Christmas Lights NYC: 54 Best Places to View Them

We are happy to present the personal list of 54 of the Best Christmas Light Decorations in New York City from Bill McGrath’s annual trek to view the holiday sights.

Christmas Lights NYC 2010

$100 Premier Restaurants Gift Card for only $40! -- New York!

This holiday season the merchants and points of interest in the Big Apple have outdone themselves. This annotated list has hours of operation, ticket prices where applicable and many personal points of view.

We at New-York-Motels.net want to wish you all Happy Holidays and please enjoy the Christmas Lights in NYC.

(Thanks Bill)

These lights will be up all through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. They are arranged somewhat in order so you can make your own walking tour from one gala display to the next.

NEW YORK SIGHTS -- 2010

1. Museum of the City of New York – 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street. More than 1.5 million paintings, prints, photos, costumes, toys, rare books, manuscripts, sculptures, decorative art objects & other artifacts like silver and furniture. Suggested admission: $10.00 adults, $6.00 seniors & students, children 12 & under free. Tue.-Sun.: 10-5. Small scale museum easy to tour.

2. Tree Lights on Park Avenue – Between 97th Street and 48th Street. Perhaps the most beautiful lights are strung on the cherry and hawthorn trees on Park Ave.. Trees were first lighted on Dec. 17, 1945, & dedicated in memory of those who had died in all of our country’s wars. They became known as the Park Avenue Memorial Trees. On the first Sunday in Dec. there are performances by the Children’s Choir of the Brick Presbyterian Church and the US Army Band. Music program ends with “Taps” played by a single trumpet before the lighting of two and a half miles of Memorial Trees.

3. Metropolitan Museum of Art -- At 82nd Street and 1000 Fifth Avenue. On view is a majestic 20 foot candlelit blue spruce adorned with 18th century Neapolitan cherubs and angels. Set in front of the 18th century Spanish choir screen from the Cathedral of Valladolid and with recorded Christmas music in the background. First floor, Medieval Sculpture Hall – Nov. 23, 2010 to Jan. 6, 2011. Closed on Mondays.

4. Rhinelander Mansion/Ralph Lauren Store – 867 Madison Avenue at 72nd Street. Ralph Lauren’s flagship store is in one of the few remaining turn-of-the-century great homes, the Gertrude Rhinelander Waldo (1837-1914) Mansion. Built in the French Renaissance Revival style by Kimball & Thompson in the 1890’s, the house fell into disrepair after the owners never moved in. Beautiful carved staircase, antique furniture and chandeliers.

5. The Frick Collection – 1 East 70th Street and Fifth Avenue. The magnificent buff limestone mansion housing the Frick Collection was built in 1913-1914 at a cost of $5 million dollars for steel and coke industrialist Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919). Audio tour included in admission covers paintings, sculpture, furniture and mansion itself. Tue.-Sat., 10 to 6, Sun. 11 to 5. Adults -- $18, Seniors -- $12, Students $5. Pay what you wish on Sunday – 11 to 1.

6. The Crystal District – A five block stretch of Madison Avenue between 63rd and 58th Streets. Visit Lalique, 712 Madison at 63rd Street, Daum, 694 Madison at 62nd Street, Steuben, 667 Madison at 61st Street, Baccarat, 625 Madison between 58th & 59th Streets and Swarovski, 625 Madison at 58th Street. Steuben has three airy beautifully illuminated levels showing their crystal.

7. Barney’s – 660 Madison Avenue at 61st Street. The windows theme this year is “Have A Foodie Holiday”. One window features lady chefs Ina Garten, Paula Deen, Martha Stewart & Sandra Lee all in personalized snuggies. In another window Anthony Bourdain & other chefs feast on Mario Batoli. In other scenes look for the dress made from Illy coffee packaging and the realistic fire under the Revolution Stewpot. Fred’s At Barney’s is a bright dining room on the 9th floor offering lunch and dinner daily, high tea on week days and brunch on weekends. Superb desserts and salads. Great for people watching.

8. Bloomingdale’s – 1000 Third Avenue at 59th Street. Beautiful eastside art-deco landmark building opened in 1886. Windows feature 100 digital screens of different sizes assembled into a mosaic. Together the monitors form one image, a computer-generated animation of a beautiful winter landscape.

