Basking in the Glow of the (not so) Creepy Clown -2/11-Pictures, Final Thoughts, PTR!

[brookelizabeth]

It wasn't the brightest idea to go on a Friday night, but it worked the best for us. It was PACKED! It took quite a while to get a spot in front of people to get a decent shot, but it was worth it! The tree is HUGE and it's so beautiful!

It's $19 per adult to skate there. And that does not include skate rental. (Bryant Park is FREE!)

The tree with Rockefeller. You can go to the top of this building! It's got great views!

And in the "main entrance" to the plaza, just off 5th Ave, angels decorate the walkway. You might have seen this on TV or in print, it's incredible.

Kinda gives you an idea of how the plaza is laid out in case you haven't seen it before. The crowds were lighter at this time than when we first arrived!

Henry and Joe were in the store on the right, looking at...

It's a hot dog stand!

Little boy, big tree!

We found a guy with a nice camera thinking he might have an idea of what he's doing and get us a nice family shot...ya, not so much!

All well!

More coming up....!

 

[brookelizabeth]

We decided to walk down a block past Radio City Music Hall. I thought of Tim and Nikki who both went to see the Rockettes this year!

I like this pic because on the left you can see a very normal sight - a giant traffic cone looking thing with steam coming out of it. If you ever visit NYC it's almost guaranteed you'll see at least one of these. The entire City is supplied by two GIANT pipes underground that provide the steam power - sometimes they gotta let some loose due to pressure build up. Did you hear about the manhole cover the blew in midtown a few years ago? Yep, that's why!

There was a LOT of steam! I like how they holiday themed the bus stops! And I also find it funny that the bus isn't running here during the holidays, which surely puts some people at a disadvantage and the sign is like saying "Too bad, no bus service here until January! Happy Holidays!"

Across from Rockefeller this building had a very cute train display!

We were standing there talking about going to Starbucks (he he) and suddenly the train whistle blew and the wheels started to go! It didn't move at all, but the wheels turned and whistle blew. Henry just loved it!

Walking down 6th Avenue...

Tim, I know you have a picture of Mel in front of this too!

Not nearly as bad as the Nemo family self portrait!

Along the way we saw a very...um, *cough* - ahem - interesting - looking Woody.

Even Henry didn't get excited to see THAT Woody!

I loved the giant plug!

And what report would be complete without food pictures?!

A carmel brulee latte and peppermint brownie for me, a white peppermint mocha for Joe! Henry was the healthy one and chose a YOGURT over all the snacks in the case - I asked him over and over if he was sure and even told him he could get chocolate...he wanted yogurt! Of course he wanted a few bites of my brownie too...

We all had a great night!!! I'm so glad we went to go see it all! We'll definitely be back next year. Later this month we have plans to see see a train display at Grand Central, the Holiday Train at the Botanical Gardens, the World Financial Center lights and a light display in Brooklyn. I'll keep posting and sharing the beautiful New York City Christmas with you!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Awe, I like the windows. Thanks for the pics!

Your welcome! If we make it over there again before Christmas I'll get some of the inside and the "Miracle on 34th Street" windows too.

Love the pics of Macy's

Thanks! They were very cute!

So sweet that Henry was proud with his Nemo.

I bought my "Dory" in that store.

Maybe Henry will want Dory instead of Marlin for the next trip! She'd be easier to find!

 

[KristiMc]

Great pics of NYC. Thanks for sharing. I visited once when I was in high school. Would love to see it again.

 

[MeMom]

It is so neat to see all of your pictures of things I have seen on TV or in movies. I know it would be awesome to see them in person and have the Christmas atmosphere everywhere. Thanks for sharing that walk around your town.

 

[brookelizabeth]

We left off, back in sunny and beautiful Florida, with our little crew arriving in the UK for some eats. We had a 12:05 ADR for Rose & Crown! I was very excited about this ADR because every time I read reviews or saw pictures I would start to drool.

And...it was hot. I was very ready to sit in some air conditioning and drink an icy beverage.

So, we check-in and sit and wait....and wait...and wait...

It really was only about 20 minutes, but in that heat it wasn't pleasant!

Finally our buzzer rings and we are led inside the lovely restaurant and introduced to our waitress, Ray. She is sweet and also in training - but that didn't bother me - she was incredibly pleasant and confident in what she was doing.

We get our menus and decide what we are going to eat.

And we waited....and waited...where did Ray go?

Oh, there she is - our drink orders...I'm sure both Joe and I got a Diet Coke, but Henry got:

A Toy Story cup with a light up Buzz Lightyear! He was SO EXCITED! It normally comes with some sort of juice in the cup, but we changed it to milk-which was no problem.

