Celebrate the Holidays in NYC

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center
Year Round
30 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan

Between 49th and 50th Streets and between 5th Avenue and the Avenue of the Americas (aka Sixth Avenue).

Icon of  New York City Christmas! Rockefeller Center is a beacon of festivity during the holiday season. The annual lighting of the Christmas Tree is a signature event of Christmas in New York City, featuring celebrity performers – singers, dancers, ice skaters and television announcers - and is one of the great holiday spectacles that’s free!

Ice skating under the tree, in the shadow of Prometheus, is a spectacular way to experience the spirit of the holidays.  Excellent shopping and dining are augmented by the grandeur of the ten buildings, which are lovely to look at in their art deco magnificence.

Approximately 200 flags featuring decorative, seasonal, United Nations member countries, the flags of the United States and other territories are flown at different times of the year, all adding to the ambiance of the setting. On holidays every pole carries the United States flag.

As the home of NBC television network, studio tours of the news shows, late night television shows and MSNBC are given daily. Visitors can also stop by the Today Show taping and concerts in the plaza.

Rockefeller Center also boasts the largest underground city, complete with retail stores, quick food and elegant dining. With lots of tables and chairs and a large public bathroom, this is a great spot to take a break out of the cold.  For shoppers there is a UPS and USPS where you can ship purchases.

Rockefeller Center Information Line 212-588-8601

Rockefeller Center Art and Architecture Tour 212-664-3700

Tips:
If you are interested in the art and decorative details and free-standing sculpture at Rockefeller Center, get a copy of The Guide to the Art of Rockefeller Center by Christine Roussel. Easy to flip through and fun to read, copies are sold at the Top of the Rock shop on the lower concourse level.



Ice Skating at the Rink at Rockefeller Center

30 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan

Between 49th and 50th Streets and between 5th Avenue and the Avenue of the Americas (aka Sixth Avenue).Skating is right under the statue of Prometheus.

Ice skating at Rockefeller Center is a very special way to ring in the holiday season. Glide around a beautiful rink under one of the most spectacular statues, Prometheus, and, from November 30th to January 2nd under one of the most well-known Christmas trees in the world. The whole experience is amazing with all of art-deco designed Rockefeller Center decked out in holiday finery. Magical. Special moment anyone?

Tips:
Take advantage of the pre-holiday lunchtime skate for just $5 October 9-November 4!

Fees:

Fee

Ticket prices:

The rates change depending on the time of day, weekday and throughout the season. Pre-Holiday rates: Adult price range from $15.50-$19 and children 11 & under and spry seniors pay $9.50-$12.50. Holiday Rates: Adult price range from $10-$14 and children 11 & under and spry seniors pay $7.50-$8.50. Skate rentals are $8.00. Lessons are available.

Ticket info:

The Rink at Rockefeller Center ice skating sessions run throughout the day and evening. starting at 8:30am and ending at midnight. The sessions are about two hours with half hour breaks to maintian the ice. Click here for information.

Good for:

All

Phone:

(212) 332-7654

Website:

http://www.rockefellercenter.com/



Fifth Avenue Shopping

Fifth Avenue
Year Round
59th Street to 39th Street, Manhattan

Starting at 59th Street, head downtown where most of the great stores you are thinking of are between 59th Street and the New York Public Library on 42nd Street. Don't forget Lord & Taylor at 39th Street

Your wallet may not recover, but this is the heart of New York City shopping with a mixture of world-class designer brands and exquisitely tricked out shop windows.  A detour east to Madison Avenue will pay dividends at FAO Schwartz on 58th Street.

Starting at 59th Street at The Plaza Hotel and walking south down Fifth Avenue, you can visit Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Fendi, Escada, Henri Bendel, The Disney Store, Godiva, Gucci, Fortunoff, NBA Store, Cartier, Versace, Saks Fifth Avenue, American Girl Place and Orvis. A must see is the Lord & Taylor window display, a little farther downtown at 39th Street.  Bergdorf Goodman and Saks also have great window displays



B.B. King Blues Club and Grill

Year Round
237 West 42nd Street, Manhattan

Times Square.

The Club features world-class musical entertainment and a full Southern style menu in both the Showcase Room and Lucille's Bar and Grill. In Lucille's, named for B.B. King's famous guitar, you can eat and listen to free live music every night at 8pm.   Saturdays at noon, come for Beatles Brunch featuring tribute band Strawberry Fields. Sundays, Gospel Brunch rocks the house at 1:30pm.

Tickets for the Showcase Room acts can be purchased online, through Ticketmaster and at the box office.  The Club has headlined some of the best musicians of the recent era: B.B. King, Gregg Allman and Friends, Brian Wilson, George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars, Etta James, Erykah Badu, Macy Gray, Peter Frampton, Better than Ezra, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Dr. John, Robert Cray, the Roots, Ozomatli, Taj Mahal, Junior Brown, Wilson Pickett, Sonny Rollins, James Brown, Little Richard, The Pharcyde, the Radiators, the Neville Brothers, the Wailers, Lyricist Lounge, Steel Pulse, Buddy Guy, the Beach Boys, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Maceo Parker.  Need more cred?

Fees:

All

Ticket prices:

Shows vary in price.

Ticket info:

Call Ticketmaster at 212-307-7171 to buy tickets over the phone, purchase tickets online or at the box office at the Club.

Good for:

All

Hours:

Open daily from 11am-1am for lunch, dinner, & drinks. Concert times vary but most shows begin at 8pm and 10:30pm . Doors open at 6pm for most shows. Call the box office for information or check the website for specific times.