Christmas Manhattan Bridge

9. Plaza Hotel -- 768 Fifth Avenue at Central Park S. and 59th Street. Hotel which opened Oct. 1, 1907, was designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh (1847-1918) in French Renaissance Chateau-style. Reopened as of March 1, 2008. Hotel now has 282 hotel rooms and 152 condo units. Take a peek at the lobby glittering with twinkling lights and Christmas decorations. Across from the Plaza is the famed Pulitzer Fountain by sculptor Karl Bitter (1867-1915) built 1914-1916. Figure on top is Pomona, Goddess of Abundance. Usually decorated with 100 Christmas trees and flags of all 50 states around the base of the fountain.

10. World’s Largest Menorah – Fifth Avenue at 59th Street. First candle will be lit Dec. 1 & all candles will be lit Dec. 8. The 32 foot high golden menorah was designed by artist Yaacov Agam who drew inspiration from a hand drawing by Maimonides (1135-1204), medieval Jewish philosopher, of the original menorah in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. On Sunday, Dec. 5 there is live music, singing, folk dancing, gelt (chocolate coins) & potato latkes.

11. Time-Warner Center – Columbus Circle (between 59th and 58th Streets off of Eight Avenue). Complex of shops, restaurants, hotel and apartments. Contains Whole Foods, largest supermarket in Manhattan. A wonderful addition to “must see” New York buildings. The 150 foot tower on the prow of the building is lit each evening from 4 to 11 p.m. Its 36 panels in 12 groups of changing colors change colors every 3 minutes. Best seen from 8th Avenue. Inside, the “Holiday Under the Stars”, a visual-sound show features dynamic displays of light & color set to holiday music where twelve 14-ft stars weighing nearly 1,000 pounds each dazzle from the soaring ceilings lighting up all of Columbus Circle. The light show takes place every night at 5 PM with the LED stars of aluminum & Plexiglas, with 156 strobe lights and 11,000 fiber optic points.

12. Van Cleff and Arpels - 745 Fifth Avenue between 59th & 58th Streets. Famous French Jewelery House; its origins in 1896 lay in the hands of Alfred Van Cleef & his father-in-law, Salomon Arpels. In 1906, Alfred Van Cleef joined with his brothers-in-law Charles and Julien Arpels to establish Van Cleef & Arpels. In 1942, they opened their store in New York City. This years windows are inspired by various Jules Verne stories. One window is based on Around the World in 80 Days where the balloon goes back and fourth and the clouds move up and down. The window based on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea has two layers of seaweed that sway back & forth and the clam opens and shuts. The Mushroom Window, where a butterfly flaps its wings, is based on Journey to the Center of the Earth. Another window shows a winter fantasy, a neoclassical building covered in ice & a maze covered in snow. The music which accompanies each window can be heard on the street.

13. FAO Schwarz – 767 Fifth Avenue at 58th Street in the landmark General Motors Building. Famous toy store founded by Frederick August Otto Schwarz (1836-1911) and his 3 brothers from Westphalia, Germany is 148 years old this year. Doormen dressed as wooden soldiers guard the doorway. Also a Barefoot Book Store and a candy & sweet shop called; FAO Schweetz.

14. Bergdorf Goodman Department Store – 754 Fifth Avenue between 58th and 57th streets. Store is located in two architecturally significant mansard-style buildings built in the 1920’s. Walk into the store to see handcrafted chandeliers & experience the elegant atmosphere. The theme at the Women’s Store is traveling and the windows are titled “Wish You Were Here”. Windows show a silver space ship, finely dressed monkeys, a listing boat, and a scarlet train as well as a winged horse and flying carriage.

15. UNICEF Snowflake – This year marks the 26th anniversary of the Snowflake. A 27 feet in diameter illuminated snowflake hangs over Fifth Avenue at 57th Street every year. The snowflake is made of 16,000 Baccarat crystal prisms and was handcrafted by German lighting designer Ingo Maurer. It will be illuminated throughout the holiday season.

16. Tiffany & Co. - 727 Fifth Avenue at 57th Street. Famous jewelry store founded in 1837. A distinctive shade of blue on their bags & packages is universally recognized as their trademark. Tiffany’s tiny box-sized windows theme this year, The Tiffany Blue Bird, is based on a fairy tale where a princess is locked away in a castle. Her prince charming was sent away and had a spell cast on him and he was turned into a blue bird. To break the spell every night he searched for a special gift which turned out to be a Tiffany diamond ring. On display on the main floor is the Tiffany Diamond, one of the largest yellow diamonds in the world. Discovered in 1877 in the Kimberly Diamond mines in South Africa, it was bought by Charles Lewis Tiffany (1812-1902) in 1878. The stone is 128.54 carats and has 90 facets, 32 more than the traditional brilliant cut. (Note: The diamond at times may be away on a tour.)

