Christmas Cheer

Yes, I know that the 1% - and many others in the 99% - can hardly wait to fly out each year to spend the Christmas holiday napping on sunny beaches and sipping mai tais, but after my experience this year, I have to say there's nothing quite like a New York City Christmas.

I was fortunate to be invited to spend the holiday with friends and friends' family. On Christmas Eve-Day, we gathered in Chinatown for a dim sum brunch (haha, can't get more New York-y than that!) and then strolled the chilly streets of the city for nine hours taking in the holiday sights.

Lest you think we were wandering around destination-less, let me assure you that one of my friends is a master organizer. She had a route meticulously planned out; under her and her mom's herding, our group of six marched from Lincoln Center......to Columbus Circle and into the Time Warner building...
...into the Plaza hotel to check out the (not-so-impressive) Eloise-themed tree designed by Betsey Johnson...
...with a pit stop at FAO Schwartz, and then down Fifth Avenue to see the to see all the sparkling window displays (Bergdorf really outdid themselves (the below picture is just a sample), while Saks' windows were just plain ole weird this year)...
...to Rockefeller Center (but of course!)...
...into St. Patrick's Cathedral to hear the choir... and Times Square, and Bryant Park (which had a strangely compelling big blue tree).
We enjoyed a big Italian dinner at a cozy and bustling eatery on Restaurant Row, and then dessert at the lounge in the Marriott that overlooks Times Square. It was a perfect day with fun, upbeat companions.

The next day, on Christmas Day, I headed to Westchester to my friends' mom's house to join a group of friends for dinner. My friends and their mom cooked all day, which was apparent from the menu of baked brie, roasted pear and shallot salad, oxtail soup, beef tenderloin with horseradish and black-pepper crust, steamed fish, Yorkshire pudding, buttermilk pie, etc. etc. etc.!

I've been raised to never go to someone's home as a guest without bringing something nice, and of course I made cards to go along with presents I gave my friend and her mom. I gifted my friend a bag full of goodies, including nice-smelling shower gels, lotions and hand lotions.
And I gave my friend's mom a bouquet of her favorite roses and a huge box of chocolates, with this card (remember my "little black dress of Christmas stamps"?):

No one wanted to disturb the magic of the evening; we all sat where we were around the table well into the night, laughing and talking with all our might. It was indescribably nice to be there with a group of kindred spirits.

It was a really lovely celebration spanning two days, one of the best and most memorable I've had. I strengthened old friendships and made new friends, and had a very, very merry Christmas.