Hello,
My girlfriend and I will be in NYC in mid December for a long weekend and I want to figure out where the best place is to ask her to marry me. Any and all suggestions are greatly apprecitated.

I just returned from NYC. While we were there, my guy pal took me on a carriage ride through Central Park at about 11:00 p.m. It was GREAT. There was an unusual peace there. I think the park would be gorgeus around Christmas, although I've never been there at that time. Our carriage driver (?) was English which only added to the charm. That'd be my suggestion - but there are probably a million places in NYC that would be appropriate. Good Luck!

My proposal came while walking through Central Park in the fall. Leaves falling, in the late afternoon, lights starting to come on all over the city.
December would be good too, a little chilly but something soooo romantic about stopping in a lovely spot in the park and being proposed to

How about the top of the Empire State Bldg.?

How about while ice skating at Rockefeller Center? Or in front of her favorite work of art at the Met? Or as the lights come up after the show at the Rose Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History? Maybe over champagne and caviar at Bubble Lounge? Over breakfast in bed if the hotel is really nice? Or in front of the fireplace if your room has one?

Don't do it at a restuarant unless it has deep personal meaning to you. I read that 4 couples a week get engaged at One if by Land. If my bf proposed there, I would be pi$$ed. That's a moment that needs some imagination.

Best of luck to you.

My son prosed during a carriage ride thru Central Park. The week before Christmas, the horses name was Frances and they just named their new puppy Frankie! Better the dog than my grandchild

The Empire State Building oftens gets cold and windy. Great view, but not always ideal weather conditions for popping the question. I also think that it's more romantic to be in a little more secluded setting than in the middle of the top of a crowded building or in a busy restaurant.

The carriage ride through Central Park sounds perfect to me.

Go to the Rainbow Room at the top of Rockefeller Center for fabulous views of Manhattan and the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building is too crowded, windy, and cold. Not romantic.

For a place less often thought about in this sense but a great backdrop - how about the area around Cloisters?

The Cloisters was going to be my first suggestion too. There are several "gardens" surrounding the building and during December, you can figure you will be pretty much alone and have an AMAZING VIEW of the river and Palisades of New Jersey. You will have no idea you are still in Manhattan, the scenery is so beautiful and it is very peaceful there. If you time it right on say a Sunday, there will probably be a concert so you can wander about and see the museum. Also there is a room downstairs called "The Treasury", that is filled with the most important artifacts, that might be a nice place to bring out your "treasure" for her.

Then head down to the Unicorn CAfe for lunch and make a nice reservation for dinner at Cirque 2000 at the Palace.

You can take the A train to 191st St and walk through Ft. Tryon Park to the Cloisters or take a cab. There is also a bus, you can take from the Cloisters and get a tour of the city as you head down. The bus will take a LONG time to get back to midtown.

Have a great time while you are here and congratulations.

tweedy

Mike, you've gotten great suggestions to which I add:

River Cafe in Brooklyn;
The Terrace (off the beaten track uptown near Columbia University). Walk through the college campus, wind up at The Terrace with magnificent views of NYC.

New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx - terrific around the holidays or Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.

Rainbow Grill.

Russian Baths on East 10th Street.

The gardens on 105th Street and Central Park and 5th Avenue. Just beautiful.

I'm a sucker for romance. Let us know where you wound up proposing.

My husband proposed to me at the beautiful fountain outside of Lincoln Center. He proposed after we went to the opera. Quite a lot of people were milling around and all of them clapped.

Take a walk down to the tip of Battery Park at sunset. You will get a nice view of the sun setting with the Statue of Liberty in the foreground. If you catch it just right it is a pretty amazing scene!

I just had another idea for you, the Bronx Zoo during the holiday season is all lite up at night and is really beautiful. On the weekends there are usually carolers and most of the exibits are open. There is a cafe and lots of hot chocolate all over the zoo.

Let us know what happens.

Congrats!!!

tweedy