Magic in the air at Columbus Circle.
About a week ago, I walked through Chelsea on a
particularly chilly fall night. Dazed and smiling,
I walked past a few carts of street vendors until
I realized what was happening. The scent of
Christmas in New York City was back. Smelling the
roasted sugary nuts mixed with the distinct scent of
cold air, I immediately glanced around for someone
dressed in a Santa suit or at least Will Ferrell
dressed as an elf.
Honestly, I'm not usually one to get roped into
the holidays a month early. In fact, I’m known to complain
about this to anyone in my general surroundings. I get
frustrated with how early stores start to break out the
holiday décor — Christmas decorations are out before all
the Halloween candy has been finished.
But, this year I’m not going to let this excessive
materialism turn me into a pre-Christmas scrooge. How
could I be so cynical when I live in the most beautiful
city in the world?
NYC makes it so easy to fall in love with winter. Note
that this is coming from a New Jersey native who has
always hated the cold, snow and everything that comes
along with it. I hate wearing puffy coats, snow boots,
scarves and gloves. Yet, NYC romanticizes winter with style
and class, which is hard to find anywhere else. So maybe I
am excited to break out my sweaters and winter coats. It is
definitely not beach attire, but I’ve started to warm up to
the idea.
Since starting at Fordham last fall, and remaining in the
city throughout the summer, I’ve spent more time in NYC than
ever. I’ve experienced the city in every season, and can say
with full certainty that as winter approaches, the city
transforms. Winter in NYC is truly magical.
I was walking down Fifth Avenue last week and passed a
street full of striking, beautifully decorated buildings.
Across the street from one another, Tiffany & Co. and Harry
Winston have been bejeweled from the inside out.
Not only were the in-store displays stunning, but the
outside decorations, a background drapery of an orange sunset
and the Fifth Avenue clock, reminded me why this holiday
season was the best of the whole year.
It’s not just the decorations that make me fall in love with
winter in NYC. It is the overall sparkle of the city and the
excitement that takes over the streets just like the seasonal
tourists. It’s the stream of snowflake lights that glitter on
the trees above Madison Avenue. It’s the cheerful mood, the
increased family time, the Rockefeller Center Tree and
ice-skating in Bryant Park. Embracing the cold, although still
tentatively, I can easily get into the holiday spirit with
these reminders of how lucky I am to live in a city as great
as New York.
stay classy (& warm)! xx
Previously published in The Fordham Ram.
