the Big Apple to those on your list (or to treat yourself), it’s not too late to order a special item online and have it shipped to you in time for Christmas. A few that come to mind include;
1. Saks – Who wouldn’t love a gift from an upscale NYC store that’s unlike anything you’ll likely find locally? Even better, Saks’ shipping fees are reasonable. Check out the latest fashions, home décor and specialty items at: saksfifthavenue.com.
2. A piece of Central Park – If you’ve ever explored this massive park in the heart of Manhattan, you’ll be excited to know you can easily order a variety of items from the Central Park Conservancy, the organization that cares for the 843-acre park. Books, Christmas ornaments, mugs, apparel and more can be ordered from the website: centralparknyc.com.
3. Looking for a special gift for the foodie on your list? A number of NYC bakeries and food stores ship their most requested products around the country (and world). A few of my favorites are: Junior’s Deli’s famous cheesecake; Carlo’s Bake Shop’s black and white cookies and Levain Bakery’s variety of cookies. Bagel-lovers can choose between these favorites: Essa Bagel, Eli Zabar, Russ & Daughters, Zucker's Bagels and Brooklyn Bagel, to name a few.
If none of these suggestions will work for those on your list, here’s a novel idea. Give them the gift of…wait for it…New York City in 2025! While a trip to the city during the Christmas season can be pricey (email me if you’d like my tips on the best week in December to visit and other cost-savings measures), prices drop quite a bit during the chilly month of January.
A trip to the most fascinating city in the world is doable by taking advantage of special savings during NYC Hotel Week. This special promotion offers 25% off standard room rates at participating hotels from Jan. 2 -Feb. 9. Reservations are now open at the more than 120 hotels participate in Hotel Week, so it’s easy to book now and present the “gift” of a visit to be enjoyed just after New Year’s.
Additionally, NYC Hotel Week is part of NYC Winter Outing, NYC Tourism + Convention's ultimate winter value program. Included are Restaurant, Broadway and Must-See Weeks offering rare discounts on meals, Broadway show tickets and a variety of entertainment venues. Winter Outing runs from Jan. 21-Feb. 9.
I visited NYC in January and took advantage of many of these special discounts. I can attest that the savings are significant. The weather was cold, but not unlike January weather we sometimes experience in the south.
If you’re considering a trip to enjoy NYC during the Christmas season (there’s still time!) drop me an email and I’ll share my “must-do” list and other tips. For more information about Winter Outing and Hotel Week as well as “all things New York,” visit New York City Tourism + Convention's website at: nyctourism.com.
In the meantime, I’m adding NYC’s famous black and white cookies to my Christmas food gifts this year. Not only are they delicious, but the sight of them will tide me over until I land back in my favorite city. The recipe for black and white cookies is a little lengthy, so drop me an email if you’d like it and I’ll send it to you ASAP.
Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at [email protected].
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