MEMORY LANE
For New Yorkers and visitors alike,
the magic of this holiday season will
leave a lasting impression
BY ASHER FELDMAN
T
here’s a certain buzz in New York City this time of year. From
its countless holiday markets to the complex decorations that
adorn it, The City That Never Sleeps crackles with energy.
Visitors from around the world make their way to New York just to
be a part of it, which explains the crowds.
To help navigate you through,* we’ve made a few suggestions
of the best ways to celebrate the season while you’re in town for
the big game. But don’t think it ends here. Explore the city for
yourself — its nooks and crannies, food, attractions and sights
are just waiting to be discovered. For more info and hundreds of
other ideas, stop by the Midtown information center of NYC &
Company, the city’s official marketing and tourism group, or
check out its website, nycgo.com.
*Hours, pricing, subway stops, restaurant information and other
details subject to change. Be sure to confirm with your destination beforehand!
OFFICIAL NYC INFORMATION CENTER —
MIDTOWN
Location: 810 Seventh Ave. between West 52nd and West 53rd streets
Subway: B, D or E train to Seventh Avenue station; 1 train to 50th
Street station; N, Q or R train to 49th Street station
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.;
Holidays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
For information: (212) 484-1222
MEMORY LANE
ROCKEFELLER CENTER
Known worldwide for its iconic tree and skating rink,
Rockefeller Center is worth much more than a quick
visit. This year’s 80-plus-foot Norway spruce decorated
with more than 30,000 lights and topped with a
Swarovski crystal star overlooks the plaza that houses
NBC Studios, Radio City Music Hall and the Channel
Gardens. Three observation decks up to 70 stories in
the air at the “Top of the Rock” give you a unique perspective on the city as you can look out at Central Park
or toward lower Manhattan. If you’re an entertainment
junkie, check out the exclusive tours of NBC’s home at
30 Rock or wake up bright and early to grab a chance
to appear on the Today show, which broadcasts from
the middle of the plaza.
Location: Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas
(Sixth Avenue) between West 48th and West 51st streets
Subway: B, D, F or M train to 47th-50th StreetsRockefeller Center station; N, Q or R train to 49th Street
station; 1 train to 50th Street station; 6 train to 51st
Street station
The Today Show Plaza
Visitors enter the plaza at 49th Street between Fifth Avenue and
Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue). The Today show is out and
about every morning, but specific times vary and depend on the
weather, which Al Roker would be happy to forecast for you.
Hours: Weekdays, 7 a.m.-11 a.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-9 a.m.;
Sunday 8 a.m.-9 a.m.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Visit the towering tree any day of the week, but be warned — it’ll
probably make you green with Christmas tree envy. And possibly
blind you with its majesty.
Hours: 5:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m., seven days a week;
New Year’s Eve, 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Through: Jan. 7
For information: www.rockefellercenter.com
The Rink at Rockefeller Center
Skate the day away during one of the rink’s 90-minute open skate
times throughout the day. But get there early; the rink is first
come, first serve.
Holiday hours (through Jan. 7): 7 a.m.-8:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m.10 a.m., 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m., 2:30 p.m.4 p.m., 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m., 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m., 8:30 p.m.-10 p.m.,
10:30 p.m.-midnight
Holiday pricing (through Jan. 7): Adults, $27; seniors (62 and
older) and children (younger than 11), $15; skate rentals, $12;
VIP skating reservation (with complimentary hot cocoa and
skate concierge), $105
For information: (212) 332-7654/www.therinkatrockcenter.com
’wichcraft
(212) 780-0577/www.wichcraftnyc.com
1 Rockefeller Plaza
Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio’s sandwich shop is the perfect break from an
afternoon exploration of all Rockefeller Center has to offer. And with its
location inside the plaza, where better to get back some of the energy you
expended doing triple axels on the ice skating rink?
MEMORY LANE
TIMES SQUARE
Times Square Museum & Visitor Center
Home to the most famous New Year’s Eve party in
the country, Times Square also owns the distinction
of being the world’s most visited tourist attraction.
With countless stores, notable buildings and its
world-famous bright lights, it’s no surprise that
approximately 40 million people visit the urban
canyon each year. If you’re planning on a New
Year’s Eve visit, make sure you get there early, as
you’ll be joining some 1 million revelers in Midtown
waiting for the ball to drop. The Times Square
Museum & Visitor Center will help you navigate the
sometimes overwhelming sights and sounds and
can point you in the direction of attractions such as
MTV Studios, M&M’s World, Planet Hollywood and
the Disney Store.
