Enjoying the Holiday Season as a Twenty-to-Thirtysomething

Ho, ho, ho, Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, etc., etc.

The holiday season is filled with exciting and fun things to do! I won’t get into the actual religious celebrations, as I only celebrate them insomuch as I get presents. But here are a list of fun things to do this month to end the year on a great note!

• If you get the chance, spend some time with your family. Talk, play cards, play chess, watch holiday-inspired movies…all of it!

• Speaking of which…holiday movies! There is always something on television that is Christmas or “Christmahanakwanzika” themed! (And Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights.)

• Bake cookies! I personally love to go to my best friend’s parents’ house and bake corn flake wreaths, thumbprint cookies, or really whatever her mom lets me make!

• Listen to Christmas music, some of which is featured in this issue!

• Go see a show! Broadway and Off-Broadway are amazing at this time of year! In New York, they usually have holiday specials on Broadway shows and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. In addition, every year the Theater at Madison Square Garden puts on a holiday show. Some of the past include Elf and A Christmas Story, and this year, they’re showing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Outside of New York, you can find national tour adaptations of these beloved classics.

• Go and see the windows on Fifth Avenue (or your home state’s version of it)! Nearly every store has a window display and I assure you, they are magical. Saks Fifth Avenue does a sort of laser light show on the windows, which is spectacular. Macy’s has two displays this year, one centering on the new film, Trolls, and their usual one around “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.” Bloomingdale’s has a “Sing” centered display, and the Cartier building is usually wrapped in a bright red bow. If you can’t make it to New York, we even found a directory of holiday celebrations in other major U.S. cities just for you.

• Go to a tree lighting! In New York, see the tree at Rockefeller Center. It is always amazing, with the ice skaters all around and with a bit of a chill in the air. We’ve also provided a list of tree lightings in other major U.S. cities.

• Ice skating in Rockefeller Center, Central Park, or Bryant Park…or your hometown equivalent. All are amazing!

• Holiday markets — we have Union Square, Bryant Park and Columbus Circle. They have great food and great shopping! You can also find holiday markets in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington, D.C.

• Sit back and enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate or eggnog. I am not a huge fan of eggnog, so I can’t give you any advice there, but Williams-Sonoma hot chocolate is to die for. A must-have holiday tradition!

Happy Holidays, everyone! And Happy New Year of course!