Holiday Lights on Madison Ave.

17. Louis Vuitton Malletier -- International French fashion house founded in 1854. Known for its monogram and logo, LV, a long time symbol of prestige & wealth. The windows this year have an Indian flavor inspired by Diwali, the festival of lights. Windows will feature hand-pained paper trunks glowing from within.

18. Trump Tower – 725 Fifth Avenue between 57th & 56th Streets. This 58 story skyscraper is a “must see” building. The beautiful lobby with its five level atrium features a cascading waterfall. Public spaces decorated in Breccia Pernice, a pink white-veined marble and lots of brass and mirrors. Stop in here or “you’re fired!”

19. Henri Bendel -- 712 Fifth Avenue at 56th Street. Most exclusive of New York’s department stores established in 1896. Set in a graceful building with windows designed by Rene Lalique (1860-1945), famous designer of jewelry and glass. Visit the sumptuous tearoom. The House of Lavande, a Palm Beach boutique is featured in the holiday window displays. Displays feature The Nutcracker theme with life size ballerinas including one masked as a mouse wearing exquisite jewels of House of Lavande. Also shown are mice, a 6-foot tall nutcracker and a Christmas tree with mini monitors playing footage from the New York City Ballet.

20. The House of Harry Winston – 718 Fifth Avenue between 56th & 55th Street. The House of Harry Winston is the embodiment of three generations of Winston jewelers dating more than one hundred years back. The company which bears his name today was established in 1932 by Harry Winston (1896-1978), the son of a New York jeweler. The specialized operation of cutting the rough diamond, polishing, designing and creating the finished jewel, is conducted in Winston’s New York building on Fifth Avenue.

21. Carnegie Deli – 854 Seventh Avenue between 55th and 54th streets. “There is Only one and this is it”. Hankering for a pastrami or corned beef sandwich – this is the place. Try the cheesecake too.

22. The House of Cartier -- 653 Fifth Avenue at 52nd Street. Founded in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier (1819-1904), master jeweler to Europe’s crowned heads. The whole building is gift wrapped in a gigantic red ribbon with a 20-foot bow. Lots of greenery also & many small trees covered in blue lights & gold balls. Windows have a series of automated boxes that open & close revealing breathtaking baubles.

23. Ellen’s Stardust Diner – 1650 Broadway at 51st Street. Retro 1950s theme diner filled with nostalgic memorabilia. The singing wait staff makes this a fun place to have lunch.

24. New York Palace Hotel – Madison Avenue between 51st & 50th Streets-almost directly behind St. Patrick’s. Front of hotel is the old Villard House built in 1882 by Stanford White (1853-1906). Marble fireplace at head of stairs is by Augustus St.Gaudens (1848-1907). See this place at night with its glowing white lights on the topiary in the courtyard. Beautiful decorated Christmas tree in the lobby and one in the courtyard. If you need a restroom this is the place-2nd floor.

25. Rockefeller Center – Fifth Avenue between 50th and 49th from Streets. The Christmas tree tradition began in 1933. This year the 74 foot tall, Norway spruce is from Carmel, Putnam County, N.Y., and it is decorated with 30,000 lights, which will be lit by LED lights. Tree lighting ceremony is Nov. 30 and tree will be lit until Jan. 2, 2011. The Swarovski designed star which tops the tree has 25,000 crystals, with 1 million facets and has a diameter of 9 ½ feet. The plaza heading towards the tree is occupied by the traditional horn-blowing angels. See New York’s skyline from Rockefeller Centers newest attraction, Top of The Rock, observatory deck on the 70th Floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Tickets, Adults (13-61) -- $21.00, Seniors 62+ -- $19.00, Children 6-12 -- $14.00.

26. St Patrick’s Cathedral – Fifth Avenue and 50th Street. The largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the U.S. Construction began in 1858 and it opened in May 1879. Look high above the main altar to see the fragmentary remains of the Cardinal’s hats that were hung there upon the death of a Cardinal.

