Festive Season Part II

This city never ceases to amaze me. My Christmas Top 10 "To Do's" was by no means exhaustive, so some further wonderful activities have now come to light that I must share:

1. When feeling grumpy, go and stand in Grand Central Station on the half hour and be mesmerized by their Holiday Light Show.

2.  Whilst at Grand Central, visit the Holiday Train Show (not quite sure why New York is so obsessed with train shows.....)

3. Don't just listen to Handel's Messiah this year, sing it! For the past 41 years, the National Chorale has provided 4 professional soloists and  17 conductors to lead nearly 3000 music-loving New Yorkers in this holiday favorite at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Centre.

4. If you like something more intimate, pretend you are in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and wander through Greenwich village with members of the West Village Chorale, singing christmas carols.

5. When in need of warmth, visit the butterfly exhibition at the National History Museum. 500 live tropical butterflies flit through a 1300 foot temporary conservatory in one of the museum galleries.

6. I tried to avoid this one because it is so touristy, but if you want to pretend you are stepping out of a film like "autumn in New York," skip Bryant Park and skate at Rockefeller centre.

Or if it snows, go to Central Park (where IS the snow this year?)

7. Pop into the New York Public Library to view Charles Dickens' personal copy of "A Christmas Carol" from which he gave his public readings, along with an original photo of Dickens' nephew who is said to be the model for Tiny Tim. There is also other christmas miscellany on display such as festive greetings from James Joyce, E.E. Cummings and Jack Kerouac.

There are so many things to see and do, I hardly know when there is time to finish the Christmas shopping!

Images: Manhattan about, maestro artist, telegraph, cool butterflies, fox travel & tours, ronsari, New York Public Library