The season of giving and joy is upon us. To celebrate the time of togetherness and tinsel, we’ve gathered some of our favorite haunts, both near and far, so you can make the most of this wonderful time of year.
Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel – Location: 2 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan
A quiet and lavish respite for the city’s stylish elite, lush red velvet adorns this Gramercy Park hideaway. Admire the artwork, sip a delicious craft cocktail and cozy up in one of the custom-designed chairs. Find a sense of calm amid the holiday shopping madness.
Union Square Holiday Market – Location: West 14th Street and Union Square West, Manhattan
This gift bazaar is a staple of the holiday season in the city, offering a veritable range of options for your shopping needs – and wants. Pick up hand-crafted items from local artisans, as you get lost wandering the booth-lined aisles.
Catbird – Location: 219 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn
This Williamsburg boutique has the ideal gifts for the ladies in your life. They offer gorgeous jewelry, from affordable to luxury, that will make anyone smile. You can even personalize your own necklace or ring with a name or quote. Bonus: All of the jewelry is made locally from fair-trade gold and conflict-free stones.
Leuca – Location: 111 North 12th Street, Brooklyn
Say goodbye to winter blues, and enjoy a hearty meal at Leuca, the sun-filled southern Italian restaurant where you can indulge with house-made pastas and wood-fired pizzas. The establishment even opens its doors on Christmas, so you can enjoy fabulous food surrounded by your friends and family.
STORY – Location: 144 10th Avenue, Manhattan
This permanent pop-up shop changes the theme regularly – always telling a new story, so to speak – so you’ll discover something new with each visit. Stop by this month for “Home for the Holidays,” and find a gift for everyone on your list.
If you’re going out of town for the holidays or don’t live in New York, here are some great places to visit in other cities during this time of year.
Boston Public Library – Location: 700 Boylston Street, Boston
The weather outside may be very frightful, but inside this gorgeous, historic building, you’ll find a warm winter escape from the winds. Curl up in a chair with your favorite book in the reading room, or take time to browse all of the options in the stacks.
Casa Loma – Location: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto
This grand, elaborate castle is a fixture of the Toronto tourist scene and overlooks the city from far atop a hill. The 200,000-square-foot former residence boasts plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. If you’re not that into history, many different movies were filmed here, including Chicago and X-Men.
After you’ve eaten, shopped and explored, find some late-night entertainment such as seeing a Broadway show or comedy show in New York City or the city you’re visiting. There are many great shows to see during the holidays, you can even find last minute Broadway tickets if you can’t plan too far in advance.