Five Places to Find Holiday Spirit in NYC

Spending the holidays in NYC? Here’s where to stop for some instant holiday cheer!

This post comes from our blog intern, Monica!

New York City — magical, bustling, glistening, colorful, and joyous — and that’s exactly why I love it so much. As a person who often travels during the holidays, I can say with ease that New York is more festive than just about any place. Although I make the quick trip from Philly to New York almost weekly, this was my first holiday pilgrimage, and safe to say it exceeded each of my expectations. Around every corner, through every avenue and block, I was reminded of its seasonal beauty. If you find yourself in NY over the next few weeks, here are a five ways to garner some holiday spirit:

1. Union Square Holiday Market
Union Square boasts an incredible year-round market, but it really steps up its game this time of year with the Union Square Holiday Market. You’ll find countless treasures in its dozens of glowing aisles. The market has homemade, local and artisan-crafted wares, from hand-stitched pillows to fresh-baked gingerbread cookies and everything in between. Located at the entrance to the Union Square Station, the market is open every day until December 24th! Also check out the Columbus Circle or Bryant Park Markets, and research your local markets!

2. Tree Shopping
All over NYC
You don’t have to be in the market for a tree to enjoy the Christmas tree shops lining the streets of New York. Just walking past en route to the subway makes me giddy for the holidays. Whether you’re perusing the pines for purchase or simply lingering to take in that unmistakable scent, you’ll surely ingest some cozy holiday spirit. Christmas tree shops are dotted throughout the city, so keep an eye — and nose — out in your neck of the woods.

3. Hot Chocolate from Marie Belle
SOHO
It may look like just a candy store but, nestled in the back of Marie Belle sits a wonderfully festive cocoa café, reminiscent of a 1920s French tea parlor. Their menu features an array of decadent and creamy warm cocoas, from white Tahitian vanilla hot chocolate to hazelnut milk chocolate. Truth: both are life-changing. Never have I tasted anything so rich. Not only does Marie Belle specialize in hot cocoa…they also serve French pastries (macaroons and croissants) if cocoa alone won’t satisfy your sweet tooth.

4. Rockefeller Center
Midtown
Although it may seem cliché, taking a walk around Rockefeller Center will put you right into the holiday spirit — after all, it is THE quintessential New York holiday spot. Music blaring from every corner — from the Salvation Army volunteers dancing along with their radio and jingle bells, Saks Fifth Avenue’s roaring light and music show, or the tunes overflowing from the ice skating rink. People are bustling to and fro, gifts in hand, as the massive Christmas tree glimmers in the reflection of nearby shop windows. As touristy as Rockefeller Center may seem, you can’t miss it this time of year.

5. Window Displays on Fifth Ave.
Midtown and all around
Abundance, extravagance and awe-inducing beauty — just a few things you’ll notice while walking down Fifth Avenue during the holiday seasons. Lavish window displays are a New York City tradition that have been around for over one hundred years. Check out Bergdorf Goodman which, this year, has over 7 million Swarovski crystals behind the glass. Not to be missed: Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, as well as the smaller Fifth Ave storefronts, filled to the brim with their own magnificent creations and installations.