For the majority of people, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Dave and I decided that there is no better place to be at Christmas than NYC and took off for a road trip with a couple friends. New York didn’t disappoint us. The city is a pretty spectacular sight at that time, with Christmas trees, department-store window displays and other holiday attractions popping up around the city.
The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center is the main attraction at Christmas time, drawing a huge crowd of holiday visitors every day. An interesting fact is that the tree is donated every year, and interested Giant-Norway spruce owners can submit their trees for consideration. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, this season, resident Joseph Balku from Flanders (N.J.) offered his tree, which survived Hurricane Sandy.
Christmas tree 2012 is an 80-year-old Norway spruce which weighs about 10 tons and stands 80 feet tall. It is wrapped in about five miles of LED lights with 45,000 bulbs, topped with a 550-pound LED-powered Swarovski star studded with 25,000 crystals, and had no other ornaments.
Being Christmas in NYC, the best way to get into the holiday spirit is to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. We merged with the massive flow of people who were eager to look at the Christmas beauty.
Rockefeller Center looks glamorous at Christmas!
We considered skating on the Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center at first, but looking at the lines, quickly discarded this idea.
While we were trying to get through the crowd closer to the Christmas tree, we noticed a time count down on the building on the opp0site side from Christmas tree. It was the Saks Fifth Avenue – Holiday 3D Light Show 2012. Using the facade of the store as the canvas, the show tells a festive tale of snowflakes, ice skaters and the perfect holiday gift. The show ran every night from 5pm – 10pm for 6 weeks through the entire holiday season.
To capture street traffic, the façade of the building was lit up with a tri-dimensional computerized two-minute show via a custom-made projection system. Images of snowflakes and stars illuminating the exteriors of the building transformed it into a magical, frosted castle. See for yourself in the video below.
Another popular attraction, Times Square, was absolutely gorgeous with endless lights and advertisements. Times Square is situated in Manhattan between Broadway and 7th Avenue, stretching from 42nd to 48th Streets and filled with video screens, LED signs, and flashing lights. Times Square is full of themed restaurants, theaters and hotels and it is a developing business district. Times Square looks glamorous at night, when all the signs and screens are ablaze with color.
Photo taken by Tim
There were numerous characters from popular books and comics walking in the streets with the crowds. Among these were: Captain America, Elmo, Woody with his girlfriend Jessie, Micky and Minnie Mouse.
Photo taken by Tim and Kayleigh
Photo taken by Tim and Kayleigh
Here were Chew Bacca and a Storm Trooper.
Photo taken by Tim and Kayleigh
Captain America is on Broadway.
Photo taken by Tim and Kayleigh
On Broadway. A character from Lion King musical.
Impersonation of the Statue of Liberty near the NYPD booth in Times Square.
Times Square is also well known for its famous New Year’s Eve ball drop. This little blue ball under the clock in the picture is New Year’s Eve Ball 2012. The very first time a ball signifying New Year’s Day was dropped at Times Square on December 31, 1907 , and the Square has held the main New Year’s celebration in New York City ever since. On that night, hundreds of thousands of people congregate to watch the Waterford Crystal ball being lowered on a pole atop the building, marking the start of the new year (from wikipedia).
A couple more pictures depicting the view of the New Year’s Eve ball from the other side of the building.
Citi Pond at Bryant Park is Manhattan’s first and only free admission ice skating rink.
We spotted beautifully decorated streets and buildings while walking in Manhattan during Christmas time.
Fifth Avenue with the snowflake shaped light in the middle.
The Empire State Building’s tower lights change colors depending on the events, key milestones, charitable organizations, countries and holidays throughout the world. At that time it was Red, Green and Green in honor of Christmas.
The Italian luxury fashion house of Fendi on 5th Avenue.
Cartier Fifth Avenue boutique.
We took a shortcut from Fifth Avenue to our parking garage located near Times Square and bumped into a charming lighted street.
One of many beautiful Christmas trees that we saw during our visit to NYC. Hope that everyone’s Christmas was joyous, festive and filled with love!
