Seasonal Sights

Here are a few Christmas sites around town.

Office building on Park Avenue

Rockefeller Tree. I cropped out all the people... it was too crowded to walk any closer to the tree.

Cartier building wrapped in a bow.

Not sure.... but isn't it cool?

Candy Canes hanging from office building on 57th b/w 5th and 6th

Department Store windows in NYC is one of the highlights of the Holiday Season. These were a bit different than any I'd seen before... found at Bergdorf Goodman

I had the opportunity to see Neil Young in concert at Madison Square Garden from the Corporate Box. Wilco opened. The show was fun, but the acoustics and view aren't very good from high above.

Corporate Holiday Party

With the current economic conditions they took away one of our holiday parties but the big one lived on! The party was at the Hard Rock Cafe, which not only has the restaurant area but also a huge dance floor and stage we had the entire place. There was a lot of food, drinks, and dancing. The place was packed!

The had Charlie Brown Christmas playing on all of the TVs while playing not so child friendly dance music.

Dancing on the stage.

Two of my favorite coworkers on the dance floor.

Good Morning America/Kansas City

I'd heard on Good Morning America that one of their Christmas windows was representing Kansas City. So when I happened to walk by the other day I had to get a look. My friend insisted I get a picture with the window. I must say that the KC window was better than the Denver window, but the Atlanta window was the prettiest. Each ornament below had a scene from KC: the Plaza, the Nelson, Crown Center, and a few others I can't remember.

Macy's at Christmastime

Yesterday I realized I am going to have to continuously remind myself that, no nothing is going on... it's just Christmastime in the city. I saw crowds on 5th avenue- just people shopping. I saw bussess and crowds in Midtown- just tours/people looking at the Rockefeller Christmas tree. I saw people lined up on the sidewalks at Macy's- just people admiring the window displays. Yes it is Christmas time. Below is the view I got emerging from the subway at Herald Square.

A friend and I stumbled upon last years New Years Ball inside Macy's while looking for gloves.

Schnitzel for Thanksgiving

I have yet to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in person, but this year I have a better excuse as I was in Germany.

This wasn't my Thanksgiving meal so I didn't feel obligated to finish... And there was no way I was going to. Although if you look in the upper right hand corner you can see my 11 year old cousin Matthew finished his with no problem. I had a schnitzel folded in half with ham and cheese inside... covered in a gravy... with a salad... and spatzle (homemade noodles). A Hefe weisen to wash it down.

Our home base was Heidelberg this castle sits on the hill guarding the city.

View of the Neckar and old bridge from the castle

Climbing to the castle.

French street musicians

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg's version of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg

-and some other cathedral

Somewhere in the French countryside

When you see a John Deere in town in France, you take a picture.

Can't pass up a horse ride.

Some of the cookies and chocolate for sale at the Christmas Market in Manheim.

Market in Speyer

Penguins helping kinder skate in Speyer

As good as a Pumpkin pie. Apple strudel for desert on Thanksgiving.

Food Stand in Heidelberg at the Christmas Market or Weihnachtsmarkt decorated like a "Pyramid"