Row, row, row your boat in Central Park

One thing that I always find surprising about NYC is the number of boating activities that there are. A great way to spend a sunny afternoon in NYC is by heading to the Boat House in Central Park and renting a row boat.

You get to walk through the park, and maybe make a few detours, as well as getting to row on the lake with the fabulous NYC skyline as a backdrop. Consider bringing a snack or beverages for the boat ride, or for a picnic on the lawn afterwards.

Info:

Location: East 72nd St. & Park Drive North

Phone: 212-517-2233

Hours: April 15 through October 31 - Daily 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM - Weather permitting

Price: Each rowboat is $10 per hour. Each additional half-hour is $5. There is a $30 deposit per boat.A single rowboat holds up to 4 people.

Directions: Take the 6 train to 68th street. Walk North to 72nd street and then East to Central Park. Check the Central Park Boat House website here for a good map.

Macaroni and Cheese Nirvana - S'mac

Another of my favorite places, S'mac is a great food option in the city that is wallet friendly. You will leave S'mac full, happy, and better yet, the damage will only be $8-$12 per person. My favorite is the alpine with extra bacon. The cheeseburger mac n' cheese is another favorite.

Don't get discouraged if there is a line and no place to sit when you walk in. The turn over is pretty quick, so by the time your mac n' cheese is ready to be eaten, you'll have a table.

If you eat your mac n' cheese at the restaurant, you will be given a number so that the waiters can find you when your mac n' cheese is finished. The cheesy goodness is served in a cast iron skillet that has baked to perfection keeping the outside crispy and the inside ooey gooey (this is technical jargon).

If the weather is nice, consider ordering your mac n' cheese to go and head over to Tompkins Square Park a few blocks away (Avenues A to B, and East 7 to East 10 streets).

You might not believe me when you see the cast iron dishes, but a Nosh sized mac n' cheese is more than enough for one person. However, if you have a little room after you've finished, consider heading over to ChikaLicious (203 E. 10th St.) or the Dessert Club (204 E. 10th Street) for dessert.

Warning, these are not activities for those who are on a diet. However, if you want to take the weekend off from your diet, S'mac is definitely worth it!

Info:
Website: http://www.smacnyc.com/
Location: 345 East 12th Street (btw 1st and 2nd Avenue), NY, NY 10003
Phone: 212-358-7912
Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11:00am - 11:00pm; Friday - Saturday 11:00am - 1:00am
Directions: Take the L train to 14th Street and 1st Avenue; 6 train to Astor Place (short walk), or take any of the trains that stop at Union Square (short walk).

Ice skating in the city

Most people have had the opportunity to go ice-skating while growing up, but there is something that is just extra special about ice skating in NYC. The ability to glide on the ice while looking at the sky scrapers surrounding you make ice skating in New York such a novelty.

This is a great way to break up a day of eating, shopping, and show seeing and it is a great option for people who like to keep your body moving, have kids, or need something romantic to do on a date.

Luckily, there are a lot of ice skating options in NYC to suit a variety of geographic limitations, budgets, and scenery preferences.

Brooklyn Info:

Prospect Park Ice skating:

Website: http://www.prospectpark.org/ice_skating

Season: November 26 - March 15

Hours: M: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.; T: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. ; W: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. ; Th: 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; F: 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. ; Sat: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.; 7 – 10 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m. (weather permitting - call (718) 287-6431 for updates)

Price: Adults: $5; Children (14 and under) & Seniors: $3; Skate Rental: $6.50

Location: In Prospect Park near the Parkside Avenue/Ocean Avenue entrance of the Park.

Directions: • Q, S, or B Train to Prospect Park station • B-41 bus to Flatbush Ave. and Ocean Ave. • B-43 bus to Ocean Ave. and Lincoln Rd. • B-48 bus to Lincoln Rd.

Manhattan Info

Wollman Rink in Central Park

Website: http://www.wollmanskatingrink.com/main_wollman.htm
Location:
Season:
Hours: M & T: 10:00am - 2:30pm; W & Th: 10:00am - 10:00pm; F & Sat: 10:00am - 11:00pm; Sun: 10:00am - 9:00pm.
Price: Adults: $10 - $14; Children: $5.25-$ 5.50; Seniors: $ 4.75-$8.25; Skate Rentals: $6 (tax incl.); Lock Rental: $ 4.25- $ 6; Spectator Fee: $5 (Deposit).
Directions:

Subway: Take the A, B, C, D, 1, 9 to 59th St; Take the N, R to 5th Ave.; Take the B, Q to
57th Street

Best Entrance: Central Park South (59th Street) and 6th Avenue. Wollman Rink is a two
minute walk into Central Park from this entrance. Follow the footpath directly into the park.


Rockefeller Center Rink

Website: http://www.patinagroup.com/east/iceRink/
Location: Enter from Fifth Avenue (Between 49th and 50th Streets)
Price: $19 for Adults, $12.50 for Children (under 11), and $9 skate rental.
Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 10:30pm, Friday - Saturday 8:30am - Midnight, Sunday 8:30am - 10:00pm
Directions: B, D, F, V at Rockefeller Center, 47-50 Streets


Bryant Park Rink

Website: http://www.thepondatbryantpark.com/
Location: located in Bryant Park, which is located between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues.
Season: October 24, 2008 through January 25, 2009
Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 8am - 10pm; Friday & Saturday: 8am - Midnight
Price: General Admission: FREE; Skate Rentals: $12 Lockers: FREE; Locks: $9
Directions: B,D,F,V,7 to 42nd St., Bryant ParkA,C,E,1,2,3,N,R,Q,W to Times Square4,5,6 to Grand Central Station


I know that there are other rinks in the city, so if you know of one, please let the information in the comments.

