Mrs. Murfreesboro: Christmas at NYC special on The Murfreesboro Post

Welcome Visitor, 426 members online.

Date: Sat, Mar 20, 2010

My Account

Search:

advanced

Real Answers-powered by: LOCAL PROFESSIONALS

Battle of Stones River

Photos

Calendar

Classifieds

View Free Classifieds

Submit a Classified Ad

Advertisers

Weekly Editions

Sidebar Ads

Mrs. Murfreesboro: Christmas at NYC special

Related Articles

Mrs. 'Boro: Time to dump stuff

Mrs. 'Boro: Fighting winter’s doldrums never easy

Mrs. 'Boro: 'Wash Day' triggers thoughts

Mrs. 'Boro: Ash Wednesday reflections

Mrs. Boro: Make every day like Valentine's

Call her the Queen of Hearts

Mrs. 'Boro: Is time flying by really good?

Mrs. Boro: Chefs’ pork recipes leave judges eating high on the hog

Mrs. 'Boro: Earthquake in Haiti strong test of faith

‘Vacation days’ pay off in creative binge

View All

By: JEANNE BRAGG, Post Columnist

Posted: Sunday, January 17, 2010 12:24 pm

When our children (Beth, Anne and John) were younger we took them for several years to New York City at Christmas time.

Hotel rooms didn’t cost as much as a Cartier watch back then and you could fly with “buy-one, get-one-free” enticements.

Those days are loooonnng gone, so when daughter Anne (who lives there) said, “Mom, why don’t you and Dad come the week before Christmas?” we never looked back.

We booked flights on Southwest (they now fly to LaGuardia), remembered to use the $100 credit they gave us for having sat on the runway there for two and a half hours on our last trip and were off. Tommy figured out that Southwest only has ONE gate at LaGuardia. One is lucky to get in or out on any given day.

We packed only necessities; in MY case that was a pair of jeans, black pants and a few tops. For Tommy it was khakis, jeans, a couple of turtlenecks and a blazer. And VERY warm coats.

The flight up wasn’t memorable although we had a clear view of the Statue of Liberty as we flew in (sit on the left side of the plane).

We have learned to ride the city bus from LaGuardia to Anne’s apartment for $2.25 each (including a transfer). You see a lot of New York City traveling from the Bronx through Harlem, and it’s a great way to be introduced to the eclectic mix of people we enjoy so much.

In previous years, we went around Thanksgiving because hotels were less expensive. Christmas was “almost” ready. But this time it was the week before, and there truly was magic in the air. Lights and decorations in restaurants and hotels sparkle in elegant understatements and merriment extends onto every street.

We had new experiences this time.

The first was realizing how many children use subway and buses to get to school daily. Anne’s previous neighborhood was not as family-oriented so we were “sheltered.”
We left early one morning via subway, and it was full of children with backpacks and books; accompanied or not by parents.

The NY Transit Authority is facing a severe budget crisis and considering charging students for rides (now free). That would add a terrible expense to parents who depend on subways daily. $2.25 one way adds up to $22.50 a week and how many people could afford that?

In truth, they probably should have been paying for it all along.

Anne asked me if I noticed PDAs (public displays of affection) among teenagers. I had not. Since teenagers don’t need parents to accompany them, it is a favorite place to “court.”

Another observation is that one needn't worry one bit about what to wear. It’s so blasted cold that unless you can afford a $8,995 three-quarter mink coat from bloomingdale.com (40 percent off), all other coats look exactly alike. You can’t see anyone’s face because of scarves and hats. One dresses for warmth only.

Both Tommy and I felt like we were in Red Square as we mingled with the 750,000 who visit the tree at Rockefeller Center daily. We both felt that only one out of every two is English speaking, with Russian dialects being the most common. Anne, the “local,” agreed.
The windows and decorations on Fifth Avenue defy description. You must see them to believe how beautiful they are.

The Cartier Store was tied with a huge red bow, sparkling with white LED lights and next door the Versace Store was festooned with a “boxwood” encrusted with sparkling white lights. There was a “crystal” ornament dangling over the traffic on Fifth Avenue, and the windows at Henri Bendel were art in its highest form. I think it would be worth a trip alone just to see those windows.

The biggest surprise was also close by at Takashimaya, a very high end Japanese store.
The store is minimalist and very expensive, but boasts one of the most beautiful floral design shops I have ever seen. I go just to “visit” the flowers. The floral designs have moved upstairs on the same floor as the children’s boutique; and there were so many unique, one-of-a-kind and surprisingly affordable things to tempt you there. A floral designer was making a wedding bouquet (on a Monday?) that was possibly the most beautiful I have ever seen (in hues of pale green, silver and white). And on the ground floor were similar gifts ... also affordable and very unique.

If you’re lucky enough to going anytime soon, e-mail me at jbragg@murfreesboropost.com, and I’ll share some fun (and free) experiences.

‘Til next week.

Share:

Tags: Jeanne Bragg, Mrs. Murfreesboro

Member Opinions:

By: MargoRed on 2/14/10
What a delightful column this was! You almost made me feel as if I were there with you. One of these years, I am going to trot myself up to NYC just for the Christmas experience.

Copyright Statement | Privacy Statement | Terms of Service

615-869-0800 | online@murfreesboropost.com | 630 Broadmor Blvd. Suite 140, P.O. 10008, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Making Web Design Easy Since 2001

Websites for Newspapers, Magazines, HOAs, Trade Associations & Online Communities | Email Marketing, E-Commerce