Christmas Time in the Big Apple

Christmas in the Big apple is what many Brits come to NYC for, and it's not hard to see why, when it's not too cold, it's fun to see the tree, the ice rink in the middle of the city and the middle of the park, they do chestnuts like we do on Oxford street. 

The lights are amazing this time of year, shop fronts and window displays at Sak's and other 5th ave stores are fun and inspiring. But one thing that still facinates me coming from a predominately Christian country and where the story of Christmas was taught to me from as far as I can remember from school. Is that in this melting pot of a city, and indeed across the US, the sense of political correctness and also community goes beyond recognising the may other celebrations of this time of year- Kwaanza- an African celebration, Channuka- a Jewish celebration and Eid- a Muslim celebration. So here it is more appropriate to wish 'Happy Holidays' or "season's greetings'.

Top of the tree at Rockerfella Center

Although I'm Hindu, growing up in London, I still cant stop myself wishing people A Very Happy Christmas...

So to you my blog readers, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwaanza, Happy Channuka, Eid Mubarak.. or just Happy Holidays-- phew.. I'm starting to see why that's the chosen greeting!

Skating at the Rockerfella Ice rink

Hark the herald angels sing.. ooh there's my C of E primary school again..

Merry Christmas!

Hailing a New York Taxi

So..
It sounds simple doesn't it.. I'm sure it is for the less self conscious New Yorker.
But I needed to meet my beau downtown (look I'm using the lingo ;)) for dinner last night. Despite my wanting to use the Subway- I've been a public transport girl all my life. I was told that I needed to get a taxi if I was to make it on time. So I gave in.

The thing is I was a little bit worried to be standing on the sidewalk/pavement sticking my hand out as if stopping a bus, when no bus was coming...
Anyway I got my thermals on bundled up and took a deep breath as I went out to hail my first ever New York Taxi alone.
Two passed me... not one, two... yes, they had their 'I'm available ' light on, no they didn't have the side one's on saying 'off duty'.
I started to feel a like a right twat, standing there while available cabs just drove on, trying to keep my head down hoping no-one was watching.. and I couldn't understand it...
Why would they drive past a fare? Maybe because it was dark? It seemed so much easier in London..
Thankfully soon after a yellow cab stopped to drop a neighbour off, and I just ran up to take advantage of the serendipity of it all.. perhaps I am too British and polite about it all, not standing in the road enough, politely putting up my hand, only when I see a light on top??All I know is I don't wanna be doing that again soon... it was embarrassing!!

Dhol drumming with Jazz infusion plays Christmas

Outside the religious church stood this bloke

For all the fun things to do in New York for free, we found this one.
We went to a very cool Winter Festival near the Lincoln Center, near our 'hood' last week,

Streets were lined with food from local restaurants doing cheap deals, to entice people to have a taster and then go eat at the restaurant properly.

Nice Ice Sculptures- Nutcracker bloke I think?

There were Ice Sculptures courtesy of the religious folk of Lincoln Center, and saw some very fun dancing and singin around the Christmas Tree, done cheerleader style.

People of New York giving Bhangra a go.. bless em

while the band play

It was also a harvest, so we bought tins of food and we also got to see a Dhol player with a five piece brass band for free for a good long while! I know it sounds odd, but it worked. T'was fab.

World Aids Day in the Big apple

The temperature has dropped since the summer and we are having a good rainfall here December 1st, World Aids Day.

Many buildings, including the Empire State Building, the JFK Control Tower, the NASDAQ Marketsite Tower in Times Square and Brooklyn Borough Hall will be lit in red to draw awareness to AIDS prevention.  The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum  will also be lit in red. For information, visit www.joinred.com.


 Lights on the Washington Square Park Memorial Arch will be switched off during a "Light for Rights" media event from 5:30  p.m. to 6:30  p.m to remember those who  have died of AIDS.  Fifth Ave. at Washington Square Park North.)
Such an amazing tribute by so many buildings, keeps aids in the minds of everyone, young and old, living with it, affected by it or not, it'd be good if we followed this example in London.
This day has always been important to me, as it has been a illness of our time as it were.
Finding out a good friend lives with it, has made it all the more important.
Wear your red ribbons today.