NYC 2008 Holiday Window Displays*

The Christmas window displays created by the major department stores is another NYC holiday staple. Every year the the six major department stores (Bloomingdales, Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, Lord & Taylor and Macy's) choose a theme to decorate their holiday windows.


The various themes chosen by the department stores are as follows:

• Bloomingdales: Inspired by the film version of "The Phantom of the Opera".
• Barney's: These Barney's windows have been titled: "Peace & Love. Have a Hippie Holiday."
  
• Bergdorf Goodman: I wasn't able to find this theme. I'll hopefully update if I find it.
  
• Saks: I wasn't able to find the title, but it is very wymsical.
  
• Lord & Taylor: The L&T windows have been titled "Christmas is the Moment"and explores a few of the many things that people enjoy during the holidays.
• Macy's: The Macy's windows were created to give "a behind-the-scenes look at the magical ways the elements of Christmas such as snow, stars, tinsel and ornaments are created."

And don't worry, there is also something at the windows for those of you who came to NYC for the fashion.

Make a day out of it and walk from Bloomingdales to Macy's, making stops at Barneys, Bergdorf, Saks, and Lord & Taylor on your way.


View Larger Map

In addition to seeing the amazing window displays at the department stores, you'll get to see other Holiday decorations as well.


Aren't the decorations at the Cartier store fabulous?

Info:

Bloomingdales

• Location: 1000 Third Avenue at 59th Street
• Price: FREE
• Directions: N/R/W and 4/5/6 to 59th Street/Lexington Avenue stop
• Website: http://www.bloomingdales.com/

Barneys

• Location: 660 Madison Avenue (at 61st Street)
• Price: FREE
• Directions: N/R/W at 59th Street/Fifth Avenue stop and 4/5/6 to 59th Street/Lexington Avenue stop
• Website: http://www.barneys.com/

Bergdorf Goodman

• Location: 754 Fifth Avenue (at 58th Street)
• Price: FREE
• Directions: F, N/R/W, 4/5/6 to 59th Street/Lexington Avenue stop
• Website: http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/

Saks

• Location: 611 Fifth Avenue (at 49th Street)
• Price: FREE
• Directions: B/D/F/V at 47-50/Rockefeller Center stop and E/V/6 to 51th Street/Lexington Avenue stop
• Website: http://www.saks.com/

Lord & Taylor

• Location: 39th Street at 5th Avenue
• Price: FREE
• Directions: B/D/F/V at 42nd Street. Walk to 39th street and Fifth Avenue.
• Website: http://www.lordandtaylor.com

Macy's

• Location: Herald Square, Broadway between 34th and 35th Streets
• Price: FREE
• Directions: A, C, E to 34th Street/Penn Station: Walk one block east on 34th Street to 7th Avenue; 1, 2, 3, 9 to 34th Street: Exit on 7th Avenue and 34th Street; or the B, D, F, V and N, Q, R, W to 34th Street/Herald Square: Exit on Broadway for Macy's main entrance
• Website: http://www.macys.com/

* The first three pictures are just a few of the fabulous window displays at Saks.

Walking in a winter wonderland - Rockerfeller Christmas Tree

Even though the days are very cold and very short right now, there is something magical about being in New York in December. The lights, the music, the happy faces on the street. Even though my to do list is currently a mile long, I find myself smiling at nothing in particular as I walk down the street these days.

Because New York is such a magical place in December, I've decided that I'm going to spend a lot of time this month writing about some of the fabulous things to do and see in the city in December.

The first item I'm featuring is a NY classic: Rockefeller Center. The highlight of Rockefeller Center is the eight ton, 72 foot Norway spruce Christmas tree. When a tree is this amazing, nothing more than lights (30,000 LED lights) and a star is needed. This year the tree will be lit until January 9. This is a must do in NYC in December, so make sure you make it out there while you have a chance.

Rockefeller Center knows how to rock the holidays. In addition to the Rockefeller Christmas tree, there are giant angels and nutcrackers, an iceskating rink, Top of the Rock, and a light show. There are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants in Rockefeller Center so you can also grab a bite to eat, or warm up with hot chocolate and apple cider after you've had your fill of the holiday decorations.




Info:

Rockefeller Christmas Tree

• Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza
• Price: FREE
  
• Hours: Daily 5:30am - 11:30pm until January 9th. All day on Christmas Day.
• Directions: B, D, F, V at Rockefeller Center, 47-50 Streets

The Rink at the Rock

• Location: Enter from Fifth Avenue (Between 49th and 50th Streets)
• Price: $19 for Adults, $12.50 for Children (under 11), and $9 skate rental.
  
• Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 10:30pm, Friday - Saturday 8:30am - Midnight, Sunday 8:30am - 10:00pm
• Directions: B, D, F, V at Rockefeller Center, 47-50 Streets

Top of the Rock: A full post will be dedicated to the Top of the Rock at a later date.

• Location: 50th St (btw 5th and 6th Ave)
• Price: $20 Adults, $13 children, $18 seniors, $30 sunrise or sunset ($15 for children)
  
• Hours: Daily 8am - 12 Midnight (last elevator goes up at 11pm)
• Directions: B, D, F, V at Rockefeller Center, 47-50 Streets