Suddenly the holidays are here and you haven't yet had a chance to take part in the festivities. Fear not. There is still plenty of time to grab your gifts, snap some pics, and see some of New York City's most traditional and celebrated holiday spots.
To keep things simple, see as many or as few sites as you can from one central location, such as
Grand Central Terminal. You can meet friends and family, have a bite to eat, enjoy the annual
holiday light show, and scope out the
holiday craft fair inside Vanderbilt Hall. Look for luxurious pillows by
Aviva Stanoff, inspirational jewelry in recycled gold and Sterling silver by
The Barber's Daughters, and cute, handmade leather animals by
Sandy Vohr.
In between shopping jaunts, stop by the Manhattan branch of the
New York City Transit Museum, located right inside the terminal. Both kids and adults will love seeing electric trains make their way past tiny versions of famous city landmarks (pictured) like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building. Next, head to the lower dining concourse for a tasty treat from
Magnolia Bakery, purportedly New York's favorite cupcake confection (though we prefer its heavenly
banana pudding!).
Several sites of interest are within a moment's walking distance from the terminal. First is the
Morgan Library and Museum, which is currently exhibiting Charles Dickens' original manuscript of
The Christmas Carol. Written in 1843 and greeted with universal acclaim from critics, it's bound in red Moroccan leather and chock full of Dickens's revision notes and edits. A visit to the
gift shop will inspire gifts for the most avid book worms on your list. (Tip: The Morgan Museum and Library admission fees are waved on Fridays between 7-9PM.)
Next, take a self-guided tour of the
New York Public Library's Steven A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue (at 42nd Street). Besides the huge
Christmas tree that adorns the main library, kids will enjoy seeing the real Winnie the Pooh and friends toys (pictured) given to Christopher Robin in 1920 that inspired the classic children's tale by his father, A.A. Milne. Walk the quiet
halls, take a break inside the
Rose Reading Room, and stop by the
gift shop.
Just beyond the gorgeous Beaux Arts NYPL building sits
Bryant Park all decked out in
holiday splendor. Stroll through more than 125 holiday shops, each enclosed in glass and heated, so there's no excuses to avoid getting your shop on. While there, check out the skaters at
CitiPond free skating rink and sit and enjoy some hot coffee and pastries at the outdoor kiosk,
'wichcraft.
