American related, Events and exhibitions

New York City at Christmas

by essentialldn

Here are six walks (with various visits and meals along the way) highlighting some of the must-see sights of New York City at Christmas.

One: Central Park (Uptown)

Brunch at Sarabeth’s (Central Park South) – quintessential New York
Stroll in Central Park, head to the Upper East Side (for The Met)
Visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Return south via 6th Avenue (…and book tickets for the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Hall)
Finish with ice skating at the Rockefeller Center

Two: the Historic Metropolis  (Downtown)

Bowling Green. New York’s earliest park (1771). A statue of King George III was in the centre until destroyed by Patriots (in 1776).  The British captured New Amsterdam from the Dutch in 1664.  Renamed New York, it remained under British control until 1783.  (NB: From 1776 to 1789 the American states were run by Congress under the Articles of the Confederation – until First President George Washington took office in 1789)
Visit Fraunces Tavern – one of New York’s great patriotic shrines. (At the end of the Revolutionary War, George Washington bid farewell to his officers here on the 4th December 1783)
Visit an Irish bar (or two) on Stone Street (aptly named as the first stone street in New York)
Visit Federal Hall – the birthplace of American democracy and the most historic site in the entire country.   (It was the location of the inauguration of George Washington on the 4th April 1789).
Visit the burial tomb of Alexander Hamilton in Trinity Church Cemetery

Three: World Trade Center Memorial (Downtown)

Visit One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower).   The tallest building in the western hemisphere stands at 1776 feet (a deliberate reference to the year when the United States Declaration of Independence was signed).
The National September 11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance to the 2,977 people killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are built on the footprint of the original Twin Towers destroyed in the attacks.
Visit the One World Observatory (view towards Uptown)

Four: Little Italy and Chinatown (Midtown)

Houston Hall on West Houston Street – cavernous beer hall serving American-style fare
Visit Little Italy (Mulberry Street)
Shop at the oldest cheese shop in America.  Specialising in ricotta and mozzarella cheese.  (Purchase the famous New York ricotta-based ‘Cannolis’ from the street stand).
Eat at Joe’s Shanghai – the best Chinese restaurant in New York famous for its soup dumplings. (No bookings, so go early)

Five: 42nd Street (Midtown)

Visit the Chrysler Building – an Art Deco skyscraper completed in 1930
Visit Grand Central Terminal.  Built in 1871, this Beaux-Arts station is a hub for around 200,000 daily commuters
Visit New York Public Library (established in 1895)
See Times Square at dusk
And end with Christmas shopping at Macy’s (34th Street)!

Six: Football game (New Jersey)

Visit the MetLife Stadium to see the Giants play!

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