Location: West 42nd to West 47th streets between
Broadway and Seventh Avenue
Subway: 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R or S train to Times Square42nd Street station
Times Square Museum & Visitor Center
Location: Seventh Avenue between West 46th and West 47th streets
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., seven days a week; New Year’s Eve, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
For information: (212) 452-5283/www.timessquarenyc.org
Times Square — New Year’s Eve Style
Looking to join the country’s biggest New Year’s Eve party?
Then head to Times Square for its grand tradition of an allday, all-night celebration that culminates in a ball drop to
ring in 2014. The ball will be raised to the top of the square
at around 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, but by that time, expect the
sidewalks to be bursting with hundreds of thousands of revelers. According to the Times Square Alliance, the best views
are along Broadway from West 43rd to West 50th streets and
along Seventh Avenue as far north as West 59th Street. If
you’re headed that way, enter via Sixth or Eighth avenues for
your best bet for a good view of the 77-foot pole the ball will
drop from. When the clock strikes midnight, more than a ton
of confetti will be dropped onto the partygoers in a celebratory blizzard. The earlier you arrive the better, so dress in
layers and prepare to be standing for a few hours before the
real party starts. For more information, visit
www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye.html.
Virgil’s Real Barbecue
(212) 921-9494
www.virgilsbbq.com
152 W. 44th St. (b/w Sixth and Seventh avenues)
In the heart of Times Square is a barbecue joint that takes you away from the
hustle and bustle of New York City and delivers an unforgettable eating experience. Big portions and plenty of napkins are the name of the game at the nearly 20-year-old venture of the people that brought Carmine’s to the Big Apple.
MEMORY LANE
THEATER DISTRICT
Peter and the Starcatcher
Theater lovers have been buzzing about the South Park
guys’ The Book of Mormon and the 2012 Tony winner
for Best Musical, Once, but there’s a play or musical on
Broadway or beyond for every taste and age. From family favorite The Lion King to the undeniable Peter and
the Starcatcher, there’s something for everyone. If
you’re in a more serious mood or looking for stars,
Craig Wright’s Grace features Paul Rudd, Michael
Shannon and Ed Asner while Theresa Rebeck’s Dead
Accounts stars Katie Holmes. Tickets can be purchased online at ilovenytheater.com or at the individual
theater box offices. For a great discount, visit the TKTS
Discount Booth in Times Square, where you can find
same-day tickets to shows around the city for up to 50
percent off the regular price.
Location: West 40th to West 54th street between Sixth
and Eighth avenues
Subway: 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R or S train to Times Square42nd Street station
The Book of Mormon
The Official Broadway Concierge & Ticket Center
Location: Inside the Times Square Visitor Center on Seventh
Avenue between West 46th and West 47th streets
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
For information: www.broadwayleague.com
TKTS Discount Booth
Location: Broadway and West 47th Street
Hours: For evening performances: Monday, Thursday and
Friday, 3 p.m.-8 p.m.; Tuesday, 2 p.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday and
Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. If there is a
matinee performance on sale on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday,
the booth will open at 10 a.m.
For information: www.tdf.org
Kashkaval
(212) 581-8282/www.kashkaval.com
856 Ninth Ave. (b/w West 55th and West 56th streets)
A gourmet cheese and food market in the front and a wine and cheese bar
in the back, Kashkaval can bring you on an international cheese tour
without you having to venture far outside the Theater District with its
more than 100 cheese varieties.
MEMORY LANE
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Until the new Freedom Tower in Lower Manhattan is com-
The World’s Most Famous Arena has played host to some
pleted, the Empire State Building provides city goers with
of the most unforgettable moments in sports history. From
the highest vantage point in the Big Apple. Located in the
captain Mark Messier skating around the ice with the New
heart of Midtown, the iconic 102-story building features an
York Rangers’ first Stanley Cup in 54 years to the Knicks’
observation deck more than 1,000 feet above street level.
