Holidays in NYC – Ummm, Nope

Significantly late posting this – oops. This is probably appropriate for those planning a holiday trip to NYC this year…

Go to NYC for the holidays, they said. It’s magical this time of year, they said. IMO, it was more magical pre-COVID and unless you are up at the crack of dawn on a Tuesday morning, it’s terrifyingly jam packed with tourists and Vegas-like rickshaws. There, I said it. I might be alone in my thoughts here and I’m ok with it!  I was there for 8 days from a Friday to a Saturday, the first week in December – most experiences were fantastic, but there were a few I could have lived without.

First, on Saturday morning I made the GIANT mistake of heading south to Union Square for a Christmas market – typically one of my most favorite things to do this time of year. The market was so jammed with people, one could hardly move. No matter where I went, I could not escape the shoulder to shoulder crowds.  I couldn’t take it any more! 

The subway can sometimes feel super crowded so I decided to walk back to Midtown (hotel location). Big Mistake – things did not improve – they just got worse! The sidewalks from Bryant Park all the way up to Central Park were so jammed with people and baby strollers, it was suffocating.  Weaving between yellow taxi’s and Uber drivers felt safer. The threat of crowd rush was real. My heart went out to all the claustrophobic, introverts out there. 

There is a new unfortunate mode of transportation in town – the rickshaw. I had the privilege of seeing two different Broadway shows (Merrily we Roll Along and Appropriate). Both of them were absolutely fantastic. When both shows ended, I was feeling all the feels. Then, a dose of reality smacked me in the face. Just outside each theater, there were at least 5 rickshaws covered in lights blaring the most obnoxious (mostly bad) music to get your attention. It was irritating and circus-like. Made me forget where I was for a second.

Rant over!! I had to get all that off my chest!!! I cant lie, the first weekend in town was brutal and I vowed never to go back during the holidays, but NYC is still my favorite city in the world. 

An eight-day trip for work, coupled with some BFF time was still super fun, but only after I learned how to navigate the situation by actually leaving Midtown and exploring other parts of the city, mainly Central Park, Greenwich Village and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I pretty much covered every inch of the city on foot and ran a half marathon to boot.

Thought I’d share a few snaps of my walk-about. The crowds during the week seemed more manageable, so if you have a strong desire to head to NYC during the holidays, plan accordingly. 

As an added bonus, I did manage to find some great spots for a bite or a drink! Can’t wait to go back to these places another time.

1. Buvette – Greenwich Village
2. Cafe Cluny – Greenwich Village
3. La Grande Boucherie – Midtown
4. Kin Ramen – Midtown West
5. Bakeri – Williamsburg
6. Other Half Brewing – Williamsburg

If you choose to brave NYC during the holidays, I wish you all the best and hope you make the most of it!!

..i choose this…

Pam