New York City

Each year I post some ideas about what is fun to do in NYC around the holidays. The usual cliche events are often included (tree lighting, ice skating, holiday windows, Rockettes, etc) and shouldn’t be missed, but if you’ve seen and done all of that (although seeing that tree never gets old) here are some holiday type things to do THIS year.

1. Go cheer up employees at Old Navy at 34th & Broadway because they are likely NOT in the holiday mood as that location is open 24/7 through the 24th. WTF? Those poor employees.

2. If religion is your thing, go see the Ten Commandments with your own eyes (not the movie—the actual document included as part of the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit). Running until Jan 2nd in Times Square.
Discovery at Times Square 226 W 44th between 7th & 8th Ave.

Charlton Heston as Moses (but looking a bit Planet of the Apes-like)…

3. Run (or Walk) in the 2nd Annual Christmas Day Marathon in Westchester County!

Designed to bring new people to the sport of running, there is no entry fee (donations are accepted) and you can sign up for 1/8 marathon, 1/4 marathon, half marathon, 3/4 marathon and full marathon and according to the organizers, all paths loop back, are paved and scenic. PLUS- Santa hats are available and all finishers get a candy cane!
Tibbetts Brook Park 120 Teresa Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704 11:00am on 12/25

4. For some adult only fun, go enjoy the annual reading of the Dickens’ classic: A Christmas Carol. Read by burlesque professionals with names such as Legs Malone and Franny Fluffer. Oh yeah, the girls are completely naked during the reading.
One showing (no pun intended) on the 21st at Under St. Marks at 94 St. Marks Place

photo from the Naked Girls website

5. See lights and over the top Christmas decorations in the Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. Very traditional. Very cool. Word has it, that he greatest concentration of decorated homes is around 12th Avenue and 84th Street. The Gothamist site has a good write up and includes pics like this:

6. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy some of the fun had during Hanukkah! Check out the Beer + Latke Hanukkah Celebration on the 22nd in Tribeca. Brooklyn Brewery will be there to help you choose the best brew to compliment the variety of freshly made latkes on hand! And don’t miss the dreidel competition!
December 22, 7PM at 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson Street $22.

7. Go see Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe on Broadway in ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ before his run is over on the 1st of January. This really isn’t “Christmasy”, but Harry Potter always feels a little festive to me so I thought I’d add it in here!

I know the title of this post doesn’t reflect the correct lyrics to the popular Christmas tune, but this year, unlike my normal Christmas’ where I walk in a sunny wonderland (Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii) or a magical winter wonderland at home in NYC, these substitute lyrics are appropriate as I am venturing to a place known for rain and gloom–but also the place I grew up and where my family and friends still live– Seattle.

If you are a follower of this site, you already know that I am from Seattle and have absolutely zero desire to go back there ever again (permanently), but short visits are something I can do and this will be the first Christmas that the husband and I will open gifts in the Pacific NW since we moved to the East Coast over 4 years ago.

Living out East for the past four Christmas’ has been awesome! There is no other place in the country (or World??) that can match the holiday spirit that NYC generates! From the windows at Macy’s to the computerized yet realistic snowflakes at Saks to seeing the tree at Rockefeller and shopping the Christmas markets at Union Square and Central Park to ice skating at Bryant Park– and the list goes on.

Ice Rink in Central Park (photo credit: D Ellefson)

Regardless of how horribly depressing the gloomy gray skies of Seattle will be (dare I even wish for snow?), I will make this trip as CHRISTMASY as possible!!! First and foremost, I am excited to see my nephew and niece and wake up super early with them on Christmas morning to see them open THE BEST presents EVER (from Uncle and me of course, even though Uncle will likely sleep in a bit later than me). Also, my grandparents are making the trek over the mountains and through the woods JUST to see hubby and me (I mean, of course they’re coming for us–who cares about those cute great-grandkids…).

While in Seattle, the lack of snow or even sunny, crisp temps won’t bother me too much with family and friends close by AND these totally Christmasy things to do:

The famous Seattle Space Needle

1) The Christmas Carol Improv! I have been to this show in the ghost of Christmas past and it is awesome! Always different, (it is Improv) and based on the original Dickens story but sprinkled with audience suggestions on how the story should be acted out, this performance called “Seattle’s Funniest Christmas Show” is a Pacific NW tradition!

