Winter in New York can get very cold. But they do not dampen the holiday spirit. And it is never too late to plan the next spectacular Christmas break in New York City (NYC). It can sure get crowded here — the city is said to have received 62.8 million visitors in 2017 — but then when it is NYC, the trip is going to be worth it. While staying outdoors for too long may not be a great idea, NYC never falls short of things to explore indoors.
Bringing Broadway out
An artist looking at making it big in theatre. A sad loner. A rapper. A ballet dancer. These are a few of the interesting characters one encounters on the streets of New York, while seated in a warm cosy bus on the move. Those on The Ride, a 49-seater, witness NYC for what it actually is — the biggest Broadway show on earth. In a roughly 90-minute tour, two hosts double as stand-up comedians on board and interact with characters on the streets of Manhattan with the help of external speakers.
The hilarious exchanges sure crack up those who have signed up for The Ride. From a throng of passers-by, a rapper suddenly emerges, looks at the bus and starts rapping about NYC in a foot-tapping sequence that keeps the audience thoroughly entertained. A few metres on, a lone boy refuses to acknowledge the innumerable waves from the audience, and then he suddenly bumps into a ballerina at the Columbus Avenue circle. As the bus circles the avenue, the pair break into an impromptu ballet sequence, which sets the audiences’ heart soaring. Truly, as they say at The Ride, “If you get stuck in traffic consider it free entertainment.” The performers are handpicked from the world of comedy and can turn “even the most unexpected situations — traffic, weather, police motorcades — into hilarious moments”.
ExperienceTheRide.com
Walk into movie sites
Home Alone 2. Elf. Serendipity. And many more. All the Christmas movies you have seen come alive on the Holiday Lights & Movie Sites tour. Take this tour only if you are a Hollywood holiday movie buff and are interested in trivia to supplement your movie watching experience. Since NYC is full of tall buildings and a grand central park, most movies are shot in and around these locales. Have a look at the apartment where Buddy, the elf, stays with his dad during his visit to New York City in Elf; a peek into the brilliant holiday windows at Bloomingdales, Tiffany’s store from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the same Macy’s made famous in Miracle on 34th Street. The tour is led by a local New York actor or actress. Our guide suddenly transformed into Jim Carrey as he mimicked the comedy actor’s expressions when he bid us adieu.
Onlocationtours.com
Sign up for a real Broadway show
As the sky darkens and Times Square lights up like another day has dawned, NYC comes alive with numerous theatre performances in the Broadway neighbourhood, on a scale unlike in any other city. Though there are performances lined up through the year, the winter holiday season sees the most number of shows. It’d be wise to do your homework and plan your holiday around the time you want to catch your preferred Broadway show. Remember to book your show tickets online well in advance. A mix of contemporary and classical styles of music, dance and dialogue, a Broadway show is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the young and old alike. We witnessed phenomenal performances in The Phantom of the Opera, which has been running on Broadway for 30 years now. The pyrotechnics, visual effects, and sets are magnificent, as are the music and dialogues. The show, ever so haunting, stays with you long after the curtain’s been rung down. And if you are visiting with children, shows such as The Lion King, Frozen and Anastasia bring fantasy to life, making them fascinating to watch.
(The author was in New York on invitation from NYC & Company and United Airlines)