OH CHRISTMAS TREE

Breakfast at Tiffany's is even better in the holiday season!

After missing out on Annie tickets (sold out, boo!) we spent today wandering around the Rockefeller Plaza as this ginormous christmas tree was being lit tonight and we REALLY didn't want to miss it!

We've been talking to shop assistants around the area and although the tree isn't lit until 9pm, and the show doesn't broadcast until 8, and the pre show entertainment doesn't start until 7, you really need to arrive around 4pm if you want to be able to see the tree! It feels bigger than New Years Eve in Sydney and that was crazy!

We found a very cute little italian restaurant (I was starting to crave pasta/anything other than takeaway) which was only a few blocks away so we could eat with a little peace, but still be close enough to the Rockefeller that we wouldn't miss a thing! 

Walking back the crowd was building (and it wasn't even 2 yet!) but we decided to see if Saks on Fifth Avenue had any windows with a view...as surely spending the next 6-7 hours there would be much nicer than the street. It was, but there we're no window views that we had access to (though a few levels had 'private functions' lucky people!). Nathan loves to feel 'fur' coats and we found this one that was sooooo divine, in my size, on sale! Unfortunately the sale price was still closer to 4 digits than my preferred 2 :( after I dreamed for a little we decided it was back to reality, the streets!

This was our view at around 4pm. 

This was us in the view at 4:30pm.

Then we decided we might want food (and water, though only just enough!) in the next 5 hours so we ran to the nearest pizza shop and ordered one large pizza to go!

As you can see it was a LARGE large pizza, perfect for a long night on the streets of New York.

Then the moment we had all been waiting for, with a choir singing "Joy to the World" the 90ft high Christmas Tree lit up and was absolutely breathtaking. 

My photos as usual do not do it justice, but they are just a little glimpse, you can imagine being there.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

B + N

SPECTACULAR

Good morning Upper East Siders

(If you didn't get that reference you might need to quickly google Gossip Girl)

Nath has come down with a case of man flu, so it was a slow and relaxed morning with vegemite on toast (thanks for the early Christmas present Mum...but would you believe, they sell it at Bed, Bath  & Beyond! At a much higher price than Australia though!) and a big sleep in for him.

Of course vegemite on toast makes everything better (at least a little bit!) and we set off to catch the subway...just for fun!

We arrived at Grand Central Station. It was marvellous (once your in the Main Concourse, not the actual subway!) 

We really had to resist re-enacting Madagascar...but it was a lot of fun walking around the iconic station!

We found some holiday markets (they appear to be everywhere, much to my delight!) and bought a cute bauble for our tree that represents the subway we caught:

    

conveniently green and pretty cute, we know ;)

Somehow we ended up back at the Bryant Park Markets and watched some excellent ice-skaters show off in their pre-christmas-tree show. Hopefully we'll look amazing when we get around to ice-skating, I can't imagine Nathan being anything other than majestic! Hehe!

Wandering down Broadway in search of food we found 

*waiiiit for it* 

PIE FACE!

Real Aussie meat pies in New York, it was so great..and I even scored one for free! Everyone was a winner, we got to eat meat pies, and the employees got to hang out with some genuine-pie-loving Australians from 'Downunder'

Continuing the food trend of the day Nath scored his very first $1 hot dog (and apparently enjoyed it!)

...I didn't realise we had done so much eating until I started writing this, haha, when in New York!

Next stop Magnolia Bakery, with no line at all! Unheard of!

(I didn't lie! she's not in line, just decided standing next to a smiling, good looking man was a good idea at the time)

We wandered in and got 6 cupcakes, in a very cute tin, to go...

they rapidly became 5.

Our tickets for the Christmas Spectacular were spectacular and the show was even better than I had anticipated, and my expectations were high! The Rockettes were literally perfect, I could happily watch them dance all day. Our favourite was the iconic 'Toy Soldiers' act, their every move was synchronised, each one completely in character...even when they 'all fell down'. Plus the show finished with a live nativity scene...I think they had more animals on stage than there are in the Central Park Zoo! We've almost booked tickets to go again!

For those who watched Hamish and Andy's Gap Year, Nath got a photo with the legendary NYPD 'tough-mobile' just before my camera died for the night!

