Christmas Time with Cousins

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, 

everything is softer and more beautiful.”

Norman Vincent Peale

Computers.  Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em.  Love them/hate them.  Spending a good part of a winter afternoon writing a blog piece about special Holiday visitors, I could have sworn I saved it.  I “know” I did.  The next day, nowhere to be found.  I have finally gotten over my fear of calling Mac support and even the young lad couldn’t find it (What was uplifting is that all the ways he had me search for it, I had already done!)… Argh.

My Sojourn

So, second try.  Having mentioned often how I love sharing my NYC with special people (and feeding my tour guide hunger), Cousins, Mom and her Daughter, came down to play with me to ring in the Christmas season.  Arriving on a rainy Friday evening, hungry and tired, we simply crossed over to my Sojourn where we got the royal treatment!  My Teen had her first taste of brussell spouts, and loved them.  They are done very well at Sojourn.  (I have been told that are now served regularly at their home.)

Saturday morning we woke to a lot more rain (thankfully it wasn’t too cold or icy), but couldn’t let that deter us.  Rounding the corner to a sweet little Belgian bakery, O Merveilleux Belgian Meringue, we started with some decadent sustenance.  I purposely would forget about the place (now it’s not around the corner..).

From there, my Cousins got their first taste of NYC’s MTA, where we spent much of the day going up and down the island of Manhattan.  First stop was Herald Square where I had read of a little pop-up Christmas Market.  Since we were in the neighborhood we scooted over to Macy’s to see their awesome Christmas window displays.  Next stop, a peek at Chelsea Market.  Whereupon I learned of my Teen’s bottom-less stomach (oh, to be young again..).  She had a real hankering for a good old hot dog from a street cart.  Found one!  (And my Cousins kindly treated a homeless man to a dog with the works.)  I hate hot dogs from anywhere.  I got some chicken. 

Backtracking a bit, we headed up to Grand Central.  We poked into the MTA Museum Annex to see the Holiday Train exhibit which was awesome (something I had been meaning to see for years.).  We then stopped and got some fruit, and “copped a squat” (ala “Pretty Woman”) in the great hall and literally just watched the world go by for awhile which was actually quite enjoyable, and definitely interesting.  We then perused the Grand Central Holiday Market but quickly realized that while filled with lovely things, not much fit a Teen’s spending budget. 

From Wikipedia

Hmm, where to take a teen to shop?  Canal Street!  While not as busy and crazy as in years past, the Vendors are getting ruder, louder, and crazier.  Quite fun.  Never has it failed, whomever I have brought to this crazy street, doesn’t matter on age or size (females), after a couple of stalls my “guests” always get a look in heir eyes and decide they are on a mission…With Teens, I always explain the trick of the haggle.  Usually they are very hesitant at first, and again, always get into it quickly!  So it was, we went into many stalls, got yelled at, got kicked out of at least one, and then finally found one with a pleasant young man.  My Teen asked for the type of bag she wanted.  He brought us into the next room, then pushed on a wall (I was delighted.  My Cousins were going to get the whole Canal Street experience!), and into a dark space we followed.  Finally he hit a switch on the wall, light, and “Candyland!  Less than 10 minutes later we emerged and my teen was a very happy camper with her treat for a price she was quite pleased with.  After a few more treasures, we headed even further south for more fun.
Canal Street is still a destination point for “designer” pocketbooks.

One of my favorite places in this city (yes, I have many), but a very historical, poignant, and meaningful stop is the neighborhood of the World Trade Center. For quite awhile after 9-11 I wouldn’t go, now it’s a must see.  Getting off the train my Teen saw the Wafels & Dinges food cart, so first a stop (in the rain) for a decadent treat, which by the look of her face covered from ear to ear, nose to chin, in chocolate, was enjoyed immensely.  Then to my usual first stop in that neighborhood, St Paul’s Chapel, followed by a visit to the 9-11 Memorial (I still haven’t gone to the museum yet.).  And, since it was so close, I brought my Teen to Century 21, known for it’s good priced treasures.  However, it was there we all hit a wall, and decided to go home to rest for a bit.

While deciding what to do for dinner, go out, or order in like NY’ers?  my Guests asked if we could simply go back over to Sojourn.  More regulars!  It was an early dinner for a NYC Saturday, but we had more places to go, and things to see!  Heading into Rockefeller Center to go up to The Top of the Rock, the kind Guide explained that there was zero visibility.  Lesson learned: tickets bought for the Top of the Rock are good for a year, in case that should happen: lousy visibility.  My Cousins will simply have to come back.  We enjoyed The Tree and the ice skating from ground level instead.

From the Radio City Website

Crossing the street to Radio City Music Hall to see their Christmas Spectacular (still one of my favorite Christmas shows) we got herded in a very orderly fashion.  They really do have crowd control down to a science.  Impressive.  Then, instead of walking along the Christmas magic of 5^th Avenue; we couldn’t; we went home to the Hx3 and promptly fell into bed.  Started ay 9:15am, hit the hay at midnight.  Successful,wonderful day doing many “quintessential NYC things.”

Also from Radio City's website

Sunday, we had a light brunch at Hi-Life and my guests headed home, still tired, but happy, I believe.