by Aleli Liddle
I live in California since 1986. There is not quite anything similar in California the way Christmas is celebrated in the Philippines. I had an opportunity to visit New York right after my Lola passed away. To get depression out of my system, temporarily, my sister took me to during her Christmas visit in New York.
New York City is a whole new world. Though our visit was short, I was able to experience the Christmas like back home. Christmas lights and decorations everywhere, busy people, shopping and spirit of magic was in the air.
For a long time, since after I had children, I dreamed of taking my children with me to experience what I saw. My dream became reality on Christmas 2023.
We reached New York, Manhattan on December 26 at 5pm at night. All our eyes were lit with excitement. All our senses were overloaded, our sight, smell, fell and ears, and even our taste One dollar pizza was calling. Hmmm
You are probably wondering, and saying December 26 is day after Christmas. If Philippines start Christmas spirit in September, New York City is busier from after Thanksgiving weekend until right after New Year’s.
We flew in from La Guardia airport, less chaos. Hopped on Uber to our hotel. Christmas is peak season. Hotels like Hotel Hayden was charging $400/night minimum for one king size bed. My son booked the hotel in the center of flower district for us to be center of the city.
As soon as we got our room, dropped off our luggage, we proceeded to Times Square, by foot. There are so many people.
Our senses heightened some more. The smell of sewer & pizza, the noise of cars & people yelling, seeing the bright neon lights from billboard and Christmas decors. On our way to Times Square, pizza was calling, we had to stop for $1Pizza, cheese fresh from the oven. Pizza was so good.
The city started barricading the area, to get ready for New Year’s Eve. There were lots of people. The crystal glass ball was ready for New Year’s event. We took some photos. I saw Jollibee across the street. I felt proud that one Filipino business is thriving in NYC. We head to Korean pop store for a girlie photo in their booth. At 52 yrs. old, I felt teenager all over again. Waited in line for our turn, took our photos, cross the street. Then head back to our hotel’s direction. We decided to have late dinner at L’Amico Italian Restaurant.
L’Amico is somewhat fine dining restaurant for my type. The room was vibrant, loud, compact with illuminating candlelight on the table. It was our first restaurant dinner in the city, so we decided to splurge a little. I enjoy having fun with my children. They are adults now, so I get to do adult stuff and make a fool of myself.
We got our night rest to be ready for another day. My son got up early to grab coffee and chap-cheese (a type of sandwich, only in NYC). According to my son, it is nice to walk around to see how the city starting the day. Rockefeller is best visited at 5am when the light is turned on while not a lot of people. NYC is known for city that doesn’t sleep.
We got our $20 Metro Card, head south. First stop was Friends sitcom building.
NYC is like a big Hollywood Universal Studio. Everywhere I looked reminded me of some movie I’ve seen. I felt like I was part of a film. We head to New York financial district, then Battery Park, Brooklyn Bridge for a quick pic. We walked and walked. We got hungry so we went to check out Chinatown, Canal Street. Restaurant we ate at take cash only. We had brunch, soup dumplings Peking duck and noodles hit the spot. Dumplings were made with fresh wrapper, not like the store-bought wanton wrapper. Dishes had less veggies as compared to California dishes, garnished variety of veggies. Dainese and Ducati stores were on our list to browse around, check out souvenirs and take photos of their motorcycles.
Five miles in by foot, we decided to head back to our hotel for siesta.
At 4pm, we went to Diamond District, then to Rockefeller Center cross street from Sak’s Fifth Ave. At that point, I didn’t care about the people around me. My eyes were too busy admiring the Christian Dior decoration at Sak’s. It was mesmerizing. It reminded me of my childhood when we used to go to Cubao to see the decor of COD Department Store. But Sak’s is more than COD in terms of Christmas decorations. Every window has its own theme. (We will get to that in a moment.)
Sak’s Fifth Ave is located at 5th Ave., among many other flagship stores such as Cartier, Omega, Tiffany, Chanel, Bloomingdale’s etc. St. Patrick Cathedral is also located in 5th Ave. The church known from so many movies like Godfather, Spider-Man, and Maid of Honor among many others. We head to House of Cartier. We got to explore and play a bit while waiting to be helped. Cartier building looks more like a museum than a store. We had great experience being a tourist. We were served with bubbly and chocolates. One thing I love about Cartier, getting a jewelry storage bags, box wrapped with Cartier wax stamp and concealed bag from the purchase. Ok fine, three things.