Willis Reed walking onto the court before Game 7 of the
Visit during the day to see well into the outer boroughs and
1970 NBA Finals, MSG has seen its share of sports histo-
New Jersey or at night for picturesque views of the city’s
ry while The Theater at Madison Square Garden has host-
bright lights. On Dec. 27, the top of the Empire State
ed everything from performances of A Christmas Carol to
Building glowed in the colors of the participating New Era
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Pinstripe Bowl teams.
Location: 350 Fifth Ave. between West 33rd and 34th streets
Subway: B, D, F, M, N, Q or R train to 34th Street-Herald
Square station; 6 train to 33rd Street station; 1, 2, 3, A, C
or E train to 34th Street-Penn Station
Hours: 8 a.m.-2 a.m. (last elevator up, 1:15 a.m.), seven
days a week
Pricing: Main observation deck — adults, $27; seniors
(62 and older), $24; children (ages 6-12), $21; children 5
and younger, free.
For information: (212) 736-3100/www.esbnyc.com
Foley’s Pub (212) 290-0080/www.foleysny.com
18 W. 33rd St. (b/w Fifth and Sixth avenues)
An Irish pub with sports memorabilia that seemingly covers every
square inch of the walls, Foley’s is a gem among a bevy of Irish bars
in Midtown. Champagne from the Yankees’ 2009 World Series
celebration and more than 2,000 baseballs are among the collection
of artifacts that surrounds the bar.
Location: Seventh Avenue between West 31st and West 33rd
streets
Subway: A, C, E, 1, 2 or 3 train to 34th Street-Penn Station
Upcoming Events:
Phish: Dec. 28-31 at 7:30 p.m.
Knicks: Dec. 25 vs. Oklahoma City at 2:30 p.m., Dec. 27 vs.
Toronto at 7:30 p.m.
Professional Bull Riders: Jan. 3 at 8 p.m., Jan. 5 at
8 p.m.
Pricing: Ticket prices vary and can be purchased at
The Garden’s box office or through Ticketmaster at
(866) 858-0008 and www.ticketmaster.com
For information: (212) 465-MSG1 (6741)/www.thegarden.com
Mustang Harry’s
(212) 268-8930
www.mustangharrys.com
352 Seventh Ave. (b/w West 29th and West 30th streets)
If you’re still in the mood for sports after the New Era Pinstripe Bowl or
a marquee event at Madison Square Garden, Mustang Harry’s provides a
classic New York sports bar scene just a few blocks away from MSG. Dig
in for a quick bite or spend the night watching your favorite team in the
heart of the city.
MEMORY LANE
CENTRAL PARK
Opened in 1857, Central Park has provided an escape
from the hustle and bustle of city life for millions of residents and visitors. You certainly can’t cover all of its 843
acres — good enough to make up 6 percent of the island
of Manhattan — in one visit, but wintertime brings out the
best in the park. Wollman Rink to the south provides an
intimate setting for ice skating whether you’re a seasoned
skater or new to the cold weather. Visit the Charles A.
Dana Discovery Center, the park’s newest building to the
northeast, to find exhibits, holiday celebrations and educational opportunities galore. Penguins in the Central
Park Zoo certainly perk up around this time of year, so
why not go visit them on the east side of the park?
Location: Central Park West to Fifth Avenue between
59th and 110th streets
Hours: 6 a.m.-1 a.m., seven days a week
For information: (212) 310-6600/www.centralparknyc.org
Wollman Rink
Location: Inside Central Park between 62nd and 63rd streets
(enter at West 59th Street and Sixth Avenue)
Subway: 4, 5 or 6 train to 59th Street station; F train to 57th
Street station; N, Q or R train to Fifth Avenue/59th Street station
Holiday hours: Dec. 30, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; New Year’s Eve,
10 a.m.-7 p.m.; New Year’s Day, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Pricing: Adults, $18; seniors (60 and older), $9; children
(11 and younger), $6; skate rentals, $8. Note that credit cards
are not accepted at Wollman Rink.
