NYC as a tourist

[monkey68]

Having lived in NY my entire life, I've never had much of a chance to see NY as a tourist, it was always just there. Sure, when my family from Israel visited, we would do some typical stuff like Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, etc., but I was a kid for all that, and after a while, my family got tired of that stuff since they would come rather often.

Well, right now is the first time my aunt and uncle came from Israel to NY during the winter holiday season And they decided they wanted to see some of the traditional NY Christmas things. So tonight, we go to 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center to see the tree. I've seen the tree many times, but I haven't gone in a couple years. OMG, it was so crowded! People were pushing, trying to figure out where to go, it was a madhouse. And honestly, the tree isn't that impressive, it's just a big tree with a bunch of lights on it! They loved it, they were completely blown away by it. When we walked past the Saks window display, again, they were so amazed by it.

But how in the world is it possible to enjoy the area when there are so many people? Maybe it's because I tend to frequent less popular areas, more of the local-ish areas, that I tend to avoid the crowds. It's not even pleasant to have so many people all cramped in such a small place, with everyone trying to go 17 different directions. I thought it would be fun to see Christmas NYC through the eyes of someone who hasn't seen it before, and all I kept wondering was how could somebody actually enjoy this? Maybe I'm missing something in the big tree? Or maybe after a while, it just doesn't amaze me anymore?

 

[DVCLiz]

You're just blase about it because it's not new to you. When you live in a smaller town, NYC is hustle and bustle and excitement and most of all DIFFERENT. In my city we have a big tree, too - but it's not THE big tree in Rockefeller Center.

We were there last weekend and it was crowded, yes - although we were there closer to midnight so the crowds had dispersed - but it was also great to see it all lit up and to know you were in New York, not your regular hometown downtown.

Just a different perspective.

Although I'm glad we went when we did - exactly a week later in exactly the spot we were standing waiting for a taxi to the airport the shooting happened - I was in that gift shop last week and I was standing in exactly the spot where the bullet went through the Wicked book - I remember looking at it and thinking "I should buy that but it would be too heavy to carry on the plane."

 

[monkey68]

I guess you're right, but it doesn't seem like hustle and bustle to me, it just seems like a sea of people all pushing and no one getting anywhere. I don't know if I'm making much sense, and it probably is because I've lived here forever and I can't just shut it off that I didn't see the attraction. And it's not even "real" NY, since I think my (non-visiting) family and myself were the only NYers in the crowd.

Although I'm sure when I go travel and see all the typical touristy things, the people that live there don't get the appeal either. For all I know, the Romans might see the Colisseum as just a big pile of old rocks.

 

[Kimberle]

*LOL* I was there yesterday, too. Oh my gosh, what a nuthouse! You couldn't even walk. It was solid people. Some dude ran over my foot w/ a stroller. When I told him, he just said "oh..", I do think the tree is pretty. We snapped a couple of pictures, spent abt 5 minutes and were out of there!

 

[minnie56]

I LOVE New York..but NOT at Holiday time. It's just not fun..and after awhile being herded like cattle doesn't thrill the best of us!

Try New Years Eve...

 

[Lucky4me]

I agree. I tried to visit Rockefeller center to see the tree several times last year, every time it was packed like sardines. So much pushing and shoving, no one could see anything.
I was not impressed at all.
There were many other holiday activities around the city I did enjoy.
Bryant park had gift shops, a lot of decorations and live music, so did Central park, Pier 17 and several other spots around Manhattan.
It's a very festive time of year in the city. Just walking down Fifth ave. looking at the windows is a fun holiday activity.

 

[PatsGirl]

Uh Oh, I had no idea it was so crowded this time of year Will it be so crowded on the weekdays too? I'll be in the area Wed-Sat next week and really don't like herding, lol.

Monkey68, every time I've come to NYC I've had children with me or it has been for a day trip, this time not. My agenda includes Rockafeller Tree, Century 21, Altar Boyz, Canal Street, and restaurants include Spring Street Natural in Greenwich Village, Arriba Arriba, and the House of Brews, both I think in Hells Kitchen, and 230 5th for rooftop bar drinks. Any suggestions/comments? I pulled most of this off tripadvisor and from friends.

 

[KSchwagg86]

But how in the world is it possible to enjoy the area when there are so many people? Maybe it's because I tend to frequent less popular areas, more of the local-ish areas, that I tend to avoid the crowds. It's not even pleasant to have so many people all cramped in such a small place, with everyone trying to go 17 different directions. I thought it would be fun to see Christmas NYC through the eyes of someone who hasn't seen it before, and all I kept wondering was how could somebody actually enjoy this? Maybe I'm missing something in the big tree? Or maybe after a while, it just doesn't amaze me anymore?

