{"id":20625,"date":"2019-10-28T11:21:27","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T15:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/?p=20625"},"modified":"2019-10-28T11:21:27","modified_gmt":"2019-10-28T15:21:27","slug":"2019-christmas-new-york-city-bucket-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/28\/2019-christmas-new-york-city-bucket-list\/","title":{"rendered":"2019 Christmas in New York City Bucket List"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Get an Instagram-perfect selfie in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree [Photo credit: June Marie\/Flickr]<\/p><\/div>There\u2019s nothing like NYC decked out at holiday time with plenty of indoor and outdoor attractions to get you in the holiday spirit. To New Yorkers, the Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the official kick off to the holiday season frenzy that floods the Big Apple with tourists from near and far who dream of being a part of the glitz and glamour of the Big Apple at Christmas time<\/strong>. Whether you are coming for a short getaway or planning to spend the season or the semester in the city this winter, read on for our \u201cmust do\u201d things to check off your bucket list when you\u2019re in New York City during the holidays<\/a>. Then head to our apartment search page<\/a> to find the perfect furnished apartment or room so you can feel at home in the big city. Winter doesn\u2019t have to be boring when you can spend it in the city that never sleeps!<\/p>\n

Festive sights & lights<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t miss New York City\u2019s famous holiday shows this winter! [Photo credit: Matt Kieffer\/Flickr]<\/p><\/div>When in New York City during holiday time you simply can\u2019t miss hitting some of the iconic sights you\u2019ve dreamed about and seen in movies all your life. Sure, they will be flooded with people Instagramming away, but we have to admit they are worth battling the masses to experience, so grab your camera, watch your wallet and get those elbows ready to work your way through the crowds \u2014 welcome to New York City!<\/p>\n

The Rockefeller Tree lighting ceremony is a huge occasion for New Yorkers and tourists alike, with free live performances from top musical artists drawing huge crowds. This year the event takes place on Dec 4th, 2019. If you\u2019d rather skip the biggest crowds but still want to see the famous tree, forgo the tree lighting ceremony and head to Rockefeller Center any other day up to the first week of January. When you plan an extended stay in NYC you\u2019ll have plenty of time to see the sights at your own pace while also experiencing everyday life in the city like a local from the comfort of a fully equipped furnished apartment home base instead of a bland hotel room.<\/p>\n

Some other holiday trees to check out as you explore the city in your free time are the origami tree at the American Museum of Natural History<\/strong> – decorated with 800 hand-folded origami creations, and the Christmas tree at the Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/strong> featuring an 18th-century Neapolitan Baroque Cr\u00e8che with cherubs and angels.<\/p>\n

Even locals enjoy checking out the elaborate holiday decorations around NYC, keep your eyes open and you\u2019re sure to spot some under-the-radar yet impressive hotel and apartment building lobbies. If you\u2019ve always dreamed of coming home to a swanky NYC pad with your arms full of holiday shopping bags and a doorman holding the door open into a dreamy Manhattan apartment building lobby with a glittering, larger-than-life Christmas tree \u2014 consider renting an apartment in one of our full service buildings with a doorman this holiday season and live your best life!<\/p>\n

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Pick out a tree for sale on a NYC street corner and make your furnished rental merry! [Photo credit: Tyler Delgado\/Unsplash]<\/p><\/div>If you enjoy a more low-key, local neighborhood vibe, we recommend settling into one of our smaller walk-up buildings and bringing your creativity with you to make the space your own for the holidays. Smaller buildings and brownstones are full of character and classic features. Once your creativity is sparked by all the festive decor around town, bringing some holiday cheer home and sprucing up your furnished apartment with seasonal decor is as easy as stopping by the local market for some poinsettias or birch branches or hitting one of the dollar stores for some Christmas garland and lights. Imagine shopping for the perfect tree at one of the sidewalk tree sellers and taking it back to your furnished apartment where you can add a bit of your own holiday style to make the space truly feel like home.<\/p>\n

