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More Fun in the City at Offbeat New York Festivals and Events.New York City Winter Fun -- 2011
When the weather turns a bit chilly, New York City turns up the heat with nonstop holidays festivals and parades. And let's not forget shopping.
Holiday LightingsRockefeller Center Christmas Tree and Related CelebrationsThe 2011 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will arrive in Rockefeller Center on Friday, November 11th. The Tree will be lit for the first time on Wednesday, November 30th with live and taped performances from 7pm – 9pm. at Rockefeller Plaza, between 48th & 51st Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues, Manhattan. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a world-wide symbol of the holidays in New York City. The tree, traditionally a Norway Spruce, is illuminated by 30,000 environmentally friendly LED lights on five miles of wire, and crowned by a Swarovski crystal star. The tree will be illuminated from 5:30 A.M. – 11:30 P.M. daily, all day (24 hours) on Christmas Day and 5:30 A.M. – 9 P.M. on New Year’s Eve. For more information, call 212-632-3975. 2011 Swarovski Star Unveiling World's largest Chanukah menorah stands in New York City - December 20, 2011The World's Largest Chanukah Menorah is proudly standing at New York's most fashionable plaza, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, by Central Park, between the Plaza and the Pierre Hotels. The Menorah will be lighted on all evenings of Chanukah. Tree Lighting Ceremony in Bryant Park - Tuesday, November 29, 2011Celebrate the holiday season with the lighting of the tree with skating performances and live music - 6:00pm – 7:30pm From November 21, 2011 – January 2, 2012, enjoy the annual American Museum of Natural History traditionThe delightfully decorated Origami Holiday Tree welcomes visitors to the institution throughout the holiday season. November 25, 2011 South Street Seaport Tree LightingIf you're seeking a thousand points of holiday light off of the beaten path, head down to South Street Seaport 19 Fulton St. (at Front St.), where a 50-foot tree is lit up on Old Fulton Street the day after Thanksgiving, accompanied by carolers and a festive atmosphere. There are plenty of stores around to kick off your holiday shopping once the tree is aglow. For more information, visit southstreetseaport.com. Winter and Holiday CelebrationsWinter's Eve at Lincoln Square - November 28, 2011Once again this holiday season, the neighborhood around Lincoln Square transforms into New York's largest holiday festival (for one night only). Beginning with a tree lighting in Dante Park, the Winter's Eve festivities also include many street performers, food from some of the 'hood's best restaurants and fun activities, inside and out, for kids and grown-ups alike. For more information visit WintersEve.org Holiday Train ShowsAt the New York Botanical Garden, it's the 19th Annual Holiday Train Show November 19, 2011 – January 16, 2012 at Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Large-scale model trains whiz by replicas of many of the City's most famous landmarks—including the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and Penn Station—all created from natural materials like bark, pinecones, seeds and leaves by Paul Busse's team. For more information, visit NYBG.org Grand Central Terminal, Vanderbilt HallThe New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store at Grand Central Terminal is back November 19, 2011 – January 16, 2012 with its annual Holiday Train Show, featuring a layout with Lionel trains running on eight separate loops of track through a 34-foot-long miniature New York City scene. Vintage trains from the museum's collection, including models made by American Flyer and Louis Marx & Company, will also be on display. For more information, visit mta.info. It's Time to SkateWhen winter beckons, New Yorkers know it's time for ice skating. And there are several places to lace up those skates and hit the ice.Bryant Park Celebrates WinterThe Pond at Bryant Park, made possible by Citi, is Manhattan's first and only free admission ice skating rink. Now until February 26, 2012 The Pond is the centerpiece of Bryant Park's winter season, which also includes the annual Holiday Shops at Bryant Park. The 170' x 100' rink features free admission ice skating, in addition to high quality rental skates, skating shows, special events, and activities. Ice Rink at Rockefeller CenterCheck rates and times at Rockefeller Ice Rink
Wollman Rink in Central ParkSkate in the middle of the urban oasis of Central Park. It's open, but check for conditions, prices and hours at Wollman Rink
The Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers -- OpenThey're at Chelsea Piers - Pier 61 (23rd St. & the Hudson River). Holiday Shows Around TownAlmost nothing says "holiday" like the special shows that take place across the city. Here's some of the city's favorites.Dzieci’s Fools MassPerhaps one of the most unusual events of the season is the Fools Mass by the Dzieci Experimental Theatre Group.We would like to have wings in order to fly toward God; yet it is not forbidden to go in that direction, even limping.The edition of The Encyclopedia of Religion, has this to say about Dzieci’s Fools Mass: Radio City Music Hall - Christmas Spectacular November 11, 2011 – January 2, 2012For decades New Yorkers and visitors have made this a holiday ritual. This iconic song-and-dance extravaganza, featuring the legendary Rockettes, is one of the holiday season's must-see attractions. Celebrating its 79th season this year, the show combines such classic scenes as "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and "New York at Christmas" with all-new numbers and the cutting-edge digital mapping technology of ChristmasVision, which transforms Radio City Music Hall's interior into a giant canvas. For more information visit Radio City Christmas The Nutcracker™ at New York City Ballet @ Lincoln Center November 25th through December 31st, 2011The heart of New York City's year-end holiday season, this glittering classic, performed annually by the New York City Ballet since 1954, has become one of the City's signature family-friendly traditions. For more information visit NYC Ballet - Nutcracker Window WonderlandNew York's legendary department stores offer a window wonderland at holiday time. Visitors and New Yorkers alike love to stroll along the Avenue and enjoy the famed storefront tableaux. From the red awnings and understated elegance of Saks Fifth Avenue at 611 Fifth Avenue to Lord & Taylor at 424 Fifth Avenue extravagant windows and magical animation. Displays at Tiffany & Co. at 727 Fifth Avenue have a holiday sparkle all their own. FAO Schwarz at 767 Fifth Avenue is always a fun visit. While Fifth Avenue definitely has WOW appeal, the windows at Bloomingdale's 1000 Third Avenue are a study in urban chic, and the lavish Yuletide glow of Macy's Herald Square 151 West 34th Street is another perennial favorite ShoppingGrand Central 2011 Holiday FairThe Holiay Fair will be held from November 14 – December 24, 2011. Grand Central's Vanderbilt Hall will host over 70 vendors including: jewelry, home décor, accessories, hats, clothing and toys. More Shopping!Shopping options abound at the Union Square Holiday Market (14th St to 17th St between Broadway and University Place ) features more than 100 merchants - enjoy the shopping November 18 – December 24, 2011. The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park are open now until January 8, 2012 The park's tree-lined allees are transformed into the city's premiere holiday shopping destination with custom-designed jewel box kiosks.Check back as we add more Holiday Celebrations...
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