Then off to check out Omega watch store. We look so broke that we did not get asked if we needed help but that is ok. MY son asked for a watch he wanted to try on. I tried on some eye glasses, fooled around a bit, got our bubbly drinks & coffee. Left the store with a complimentary champagne and two bottles of sparkling water. The two stores were great experience. An experience we would do again wearing our ordinary Costco brand clothing. No shame on that.
Let’s talk about what we came here for, the amazing display of Sak’s Fifth Avenue. December 2023 theme is Christian Dior NYC. There over thirteen windows with miniature mechanical life like version of NYC, including replica of Brooklyn Bridge. I am great fan of miniatures. So for me, I feel like a kid again. My children probably do not appreciate the intricate work presented, but they surely enjoy the way I went googoogaga over the exhibit.
By that time, we already racked up 11 miles by feet. My daughter flagged a taxi after all that walking. We got a bite to eat at Tappo, another great restaurant. Pizza, salad and wings. There is really nothing like NYC pizza. You gotta be in NYC to enjoy NY pizza.
No agenda day was designed to meet some family that we have not seen in a while. First stop, meet my niece and sister at Filipino Restaurant, Grill 21. Small hole on the wall restaurant with amazing sinigang, and tapsilog, bansilog and halohalo. A place I would go to all the time if I crazy Filipino food.
Time to walk off our calories. Off to Central Park. Again, my head was thinking of scene I saw in movies while crossing the street of Park Ave. I bet you can name a few. Here is my favorite Park Avenue movie scene, Barbara Streisand and Jeff Bridges, Mirror with Two Faces.
How about Central Park? How many movies can you name filmed there. Home Alone 2, Maid in Manhattan, Serendipity, Devil Wears Prada and many others.
My niece decided to take us to Metropolitan Art Museum. We had three hours to walk around and check out the exhibits. The place is so big, even a day is not enough to fully enjoy everything that was showcase there. I did manage to take some photos of some of my favorites.
Next day, busy and more walking. Agenda was boat ride to Lady Liberty and Ground Zero. We took metro to Oculus/Ground Zero Station. Look around a bit at the architecture of Oculus then walked and paid respect to the memorial of Ground Zero.
For breakfast, we had bagel sandwiches at Zucker’s bagel, a must try.
I am 80’s kid so I got excited when I found out original Ghostbuster movie was filmed at Ladder 8. We walked about 4 blocks down to Ladder 8, now a museum. It is about 20 minutes’ walk from Oculus and Ground Zero.
Walked to the pier and caught a ride to get near Lady Liberty. It was a cold windy day. We were bundled up ready for the occasion. Manhattan Skyline is beautiful. Again, more movies remind me of everything around me. Movie Hitch, Iron Man, Wolf of Wall Street, and Leopold and Kate.
Lady Liberty is more beautiful in person. She seems smaller than I was expected.
Ground Zero Museum was next. Everything exhibits were well thought out. It’s too hard to think of that day of the event. Looking at every piece brought sadness. NYC stood strong.
To lift our spirit, we went to The Vessel. I found out that they closed it for safety reasons. Mall next to it was live and vibrant. We met up cousins then Chinatown for family dinner at Hop Kee. Chinatown has night market which reminded of shopping at Divisoria with my Lola. Vendors were selling fresh roasted chestnuts and fruits. It’s the spirit of Christmas that I remember in Manila. Stopped at souvenir stores at Canal St., area where you can get knock off signature items, from shirts to watches. We, again, walked about 11 miles that day.
New Year’s Eve. Big city celebration. By that time, Time Square was already packed with people camping out for 2-3days. Security is tightened 6 blocks radius from the Ball Drop.
We decided to go to Brooklyn to greet 2024. Prospect Park scheduled live band event for free. Before that we had dinner at Whole Foods Market Place, located across from the park. So good to have hot soup when cold weather.
Our last night in New York, can’t leave NYC without having another serving of pizza from Joe’s Pizza, open until 5am.
We did what we came there for. We visited places, met with relatives, paid respect to 9/11, we dine, we shopped, we explored, and we splurged. Five nights and six days were not enough to roam around, but I tell you we had an amazing time, bonding that is priceless. I got to show my children Christmas spirit that I grew up. I also experienced their adult interests.
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