For lovers of ballet, The New York City Ballet will present its annual production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. Featuring marching toy soldiers, a glowing one-ton Christmas tree, crystalline snowflakes and a top cast of ballet dancers, the show runs from November 26, 2010, to January 2, 2011; tickets range from $20 to $135. For more information, go to www.nycballet.com/nutcracker.
During the festive season, famous stores such as Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s spruce up their window displays with beautiful holiday-themed decor. Indoor and outdoor holiday markets at Columbus Circle, Bryant Park, Union Square and Grand Central Terminal offer many options for shoppers looking for unique gifts created by local artists and vendors.
Midtown hotel Le Parker Meridien will host its second annual Gingerbread Extravaganza, during which local bakeries display their large-scale confectionery creations from December 1, 2010, to January 9, 2011. For $1, vote on the best gingerbread design and enter to win a prize. Visit www.parkermeridien.com for more details. All proceeds will benefit City Harvest, an organization that rescues food to feed hungry New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs.
The Big Apple Circus celebrates its 33rd season this year with an all-new show, Dance On! New York City’s circus returns to the big top at Lincoln Center, complete with unicyclists, contortionists, animals and clown Grandma. Seats are never more than 50 feet from the ring. Performances run from October 21, 2010, to January 9, 2011; tickets range from $15 to $92. To book, go to www.bigapplecircus.org.
Meanwhile, The Jewish Museum on the Upper East Side is exhibiting The Hanukkah Project: Daniel Libeskind from November 21, 2010, to January 30, 2011, featuring Hanukkah lamps from the museum’s collection, each with a rich and beautiful history. For more information, visit www.thejewishmuseum.org.
NYC & Company will once again launch its annual Harlem for the Holidays promotion, which runs from late November through the New Year. Harlem is a remarkable area to visit during the holidays, with venues offering top-class culture, dining, shopping and more. Further details on this initiative will be available closer to the holiday season at www.nycgo.com.
In the Bronx, visitors can experience the Annual Holiday Family Day at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum on Saturday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festively decorated 19th-century mansion offers programs and activities for children, including photos with Santa. Reservations are requested; call 718-885-1461 or email info@bpmm.org. Visit www.bpmm.org for more information.
Also in the Bronx, at the New York Botanical Garden, is the family-favorite Holiday Train Show, featuring toy trains that zip through more than 100 replicas of NYC landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium and the George Washington Bridge. Handcrafted by award-winning designers, the set is made from natural supplies such as orange slices, cinnamon sticks, bark and pinecones. The show will be on display between November 20, 2010, and January 9, 2011. To learn more about the Holiday train Show and the New York Botanical Garden, visit www.nybg.org.
In Staten Island, the annual Candlelight Tours will take place on Saturday, December 11, and Saturday, December 18. See the sights and sounds of Historic Richmond Town, which will be lit by candles, oil lamps and blazing fireplaces. Tickets cost $22 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under; prepaid reservations are required. Call 718-351-1611, ext. 281, for tour times and reservations. More information is available at www.historicrichmondtown.org.
In Brooklyn, the Lights of Dyker Heights offers a wonderful spectacle that attracts thousands of visitors during the holiday season. The best displays can be seen on the blocks between 83rd and 86th Streets from 11th to 13th Avenue in this small neighborhood between Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst.
During the week of Hanukkah, the Menorah of Brooklyn can be visited in downtown Brooklyn at Columbus Park, right outside Borough Hall. And in Manhattan, the lighting of the World’s Largest Menorah takes place at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, right in front of the Plaza Hotel.
In Queens the Queens Historical Society presents the Annual Historic Holiday House Tour on Sunday, December 12, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This guided trolley tour includes stops at five festively decorated museums and historical sites, including the Queens Historical Society at the Kingsland Homestead, the Flushing Quaker Meeting House, Flushing Town Hall, the Voelker Orth Museum and Lewis H. Latimer House. A local historian will narrate the tour. Visitors will have access to all exhibits at each site, which will also feature holiday refreshments and family activities. Tickets cost $10 for adults, with children under 12 free, and can be purchased in advance at any of the sites or at the door the day of the event. Visit www.queenshistoricalsociety.org to learn more about the society and the tour.
For more information on planning a holiday visit to New York City, visit www.nycgo.com/annualevents.
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