I have heard such terrible things on this board regarding the stores and xmas shopping that I am not planning to set foot in any when I come to NY this weekend. And I plan to look at the window displays late at night.
Is there any fun to be had at the various Christmas markets or will they be just as mobbed? Would also like to walk through Chinatown on Sat - what about that?

I was all over the city last saturday, and I found it to be about as crowded and uncomfortable as I've ever experienced it. Then it wasn't nearly so bad on Sunday, when I actually expected crowds to be worse. So I guess it's a matter of luck to some degree. If you plan to eat in Midtown, either make lunch reservations or plan to stand in line. (I can't believe I'm even writing that, but I tried to eat lunch at Virgil's on Saturday, when the place is usually half-empty on a normal weekend, and I was told there would be a 45 minute wait.)

All the Christmas markets will be mobbed, but the one at Union Square is probably the best. My suggestion would be to go either early or late rather than during the middle of the day if you want to avoid a few of the crowds. Good luck with Chinatown; it's very busy on any weekend, but perhaps moreso right now because of the number of tourists in town.

Bravo on your decision regarding the window displays, though early early morning is also a good time (before the stores open). But you'll find that Rockefeller Center is somewhat mobbed even late these days.

It seems the whole world is in New York this December -- midtown "Christmas" crowds are insane, and the ground floors of the big department stores are as crowded as rock concerts (Macy's is the worst).

Canal Street, with Broadway as the epicenter, is gridlocked with walkers.

Perhaps because it's off most visitors' radars, the Union Square Christmas market is crowded, but usually not ridiculously so.

Actually, Hilary, the Christmas market in Bryant Park is not too crowded early in the day or after 5 PM.

Christmas shopping on 5th Ave is an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE on a Saturday before Christmas. Upper Madison Ave is not bad--Barney's, Ralph Lauren, Missoni, etc.

The shopping in Soho (south of Houston) is also not nearly as horrid as 5th Ave. Lots of great stores--Bloomingdale's, Mavi Jeans, Banana Republic, Prada--on Broadway. You can also take a stroll down W. Broadway for some great boutiques--Tootsi Plohound. Side streets, like Prince, have fabulous stores and cafes for lunch. (Balthazar is on Spring St, right off of Broadway.)

Chinatown is a very large area. Canal Street will be mobbed with teenage girls trying to find a fake Louis Vuitton, but the area below that, like Bayard St., should be OK.

Orchard St., on the LES, is also a place to shop that won't be too crowded.

There's a small Christmas market at Columbus circle that doesn't get too crowded.

Do you know how late in December are the Christmas markets in business?

The union square one is open until CHristmas eve.

My vote is for the Columbus Circle Christmas market, too. I think last year was it's first year (although I might be wrong), so not many people know about it. Also, since it's in sort of an office-filled neighborhood, it might be less mobbed on the weekend.

Here's a website with the locations, dates, times of these fairs:
http://manhattan.about.com/od/cityli...hopholiday.htm

Thank you MFNYC!

I just walked pat the market ooutside St. Bart's Church on Park Avenue and 50th Street; it was not at all crowded.

don't forget about the market in Grand Central. it's indoors if you want to avoid the cold. I don't think it gets as muhc traffis as the one at Union Square. And I thought they had some pretty things when i breezed through earlier in the week.

www.BroadwayGuides.com has some links to NYC shopping guides.

Thanks MFNYC

anyone know the weather for this saturday? will be in town for one day from nh. and what to wear, probably outside walking most of the day thx!

I'll be visiting from the 20th - 24th...is one of these days better than another to go to the Christmas markets and to Chinatown? I realize the crowds will be terrible regardless of the day but any suggestions would be helpful.

Chinatown is horribly crowded, especially on Canal street within a block or 2 of Broadway. Unless you are really interested in knock-offs and junky knick-knacks, I'd skip it. I pass through every now and then and have to walk in the streets or on sidestreets away from the crowds, just to get to where I'm going.

There is lots to Chinatown apart from the Canal/Mott area. If you are interested in the neighborhood, the food and the atmosphere, and NOT the knockoffs, and you want to avoid tourist crowds, head for East Broadway, Catherine Street, Division Street, and the area of Chinatown SE of Chatham Square. In other words, walk south on Mott Street and cross the square at the end. There may be crowds, but they will be Chinese.