On the 1st Day of Christmas...

Macy's Believe

We made it -- 12 Days of Christmas (in New York)! Hope you've each had a beautiful day. I thought it would be appropriate to end our journey with 'Believe' in lights, which is scrawled on the side of the Macy's building this Christmas season. It was a somewhat tough day with Miles, and maybe not quite what we envisioned for our first Christmas together, so I need a little Belief (capital B, in lights) tonight, I think! Belief that it *will* get better/easier...that Miles will start sleeping longer and better (please oh please, for his sake (he's so overtired, it's painful to watch) and ours)...that his little tummy/reflux issues will be resolved so the happy, cheerful baby that he wants to be (that we catch glimpses of between those rough patches) will be able to emerge more often! I do believe. Merry Christmas. 

On the 2nd Day of Christmas...

Rockefeller Tree

Merry Christmas Eve! Apologies for another Rockefeller photo, BUT...we've just arrived back in the city from our week away in D.C., and I'm too pooped to upload the new Christmas photos onto my computer at the moment. PLUS, the Rockefeller Tree is such a symbol of Christmas magic in New York, so I figured you might not mind :) 

It is good to be back home. Miles did great overall on his first trip out of the city, although I think he reached his limit of new places and faces after a week of newness and change -- he was screaming by the time we got home! :( Poor guy. We are planning on having a quiet day together tomorrow, just the three of us. My first Christmas in the city. I have to say, it was pretty neat driving up twinkly Broadway towards our home tonight, while Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas played on the radio. Life feels so good and full and hard and different and magical (all mixed together) this Christmas season. The song and setting seemed to capture it perfectly tonight. 

On the 3rd Day of Christmas...

Rockefeller Ice Skating Rink

Rockefeller Center is beautiful this year with the alternating gold and silver flags surrounding the rink. It was also insanely packed and busy the other night, even at 11:00 pm on a random Thursday. I guess that's to be expected -- it is an extraordinarily magical place this time of year. (and ps - I can't look at the gold Prometheus statue without thinking of 30 Rock now.) 

On the 4th Day of Christmas...

Central Park South

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Three days to go!

On the 5th Day of Christmas...

Columbus Circle Holiday Market

It's always so exciting to see the familiar red and white striped tents begin to pop up around the city at Christmas time. This year, Miles and I took a spin around the Bryant Park Holiday Market back in November (he mostly slept through it :), and then I was also able to quickly check out the Columbus Circle and Union Square markets recently. Dan and I were looking for a unique gift for Miles' first Christmas, and I found these lovely prints at a the Union Square market. The one I picked is of a little boy flying high above the Chrysler Building -- we plan to hang it in his room :)

On the 6th Day of Christmas...

Christmas trees for sale on Amsterdam

Whenever I see a Christmas tree stand on the sidewalks of New York, I think of that scene in When Harry Met Sally when Sally drags the tree up a hill by herself. It's also the first sign that Christmas has arrived in the city and makes me oh-so-happy. We picked up a lovely tree for our little family this year from a tree stand on Broadway --->

And remember our tree from two years ago? (I still miss that apartment. Ohhh, the fireplace) --->

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On the 7th Day of Christmas...

the stars of Columbus Circle

Love the Columbus Circle mall this time of year with all of the colorful stars of light hanging dramatically in the entrance. And look -- they change colors! Pretty...

On the 8th Day of Christmas...

UNICEF Snowflake, Fifth Avenue

Can't have a 12 Days of Christmas (in New York) countdown without including the UNICEF Snowflake that hangs over Fifth Avenue at 57th Street. This handcrafted crystal ornament weighs over 3,000 lbs (whoa) and is a symbol of the world's most vulnerable children. It's twin (the original snowflake) hangs above Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Dan and I included it on our Christmas Walk last week and stood under it posing and snapping away like tourists.

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

The Pulitzer Fountain, Fifth Avenue

There'a a lovely display of twinkly Christmas lights on the Pulitzer Fountain here at the corner of Central Park South and Fifth Avenue, but even without those lights, this nook of New York always seems to sparkle. I love this spot in the city. There's The Plaza right there, the Apple Store, the Paris Theater...ohhh, the Paris Theater...how I wish I had time these days to see a film at the Paris Theater! (remember my artist's date to the Paris Theater 3 years ago?!) I should have asked for that for Christmas...a few hours off from mommy duty to go sit in a quiet theater and eat junior mints and popcorn....mmmm. Anyway, this spot is the perfect place to start off a Christmas in the City Walk...from here you can walk down twinkly Fifth and head straight for Rockefeller Center. 

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

giant red ornaments on sixth avenue...why not? 

This lovely display can be found right across the street from Radio City Music Hall on Sixth Avenue. So cheerful and fun to stumble upon. 

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We are leaving soon for our Christmas visit with the fam but I will keep the Christmas-in-New York magic rolling! (I've stocked up on photos :)

On the 11th Day of Christmas...

'Tis the season for fancy window displays, of which there are plenty along Fifth Avenue. Be sure to check out Bergdorf's display. Stunning and whimsical. (wouldn't it be the best job EVER to be a window dresser, especially around Christmastime?? How lovely to create a tiny, magical world inside of a box that whisks people away from the sidewalk on which they stand.)  

On the 12th Day of Christmas...