The show is regularly shown at their home smack dab in the middle of Pike Place Market at the Market Theater, but since its currently being renovated, this year I will see it at the equally cool Intiman Theater at Seattle Center.

2) Christmas Lights Shining Bright!
When I was a kid, driving to and walking around neighborhoods decked out Clark W Griswold style was, and still IS, a highlight (and also free). One of the best stops (and longest running) in Seattle is Candy Cane Lane in Ravenna! The neighborhood has been doing this light show since 1941.
Address: Northeast Park Road, off Ravenna Boulevard, Seattle, WA

Ravenna Neighborhood

3) Seeing the Lights & the Sights from the Water
Seattle locals may humbug the Argosy (“Its so touristy”) and even I used to poo-poo it until I went on an Argosy summer cruise a few years back and saw Bill Gates’ mansion. One word: GINORMOUS. Anyway, at Christmastime, all of the touristy labels go out the window because tourists and locals will love the lights seen from the water. In its 62nd year, this parade of Argosy Christmas Ships sails the Puget Sound waterfront communities and if you are lucky enough to get tickets on the lead ship, THE Christmas Ship, onboard choirs will sing carols throughout your journey. This runs through December 23rd. Did I mention the outer decks on the ships are heated. Oh yes! I’ll see you there! ($35 adults $31.50 seniors $19 kids ages 5-12 (4 and under no charge)

The Argosy Ship

4) Molbaks
Annual Festival of Poinsettias

Molbaks is a Christmas tradition for Seattleites and a must stop for anyone that lives in the general vicinity (Molbaks is in the suburb of Woodinville and well worth the short drive from Seattle). Aside from the numerous wonderful ornaments and decorations to shop (I love the Department 56 collections they have), fresh trees to meander through and hot chocolate to sip–they boast one of the most colorful sights in all of Washington State: the Annual Festival of Poinsettias.

With over 25 varieties (25, really? Wow!) and tons of family photo ops (even with Santa!!), this is a MUST STOP to get into or get more into the holiday spirit. They are open all the way through Christmas Eve at 4! I’ll see you there–after the Argosy ride of course, and lets hope for snow, or at least not rain.

Going out in New York is not for the weak. For those just visiting (or in some cases, those of us over 30), a day of walking the city, dinner, a show and a stroll back to the hotel is enough to wipe ‘em out.

But for the die-hards who need to wind down with other night owls after the partying and before they go home; OR for the locals that work 13 hours a day to pay 4x the rent any other city would realistically charge for a similar apartment; OR the folks that work the off hours schedule to keep their family going down the Shore on weekends, the normal “day-time” activities or stores that are open in the still dark hours of the morning are a true blessing!

CHOW DOWN
Tried to eat light to impress that guy you just met at the Buddha Bar? Or did you dance off all the appetizers and need a refill to keep going? You may have the happy luck to come across a falafel food cart open all night, but save yourself (hopefully) from a future stomach ache and hit up one of these places when the hunger pains hit. These spots are all open 24hrs.

L’Express
Craving seared tuna or roasted rabbit? Have your most exotic food late at night and visit L’Express for fine dining any time of the night.
I249 Park Ave South at 20th
212-254-5858

Sarge’s Deli

This Jewish delicatessen is top notch. Nothing more needs to be said. 548 Third Ave (between 36th and 37th
212-679-0442

Yaffa Café
Up to no good in the East Village and need a quick hideout? This basement is a definite must visit when partying near St. Mark’s. The Middle Eastern food isn’t the best, but it is vegetarian friendly and your fellow dining patrons are anything but boring.
97 St. Marks Pl between First Ave and Ave A
212-674-9302

Han Bat

Craving Korean? Go here for your fix. Food is not bad.
53 W 35th St between Fifth Ave and Sixth Ave
212-629-5588

HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
Have an urge to lay some tile? Want to finally change the lightbulb that your super keeps saying he will change? Nuthouse Hardware has three hardware filled floors that will keep you browsing into the wee hours–oh wait, it already is the wee hours.
202 E 29th St between Second and Third Aves
212-545-1447

GET PRETTY
Did you chip your pedicure dancing? Lose a hair extension running for that cab? Or are you just really busy and only have free time at 4 am to get that cut and color? Hop the #6 train to 28th Street and visit Hair Party 24 Hours
76 Madison Ave (at 28th St) Midtown East
212-213-0056

PUMP IT UP

We all know that 24 hr fitness is open all hours, but for something different — head to The Rock in Queens (believe me it is worth the trip) and shake up your workout with a rock wall climb (its 30′ tall)!
Mon–Fri open 24hrs; Sat ’til 11pm; Sun ’til 10pm

STEEEEEEEEEEEERIKE!

Want some late night fun that doesn’t require a lot of thinking? Go Bowling! But wait — if you are like many of us, we are tired of having to dress up to go bowling at all of these new chic “alleys” that try to make bowling a high society event. In Queens, Whitestone Lanes is possibly the last remaining REAL bowling alley in the city. Take the No. 7 train to the end of the line, walk through Flushing and end up in 48 lanes of bowling heaven.
Families, League bowlers, couples and the lone wolf with his own engraved ball (you know the type) frequent Whitestone and best of all–no one will look down on you for wearing that old shirt with the teeny-tiny mustard stain.

DRUGS

No — not THOSE drugs. Throughout the city 24hr Duane Reade’s are literally a sight for sore eyes. Visine, Listerine, Cold Meds, gummy bears and pajamas (don’t ask me how I know that) are all readily available. For a list of 24hr locations go here.

FIND OUT YOUR FUTURE PARTNER’S NAME

There is nothing like a psychic reading and although Zena closes at midnight — that may work out perfect if you’re making it an “early” night. A $20 reading gets you 10 minutes to find out whatever you need to know. She is in the Village and accepting of groups–as long as they wait their turn outside.
82 Seventh Ave South at Bleecker St
212-807-0498

Trip Advisor, an essential website for any traveler regardless of your destination, just put out their “Top 25″ list for different regions of the World listing the locations where people say they want to go.

There are some obvious ones like Banff. Banff was voted #1 for Canada and if you haven’t been to Banff stop everything (after you finish reading this post) and book a trip there. Soon. Winter or summer–it doesn’t matter. There were also some interesting choices… Machu Picchu got #3 on the World list below Cape Town and Sydney? Hmmm, yeah… I’m not sure.

Me and Banff

Of course, I have an opinion on all of the rankings, but thats the point — opinon is what generated this survey. Here I choose to focus on the United States top 25 and rate them based on MY opinion.

Trip Advisor’s #1: New York City
Diana’s #1: New York City

NYC over the Hudson

No argument here. I am biased and if you don’t know of my love of this city please refer to my archives or at seenyc.com, the NYC travel site I write for. I love this city. Anything you want to do, want to see, want to eat, want to BE– NYC is the place. THE place.

Trip Advisor #2: Honolulu, Hawaii
Trip Advisor #3: San Francisco
Trip Advisor #4 Las Vegas
Trip Advisor #5 Lahaina, Hawaii (Maui)

Maui

Spoiler alert: Hawaii appears often in this top 25 list, but personally I would have put Lahaina at #2 behind NYC. Honolulu is nice, but the island of Maui offers less tourism and just as much to do.

I’d also put San Fran above Honolulu. What a fab city SF is and if you catch it on a sunny day as I did this past April, you’d be hard pressed finding another city that can beat the vibe SF gives.

Las Vegas. Well, for me, Vegas would be near the end of the list–if it even made the list. I do think everyone needs to see Vegas once, but there are so many cities in this country that deserve a much more serious look than Vegas.

Trip Advisor #6 Kona, HI
Trip Advisor #7 New Orleans
Trip Advisor # 8 San Diego, CA
Trip Advisor #9 Sedona

Wait — stop right there. I am ok with New Orleans being on the list and even in the top 10, and San Diego–I LOVE the La Jolla neighborhood, but for Sedona to rank lower… I’m not sure about that. Maybe its because I recently spent some time in Sedona and perhaps the beauty still has me hypnotized, but this eccentric town with the captivating scenery is easily in my top 5.

