I'm looking for suggestions for areas/lights etc.. to see on Christmas Day. Are the lights on in the stores on 5th Ave.? Are there lots of people out and about? How about Rockerfeller?

Please make suggestions, and also good stops along the way - hot chocolate etc... Will many small neighborhood restaurants be open for dinner, and generally speaking, will we need reservations?

Open to any and all suggestions.

TIA,

Nina

Nina,

Welcome to NYC. You will have a fun time, and the city will be all a glaze for Christmas.

All the stores will be closed with a few exceptions, but lots of restaurants will be open, neighborhood restaurants will certainly be open, like the upper east side and the upper west side, (Broadway and Columbus Ave)

If you want to see the windows, they will certainly be lit on Christmas Day, Macy's, Lord and Taylor, Saks, Barneys, and lots more on 5th Ave.

Saks is doing a new store presentation this year, on the hour and half hour the store is all lit up, and it is really pretty.

You might enjoy seeing some of the larger trees, Rock Center, City Hall, the Customs House, South St. Seaport.

Chinatown and Little Italy should be open including alot of the stores in the area.

You might want to try skating at Woolman Rink or Rock Center.

Have a great time and enjoy the city.

Thanks wantsomesun .... Coming from San Francisco, we'll probably be saying your name over and over, that during our visit.

By the way, sorry for the typo - Rockefeller not Rocker-feller, which sounds like a street musician

Nina

You might also want to consider taking a subway ride on Line 7 - all the way to the end, where you can walk around a bit in Flushing enjoying the magnificent aromas. Coming back, the views of the skyline when the train is above ground are magnificent. Get off at Grand Central and enjoy the laser light show with music on the dome.

djkbooks:

This sounds like a different and very interesting way to spend time. First of all, what are the 'magnificant aromas' that you refer to? I hate to sound ignorant, but I have never been to Flushing.

Are the sights from the subway that you mentioned, best seen by day or by night? What are the dates, times of the laser show at Grand Central?

How long is the ride to Flushing? Anything particular reason that this is best done on Christmas or is it the same on any other day - aroma-wise? You've really peaked our interest and our curiousity.

Nina

Here's more info on Grand Central http://www.istc.org/sisp/?fx=event&event_id=45346

As for Flushing, there are all sorts of restaurants/bakeries/pizzarias in the vicinity of the subway station. Not sure how many would be open Christmas Day. I don't recall how long the ride was out and back (half hour or a bit more each way maybe) and back. The sun sets early. Views would be fabulous night or day, but we prefer night when the lights are on all over and it's just magical.

In addition to the above, we recommend a tour of the people who live under the streets. We were in NYC in winter '03 and were simply amazed at the number of people living down there. Search here on Fodors to learn more. Can't re-type it all, you know. Happy travels.

Would those be the Mole people? I bet they don't have any magnificent aromas!

Instead of taking time to leave Manhattan by subway, why not take a Carriage ride through the Park?

Nina, don't forget Frozen Hot chocolates or tea or lunch, at Serendipity.
Rockefeller Center is great, across the street is St Patricks.
The entire city is lit, at night the Empire State Bldg will be Christmas colors.
Chinatown for dinner would be fun. We did that a lot of times for Christmas Eve..the streets were so quiet and empty
sigh~ I am so homesick

Walking around NYC on Xmas - immediately brought to mind shoegazers and mouthbreathers. Great title!

Fegheddaboudit, we have already taken the Mole People Tour during our trip in May 2002. While no one should miss it, once is enough. Perhaps you got the idea for your tour from my posted trip report. We thought that it was fascinating, and we especially enjoyed the snacks offered by various tunnel dwellers. Since this will be our first winter trip to NYC, we are looking for new and interesting things to do this time of year, and are pleased that the other posters have made so many useful and interesting suggestions.

Scarlett, we always enjoy going to Serendipity and I think that the hot chocolate will be especially appreciated this time of year.