Catch a seasonal show<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Nutcracker Ballet is a New York City tradition for all ages [Photo credit: Rosalie O’Connor\/ Flickr]<\/p><\/div>Nothing screams New York City like shows, whether it\u2019s showtime on the subway with street performers, big Broadway productions, quirky off-Broadway theaters or immersive art and light shows. When in the Big Apple for the holidays it\u2019s tradition whether you\u2019re a local or just visiting, to head to the much anticipated holiday shows. Of course the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes is a show most New Yorkers remember seeing with their parents back in the day, and many make it a tradition to return every year for the memories or to continue the tradition with their own families. If you\u2019re a theater go-er, consider renting an apartment in Midtown West or Hell\u2019s Kitchen close to the Theater District. Another classic holiday show is the Nutcracker Ballet performed by the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center, while hobbyists love the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden<\/a> with miniature NYC landmarks recreated using bark, leaves, and other natural materials. For something new and equally magical for kids of all ages, check out an immersive lights festival like Lumino City on Randall\u2019s Island featuring 12 acres glowing with LED art installations.<\/p>\n

While other locations around the globe might fall into a lull of inactivity during the winter, NYC still bustles with entertainment and culture, making it the perfect time to head to the city. Plant some roots for a month or so to get familiar with the city or test out a possible relocation when off-season pricing on longer furnished rentals is more budget friendly.<\/p>\n

Holiday shop \u2019til you drop<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t miss the holiday store windows as you stroll down Fifth Avenue [Photo credit: Phil Roeder\/ Flickr]<\/p><\/div>Everyone heads to NYC for word-class shopping<\/a> from department stores and designer boutiques to unique local and vintage shops. When the holidays come around, not only do you have plenty of options to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, but you get to do it all while strolling by the famous holiday window displays<\/a>. If you want to pack the most into your stroll we recommend heading down 5th Avenue from the southeast corner of Central Park down to 34th Street. Along the way you\u2019ll pass other iconic sights like St. Patrick\u2019s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center. Don\u2019t forget to grab some roasted chestnuts or honey roasted nuts from one of the famous NYC street vendors \u2014 follow the irresistible smell, your nose will show you the way! Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) starts the holiday shopping frenzy and plenty of sales at major department stores like Macy\u2019s.<\/p>\n

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Outdoor Christmas Markets pop up for the holidays in New York City [Photo credit: Charley Lhasa]<\/p><\/div>If you crave the full holiday experience you have to stop by one of the many Christmas markets (Union Square, Brant Park and Columbus Circle being some of the main ones), where you can browse unique treasures from independent vendors while sipping on some hot chocolate.<\/p>\n

Everyone has their own sense of style, and that applies to fashion and apartments too, whether you\u2019re looking for classic old school New York City features or living the celebrity dream life just for couple of months is on your bucket list, one of our agents can point you in the right direction or you can day dream while scrolling through the NYC apartment offerings on our website to find the apartment that matches your sense of style.<\/p>\n

Indoor & outdoor winter fun<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Everyone has to hit the ice at least once in their life at Rockefeller Center [Photo credit: Michael Vadon\/Flickr]<\/p><\/div>If winter brings out your inner ice skater, there are plenty of picturesque spots to show off your skills or share a laugh about your lack thereof. You can skate free at Bryant Park (if you need skate rentals there\u2019s an extra fee) surrounded by midtown skyscrapers and a view of the Empire State Building. If you want to live your movie scene dreams right in the center of Manhattan, there\u2019s The Rink at Rockefeller Center<\/strong>, featured in many romantic movie scenes and where many real life proposals happen in front of an audience of tourists. If you prefer to be surrounded by nature, there\u2019s Wollman Rink<\/strong> in Central Park \u2014 which you might recognize from the movie Serendipity among many others \u2014 and LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Brooklyn\u2019s Prospect Park<\/strong> where you can skate lakeside surrounded by trees and you just might forget you\u2019re in the big city for a moment.<\/p>\n