turns into a festive fairytale-like scene with its European inspired open-air market. Grab a hot chocolate or cider to sip while you shop in the Winter Village as you dip in and out of tiny shops that look like rows of gingerbread houses. From pierogis to duck fat fries, there’s a smorgasbord of foods to try. Work off what you eat by attempting your best triple Lutz in the outdoor skating rink.
Central Park is wonderful any time of year, but it’s extra special during the holidays. Bundle up and take a carriage ride or enjoy a walk in the park. My two favorite spots are the Alice in Wonderland sculpture on the east side and the black and white “Imagine” mosaic homage to John Lennon in Strawberry Fields on the west side. Columbus Circle Holiday Market is at the southwest entrance. The aromas from local vendors cooking up everything from waffles to empanadas will draw you in. Peruse the vendor stalls for unique items like handmade dolls, vintage jewelry and Swedish dishcloths with cardinals on them. Cross the circle and head up to the Center Bar in Time Warner Center for a magnificent view of Columbus Circle and Central Park.
AAA / Jennifer BroomeWine and Dine Galore
All of the restaurants and hotels are decked out for the holidays. Tip—make dinner reservations well in advance. New York’s Italian food scene is arguably second only to Italy itself. Il Corso, Serafina Broadway and all have elevated dining experiences. Head to Little Italy and eat at La Mela on Mulberry Street, which is something straight out of a mobster movie like “Goodfellas.” Say hi to Frank “Butch the Hat” Aquilino and sing along to holiday tunes being belted out by the strolling band in the restaurant. For the best brunch, nosh on the avocado toast at The Smith like we did at the Lincoln Square location. We could barely get in and out of
The Blakely New York Hotel because of Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer’s constant line for burgers and shakes, which are worth the wait. Browse the gourmet goodies in the original Dean & DeLuca gourmet market in SoHo. The Lower Manhattan neighborhood is filled with designer boutiques, galleries, unique shops like the bookstore Taschen and vintage shops on Broome Street. Head into the
The Peninsula New York, decked out to the nines for the holidays, and splurge on a cocktail.Since New York is filled with so many fabulous restaurants, I asked the AAA Inspector for more “must try” recommendations. For Italian, try , “Grandmother’s House”
Casa Nonna and the family-friendly
Gigino Trattoria. Grab a burger at
Bill's Bar & Burger in the New York Marriott Downtown or a lobster roll at
The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English. For French food, try
Le Coucou or
Le District. Two colorful spots you have to try are
Tiny's and the Bar Upstairs in Tribeca and the Irish pub
The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog close to Battery Park. I can’t wait to go back to try these restaurants and search for the best dim sum in Chinatown.
AAA / Jennifer BroomeSee Christmas Spectacular
One of the most dazzling performances I’ve ever seen is the Rockettes performing the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. The precision kicks are mesmerizing. So is the 3-D fly into the city with Santa and the iconic number “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” which has remained virtually unchanged since the first performance in 1933. From the multiplying Santas to the living Nativity scene, the show is filled with marvelous moments that kept all eight of us wide-eyed with childlike wonder. All of the technological magic happening immerses you into the show. When it was over, the first thing I said was, “Can I just stay here and watch it again?” That’s the magic of the Christmas Spectacular and how New York sparkles like no other city during the holidays.