'tis the season in NYC

December seems to bring NYC to life in a way that no other month can ~ garlands on brownstone railings, Christmas decorations in restaurant windows, parks overflowing with people or ice-skating rinks, and - of course - Rockefeller Center.

This past weekend, a few of us ventured into the city for a full-blown Christmas spectacular. Trees, ice-skating rinks, markets, ornaments, egg-nog, mulled wine, photography & extraordinary lights.

Driving so much in CT, it's a wonderful break to wander the city streets with a peppermint mocha in hand. Cold, perhaps, but Chicago weather has prepped me well for these wintery adventures. 

for lunch ~ fresh, sweet crêpes ~ as big as our faces

Bryant Park was our first stop, teeming with people shopping the small market or lining up to do a few rounds on the ice. There's a beautiful tree here as well, decorated in blue, red & white ornaments, 

lights & garlands. 

ornament reflections

Busy, exciting & full of energy, I think it's my favorite place to be in NYC during Christmastime!

...Well...

Besides Rolf's...so second favorite??

Rolf's, which is in Gramercy Park, is a German restaurant that undergoes a 

complete transformation for the holiday season.  

A complete Christmas wonderland for the 21+

Part of the bar. & the whole rest of the walls & ceilings look the same.

Their amazing, and very alcoholic, egg-nog

 I can't talk about it enough - you just have to go :)

After a couple hours surrounded by sparkling lights and holiday drinks and happy people, we left the beautiful, warm bar to dive headfirst into crowds and cold. 

All to see THE tree ~ which, this year, came from Connecticut!

On the way - GIANT lights

We ended a wonderful day in Manhattan with hundreds of other merry New Yorkers & tourists, admiring the exquisite tree & thinking of our own, soon to come, Christmases.

xo & bises