Cracks In Sidewalks

With the holidays creeping up on us I decided right now not to think about presents, but instead to think about fun holiday activities and events taking place this upcoming season that we can share with loved ones and friends.  Below is a small list that might give you some additional ideas of things to do and see.

1)    Go Ice Skating.  Places to go include: The Pond in Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, Wollman Rink in Central Park, Lasker Rink in Central Park, the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, Riverbank Ice Skating Rink on the Hudson River at 145th Street, and the Kate Wollman Rink in Prospect Park.
2)    The West Village Chorale sponsors several events.  On Saturday December 13th a Scandinavian festival of lights, on the 15th a sing-along of Handel’s Messiah, and on the 19th you can join the West Village Chorale and go caroling.
3)    At St. John the Divine almost finished with their renovations and ready for their unveiling on November 30th, you will find a tree with 1,000 paper cranes, Paul Winter’s Annual Winter Solstice Celebration taking place on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of December as well as a New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace.  And if you’re lucky you’ll be there during a time when the Great Organ can be heard again.
4)    The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on December 3rd this year.
5)    Walk up and down 5th Avenue from Rockefeller Center to the park checking out the wonderful window displays.  Then head over to Barney’s on Madison as their windows are always pretty fabulous too.
6)    Watch the lighting of the World’s Largest Chanukah Menorah at 59th St. and 5th Avenue and join in the celebration each night of Chanukah.
7)    Take a trip to the N.Y. Botanical Gardens and see the “Holiday Train Show” which begins November 23rd and while you’re there you can also visit the “Henry Moore” outdoor garden exhibit which has been extended until some time in early January.
8)    Make a trip to the Museum of Natural History.  The butterflies are back!  You can go to the Butterfly Conservancy and while you’re there visit the museum’s Origami Christmas Tree.

Then there is the annual Tuba Christmas at the Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink.  That takes place at 3:30pm on Saturday the 13th.  They are celebrating their 35th year.  And of course there is always the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, George Ballanchine’s “The Nutcracker” by the New York City Ballet, and how can one forget the parade that kicks this all off, the “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Over the next several weeks I’ll keep my eyes open and ears to the ground looking for additional perhaps more unusual things to do this Holiday Season if you live in or are going to be visiting the NYC area.  And if you know of something special that you would like to mention, simply add a comment at the bottom of this post for other readers. Also for unusual cards and gifts this year don’t forget to check out the “Cracks In Sidewalks Online Store.”  There is a link at the top right of the homepage.  I’ve created some fun items and cards that you won’t find anyplace else.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 7th, 2008 at 7:36 am and is filed under Daily Crack. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.