27. Radio City Music Hall – Avenue of the Americas between 50th & 51st Streets. Radio City is the largest indoor theatre in the world & was recently restored to its original splendor. Lobby is breathtaking with magnificent crystal chandeliers. Site of the annual Christmas Spectacular Show with the Rockettes.

28. Saks Fifth Avenue – 611 Fifth Avenue between 50th & 49th Streets. Founded by Andrew Saks (1847-1912) in 1867. Windows theme this year is snowflakes and bubbles featuring one-of-a-kind pieces made by various designers. Saks will project a light show on the side of the building every 15 minutes that’s meant to bring the snowflakes and bubbles in the windows to life. The projection technology mapped the building’s details into a computer and created a 3D projection of visual effects including snow gathering up on ledges, bubbles emerging from the windows and the entire façade appearing to freeze over. Snowflakes and bubbles dance to a version of “Carol of the Bells”. SFA Café on 8th floor serves brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. Impressive view from the Café of Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Mon-Sat – 11-5 (7 p.m. on Thur.) Sun. – 12-5.

29. The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel – 301 Park Avenue between 50th and 49th Streets. When you walk into the Park Avenue Lobby you may be overcome by the grandeur of this Art Deco masterpiece. During recent $200 million dollar renovation many original Art Deco treasures were rediscovered and unveiled, wonderful Christmas decorations.

30. American Girl Place – 609 Fifth Avenue at 49th Street. Dolls, books and toys as well as a Café serving brunch, lunch and tea.

31. Hershey’s Times Square – 1593 Broadway at 48th Street. New York’s new candy land headquarters. Hershey’s factory- inspired store in Times Square is a chocoholic’s dream come true. Look for the steaming cup of cocoa on the marquee. Have your name or message displayed on their exclusive outdoor scrolling marquee sign. The store façade features 34 dimensional props, four steam machines, over 4,000 chasing lights, 30 programmable lights, 56 neon letters and 14 front-lit signs.

32. Diamond and Jewelry District – 47th Street. The US is world’s largest consumer of diamonds & 90% move through the diamond district. Over 2,600 independent businesses are on this street. Notice street lights shaped like faceted diamonds.

33. Tkts Booth – Times Square and 47th Street and Broadway -- Now “under the red steps”. Get up to 50% off tickets (cash, travelers checks OR credit cards) for Broadway shows. Opens 10 AM for Wed. and Sat. matinee tickets. If seeing a play OTHER than a musical, go directly to Play Only Window – don’t wait in line.

34. Joe Allen Restaurant – 326 W. 46th Street. Phone 212 581-6464. A friendly spot for a bite before the theatre or a mid-day respite from the chaos of Times Square. Theatre types blend in with businessmen on lunch break. The food is a standard mix of reliable tavern fare interspersed with more unexpected choices. The mashed potatoes are a sure fire winner. Frequented by celebrities. Henry Winkler was present on our visit & waiter said “Rosie” likes the desserts here.

35. The World of Disney Store – New Location Times Square 1540 Broadway between 46th and 45th streets. Three floors and 24,000 square feet of space showcasing Disney gifts with a New York twist as well as your favorite Disney characters waiting to meet you.

36. Toys “R” Us – 1514 Broadway between 45th and 44th Streets. This flagship store has a working 60 foot Ferris wheel, a five-ton, 20 foot high, 34 foot long animatronic T. Rex dinosaur and a two-story Barbie doll house.

37. Fred F. French Building – 551 Fifth Avenue at 45th Street. Another “must see” building for architecture buffs. Impressive 38 story Art Deco building, built in 1927, rises from a three-story base clad in limestone and gleaming gold decorated bronze panels. You have to stop and admire the bronze work. Colorful mosaic of winged griffins on the top of the building. Beautiful lobby features Roman travertine floors, St. Genevieve marble walls, cast bronze elevator doors and patterned glass chandeliers.

38. New York Yacht Club – 37 West 44th Street. Beautiful 106 year old building whose design is inspired by Dutch sailing ships. Founded by J. P. Morgan (1837-1913) and friends, the building is awash in limestone anchors and carved wooden seaweed. If you are an architecture buff you want to see this building.

39. The Westin New York At Times Square – 270 West 43rd Street. The largest new hotel built in New York City. The hotels facade uses more than 1,000 permutations of curtain wall panels and intricate patterns of colored glass inspired by earth and sky tones. The architectural signature of the hotel is a brilliant beam of light that runs up the entire 42nd Street face of the 45 story tower and is launched beyond the physical structure with pulsing lights that pierces the nighttime sky. A nice little bar on the second floor lobby for a quiet drink.