And I am very, very relieved we purchased this. Anyone here with a 3 year old knows how antsy they can get in a restaurant-espeically when nearing nap time! Well....while Ray was sweet and confident, she was S-L-O-W! It took forever to get ANYTHING or even see her. Some people like a slow meal, but with a 3 year old - that is a recipe for a nightmare. Thankfully Henry was highly distracted with his light up Buzz, and Joe and I enjoyed the cool air, so it wasn't a huge deal, but it could have been a stressful disaster.

That's not Ray.

Neither is that.

Eventually the goods were brought to us, by a different waiter...but all well - we had food, let's eat!

Cheese pizza, veggies, fruit.

My plate. Sunday Dinner - with Yorkshire Pudding, Roasted Potatoes, seasonal Vegetable, and Shallot Gravy

Let me tell you, that looks like a mess on a plate, but it was GOOD. Every single thing on that plate was tasty!

Joe's - Cottage Pie - ground beef with onions, carrots, and green peas topped with Duchess potatoes.

Also very, very tasty! We had ZERO complaints on the food!

Our plates sat empty for a good 20 minutes before Ray emerged from wherever and we ordered dessert...Sticky Toffee Pudding!

This is quite small, we didn't realize that, so we probably would have each gotten our own if we had known, but it was delish!! It was devoured in like 8 seconds.

After dessert at some point Ray appeared again, with a birthday card for Henry! Which was very, very sweet and unexpected!

While she did bring the card, she didn't bring the check.

So it was another 15 minute wait until she appeared again and we could ask for the check - then another 5 or 10 to get it.

I decided I would change Henry and re-apply sunscreen while we waited to settle the bill. The only bathroom is in the bar area, which was full of people. I weaved around them with Henry only to find the bathroom did not have a changing table. Sigh.

Back out to Joe, to explain, and then out into the heat - which actually felt good after sitting there for so long! - over to the UK bathrooms.

After all that was done, Henry and I walked around a bit in the UK until Joe finally emerged from the restaurant.

All in all - the food was sooooo very good. Wonderful atmosphere. But the service was frustratingly slow. We saw several tables arrive well after us and leave before us. If Henry hadn't had that Buzz light up toy or his new Nemo, it surely would have been a frustrating experience. We WOULD return, but I'd be armed with distraction toys just in case! For those of you who have eaten here - have you ever received such slow service? Or was it just a fluke? I'm hoping for a fluke, because otherwise it was great!

 

[glennbo123]

Lovin' the NYC pics!

Your Sunday Dinner meal at Rose & Crown looks excellent to me, although I've never eaten there. Mmmm, looks like Brussel Sprouts on there too. I love those. (seriously)

 

[brookelizabeth]

Great pics of NYC. Thanks for sharing. I visited once when I was in high school. Would love to see it again.

It really is quite amazing! We, especially I - being a stay-at-home-Mom, forget where we live and what is available to us. We easily get caught up in the day-to-day and just blur past all this. I'm so glad we took the time to do it!

It is so neat to see all of your pictures of things I have seen on TV or in movies. I know it would be awesome to see them in person and have the Christmas atmosphere everywhere. Thanks for sharing that walk around your town.

It is quite surreal sometimes to realize we live HERE. I remember the first time I ever saw Rockefeller for Christmas - it was quiet and late at night, just a few people on the plaza and it literally took my breath away. Seeing, in person, what I had seen so many times before on TV or in a magazine.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be able to easily go do these things with my family knowing many people save a lot of money to vacation here!

I'm happy to share, I love this City and it's truly a gem at Christmas!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Lovin' the NYC pics!

Your Sunday Dinner meal at Rose & Crown looks excellent to me, although I've never eaten there. Mmmm, looks like Brussel Sprouts on there too. I love those. (seriously)

Me too! LOVE them! YUMMMMM! I tried to get Henry to eat one - there was no having that.

 

[photographymom517]

Hey Brook! I haven't been on the DIS for a few weeks, but I'm sooo glad that I logged on tonight!!! I've been so depressed with all the snow we've been getting here in PA. It seems that all I've done this past week is shovel snow & we're supposed to get a big storm tomorrow afternoon and Monday.

Anyway, amist my dislike of the snow, I've been trying my hardest to love it for Luke...he wakes up every single morning & looks out the kitchen door & says "Look mommy...more snow...snow is everywhere!!!" and he's just sooo excited! So this past week, I've really tried to get into the Christmas spirit...if it were up to me, it would snow on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day...and then go away for the entire winter!

I wrapped some gifts this week & that cheered me up. I found a Mickey Christmas CD & that cheered me up! And now I'm on DIS reading about people's Christmas reports which is cheering me up (and also making me wish I was there! hehe!)