For information: (212) 439-6900/www.wollmanskatingrink.com
Central Park Zoo
Location: East 64th Street and Fifth Avenue
Subway: 6 train to 68th Street-Hunter College station;
N, Q or R train to Fifth Avenue/59th Street station
Winter hours: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., seven days a week
General admission price: Adults, $12; seniors (65 and older),
$9; children (ages 3-12), $7; children younger than 3, free
For information: (212) 439-6500/www.centralparkzoo.com
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center
Location: Inside Central Park at 110th Street between Fifth
and Lenox avenues
Subway: 6 train to 110th Street station; 2 or 3 train to
Central Park North-110th Street station
Winter hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Price: Admission is free
For information: (212) 860-1370/www.centralparknyc.org
517-2233
The Loeb Boathouse (212)
www.thecentralparkboathouse.com
Intersection of East 72nd Street and Park Drive North
A unique Central Park experience is to be had at the Loeb Boathouse’s Lakeside
Restaurant, where you can get a quiet water view while you dine in the middle
of the city’s backyard. Relax and take in the natural beauty of the sprawling
lake in the center of the park from this formal dining room, or grab a quick
bite and a warm drink at the Express Cafe.
MEMORY LANE
THE HOLIDAY SHOPS
AT BRYANT PARK
Get the holiday market experience until Jan. 6 as Bryant
Park is transformed into a bustling shopping experience
with more than 100 vendors offering everything from
handmade trinkets to cuisine from around the world. If
you’re in need of some belated holiday gifts, you won’t
find a more eclectic selection than at the Holiday Shops
at Bryant Park. Plus, with a temporary skating rink in the
center of the park and the New York Public Library just a
stone’s throw away, a visit to Bryant Park is well worth
your time during your visit to the city this holiday season.
Location: Between Fifth and Sixth avenues and
West 40th and West 42nd streets
Subway: B, D, F, M or 7 to 42nd Street/Fifth Avenue-Bryant
Park station; 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R or S train to Times Square42nd Street station; 4, 5 or 6 train to Grand Central-42nd
Street station
The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.;
Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
For information: (212) 661-6640/
www.theholidayshopsatbryantpark.com
Junior’s
(212) 302-2000/www.juniorscheesecake.com
1515 Broadway (b/w 44th and 45th streets)
Whether you’re just getting started on your New York City journey or unwinding after a long day of exploring, grabbing a piece of Junior’s cheesecake is
absolutely a must-do during your time in the Big Apple.
MEMORY LANE
MUSEUM MILE
National Academy Museum & School
With hundreds of museums and galleries, New York is
one of the world’s richest cultural cities. But if your
time in the Big Apple is short, there’s no better way to
pack some of the most notable museums into a day trip
than by visiting the famed Museum Mile. From the Met
to the Guggenheim, take in some of the most impressive collections and exhibits on the planet without leaving Fifth Avenue.
Location: Fifth Avenue from East 82nd Street to
East 105th Street
Subway: 4 or 5 train to 86th Street station; 6 train to 86th,
96th or 103rd Street stations
Hours and pricing: Varies from museum to museum;
call for more information.
Museum of the City of New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (82nd Street)
(212) 535-7710/www.metmuseum.org
Neue Galerie New York (86th Street)
(212) 628-6200/www.neuegalerie.org
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (89th Street)
(212) 423-3500/www.guggenheim.org
National Academy Museum & School (89th Street)
(212) 369-4880/www.nationalacademy.org
Museum of the City of New York (103rd Street)
(212) 534-1672/www.mcny.org
El Museo del Barrio (104th Street)
(212) 831-7272/www.elmuseo.org
Café Sabarsky
(212) 288-0665
www.cafesabarsky.com
1048 Fifth Ave. (enter at East 86th Street)
During your visit to the Neue Galerie on 86th Street, take a moment to stop
into this Vienna-style café that offers everything from a quick coffee to go to a
Hungarian goulash off its dinner menu. Turn-of-the-century period pieces scattered throughout the café will keep you in the artistic mood while you eat.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
MEMORY LANE
ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL
Surrounded by modern office buildings and apartments,
HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW AT THE
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
the more than 130-year-old St. Patrick’s Cathedral and its
A quarter mile of track is laid out among flora and fauna at
spires certainly stand out in Midtown. Take a walk inside to
The New York Botanical Garden, which again hosts its
explore the church’s Neo-Gothic design and you’ll under-
annual Holiday Train Show for the 2013-2014 season.
stand why the seat of the Archbishop of New York has
Surrounded by 1 million-plus plants, more than a dozen
been featured in countless movies and has hosted some of
large-scale model trains traverse sets made to look like all
the most notable funerals in Gotham history.
