It’s New Years Eve! If you are in New York City, stay warm! I will not be spending New Year’s Eve in the city or in Times Square, but yesterday was my annual city trip. I love the two hour train ride along the LIRR into Penn Station and then strolling around the city in pursuit of whatever we want. New York City is an exciting blend of the historic and the modern, from new, modern glass skyscrapers standing next to brick building with water towers and ghost signs.
Building with water tower, view from Madison Square Park
Juxtaposition of historic and modern, view from Madison Square Park
My favorite New York City Christmastime experience is always ice skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park. It’s a beautiful spot, surrounded by Central Park, New York City skyscrapers, and the hustle and bustle of people that you typically expect in New York. Skating here offers a chance to take in the sights and sounds in a new way. The perfect time to skate is after dusk, when the lights add to the splendor. The rink has been featured in many movies and can give you the feeling of being in a movie or can send you back in time, imagining many decades of ice skating.
View from Wollman Rink in the daylight
Of course, a visit to Rockefeller Center to see this year’s tree is included on our itinerary.
Rockefeller Center, 2008
And, on this trip, I even had a serving of roadside Architecture. In Madison Square Park, we visited the Shake Shack for lunch – a walk up and order burger, fries, shake joint. It’s delicious. Madison Square Park is near the Flatiron building, just to let you architecture buffs know.
Shake Shack, Madison Square Park
And on our way home, we walked past this roadside giant: the Fashion District’s giant button and needle. For a better photo than mine below, click here.
Giant button and needle
And, if you didn’t know, we saw the setup for New Year’s Eve in Times Square as were passing through on our way to Penn Station for the ride home and they were testing the ball drop! So, technically, we did see the ball drop in Times Square. haha.
Happy New Year’s Eve everyone. I hope that no matter what city or town you visit, you find enjoyment and value in your surroundings.
Preservation in Pink 