Sedona, AZ

Trip Advisor #10 Seattle
Trip Advisor #11 Anchorage, AK
Trip Advisor #12 Chicago
Trip Advisor #13 Boston

Being a Seattle native I can appreciate the beautiful mountains, the surrounding water and abundant supply of fleece jackets, but I still wonder: “Why do people vacation in Seattle?” The weather is TOO unpredictable and the sights to see can be done in a weekend. IF you have a desire to go to the Seattle area, stay for an afternoon and then head to Vancouver, BC. Trust me.

I am ok with the other 3 being in the top 25. Boston though—should be much higher. The history and walkability of the town is addicting.

Trip Advisor #14 Estes Park, CO
Trip Advisor #15 Washington DC
Trip Advisor #16 Poipu, HI (see—I told you Hawaii was on here a lot)
Trip Advisor #17 Orlando, FL

As we get to the bottom half of the list I think the locations are reaching to be part of the top 25 (I am surprised Portland, Or; Santa Cruz, Ca or Boise, Idaho aren’t on the list).

Colorado is great regardless of the city and I think I would have chosen Boulder for the top 25, but Estes Park is only an hour away and with 345+ sunny days a year how can you NOT want to live visit there? Ski, hike, shop, swim. Colorado is like Seattle, but less natural water and MUCH more sun.

Washington DC is great. History is #1 here but if you escape to the Georgetown area you really get a taste of DC–and in a good way.

Lincoln Memorial in DC

Orlando.
Apparently the top 25 for Trip Advisor was voted on by parents. Yes, Orlando is fun and I say that as a non-parent. But it is all Disney and while Disney is fun, Orlando IS Disney and that only goes so far.

Trip Advisor # 18 Big Sur, CA
Trip Advisor #19 Bar Harbor, Maine
Trip Advisor #20 Carmel, CA
Trip Advisor #21 Destin, FL

Two in California and Destin is a great getaway. My brother and sister-in-law in Dallas love the driving distance and white sand beaches–so I can see why Destin made the list. And Maine is neat. Just neat. Bar Harbor has been a top vacation spot since the 19th century.

Trip Advisor #22 Savannah, GA
Trip Advisor #23 Gatlinburg, TN
Trip Advisor #24 Miami Beach, FL
Trip Advisor #25 Myrtle Beach, SC

I was happy to see the South represented in the top 25. Savannah and Gatlinburg are NOT to be missed. Here you can get a taste of the real south. Grits anyone?
Miami Beach and Myrtle Beach are known more for their name than the place/experiences, but nonetheless, they do belong in the top 25. You can’t really go wrong with any city that has “beach” in the name.

Whether you agree or not with my comments, below is my ranking of the top 25 (using only cities on Trip Advisor’s top 25).
Let it be known that there are some major cities missing that would be on my Top 25–some I mentioned above but others are Austin, TX, Missoula, MT, Princeton, NJ and Key West.

Diana’s Top 25
1. New York City
2. Lahaina, HI
3. San Francisco
4. Sedona, AZ
5. New Orleans, LA

6. Boston, MA
7. Chicago, IL
8. San Diego, CA
9. Washington DC
10. Honolulu, HI

11. Savannah, GA
12. Estes Park, CO
13. Poipu, HI
14. Kona, HI
15. Big Sur, CA

16. Anchorage, AK
17. Bar Harbor, Maine
18. Destin, FL
19. Carmel, CA
20. Gatlinburg, TN

21. Miami Beach, FL
22. Myrtle Beach, SC
23. Seattle, WA
24. Orlando, FL
25. Las Vegas, NV

Tell me — what are your top cities in the US? Where am I wrong? Where am I right?

I am happy to re-proclaim my aspiring (and inspiring) travel writing career but I also have to do a little self promotion with my recent published articles at a newspaper in the greater New York City area. The paper—the Daily Record– covers the hub of New Jersey: Morris County (in Northern New Jersey about 25 miles outside of Manhattan).

