Broadway Nights and Holiday Lights: Three Days in NYC

Holiday markets

The various holiday markets in the city are fun to explore and visit. Each market has plenty of vendors, food options and its own vibe that brings something different and special.

• The Winter Village at Bryant Park is a fun holiday experience that is centrally located within Midtown. The market has several outdoor vendors, artists, food carts and a great ice skating rink perfect for all ages. The entire park is all decorated and embraced all things holiday!

• You can't visit New York City without a stop at the original Macy's retail store. This flagship store at Herald Square encompasses an entire city block and, at the holidays, they go all out! They have the entire street in front blocked off for their own holiday market. They have vendor stalls, food carts, artists and decorations to make it feel like a European holiday market.

• When you think of New York at the holidays, Rockefeller Center probably comes to mind! This iconic area has been featured in television, film and countless other media. The Christmas tree and ice skating rink embody that holiday feeling for the city. The area is a popular one with tourists, so planning ahead is key, especially if you want to skate.

• When in New York, you must hit up Broadway for some live theater! Live theater is such an experience everyone needs to experience at least once. There are several ways to score tickets, including broadway.com and todaytix.com. TodayTix will show the lowest priced tickets available for a specific show on a specific date and it will track the price for you, giving you alerts if the price goes down. No matter the season, seeing a live show on Broadway is a NYC must!
  

Because we found ourselves staying up later than usual, breakfast was usually a muffin or croissant from one of the many bakeries or cafes along our walk for the morning.

I would highly encourage everyone to visit as many local restaurants and diners as possible while in NYC. They have a charm all their own!

• The Long Acre Tavern is a great bar and grill right in the heart of Times Square that is a perfect late-night stop when you need a break from walking. The appetizers are shareable sizes and quite filling! Pair them with any one of their great cocktails and you're set!

• For dinner, you can't go wrong with any one of the many Italian restaurants scattered in the city. Lupetto was one such find! We were walking and getting hungrier by the minute and happened across this fine Italian restaurant. This was such a treat! In addition to an incredible menu, they had an even more impressive wine list. The waiters do an excellent job suggesting wines to pair perfectly with the dishes. The ambiance is relaxing and intimate but still welcoming.

• A fun find was the Center Bar on the fourth floor of the Shops at Columbus Circle. It was raining when we discovered this gem of a bar and only stopped because we wanted out of the rain. The Center Bar overlooks the open foyer of the shopping center entrance. It is a piano bar and the drinks were spot on! The bartenders were great and we could've chatted with them all evening! Make a point to visit this great spot for after drinks!

• If you're spending time exploring more than Midtown, take a walk north to 68th Street to visit Joanne Trattoria. This Italian restaurant has a cozy family feel and features live music of up-and-coming acts in a quaint setting — and, by the way, the owner is Lady Gaga's father! I am a HUGE fan of Lady Gaga, so this dinner was so special to me. I loved seeing all the memorabilia on the walls and the history of who Joanne was. This restaurant truly focuses on giving established and emerging artists a stage upon which to shine.