The end of December rolls around and the streets of New York City start to shift. In Midtown Manhattan, a rush of tourists congregate at the world famous attractions: the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, the South end of Central Park, and the notorious Times Square.
But just outside the hub of Midtown, lies hundreds of streets with thousands of apartments, which slowly begin to quiet down, even just for a day. The people of New York flock to their family's homes in the suburbs, searching for space, warmth, and connection over the holidays.
After my family sold our home in Connecticut, we've started hosting Christmas and other holidays in New York City, where my brother and I live, leaving us with an "emptier" version of our favorite city for my family and me to explore. Our strategy? Head to off-the-path tourist attractions, enjoy them, and then walk a few extra blocks to nearby local finds.
1. See the Manhattan Skyline at The Edge
The Edge is the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere. But, opening in March 2020, the skyscraper may have gotten a late start to their touristy buzz. That being said, this 100 story tall, 360 view of Manhattan terrace is tough to beat. And with no traffic or very crowded areas (you have to reserve a ticketed time), make the whole experience even better.
On our way up, we learned all about the sustainable initiatives of Hudson Yards and once the elevator took us to the top, we were able to relax with a glass of pinot noir and walk around the outdoor terrace. Tickets were $38. Afterwards, we shopped around the mall, which had everything from H&M to Kate Spade to Fendi.
Nearby Local Find: Then, we walked about 15 minutes to eat our Christmas Eve dinner at one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Vice Versa in Hell's Kitchen. They played Christmas music, put up beautiful decorations including a Christmas tree, and served a reasonably priced menu for high end Italian food.
2. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
Christmas morning, we decided to walk the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan, as we were staying at my brother's apartment in Cobble Hill. Nearby Local Find: I made sure to start the day off right with a delicious Sausage, Egg and Swiss Cheese on a poppy seed bagel (not toasted because they're fresh) and a hazelnut iced coffee, from Court Street Bagels. The owner of this cash-only bagel shop served us directly, and it was nice to see a place open on Christmas.
Once we had some food in us, we made the easy trek across the bridge, with the best photo opps being right as we walked on, facing Manhattan's Financial District. Even with the fog, the view was spectacular. After what seemed like a pretty quick & non-crowded walk, we headed to Pier 17 on the other side of the bridge, which has some great restaurants and even hosts concerts on their rooftop.
We sat at the bar at Fulton Place and had some of the best cocktails. I ordered a margarita as my first drink, and then asked the bartender to make us a hot toddy. It wasn't on the menu, but the bartender was really excited to personalize the drinks for us.
3. See the Christmas Lights in Dyker Heights
Later that night, we took the R train from Whitehall Station to the last stop in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. My parents lived in Bay Ridge for a number of years in the late 80's, so we first checked out their old apartment from the outside. Nearby Local Tip: We walked up 3rd Avenue, which has a ton of restaurants from so many different cuisines: Greek to Georgian to Turkish and more. However, it being Christmas Day, most of the restaurants were closed. But, we lucked out with a delicious and well-priced Chinese restaurant called Xin. I got chow fun noodles with pork and soup dumplings. A little oily, but insanely delicious.
Filled with food, we headed East to Dyker Heights, which apparently is known for extravagant Christmas lights decorating all of the houses across multiple blocks. I have to admit, I was expecting cheesy Christmas lights, but I was blown away by the beauty and the effort these families put into decorating their homes for the community to come out and see together.
All in all, if you're looking to celebrate Christmas in New York, these tourist attractions that are outside the world famous ones are a great way to go. And remember to checkout the nearby places, even just a few blocks over, for some local favorites.
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