I am happy and proud to be a freelance writer for this paper and lately my articles have consisted of interviews with bands that have been either new to me and/or prominent bands that are known for their ability to ROCK.

So is Rolling Stone next for me? YES! OF COURSE! Who knows! But my love of music combined with my love of travel— that can only mean one thing: Groupie! Music Road Trip!! Now if I can only convince my husband to agree to me having a VW bus again…

Here is my latest article on the legendary band Little Feat on their latest acoustic venture.

Little Feat

Stay tuned, especially if you are a fan of Western Swing, Gypsy Jazz and Traditional Irish Music!

New York City is known for being a leader in movies, fashion, food and of course, music.

New York’s position as the musical center of the United States started in the mid-1800′s and continues to present day. It started with groups singing religious hymns, military bands and family groups (those family groups really stood the test of time didn’t they…) and morphed into Opera with the opening of the Metropolitan Opera House in 1882 and Carnegie Hall in 1891,

In the 60′s, Greenwich Village was arguably the biggest musical neighborhood in the United States and in the 70′s and 80′s things really took off with the clubs like CBGB that offered new artists their first stage. (Side note: my good friend Lisa saw one of the first shows the Police ever did in a small club in Greenwich Village with basically a pallet for their stage. I am so jealous).

Each decade has its list of stars that made NYC their own and of course tons of these musicians are NYC natives including Lou Reed, Neil Diamond, Joan Baez, Sammy Davis Jr. and Billy Joel.

NEIL!!

But perhaps no decade can claim a bigger dent on the global music scene than what New York generated in the ’90′s. I know what you are thinking: “the 90′s? Wait, wasn’t that the grunge decade? Didn’t that happen on the West Coast”?
True, grunge did have a huge impact on music, but it wasn’t the only musical genre born in the 90′s — New York City actually was a very big player in the 90′s music scene and introduced some long term rockers and perhaps more well known— birthed most of the pioneers of hip hop and rap. In fact, New York was the only city with a major hip hop scene for many years. Guys like LL Cool J brought hip-hop to the mainstream for the first time while rap reached near perfection here from artists such as Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy Run DMC and Jay Z.

How do I know all of this? Well, aside from the regular research any good writer does and the fact that I am a big ’90′s music fan (yes, there are some exceptions: N’Sync, Backstreet Boys), I recently had the pleasure of leisurely roaming around the newest exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art : Looking at Music 3.0. This exhibit runs through June 6 and displays, through collected art in various forms, the influence NYC artists had on the music we listen to today.

The exhibit focuses mainly hip-hop/raps’ roots, but ample attention is also paid to the NYC Rock scene with videos from Grace Jones and eclectic recordings from David Byrn and Brian Eno.
Other ’90′s topics are also featured with festivals and ad campaigns focusing on the fight against AIDS, the impact of graffiti and MTV’s continuing presence.

In the center of the exhibit, a massive projector rotated music videos from featured artists and the videos emitted a blue and white flash that induced a prominent “head-nod” reaction by this visitor.

Original lp’s, cassettes (ahhh Nostalgia), interactive displays and smaller tv’s complete with wrap-a-round headphones that let you listen to music or watch videos of these NYC artists that kept MTV in the picture (come back MTV, please… no more reality shows…) such as my favorite-the Beastie Boys and their video Sabotage directed by the brilliant Spike Jonze.

Diana rocking out to the Beastie’s

a picture of the Beastie Boys featured in the exhibit

Nirvana and Pearl Jam will always have a place in my heart; grunge is part of my formative years growing up in Seattle, but these NYC artists really brought it and like the grunge heros from the opposite coast, they are music trailblazers that deserve their claim on the 90′s.

Some of the artists featured in the exhibit but not mentioned in this article include:
KRS-One
Slick Rick
Grandmaster Flash
Fab 5 Freddy
the Wu-Tang Clan
Salt and Peppa
Public Enemy

Ahhhhhhhh the beach, or as we say here, the shore. I can’t wait to be down the shore this summer and on days like today, where I once again see flurries floating from the sky, it seems like summer may never come.

