Christmas in New York
 

Hello: We are spending Christmas week in New York and need your help. We got a great hotwire rate at the Hilton Times Square - has anyone stayed there? Any comments? Also, I'm finding that alot will (naturally) be closed on Christmas eve and Christmas day <BR>(i.e. Broadway, restaurants). does anyone have any suggestions on what to do, where to eat, etc.? We're really looking forward to our trip. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

We're thinking the same thing, but as non-Christians, would like to know what is open on X-mas eve and X-mas. Are any musuems open on X-mas? To the top!Thanks

Not sure about things open Christmas Eve & Day, BUT ... <BR> <BR>We were in New York last year from the 27th -31st and had a fantastic time. If you are a fan of David Letterman, we were strolling by the theatre and they were looking for people to attend the show. It was great fun. We also were stuck in the big snowstorm and there were a ton of cancellations to theatre and concerts soooo you could have great luck with either. Also, restaurant reservations were a cinch that week.

You'll have a problem finding places open on Christmas eve or Christmas Day. Museum are closed. Most, if not all, theaters are closed. Most restaurants are closed. (Some restaurants are open. Your hotel should be able to help you on that score.) In the past, we've found that we had a choice of restaurants in the Greenwich Village area on Christmas Day. <BR>Assuming it's not too cold, Christmas eve and Christmas day are good times to walk around and look at the tree in Rockefeller Center and other decorations around the city.

On December 25 you will probably be able to walk down the middle of 5th Avenue without being hit by a car. It's been my experience that everything really shuts down about 5pm on Dec. 24. <BR> <BR>However some Broadway shows have a matinee on Dec 24, and the Met will be performing La Boheme on Dec. 24 at 7:30 pm so there will be a small pulse of life. <BR> <BR>Some of the hotel restaurants may open on the 25th for Christmas dinner. Possibly the delis (Carnegie, Stage, 2nd Avenue deli) may be open. There is also a Howard Johnson's close by which I think remains open 365 days/year. If worse comes to worse, the bodegas will be open and you can get a deli sandwich.

If Chinese food is on your agenda you are sure to find any numberr of Chinese restaurans open on Christmas eve and on Christmas day especially those in Chinatown. The Hilton Times Square is a new hotel and it is located right on 42nd Street. There is an entrance on 42nd St and another on 41st Street. The 42nd St. entrance is not all that obvious. Look for the large clock on the south side of 42nd St. - that is where the entrance is located.

Rachel,The Jewish Museum is open Christmas day and is actually very crowded then--they often run special programs. If the museum of Jewish Heritage reopens by then (It's in lower Manhattan) they will be open too. Otherwise, most people not celebrating Christmas go to the movies, ice skating <BR>or to eat usually at delis and Chinese restaurants, as mentioned above (some but not all Asian restaurants on the upper west side for example are open) <BR>Day after Christmas is back to everything open (and crowded, we hope...)