40. Hello Kitty Store – 233 W. 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenue. It’s hard not to notice the bright pink store. Toys, gadgets & personal & home accessories adorned with Japanese cartoon character Hello Kitty & her many colorful friends. Moms and daughters love this place.

41. Chrysler Building. 405 Lexington Avenue at 42nd Street. Completed in 1930, building is Art Deco masterpiece. Lobby is full of inlaid wood, stainless steel, African marble, Italian marble, blue marble and amber onyx. Each elevator is inlaid with a different wood. Lobby ceiling has world’s largest canvas mural.

42. New York Public Library – Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Stone lions in front were dedicated May 23, 1911 Sculpted by Edwin Clarke Potter (1857-1923) from pink Tennessee marble. Lions named by New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia (1882-1947) during the depression to symbolize spirit of New Yorkers. South lion is Patience – North Lion is Fortitude.

Manhattan Holiday Lights

43. Grand Central Terminal – Park Avenue and 42nd Street. The current building was constructed between 1903 and 1913 in the Beaux-Arts style by the firms of Reed and Stem and Warren and Wetmore. The main information booth in the center of the concourse is perhaps the most recognized symbol of Grand Central. Each of the four clock faces is made from opal and have an estimated value of between $10 million and $20 million dollars. See the new matching marble staircase constructed in the latest renovations. Lower level has numerous food establishments with plenty of tables and chairs. Check out the landmark Oyster Bar (90 different seafood items, dozen kinds of oysters & of course clam chowder) in the lower level near the “Whispering Gallery” – notice the vaulted ceiling of Gustavino tiles.

43. Grand Central – continued -- Outside the station, the 48 foot high clock on the front of the facade facing 42nd street contains the largest example of Tiffany glass and is surrounded by sculptures carved by the John Donnelly Co. designed by French sculptor Jules-Felix Coutan (1848-1939). Sculpture depicts Mercury (speed) flanked by Hercules (strength) and Minerva (wisdom). Free tours are available Wed. & Fri. at 12:30 pm. Look for the following other attractions at Grand Central:

Holiday Laser Light Shows 11:00 AM-9:00 PM- Starts Nov. 30 and runs 6 weeks.– six distinct shows rotate every half hour on the sky ceiling.

Vanderbilt Hall Holiday Fair-Nov. 15-Dec. 24. - 70+ specialty merchants present a wide assortment of gift items.

Grand Central Market – New York’s most exciting European-style Food Hall, featuring fresh foods for holiday entertaining and gifts. You will not believe the display of fish and seafood from all over the world.
Train Show – Nov. 23, 2009-Jan. 16, 2010. Working model trains running through wondrous holiday scene. Created by Lionel Trains. Not just a simple loop of model trains, but a full holiday fantasy journey from a New York living room, through the miniature city, and on to the North Pole.

44. 42nd Street Food Court – 234 W 42nd Street next door to Madame Tussad’s. On last visit there were nine different choices in one location. Choose from Chili’s Grill & Bar, Manchu Wok, California Pizza Kitchen, Jody Moroni’s Sausage Kitchen, Ruby’s Dinette, Applebee’s, Carvel, Cinnabon and Starbucks’s. Great place for a quick snack and drink.

45. Fetes de Noel, The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park – Between 42nd and 40th Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Offers gift worthy items in an old-fashioned outdoor market styled in the European Holiday tradition. Located behind the New York Public Library – Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Open Nov. 5, 2010-Jan. 2, 2011. Features artisans, boutiques, cultural institutions, designers, food merchants, and gift shops from around the world.

46. The Pond at Bryant Park – Between 42nd and 40th Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The Pond is a 170 X 100 foot free ice skating rink and is the centerpiece of Bryant Parks winter season. Imposing at night with all the skaters and the huge Christmas tree lit up. From Oct. 29, 2010 to Feb. 27, 2011. Very clean rest rooms available at the park on the 42nd Street side.

47. Kinokuniya Book Store at Bryant Park – 1073 Sixth Avenue between 41st and 40th Streets across from Bryant Park. Three floors of books with a branch of Café Zaiya, a Japanese-style pastry and sandwich shop on the 2ndfloor. Great place for a hot cup of tea while waiting for your tour bus to pick you up at Bryant Park. Large windows give a great view of Bryant Park which will be ablaze in bright lights.