Here we are...the start of our 12 days of Christmas (in New York) countdown! I thought we'd kick things off with Radio City Music Hall, home of the Rockettes and the *most* spectacular Christmas Spectacular Show (which I've seen twice now -- totally worth seeing). Dan and I spotted it on our Christmas walk the other night. A friend babysat for Miles while we went on a hunt for all things twinkly and magical (Fifth Avenue, the holiday markets, Rockefeller, etc.). Radio City fit the bill. And here are it's twinkly innards (taken last month at the aforementioned spectacular show):

Radio City Music Hall

{2009 12 Days of Christmas in New York project} 

Weekend recap (and the 12 Days of Christmas (in New York) countdown).

Columbia's campus, twinkle lights galore

It was a lovely, albeit sleepless, New York kind of weekend. There was a fun baby class with Miles and friends, an Elf watching party, Christmas celebration #1 with my dad (3 more to go!), a Christmas cocktail party with friends, some art-making, and the holiday market at Columbus Circle. It was busy, but full of lots of friends and twinkly New York magic. Unfortunately, Dan and I are utterly exhausted after another stretch of rough, sleepless nights with Miles. He just seems to really struggle with falling and staying asleep lately. It's like he can't shut his little eyes despite the fact that he's sooo sleepy, and once he tips over that edge, missing the window of sleep, he just gets overtired and then it's all over -- we know it will be a stormy, restless night for all of us. It's a vicious cycle. I have a book that was highly recommended to us that I've just started reading...hoping it will shed some light on the situation. 

In other news, Christmas is only 13 DAYS AWAY, people! (don't know how that happened). So you know what that means, right? :) It's time for my 12 Days of Christmas (in New York) countdown! Hooray! I am a little nervous to commit myself to this project since I don't get out as much these days -- plus we'll be out of town for part of it -- but maybe it will help me to remember to soak up the New York Christmas magic, despite my bleary-eyed, sleep-deprived state. So stay tuned!

Miles lounging on Grandpa during our Christmas festivities

Merry Christmas Eve.

bryant park

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

Magical Pockets of New York.

central park south  & fifth avenue

Central Park South and Fifth Avenue.....a great little pocket of New York, especially during the holidays (because of the twinkle lights, of course). In this pocket: the famous Plaza hotel, the Paris Theater (where I had my Artist's Date many moons ago), and of course, the impressive Fifth Avenue Apple Store.  When walking through the pocket the other evening, I had one of those New York moments (you know the ones...I talk about them a lot on here), where I was overcome by the magic, the lights, the possibility. Just what I needed this holiday season during my magical (waytooshort) trip to New York. 

Christmas 2010: T-minus 4 days.

 

columbus circle holiday market

I posted a picture of the Columbus Circle Holiday Market last year during my 12 days of Christmas (in New York) project, as well, and was just as captivated by it this year. The holiday markets are always so magical looking and chock full of unique, handmade gifts. Love.

I heart (Christmas in) New York.

christmas trees for sale on broadway (nyc)

Sorry I missed a day/photo on here. Was too busy frolicking around Manhattan and soaking up the Christmas magic. *Oh* how I love New York! My heart expanded and stretched even more so for my city over the last few days (if that's possible). I just can't help it -- there is something about that place. It just makes me feel so happy...so at home and full of hope. Every twinkle light, every star, every giant crystal snowflake fills me with such a sense of life and vibrancy. Man. Having a hard time even finding the words right now!

It was just so lovely to be there. That's all. And my parched Christmas spirit was watered plenty, drenched really, and I now (finally) feel ready to properly engage in this holiday season. 

I took so many photos of the Christmas magic that I think I'll post New York pictures the rest of the week. Everyone okay with that? :) 

And to all a good night.

another shot of Christmas magic in Faneuil Hall

In the home stretch on the Etsy front...just finishing up the last orders....and so ready for a break! 

Can't believe it's only 8 days until Christmas. Despite all the ornament-making, I'm still not feeling it. Hoping our upcoming trip to NYC will turn that around....can't wait to soak up the magic!

Goodnight, all.

Christmas in Boston.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace 

Tonight I had to run down to the store in Faneuil Hall to pick some things up and was reminded of Boston's dedication to Christmas magic and twinkle lights. 

In other news...I. am. exhausted.

p.s. i'm having a christmas sale on all jewelry between now and 12/18! (they make great gifts :)

Missing New York...

grand central, nyc

I bet there's some Christmas magic happening somewhere in Boston, but here in Cambridge (where I, along with my crazybusy, isolating art-making ways, dwell)...I'm just not feeling it. What I am feeling today, however, is major nostalgia for New York.

It's been tugging at my heart strings all week (as I question why I'm not more in the mood to listen to holiday music or count down Christmas magic on my blog) but I was really pushed over the edge this morning after reading a friend's blog and seeing all of her snapshots of New York Christmas magic. Then I remembered...what it feels like to buy a Christmas tree on the street...to see holiday markets on every other corner and trees and twinkle lights around every bend...and, most especially, decorating our magical Upper West Side apartment. I miss it. I miss it all. 

We are heading there next week for a couple days of Christmas magic before heading down to D.C. for the holidays, and I am definitely looking forward to it. But the last couple of visits have proven to me what I've been a little sad to admit....visiting is just not the same as living there. 

That's all...just feeling the nostalgia tonight. Now it's back to work for me...