Empire State Lights

Its the lights which separate the Big Apple from the other major metros. There's nothing remotely as breathtaking as the Manhattan skyline glowing in the dark, and up close, the lights of the landmarks are even more awesome. In fact the lights are part and parcel of the attractions in New York. I mean, what value would New York have for tourists without Times Square and its neon lights?

So anyway, I thought that with Hannukah and Christmas and New Year's Eve lined up nice and close, the NYC lights would be burning fast and furious, so it would a good time to take a city lights tour of New York City. And good time it was. Started with the best - The Empire State Building, which was glowing blue and white for Hanukkah. The snow globes in the main lobby were neat too, and like I said, the view from the Observatory with the lights of the city twinkling back at you, is probably one of the best things about vacations in New York.

Another really famous place all decked up and brightly lit is the Rockefeller Center. I'd been there a couple of weeks back, but as it gets closer to Christmas, the Rockefeller Tree and the Plaza somehow starts seeming like a different place altogether. Probably the sheer number of people and the energy they bring, but its certainly well worth another visit close to Christmas, with the flags and the decorations and the lights of the buildings and the other trees all combining to make this one of the most attractive Christmas decorations in the Empire State.

I'm not a big fan of Christmas shopping on Fifth Ave and the Broadway bedlam, so I ducked into the solace of Bryant Park, where there's another nice tree all lit up. The Pond and the winter holiday shops at Bryant Park are an excellent palce to just relax a bit if you want to get away from the speed of the City without having to go way off.

As far as parks go, I prefer Central Park, but Bryant Park is really a dream for urban misfits who hate to jostle and shove elbows with the crowd. The rest-rooms were excellent, and they allow you to pick up a chair andmove it anywhere you like and just plonk down in a nice quiet spot and just hang out. And its got a lot in the immediate vicinity, including one of the most luxurious of New York hotels - The Bryant Park Hotel. There's also the New York Public Library, and Bryant park also has its own collection of books, in case you're a bookworm looking for a hideout in the Big bad Apple.