Christmas in New York

I think the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is one image everyone thinks of when they think of Christmas in New York.

This is the 2008 tree!

There is an interesting story behind this year's tree. It was located on the grounds of the Tree King nursery in Hamilton, New Jersey, owned by the Varanyak family. Bill Varanyak told New York's WNBC-TV the 77-year-old tree was planted after his parent's used it as their first Christmas tree in 1931.
He says they call it "the miracle tree" because his late mother always said it would one day be on display at Rockefeller Center.

If you'd like, you can watch a video of the last few seconds of tree lighting ceremony that took place on December3, from a link here.


This year a beautiful big Swarovski Crystal star that weighs 550 pounds and is almost 10 feet in diameter, was placed on top of the tree!

A close up:

There was a replica of the star for view on the ground level plaza near the tree:

Underneath Rockefeller Center there is an underground concourse which is an interconnected series of pedestrian passages that stretch from 47th Street to 51st Street, and from 5th Avenue to 7th Avenue. It contains stores, coffee shops, restaurants and the entrance to the subway.

The pretty live poinsettia tree formations in the photo below were located in an area there.

This was the view of the ice skating rink that is located at the base of the tree in Rockefeller Center. The line to pay for ice skating was not too long on a Monday afternoon this early in December, but on weekends, and closer to Christmas, be prepared to wait a long time on a long line if you wish to ice skate! It is a memorable treat and fun day or night!

Here is a close up iconic statue of Prometheus that floats above the skating pond.

You can read an interesting story about the man who posed for this statue in 1933 in this New York Times article.

Another view of the ice skate rink:

A view of the tree from the sidewalk entrance off 5 Th Avenue in the photo below. There are professional photographers waiting to take your portrait standing at different angles near the tree if you wish, for a fee . There are also many interesting little stores located on the ground level on either side of this concourse.

A view of the tree and the Rockefeller Center building from the other side of 5 Ave, in front of the Saks Fifth Avenue Department store. I couldn't really get both the "Top Of The Rock" as the top of the building is called, and the tree in the photo!

The "Top Of The Rock" is a wonderful place to visit (for a fee) to get a high, panoramic view of New York City, and it's lines are sometimes less crowded than The Empire State Building and some feel the view is better too!

The Saks Fifth Avenue Department store ( photo below) is worth a visit to see both the decorated windows outside and the decorations inside. They also use the most wonderful gift boxes and shopping bags during the Christmas season.

For a treat go to the Charbonnel Chocolate Cafe on the 8 floor of Saks for some hot chocolate, coffee or tea and a chocolate dessert! Check the link to see a photo of the revolving dessert counter!

Many of the store and business buildings along 6th Avenue have holiday decorations outside too!

Radio City Music Hall is another attraction that is associated with New York City especially at Christmas, as the Christmas Spectacular show stars the world famous Radio City Rockettes. Click on the link to see some short videos of the show including the beautiful living Nativity scene, the dancing Santas and the high kicking Rockettes!

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular celebrates its 76 year in 2008!

Aren't these giant red ornaments wonderful? They are located outside a building across the street from Radio City Music Hall.

New York City is such a special place at Christmas time!

It is full of the hustle and bustle of shoppers and tourists, and also the quiet reverence of the celebration of Christ's birth in Nativity scenes inside most of its churches. I'll show the beautiful one in St. Patrick's Cathedral next blog post.

And you never know ..................................................

................................you just might run into.................

.................................... Santa Claus walking down the street!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

* Grandbaby update: We are still awaiting our little grandson. My daughter-in-law is feeling well and her doctor said everything is normal, so it will happen soon!

I'll certainly post the news as soon as I can. Thanks for all your continued support and prayers.