My first holidays in New York I had moved there the same year, my office was right beside Rockefeller Center so many days were spent walking around watching the city come to life with pure holiday magic. In 2023, twenty years after leaving the city I was able to take my daughter so she could experience Christmastime New York. The energy, the spirit was felt everywhere we went - the glittery windows of Bergdorf Goodman's lining 5th Avenue, ice skating at Rockefeller Center and Wollman Rink, giant light shows at Saks Fifth Avenue, a tree atop the Radio City Music Hall marquee and street performers belting out Last Christmas and Jingle Bell Rock. Shopping bags and wrapped gifts filled the hands of pedestrians and subway riders. Upper East Side staple E.A.T. played Ella Fitzgerald while every restaurant we visited was decorated with garlands and bows. And once again I was reminded of the city's magic and what a truly American experience New York during the holidays is.
First on the agenda was deciding where to stay. There is perhaps no place more timeless than The Carlyle. This Upper East Side icon is full of magic itself, but with it located along Madison Avenue presents an ideal spot for holiday shopping, walking to Central Park, and close proximity to the MET, Guggenheim, and Frisk.
This 35 story, 192 room Madison Avenue institution has been the second home of celebrities, socialites, and royalty. And of course every American president since Truman has visited.
The lobby sets the tone with its unabashed Art Deco sophistication. Black marble floors and gold-mustard colored upholstered furniture adorn the lobby.
Our 33rd floor Rosewood Suite offers towering views of the city. With a bedroom, bathroom and living room that can all be individually closed off, giving the space an apartment feel.
The king-sized bed is dreamily comfortable. The bathroom is smothered in black and white marble.
The Carlyle is home to the legendary Bemelman's Bar and on any given night you will find piano music and a lively crowd. The atmosphere alone is reason to visit Bemelman's. At Cafe Carlyle during the holidays you will find performers like esteemed vocalist, songwriter and composer Rufus Wainwright and piano-phenomenon Peter Cincotti. At the restaurant Dowling's enjoy a full breakfast or a decadent dinner, but the real star at Dowling's is the wait staff making every guest feel like royalty.
The Valmont Spa is another slice of heaven to experience during your stay at The Carlyle. Book an 'Only At The Carlyle' facial which includes a 60 minute massage and a 90 minute Oxylight facial with a guasha overlapping to provide the ultimate treatment from head to toe.
Once you are ready to leave the sanctuary of The Carlyle, there is no shortage of holiday adventures awaiting.
Window Shopping
Festive decor allows some of New York’s most creative souls to show off their talents and shine their brightest. Favorites include Cartier, Harry Winston, Louis Vuitton, and of course, Bergdorf Goodman, where the windows are worth the trip alone. Each year, the department store’s team creates a unique theme. Rumor is they start working on the following year’s window designs a year in advance. The windows at Bergdorf’s are beyond spectacular. And of course there's perhaps no better place to check off your Christmas list, with institutions like Saks Fifth Avenue, one-of-kind jewelry like Mociun to monogrammed luggage flagship Maison Goyard, and New York staple Zitomer's. For a truly New York experience a stop by Ralph Lauren with visit to Ralph's Coffee is a must.
The Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
A theatrical tradition in its nineties, the Radio City Rockettes are surrounded by more digital projections and technological innovations as fairy drones that fly over the audience, but the show retains the most durable magic, the well-maintained precision of the dancers and the built-to-last construction of the “Parade of Wooden Soldiers” number.
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
Last year, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® celebrated 70 years of performances by New York City Ballet. The work originally debuted on February 2, 1954, on the company’s then-stage at the City Center of Music and Drama. In the intervening years, the ballet has become a beloved holiday tradition the world over, and nowhere more so than in New York City, where NYCB’s production is enjoyed annually by thousands of balletomanes young and old after Thanksgiving and into the new year.
Wollman Rink
Of course the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center is a must, but it can become very over crowded. If you really want to spend hours on a big rink enjoying time with friends and family head over to Wollman Rink in Central Park. You may just find the path blanketed in snow too which makes for all the more holiday scene.
The Lights of Broadway
And of course do not miss the opportunity to see Broadway's latest Maybe Happy Ending or a notable powerhouse Moulin Rouge.
The MET Cloisters Christmastide Decorations
In celebration of the holiday season, the festively decorated entryways and galleries at The MET Cloisters are on view in December and January. The unique decorations all use fresh plant materials associated with the medieval celebration of Christmastide, the 12 days between the Nativity and the Epiphany. The process is highly labor intensive and the work of many hands, provided by both staff and gardens volunteers over the course of many weeks. Evergreens feature heavily because they were particularly important plants in medieval Europe during this festive time of year. Used in both domestic and sacred spaces, plants were believed to be agents of blessing and providers of protection. Evergreens were reminders of the coming spring and of the promise of eternal life since they remained green while other trees were bare.
Sidewalk Forests of Christmas Trees
Usually appearing around Thanksgiving, evergreens in varying shapes and sizes can be found on most every block in the city. If you walk through any New York neighborhood, you can’t miss the sidewalk forests of pines dressing up the streets.
Bryant Park Holiday Market
Every year a European inspired open-air market takes shape in Bryant Park. Located along the park's allées, plazas, and terraces, the shops are housed in custom-designed, "jewel box" kiosks. Enjoy local crafts, artisan provisions, and exquisite gifts from around the world and an opportunity to check off your gift list for friends and family.
New York Botanical Gardens Holiday Train Show
The New York Botanical Garden is known for its annual Holiday Train Show, but in recent years, the public garden introduced an onsite holiday lights show on the Conservatory Lawn. Inside this venue, see nearly 200 scaled versions of famous New York City buildings constructed from natural materials including bark, seeds and leaves. Model trains and trolley pass by them on an about half-mile track.
Gingerbread NYC: The Great Burough Bake-Off
This museum in Manhattan’s East Harlem neighborhood introduced Gingerbread NYC: The Great Burough Bake-Off in late 2022. This gingerbread competition features professional and independent bakers from across all five boroughs. They are given the challenge of creating installations reflecting their respective neighborhoods. The gingerbread designs can be New York City landmarks or locally known places. Judging is done by the city’s top bakers, curators and restaurant owners.
Dinner at Daniel
During the holiday season in New York, a meal you cannot get back home should be enjoyed. Beyond the food, restaurants and bars pull out all the stops with lights, garland, ornaments, trees, poinsettias, menorahs, stockings, and more. After strolling around town in the winter chill, head to Restaurant Daniel for a spectacular evening of Michelin star dining curated by chef Daniel Boulud and his incredible team of servers. From start to finish every detail is intentional and delicious. This experience will become one of the best meals of your lifetime.
The City After Dark
A stroll when beaming holiday lights dangle from awnings and twinkle inside lobbies is something every visitor needs to experience. Peering into New Yorkers’ high-rise apartments for a glimpse at their decorations is a treat. Majestic trees stand in the center of a single, oversized window, a dozen or so stories high, begging for passersby to look up and admire. Some buildings dress their lobbies to the nines as well. Yes, Christmas is a big deal in New York. The city takes on a mesmerizing glow unlike any other time of year.
With our Huntsville International Airport adding a direct flight to New York City this year, there is no better time to visit the Big Apple. Book your room, set your itinerary, pack layers, and get ready to be enchanted with holiday spirit. And if you're lucky, big, fluffy snowflakes may dust the ground while you are there.