Well anyway enough about that! I'm telling you all of this because I was sooo excited this evening when I saw your NYC posts!!! It brought back some really great memories & made me really smile alot!!! So thank you a million times for that! Just what I needed in the middle of 2 snowstorms! I have never been to NYC during Christmastime, but I did see Footloose there & toured alot of the popular buildings. I absolutely love St. Patricks Cathedral! Its so gorgeous to photograph!!! It was also really fun to see alot of the buildings that I missed out on seeing when I was in NYC! And of course, it was wonderful to see you & your adorable family having such a great time enjoying the Christmas decor!!! Thanks for sharing it!!!

 

[Poolrat]

Thanks for all the pictures. I sort of miss going to see the light. I have not done in 25 years maybe more so I guess if I really missed it would have gone back. I don't miss the cold. Seeing you in the Parka reminded me of that. we had a cold week here and I actually broke out the coat all week. I think I really only wore it Monday - Wednesday. I carried it Thursday and I only pulled out a lighter jacket Friday.
No pretzel???? That's Ok- the brownie looked much better.

There was a LOT of steam! I like how they holiday themed the bus stops! And I also find it funny that the bus isn't running here during the holidays, which surely puts some people at a disadvantage and the sign is like saying "Too bad, no bus service here until January! Happy Holidays!"

That's NY for you. I bet traffic is worse than usual. Take the train. But they don't tell you that.

Along the way we saw a very...um, *cough* - ahem - interesting - looking Woody.

I read first then scolled down and
I think he shrunk a bit and has been hitting the NY resturants a bit much.

 

[Poolrat]

It really is quite amazing! We, especially I - being a stay-at-home-Mom, forget where we live and what is available to us. We easily get caught up in the day-to-day and just blur past all this. I'm so glad we took the time to do it!



It is quite surreal sometimes to realize we live HERE. I remember the first time I ever saw Rockefeller for Christmas - it was quiet and late at night, just a few people on the plaza and it literally took my breath away. Seeing, in person, what I had seen so many times before on TV or in a magazine.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be able to easily go do these things with my family knowing many people save a lot of money to vacation here!

I'm happy to share, I love this City and it's truly a gem at Christmas!

Since I grew up in NY I had the opposite experience. I never knew any different. We were fortunate to go into the city for a play during school. It was field trip. A regular field trip. We went to Rockefeller center most every year. We saw the windows and made a day out of it.
That being said I have not been to the Statue of Liberty. I went to the UN building- as a school field trip.
I have never fully explored Central Park. I am sure I have been on the outskirts but I have no memory of being in the park for any extended time.

I am grateful for what memories I have of living in NY. Other than the cold weather, I enjoyed it.

 

[Poolrat]

I scrolled up only to see that Woody again.
I started laughing all over again.

Only in NYC.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Brook, we have eaten at R&C several times and have had great service. The last time was slow but there were circumstances inside that our server had witnessed (someone had choked) that slowed him down....
I'd try again for sure!!!

Thanks so much for the Christmas trip to the city! I would so love to experience that sometime!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Hey Brook! I haven't been on the DIS for a few weeks, but I'm sooo glad that I logged on tonight!!! I've been so depressed with all the snow we've been getting here in PA. It seems that all I've done this past week is shovel snow & we're supposed to get a big storm tomorrow afternoon and Monday.

Anyway, amist my dislike of the snow, I've been trying my hardest to love it for Luke...he wakes up every single morning & looks out the kitchen door & says "Look mommy...more snow...snow is everywhere!!!" and he's just sooo excited! So this past week, I've really tried to get into the Christmas spirit...if it were up to me, it would snow on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day...and then go away for the entire winter!

I wrapped some gifts this week & that cheered me up. I found a Mickey Christmas CD & that cheered me up! And now I'm on DIS reading about people's Christmas reports which is cheering me up (and also making me wish I was there! hehe!)

Well anyway enough about that! I'm telling you all of this because I was sooo excited this evening when I saw your NYC posts!!! It brought back some really great memories & made me really smile alot!!! So thank you a million times for that! Just what I needed in the middle of 2 snowstorms! I have never been to NYC during Christmastime, but I did see Footloose there & toured alot of the popular buildings. I absolutely love St. Patricks Cathedral! Its so gorgeous to photograph!!! It was also really fun to see alot of the buildings that I missed out on seeing when I was in NYC! And of course, it was wonderful to see you & your adorable family having such a great time enjoying the Christmas decor!!! Thanks for sharing it!!!

Oh, this is PERFECT timing then! Your post made me grin.

