10 Things To Do In NYC During The Holidays

As December begins, New York City dresses up for the Christmas holidays. Iconic streets put on beautiful decorations, and many stores go above and beyond to ensure they have the best Christmas ornaments.

But there are a handful of things that you absolutely cannot miss. Here are the ten most exciting holiday destinations in the Big Apple.

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree

This is the one you should see out of all of the Christmas trees in NYC! The Rockefeller Center amazes people every Christmas season with its 79-foot-tall, brightly decorated tree. The lines to the attraction never stop! Make sure to take a picture near one of the most known Christmas trees in the world!

Holiday Markets

Holiday markets are a super fun way to spend your day! These little fairs have anything you could possibly think of - Christmas decorations, food, clothing, accessories - you name it. It’s a great way to buy last-minute gifts and have a cozy day in the city.

Hudson Yards

Every year, Hudson Yards does a fantastic job with Christmas Decorations. A lot of lights, Christmas trees, and statues are being placed throughout the neighborhood every year. It’s most beautiful in the evening when you can see the lights turned on, so you can plan an evening trip, walk through Hudson Yards and the High Line Park, and finish the walk with some coffee and pastries in the shopping mall.

Christmas House NYC at the Oculus

If you are looking for an all-age experience, check out the Christmas House at the Oculus. This adventure will lead you to different themed rooms with snow, karaoke, and Christmas movies. It will be equally exciting for kids and adults, so don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Christmas House this December.

Ice Skating

There is nothing better than ice skating in winter, and there is nothing better than ice skating in New York City. Every borough offers a lot of rinks that vary in size and price, so you can find one that best suits you. The most famous ones are the Rockefeller Center rink, the Bryant Park one, and the one in Central Park. Those three always have lines, so make sure to get there early.

5th Ave

There is only one place with so many store window decorations, and it is, without a doubt, 5th Ave. The street is full of brand stores that create unique Christmas decorations every year. Let yourself get lost in this Christmas fairytale!

A Christmas Carol at the Merchant’s House

A Christmas Carol at the Merchant’s House is a great event for all Dickens lovers. This performance is set in a Merchant’s Museum that was formerly the home of a wealthy 19th-century family, so you will see the original settings and the Christmas decorations of the past. The show will be held until December 24, 2023.

Sant Ambroeus

If you are looking for a cozy place to have a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day, this cafe is for you! It is famous for its hot chocolate, made without milk or water - just melted cocoa! It is a must-go after a long walk in the cold weather.

Rolf’s German Restaurant

For all the food lovers - if you are looking for a good holiday restaurant, Rolf’s should be the first on your list! It is a German restaurant that goes full-on with Christmas lights and decorations. It will undoubtedly boost your holiday mood the second you step in. If you are not a German food lover, don’t worry! Even though most of the dishes are German, there are a couple of American-style options.

The Plaza Hotel

At some point, we all wanted to become Kevin McCallister and spend a couple of nights in one of the most iconic New York City hotels. And guess what? You can do it! And what’s even better news - you do not have to book a room! Instead, make a reservation to grab a drink or go to an afternoon tea event. Of course, you will be able to walk around the hotel’s lobby to see the Home Alone 2 movie set and the beautiful Christmas decorations.

Article by Mary Zakharova

Photos by Joseph Fraia - @jrfstudio - jrfstudio.com

Outdoor Yoga On The Stoop

This week, my Saturday morning started early. At 8:30 am I was up, and by 10 am I was already at the entrance of Brooklyn Museum to take part in their project: Outdoor Yoga on the Stoop. Brooklyn Museum organizes this event a couple of times every summer, and I was excited to take advantage of it this time.

In the event, local yoga instructors are invited to host an hour-long practice for people of all levels - from beginners to advanced yogis.

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that more than 30 people of different ages and experiences, both men and women, came to practice yoga. It gave me a great sense of community. We all were following the trainer’s instructions, slowly getting into different asanas to the tact of music.

During the practice, we all got photographed a bunch of times by bypassers. I was definitely not prepared for it, but it did make me feel a little bit proud of myself somewhere deep inside.

I didn’t have a chance to think about it too much anyways. The practice was pretty fast, we were changing positions every 20-30 seconds. Plus, the sun was up, and I was struggling with the heat.

This is definitely something to keep in mind if you decide to join Yoga on the Stoop. If you don't perform well in the heat, or you have any health issues that might be aggravated by heat and active workouts, you might want to reconsider or come a little early to get one of a couple of lucky spots in the shade.

Another downside, besides the heat, was that unfortunately the instructor wasn’t able to come up to participants individually and help us get into the correct position in case we were making a mistake. We were on our own. But most of the asanas were not that difficult, so you would likely be able to do everything just by looking at the instructor.

Now, a couple of things you should definitely bring with you. First of all, a towel, because you don’t want to slip on the yoga mat while you are doing a downward dog. That happened to me multiple times. Secondly, bring water. I’m pretty confident it saved me from completely heating up during the practice. Lastly, if you have a chance, bring your own yoga mat. The hosts usually have a couple you can take for the practice, but you never know if there’s going to be enough.

Outdoor Yoga on the Stoop is definitely an experience you should try. It gives you energy and sets you up for a great day. And even though I would prefer an earlier practice to avoid the heat, I would still do it again.

Namaste, New York.

By Mary Zakharova