48. Lionel Electric Trains – 1095 Sixth Avenue at 41st Street. This is a new location this year for a Lionel Train pop-up store.

Holiday Lights NYC 2010

49. Lord & Taylor Department Store – Fifth Avenue at 39th Street. Samuel Lord & George Washington Taylor founded the company in 1826. It was the first major store on Fifth Avenue and the first to present innovative Christmas windows filled with holiday displays rather than merchandise. Their windows are the most elaborate and popular of all. The theme this year is “Share the Joy”, a series of 12 Christmas scenes set in NYC inspired by favorite stories and memories that customers shared with the store. Customers were invited to share their favorite holiday memories through Facebook and by sending in letters. The detailed settings and animated figures were prepared below street level and moved into place by a hydraulic lift system left over from the buildings previous life as an auto showroom. Scenes include trimming a tree, a child’s first bike, Christmas baking, a holiday party, and waiting for Santa. The windows mix modern elements with Victorian ones. The names of the customers behind each story, along with their letters, are shown at the foot of each window.

50. Great Buttons – 1030 Sixth Avenue between 37th and 36th streets. Tons of beautiful buttons. Last time there they made earrings out of some beautiful jeweled buttons for about $3.00 plus the cost of the buttons. They cut the buttons and solder earring backs on while you wait.

51. Morgan Library and Museum – Madison Avenue and 36th Street. This complex of buildings covers half a city block. It began as a palazzo-like structure designed by Charles Follen McKim to serve as the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913). Built between 1902 & 1906, it became known as “Mr. Morgan’s Library”. See famed reliquaries and altar vessels, medieval objects made with so much silver and gold that they seem to give off heat, medieval & Renaissance manuscripts, books, etc. Recently reopened after being closed for almost 3 years.

52. Macy’s Herald Square – Macy’s, founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy (1822-1877), is at Broadway between 35th and 34th streets. The windows this year take you on a journey through the eyes of 8-year old Virginia O’Hanlon (1889-1971) who wrote to the New York Sun in 1897 asking if there was a Santa Claus. The response written by newsman Francis P. Church (1839-1906) began with the famous line “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”. Almost every detail in each window is made from paper, cut both by laser and by hand and has been layered and manipulated to give a beautiful and unique quality. Store windows on the 34th street side will, as always, showcase scenes from “The Miracle On 34th Street” The facade of the building is decorated with a tree of lights. Visit Santa on the 8th floor where 13,000 square feet of space is bedecked in twinkling lights, sparkling stars and candy canes to create Santaland. The 9th floor has Macy’s Puppet Theatre showing Miracle on 34th Street

53. Empire State Bldg. – 350 Fifth Avenue, between 34th and
33rd Streets. 102 story skyscraper, built 1930-1931, was world’s tallest building until World Trade Center was built in 1972. Built of Indiana limestone and granite, trimmed with aluminum and
chrome-nickel steel from 6th floor to top. Lobby is a five story Art Deco masterpiece with marble from France, Italy, Belgium and Germany. Visit the Observation Deck for an 80 mile view into NJ., Pa., Conn., and Mass. Building will be lit in red and green for Christmas and blue and white for Chanukah.

54. Forbes Magazine Galleries – 60 Fifth Avenue and 12th Street. Free admission. Hours are Tue.-Wed.: 10-4, Fri.-Sat.: 10-4. The ground floor houses one of the most enchanting museums. Some rooms are devoted to toys including 12,000 toy soldiers and 500 toy boats. Also has a section devoted to political memorabilia with an emphasis on U. S. Presidents. The Forbes Galleries will be closed Nov. 22 through Dec. 4 after which the Toy Boat, Toy Soldier, Monopoly and Trophy Galleries will close permanently.

Note: Items 1 to 54 above are listed in descending order from 103rd Street to 12th Street.

Unfamiliar with how the Avenues in New York run?

Order of Avenues is:

First (East River)
Second
Third
Lexington
Park
Madison

Fifth (Walking down Fifth with the side streets going lower –45th, 44th, 43rd, etc., the above Avenues will be to your left. The Avenues below will be to your right)

Broadway
Sixth (Ave. of the Americas)
Seventh
Eight
Ninth
Tenth
Eleventh
Twelfth (Hudson River)