I hope the snow-blues stay away now...at my Mom's they are up to 17.5 inches and it's still snowing! I can imagine it's easy to get stuck in a rut during all that. Have you taken Luke out to play in the snow yet? That is the hardest for me because, I like you, would only like snow 2 days a year...yet I know my little man has a BALL out there...so I gotta suck it up and play.

Thanks for all the pictures. I sort of miss going to see the light. I have not done in 25 years maybe more so I guess if I really missed it would have gone back. I don't miss the cold. Seeing you in the Parka reminded me of that. we had a cold week here and I actually broke out the coat all week. I think I really only wore it Monday - Wednesday. I carried it Thursday and I only pulled out a lighter jacket Friday.
No pretzel???? That's Ok- the brownie looked much better.

That's NY for you. I bet traffic is worse than usual. Take the train. But they don't tell you that.

I read first then scolled down and
I think he shrunk a bit and has been hitting the NY resturants a bit much.

I thought of you at the first pretzel stand I saw! But, it just wasn't jiving, I wanted sweet!

It's true - that IS NY for you! I'm all about the train. I only do the buses here in Queens or if I have to. The train is so much easier.

I love your comment about Woody!!

Since I grew up in NY I had the opposite experience. I never knew any different. We were fortunate to go into the city for a play during school. It was field trip. A regular field trip. We went to Rockefeller center most every year. We saw the windows and made a day out of it.
That being said I have not been to the Statue of Liberty. I went to the UN building- as a school field trip.
I have never fully explored Central Park. I am sure I have been on the outskirts but I have no memory of being in the park for any extended time.

I am grateful for what memories I have of living in NY. Other than the cold weather, I enjoyed it.

That is so true of people who grow up here! Just recently I met a friend of a friend who grew up here - we were meeting in Central Park at Turtle Pond, which is near the Belvidere Castle and the Great Lawn, a VERY touristy spot - and he had never been there! Grew up and lived in NYC all his life and hadn't a clue where it was in the park!

I look forward to Henry being able to go to places as a field trip. Kids here don't just get to hear about history, they get to SEE it. It amazes me - our nation pretty much started here, government was founded RIGHT HERE! The incredible history this City holds. Ahhh, makes me all excited! I'm thrilled Henry gets to experience growing up here! I really hope to never fall into just living here and it being the norm, I want to embrace the City for everything it has to offer and always be exploring and finding new things. I'm sure if Henry stays here it will be different for him as an adult being his Mom and Dad dragged him all over already...

I scrolled up only to see that Woody again.
I started laughing all over again.

Only in NYC.

You shoulda seen the Mickey Mouse too. I wasn't quick enough to grab a picture of him, but....

 

[brookelizabeth]

Brook, we have eaten at R&C several times and have had great service. The last time was slow but there were circumstances inside that our server had witnessed (someone had choked) that slowed him down....
I'd try again for sure!!!

Thanks so much for the Christmas trip to the city! I would so love to experience that sometime!

Ack! Someone choked? That is SCARY! I'm so glad your server was there to help!

I'm glad to hear that about R&C. Being it gets such good reviews and repeat visits from several people (you two, LL, Jen, etc) I figured it was a fluke---or you were just MUCH more patient people than I!

Your welcome for the pics! It's fun to share it all! I'd love to have a GIANT DIS meet up here sometime...it would be a blast! But better in the spring or fall.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Beautiful pictures of NYC all decorated for Christmas -- love all the window displays -- so pretty and festive!

$19 to skate at Rockefeller Center! Wow! And here I was thinking $9 a person was a bit pricey to skate at the rink they have set up in Centennial Olympic Park here in Atlanta!

Dinner at Rose and Crown looks delicious! We really enjoyed our meal in 2009 there. Our service was not that slow -- too bad Ray would disappear for such long periods of time -- that would have driven me nuts -- glad Henry had his Buzz toy to keep him distracted.

 

[dawnbu40]

Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures of Christmas in New York! I've always wanted to visit there during the holidays so I enjoyed the tour

Glad your food was good at R&C but sorry to hear your server was so slow. We've eaten there several times and never had stellar service but I don't think it was ever as slow as yours.

 

[jenjolt]

Wow!! NYC looks amazing at Christmas time!! Thank you for sharing all those pictures!! I would love to walk down those same streets some day!!!! Glad you guys had a great time!!

Hmmmm...Rose N Crown!! I love that restaurant!! I have never had slow service like that before, so I'm going to say it was a fluke! You should definitely give it a second shot!! It has always provided an amazing meal!!!!

 

[Native NYer]

I Christmas in NYC.

R & C looks great. I need to add it to my possible ADRs list.