Christmas in The City

I have been severely lacking in the blog department but I have a really good excuse: the last 4 days I was in NYC immersing myself in extreme holiday merriment with girlfriends.

This was the 2nd in what I hope proves to be a long-standing tradition (although I think we all agree next year it's time for an upgrade to a room with a bed bigger than a double for 3 of us...).

Now this is not your typical girlfriend trip to NYC. 

No, this trip had one mission and one mission only: Get Filled with the Holly Jollies.

And we more than exceeded.

 The trip started with an unexpected, but welcome, stop at a pop-up shop that Real Simple was putting on for hot HOLIDAY gifts. And the marketing side of all 3 of us were going nuts at how well done it was (i mean we got oodles of free chocolate--hello!) and we all got a little Christmas shopping done too! Look at these smiles!

 We even picked our restaurants based on the Christmas decorations (well, for the most part--I mean we had to go to at least one hot spot). I am here to tell you that the Italians know what is up with the Christmas decor. 

 We started day 2 at one of our favorite spots: Grand Central. A little sad that the light show was discontinued this year, BUT we found a great little holiday fair that had all sorts of fun gift ideas. And this was when our plan to come back when we are 40 and brings gobs of cash from some mysterious source and spend it with wild abandon.

And speaking of that future trip of an older age and bigger wallet, when we passed The Palace (you know what I'm talking about Gossip Girl fans--XOXO) we just had to stop to snap a picture and the promise was made to ONE year stay at this beautiful hotel.

 The weather was glorious for some serious ice skating. Sure it's over-priced, packed and not probably the safest ice skating with an inch of snow on the ground, but can you really beat this view?

That is a rhetorical question, because I have the answer.

You can't.

 As a super double bonus holiday surprise, we found out the ELF (the movie) was playing on Broadway! SANTA--I know him! Sure, you can't quite beat Will's epic performance, but the show was cute and definitely fit the bill for holiday joy.

 After a special treat of sleeping in we headed over to check out the Public Library which was filled with beautiful trees last year, but THIS year there was just a major line to get in where we found out there is a HOliday Open House that we were not invited to. So we headed over to Bryant Park to enjoy some Sunshine and some holiday tunes.

After walking from 40th to 100th (not even joking right now), we were feeling the need to take a little break. So we took a few breaks that were centered on good sweets (hot chocolate, donuts and chocolate crossaints anyone) and then hit the jackpot with this cute little spot in the UPper West Side that was laid back, played good music, had good food. Mmm. And it was VERY festive as an added double bonus.

It was a good thing we fueled up as we headed to the grand finale of Christmas in NYC: the Park Avenue Christmas Tree lighting put on by the little red brick church.

Blocks of fur and chanel.

13 Christmas Carols.

A Children's Choir.

Brass.

And a 'let there be light' moment.

It was such a great weekend. Now I am ready to bake, shop, wrap and continue that for the next 2 weeks!