This picture was taken on a hazy humid day in Pt. Pleasant, New Jersey

Whoo hoo — check it out!
See my guest post on GotSaga on some things to do in NYC that aren’t technically mainstream, including: the Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park and the church turned rave club turned boutique shopping center known as the Limelight Marketplace… click here to see what else!

Brooklyn Museum

Prospect Park

Limelight

Read, enjoy and come visit the best city in the world!

A few years ago I started a basic blog that highlighted the fun, interesting and sometimes craziness of my move from Seattle to New York. It started out as a vehicle for my family and friends to see what my husband and I were up to on our new adventure but it turned into a site that, still surprising to me, had regular readers from all over the world. The blog didn’t document my daily life activities, but more so what note worthy things we saw as we became residents of the left coast (i.e., road trips to nearby states, playing tourist at the Jersey Shore, getting lost in the streets of Brooklyn). To be honest though–the mundane did rise to the surface at times with posts on things like my dogs looking incredibly cute in their new argyle sweaters or my moaning and groaning while sick on the couch one horrible weekend a couple of years ago.

About a year ago, as I started to do more freelance travel writing for actual money (whoo-hoo), I found less time to keep up this personal blog and began devoting most of my time to my freelance gigs and my new travel website–my “real” website. I decided I needed to brand myself to broaden my freelance career and to me that meant writing pieces more “professional” in nature, more career-centric. So after some internal debate, I decided to close down my personal blog and focus on my “real” website displaying articles on travel and lifestyle — some with deep personal insight, humor or with unique views on the what/where/why — of specific places. All of the articles though would showcase my “real” writing.

Happily, over the last year my “real” website has brought me added visibility within the writing community and has led me to some amazing freelance opportunities. My “real” website has morphed into a very integral part of my writing career and I spend evenings lying in bed thinking of article ideas, upcoming trips or how to learn computer code so I can alter my website on a whim. My postings, while generally lengthy, are not done on a regular basis and the pieces I do decide to post occur as the result of multiple drafts and are of the caliper I would feel comfortable pitching to a magazine. I am proud of my “real” website postings and edits and rewrites are what this profession is about, but I realized that even with my freelance gigs multiplying (yay!), I spent more time thinking about writing than actually writing.

Next month I am heading to New Zealand for vacation and my Aunt Cindy, one of my biggest supporters and an avid reader of my now defunct personal blog, asked me where my writing will be posted during the trip so she can follow and read up on my NZ adventures every day. Every day.
I started an email to say that I probably wouldn’t post everyday–that I don’t do that anymore. “Instead,” I typed, “I will probably write a large introspective piece on NZ that will likely appear in some form on my website but would end up being one that I’ll submit to a travel magazine“. As I reread my email draft to her — I stopped myself. Why can’t I post about the trip everyday? Aren’t I a travel writer? So what if one day I write about something that doesn’t have a conclusion that ties in nicely with a clever opening quote? So what if some of my posts on my “real” website aren’t feature story material for the latest issue of an adventure travel magazine? While trying to become a more professional “real” writer, I seem to have forgotten the basic rule that all writers must adhere to: Write. Just write.

By writing daily, a writer develops her voice and gains perspective through reader feedback. For me, when I wrote more regularly, article ideas worthy of publication in mainstream media often came gushing out without much forced thought. By getting back into writing everyday–on what I am passionate about–travel, in all of its forms, I know I will be helping myself to become a better and more successful “real” writer.

So Aunt Cindy, you can check my “real” website everyday while I am in New Zealand–and other times, because I have decided to take a step back to go forward, and just write.

My latest article on www.seenyc.com is for those visiting NYC for the first time or for the 100th time. Everyone that comes to this city–including the locals — needs to eat and boy do I have some suggestions!
To guarantee a memorable dining experience, visit one of Mario Batali’s many restaurants scattered throughout the city.

long line at Babbo–Batali’s flagship Greenwich Village restaurant

For my full article, please click here and let me know which of his restaurants you like best!

Batali posing with perhaps his favorite ingredient