the famous landscapes you’ve already visited during your
Location: Fifth Avenue between East 50th and
East 51st streets
Subway: B, D, F or M train to 47th-50th Streets-Rockefeller
Center station; E or M train to Fifth Avenue-53rd Street
station; 6 train to 51st Street station
Hours: 7 a.m.-9:30 p.m., seven days a week
For service times and information: (212) 753-2261/
www.saintpatrickscathedral.org
Ess-a-Bagel
(212) 980-1010
www.ess-a-bagel.com
831 Third Ave. (b/w East 50th and 51st streets)
With two locations on the island of Manhattan, Ess-a-Bagel has enjoyed
long-lived praise as one of the city’s best bagels — no small feat in
New York. Find the delicious bagels and all of the schmears you can
imagine here or at the First Avenue location near East 21st Street.
New York adventures. New this year are replicas of the
34th Street Macy’s, all dressed up in the style of Miracle on
34th Street, and a working replica of the Roosevelt Island
Tram. Some international and regional flavor is to be had in
the Artist’s Studio, where trains pass by replicas of the
Sphinx, the Parthenon, Boston Harbor and Route 66.
Location: 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx
Subway: B or D train to Bedford Park Boulevard station;
4 train to Bedford Park Boulevard-Lehman College station
(take bus, taxi or walk to garden)
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. through Jan. 1. After Jan. 1, TuesdayFriday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Through: Jan. 13
Holiday pricing (through Jan. 1): Adults, $20; seniors
(65 and older) and students (with valid ID), $18; children
(ages 2-12), $8. Advance tickets are suggested and are
available at www.nybg.org or by calling (718) 817-8700.
Mario’s Restaurant
(718) 584-1188
mariosrestarthurave.com
2342 Arthur Ave. (b/w East 184th Street/Crescent Avenue and
East 186th Street)
Nestled on the Bronx’ famed Arthur Avenue row of restaurants and
tourist attractions sits Mario’s, a traditional Neapolitan restaurant
renowned for its delicious sauce and friendly service since 1919.
MEMORY LANE
HOLIDAY WINDOW DISPLAYS
Henri Bendel
New York City department stores pull out all the stops as
the city’s most famous stores install window displays that
celebrate the holidays. From Macy’s “The Magic of
Christmas” to Henri Bendel’s 1920s-fashion-inspired display to Lord & Taylor’s 75th anniversary celebration of
their display, the windows are a quintessential New York
tradition. It may take you a good hour or more to hit all the
classics — Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman,
Barneys and Bloomingdale’s included — but that’s without any time reserved for a shopping spree.
Location: Macy’s is at West 34th Street and Broadway;
Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel and
Bergdorf Goodman are along Fifth Avenue, between 38th
and 58th streets. Barneys is on Madison Avenue at East
61st Street; Bloomingdale’s is at East 59th Street and
Lexington Avenue.
Subway: B, D, F, M, N, Q or R train to 34th Street-Herald
Square station to start walking tour at Macy’s
Through: Display dates vary from store to store, but
generally run through the first week of January.
Henri Bendel
Macy’s
Woorijip
(212) 244-1115/www.woorijipnyc.com
12 W. 32nd St. (b/w Broadway and Fifth Avenue)
Just a few blocks away from the famous stretch of windows at Macy’s at 34th
Street, New York’s Koreatown features a wide array of authentic Korean eateries. Woorijip features everything from kimchi to a vegetarian curry sure to
please any eater while being easy on the wallet.
MEMORY LANE
NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11
MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
Dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks,
the National September 11 Memorial & Museum now
welcomes thousands of people every day to pay their
respects. In the footprint of each tower rest expansive
fountains, surrounded by trees and the names of the
victims.
Location: Enter at the northeast corner of Albany and
Greenwich streets
Subway: A, C, 2, 3, 4 or 5 train to Fulton Street station;
2 or 3 train to Park Place station; E train to World Trade
Center station; 1 train to Rector Street station
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., last entry at 5 p.m.
Pricing: Visitor passes are free, but must be reserved for a
specific date and time in advance via the memorial’s online
reservation system.
For information: (212) 266-5211/www.911memorial.org
Adrienne’s Pizzabar
(212) 248-3838
54 Stone St.
The bustling Financial District is full of places to eat, but Adrienne’s
Pizzabar on the edge of Bowling Green should not be missed. Sit by the window to get a great view of Stone Street while you enjoy classic New York
pizza at this dressed-down pizza bar.