Website:

http://www.bbkingblues.com/media/index.shtml


Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Windows and Shopping

Saks Fifth Avenue
Nov. 23, 2009 - Jan. 01, 2010
611 5th Avenue, Manhattan

between 49th and 50th Streets

One of the city's most beautifully decorated departments stores transforms into a winter palace during the holidays.  The window displays draw huge crowds and inside you'll find luxury items and top designer fashions amid a winter wonderland.  Check the website for expanded holiday shopping hours.

Tips:
Check the website under stores for special events. Winter decor arrives late November. Personal shopper service available, call ahead.

Fees:

Free

Ticket info:

Good for:

All

Hours:

Monday through Friday 10 to 8 Saturday 10 to 7 Sunday 12 to 7 Cafe SFA:Monday through Saturday 11 to 5

Website:

www.saksfifthavenue.com

Phone:

(212) 753-4000

Subway:

B,D,F,V to Rockefeller Center, walk east to Fifth Avenue E,V to 5th Ave/53rd St station, walk south 3 blocks

Bus:

M5 to 50th Street

Parking on site:

No
Public garages nearby


Macy's Holiday Windows

Macy's Department Store
Nov. 18, 2010 - Dec. 31, 2010
151 West 34th Street, Manhattan

At Broadway and 34th Street, also known as Herald Square. Additional entrances along 34th Street and at the corner of 34th and 7th (into the Men's Department).
The window displays are alongside the Herald Square entrance on Broadway.

Macy's has the most kid-oriented windows of any of the major department stores.  Kids will love the look of these fanciful windows.

Fees:

Free

Ticket info:

Good for:

All

Hours:

Monday- Saturday, 10:00am-9:30pm; Sunday 11am-8:30pm.

Website:

www.macys.com

Phone:

(212) 695-4400

Subway:

MTA: 1, 2, 3 stop at 34th Street/Penn Station. Walk east toward Broadway. The B, D, F, V, N, Q, R, W stop at 34th Street/Herald Square.

Bus:

The 5, 6, and 7 run uptown right by Herald Square. Get off at 34th Street. The 10, 20 run downtown on 7th Avenue so get at 34th Street and walk east toward Broadway.

Parking on site:

No


Holiday Candlelight Tours

Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
Dec. 03, 2010 - Dec. 11, 2010
895 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park, The Bronx, New York, Bronx


Experience the magic of the mansion by candlelight – decorated for the holidays. Christmas trees inspired by children’s holiday stories adorn rooms throughout the mansion. Tours by costumed docents highlight 19th century holiday traditions. Light refreshments served.

On Friday Dec 3, do a little shopping at the Holiday Shop and Homemade Goodies, and enjoy music by the wonderful Metropolitones, a seven sisters college acapella group.



Jazz at Lincoln Center

Jazz at Lincoln Center
Year Round
Columbus Circle, Manhattan

The Frederick P. Rose Hall is the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, located in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle (60th and Broadway) .When you are attending an event, look for the JAZZ elevators on the ground floor of the Shops at Columbus Circle, located at the northern end of the Time Warner Center. Elevators are across from Hugo Boss.

There are three main music performance venues: the Rose Theater, with 1,233 seats, The Allen Room, with 483 seats, boasting a 50 by 90-foot window overlooking Central Park and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, with 140 seats, an intimate jazz space named for Dizzy Gillespie.

.Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, famed jazz musician, presents a variety of world-class jazz. For tickets go online to the Jazz at Lincoln Center tickets link.

Fees:

Fee

Ticket prices:

Rose Theater Tickets are: $30, $50, $75, $95 or $120

Ticket info:

Box Office -Broadway at 60th Street (Ground Floor) Mon-Sat 10am-6pm (or 30 minutes past curtain) Sun Noon-6pm (or 30 minutes past curtain) CenterCharge 212-721-6500

Good for:

All

Phone:

(212) 258-9800

Website:

www.jalc.org

Phone:

(212) 258-9800

Subway:

A, B, C, D, #1 to 59th Street/Columbus Circle.

Bus:

M5, M7, M10, M11 and M104 bus lines stop within one block of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Parking on site:

No
Public Parking garages are on West 60th Street.

Bathrooms:

Yes


Radio City Stage Door Tour

Radio City Music Hall
Year Round
1260 Avenue of the Americas, Manhattan

On 6th Avenue, between 50th and 51st Street

Radio City Music Hall was reopened in 1999 after major renovations returned the Hall to its original glory. A Radio City tour guide will escort you through the breathtaking art-deco interiors, the magic behind one of the largest indoor stages in the world including the still operating 1930's hydraulic system that movs the stages up and down and as an added bonus, you will have a chance to meet one of the Radio City Rockettes.

Radio City Music Hall Backstage Access Tour phone number is: 212-307-7171. Hours are: Monday - Sunday, 11:00am - 3:00pm. Click here for ticket info.

Tips:
The backstage hydraulics system is world-class and much copied throughout the world.

Fees:

Fee

Ticket prices:

Regular admission: $18.50; $15 for senior citizens; $10 for children 12 and under. Group rates available for more than 20 people.

Ticket info:

Daily Tour tickets are sold at the Radio City Avenue Store. Advanced Tour tickets for future dates are sold through Ticketmaster and the Box Office only. Tours depart from the Music Hall lobby. Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis. During the holiday season (through December 31) ticket can be purchased at the 51st Street Tour Entrance located on 51st Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Good for:

All
Video cameras and mobile phones are not permitted on the tour. There may be limited access to the Music Hall and the hydraulics area if there is an event in progress.

Times:

11am-3pm daily.

Hours:

Doors open one hour before show start time.

Website:

http://www.radiocity.com/

Phone:

(212) 465-6225

Subway:

B, D, F or V train to 47th-50th/Rockefeller Center station. N, R to 49th Street station