There are few places in the world more magical than New York City at Christmas time. Each year, visitors pour into the City from far and wide to be a part of the bustling city streets glittering in a winter wonder so spectacular it catches the eye and harkens smiles from even the most hardened NY Scrooge. We love New York and have been lucky to work in the City on numerous occasions. If you find yourself in this magical City during the holiday season, we have a few suggestions you cannot miss!
1) Grand Central Terminal
Depending on where you are coming from, you may arrive by way of the infamous Grand Central Terminal. Once you have found your way off the train and into the Main Concourse, perhaps as you wait by the iconic information booth to be joined on your adventure by friends or family, you will have a moment to admire the constellations soaring above. About 750,000 people each day pass through this magnanimous commuter cathedral. If you happen to be hungry when you arrive, grab a bowl of chowder at the Oyster Bar, they never miss.
The station was completed in 1913 by the collaborative efforts of two architectural firms: Reed & Stem and Warren & Wetmore. The original mural was painted in 1913 by James Monroe Hewlett and Charles Basing who installed the design of Paul César Helleu. The mural featured the winter zodiac carefully researched using Johann Bayer’s 1603 star atlas and drawings as well as star charts provided by Columbia University. However due to water damage a new mural was commissioned. The Grand Central ceiling you will see today was completed by Charles Gulbrandsen on aesthetics boards and unveiled in 1944. In the 1990s, John Canning Company conserved the Grand Central sky mural.
For more fun facts about Grand Central, click here.
2) Rockefeller Center
Once you have sufficiently wandered up and down Fifth Avenue, taking in all the incredibly decorated shoppe windows, find your way to Rockafeller center to admire the skyscraper city’s Christmas Tree and take a spin on the ice with Prometheus! Rockefeller Center was one of the most ambitious New York City projects, breaking ground as the Great Depression struck the Nation. The very first Rockefeller Christmas Tree was erected in 1931 during construction of the complex. The tree was decorated by the construction workers with tin garlands and cans. When the Rockefeller center was completed in 1933, the Christmas Tree lighting became an annual tradition.
The Prometheus sculpture, created by Paul Manship, was added to the rink in 1934. The 18 foot tall, eight-ton gilded bronze sculpture is set into the sunken ice rink surrounded by an upshooting water fountain. The iconic figure pays homage to the Greek titan, Prometheus, a trickster who stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to humanity. In the Western tradition, Prometheus has become a symbol of knowledge, defying the odds, and human striving. The sculpture embodies this concept depicting Prometheus in forward motion with fire in his outstretched arm, soaring on the earth amidst the waters of the earth, symbolized by the fountain, and encircled by the zodiac to represent the heavens. Behind the sculpture reads the following: “Prometheus, teacher in every art, brought the fire that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends.” The imagery intends to draw humanity up from the depths and inspire the onward march of hope to new frontiers.
For more information on the Prometheus Sculpture, click here and here.
3) Radio City Music Hall
Finish the day at Radio City Music Hall to see the Radio City Rockettes in the Christmas Spectacular. The plot of land on which Radio City was built was originally intended for the Metropolitan Opera House; however, the 1929 crash halted the construction of the Opera House. Instead, a very different type of show house was designed by architect Adward Durell Stone and quickly earned Radio City a nickname as the “Showplace of the Nation.” Donald Deskey won a design competition to complete the interior decoration at Radio City. Part of the Rockefeller Center complex, Radio City opened its doors to the theatre going public in 1932. At the time of construction, the auditorium was the largest in the world. Since 1933, the magic of Radio City has brought to the stage a ninety minute feature with original music, singing, and dancing.
In the 1970s, due to declining theatre-going audiences, Radio City fell into disrepair and nearly into bankruptcy. Protected by historic landmarks and revived public interest, the interior was completely restored, at which time Canning participated in the regilding of over 90,000 square feet of interior gilding. Thankfully, the art deco gem has been preserved. Radio City, designed only to be surpassed by the shows themselves, continues to glimmer to the great enjoyment of New Yorkers, tourists, and performers.
To read more about Radio City Music Hall, click here and on the Christmas Spectacular, click here.