I'm with you--I work at 30 rock so it's just blah to me--plus I think it's ugly this year! The bottom branches are so droopy and there are too many green lights on the tree! JMO

 

[JVL1018]

LOL, I live about 15 minutes outside of NYC and I said to my husband, hey maybe we should take the kids in to see the tree this year.
Then we were like naaah, too much hassle. It can really be more trouble than its worth sometimes, most especially this time of year.

 

[MsAmerica]

I was at Rockefeller Center also late yesterday afternoon and it was beyond packed. It was literally a mass of humanity and I am sure I touched parts of people I normally wouldn't touch and vice versa...

I was by myself so it makes it a little easier to navigate but I thought to myself if I ever had a young child with me I would be worried about their safety.

I kept on trying to get a picture of the tree on my new phone but every pic came out blurry because I was getting pushed so much.

Across the street at Saks, St. Patrick's and Radio City it was just as bad. It was definitely a madhouse in the city yesterday.

MsA

 

[MiniGirl]

OP, I know what you're talking about. When I lived in Manhattan, some friends and I went to see the lighting of the tree. I didn't know how long I'd be able to live there so I wanted to experience everything!!! Anyway, it was so crowded that we could barely move. We couldn't see the show going on down on the ice. We just kept looking at the tree. One second it was just a tree. The next it was all lit up. Then the madness started, and everyone started to move. It was one of the only times in my life that I have been truly scared. I was right near the curb, and the crowd was pushing so much that I just knew if I fell I'd be trampled to death. No exageration. It just really wasn't a fun night.

That said... I did go back to see it many other times -- usually during the week and off hours when it wasn't nearly as crowded. I thought it was really pretty. Just not worth the crowds I fought initially.

 

[AllisonK]

It was beyond packed on Friday, too - I intern a few blocks from Macys and it was horrible trying to get back to Penn Station to catch my train. I'm dreading going in tomorrow - I have tickets to a show after I get out of my internship and I have two hours to kill between the time I get out and curtain... oh it's going to be bad!

 

[Caradana]

I work on Park, a couple of blocks from the tree, have had a place in the city for years, and I somehow turned out completely the opposite of earlier opinions: I am dazzled by holiday NYC. I slow my walk past the tree every day to revel in it. I do a little dance on the sidewalk in front of Saks. I love the digital snowflakes and the huge Marian star over 57th St. The weather outside is frightful, but NYC is so delightful, as the song (sort of) says. I admit that every now and then, I get peeved at a tourist who stops cold in the center of the sidewalk to gape at the surroundings and figure out the inner workings of their digital camera, and I am tempted to whap them lightly with my handbag - but I love every other part of the NYC wintery experience.

 

[Caradana]

230 5th for rooftop bar drinks. Any suggestions/comments?

If it's colder than 50 degrees, skip 230 and go to Xai Xai for South African wine, 51st btw 8th and 9th, closer to 9th, north side of the street. Talk to the waiters - they have brilliant stories of African childhoods. Great place packed full of locals. http://www.xaixaiwinebar.com/about.html

 

[Art 1]

I work on Park, a couple of blocks from the tree, have had a place in the city for years, and I somehow turned out completely the opposite of earlier opinions: I am dazzled by holiday NYC. I slow my walk past the tree every day to revel in it. I do a little dance on the sidewalk in front of Saks. I love the digital snowflakes and the huge Marian star over 57th St. The weather outside is frightful, but NYC is so delightful, as the song (sort of) says. I admit that every now and then, I get peeved at a tourist who stops cold in the center of the sidewalk to gape at the surroundings and figure out the inner workings of their digital camera, and I am tempted to whap them lightly with my handbag - but I love every other part of the NYC wintery experience.

That's funny, I feel the same way towards the tourists at WDW.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I work at 49th and 6th across from Radio City. I hate this time of year. Yes the displays are beautiful but there are so many people you can barely move. This is the time of year I wish I were back working in Tribeca.

 

[mjkacmom]

LOL, I live about 15 minutes outside of NYC and I said to my husband, hey maybe we should take the kids in to see the tree this year.
Then we were like naaah, too much hassle. It can really be more trouble than its worth sometimes, most especially this time of year.

Same here - my gf has tickets to Regis tomorrow, and I turned the offer down.

 

[ckay87]

I agree. I don't ever go at Christmas, but last week my sis wanted to see the traditional stuff. We saw Macy's the tree, then got out of Dodge! Went to Zabars to stock up which was my main goal anyway. And then down to the Village/SoHo.

I will say that I liked what they did to Bryant park for the holidays....is that a new thing? Fairly new? It's been years since I've done NYC at Christmas and it will be years before I do it again. But it was interesting.