A Last Look at NYC Dressed Up for Christmas

I sent a friend from Atlanta a text as I was escaping midtown Manhattan on New Year's Eve. "You're leaving Times Square on NYE?!" she asked. "Hell, yes," I replied.

New York is wonderful at holiday time. This year we even had a big snow storm to set the mood. But just in the same way native Las Vegans probably steer clear of casinos, I try to stay away from Times Square and Rockefeller Center at Christmas Time. Sidewalks choked with tourists are just not my idea of fun.

Now the tourists have largely cleared out, so I felt it was safe to walk crosstown on my block. It's funny to think that I live 4 crosstown blocks from the Christmas tree and I never saw it until last night. Here's a few of the cool Christmasy things I saw last night a short walk from my apartment:

Rockefeller Center's Christmas Tree

Skating at Rockefeller Center

Holiday window at Bergdorf's

Ginormous ornaments on Sixth Avenue

My Westcoast Trip: Highlight #1 -- Seattle

Late afternoon at the Puget Sound

Just got back from my summer vacation to the Pacific Northwest with my lifelong friend, The Big Tasty. TBT and I began our trip in Seattle, a city I'd wanted to see for a long time. Seattle didn't disappoint, and it even offered a surprise: great weather. I did not know the city was built on all those steep hills. Some of them would give San Francisco a run for its money. The best part of my visit was the ferry ride I took with TBT and his friend Steve to West Seattle. The views were spectacular.


I'd also like to praise Seattle for its beautiful baseball park, Safeco Field. Not only is it a great place to watch a game, but the fans were clearly into it, unlike some places ... yes, Atlanta, I'm talking about you.