I don't know how we were hungry again, but somehow we finished off the night with a 20 pack of McNuggets on the giant red stairs overlooking Times Square. 

It was so good. We just sat in awe for about an hour...holidays are the best!

B + N

MONDAY IN MANHATTAN

Happy Monday :)

This morning we discovered Bed Bath & Beyond (conveniently across the road from our apartment... which had a fire truck this morning!) and it blew our minds! It is has everything...e v e r y t h i n g and its all super cheap. We almost considered spending the whole day there, haha!

After I gave some very misleading directions (I may have said meet at GJ's...when I actually meant Starbucks) we finally found the Kahika's and wandered up 5th Avenue to Central Park. Its too hard to resist the splendour, even in the winter!

Listened to some carollers in the Central Park Mall which has incredible acoustics and is absolutely breathtaking! My crappy quality photos do not begin to do it justice...I recommend you just book a ticket to come and experience it :)

Helava was especially excited to see the Lake, which has un-frozen since I last blogged! 

It must be the warmer weather we're having...if I can remember what 'warm' is. 

We reached the Loeb Boathouse just in time for lunch. It felt just like we we're in a movie, and with this view for lunch (which was under $20) you're allowed to feel jealous!

Back down 5th Avenue we farewelled Leah, AK, and Helava at the Empire State Building just in time for sunset and went in search of a Broadway Musical open on Monday night, as most shows take Sunday/Monday as their 'weekend' this is a slightly tricky challenge...but I had a plan 

(I am sure you are so shocked!)

Down on 41st we tried our luck in the 'Newsies' lottery...and WON!!!!

 Two tickets for $60! Thankyou very much!

Because the lottery is drawn 2 hours before the show we had some time to fill in, and found the Bryant Park 'Winter Village' Markets! There are over 125 boutique-style shops and I think we visited every single one..but the best by far was Max Brenner where we picked up some delicious hot chocolates to warm us up! We're already planning to go back for ice-skating and drinks at Celsius which overlooks the whole park!

Before heading back to the theatre we found...

The cheapest (whilst still being extremely yummy) dinner in New York* and what Nathan has been dreaming of since I blogged about NY Pizza in 2010! Living the dream, one slice of pizza at a time.

 

Nathan's first, but definitely NOT last Broadway musical! WOOOHOO!

B + N

*Not exactly a fact, but I would be super impressed if anywhere can top that ;)

ITS BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

all over New York City and our apartment!

HOORAY!

We accidentally had a massive sleep-in this morning, hence looking so awake for the first photo of the day. Now that it's officially December here we practically ran the local corner store to buy our very first, brand new, real life, very pretty, and completely legit CHRISTMAS TREE! 

Which Nathan carried alllll the way home.

What a man!

Then we set off to meet some special family friends Sue and Kate for lunch. The restaurant we had in mind had a two hour waiting period (we definitely thought they meant to say two minutes...unfortunately not) so takeaway coffee and Central Park it was!

The night was still young and we still had time for, well, more shopping! 

Nath found the Magic School Bus! Well not really, but we are slightly unsure what any school would be doing in the middle of New York City on a Sunday night...unless it really was magic..

We have mastered the art of using revolving doors. True New Yorkers, never hardly ever getting stuck or having to awkwardly wait because we didn't react in time...oh and never blocking the whole revolving door in order to put the camera in the next section for a shameless selfie ;)

p.s We also went to Tiffany & Co. Though Nathan didn't purchase anything so I'm sure that means we will be going back in the very near future..YAY!

Feeling exhausted we walked back home and found an awesome 24hr diner...

Two massive burgers, fries, coleslaw, pickles (why?!) and milkshakes later we mustered up the courage to walk the whole block home with ALL our shopping :D

Including our Christmas tree decorations! So we googled 'Feliz Navidad' and after a slightly excessive dance party Nath put up the star, and I decorated with lights, and a single ornament from Bloomingdales (but don't worry! It won't be lonely for long, I'm just limited to one per day otherwise we would be coming home with a whole suitcase of christmas ornaments!)

I LOVE IT!

Oh and we bought an advent calendar...half price from Lindt that included 25 free chocolate truffles.

New York life is the greatest!

loooove and hugs!

B + N