One of my favorite things to do at holiday time is check out the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. My freshman year of college was the only year I attempted going to see the tree lighting. I have fond memories of that excursion. I'll share it with you now.
Some of the 4th Floor girls had planned on going. Somehow, our large group of 8 or so ended up being split off into a couple of smaller groups, because I really only remember hanging with my good friend Kathleen. It was pouring rain.
And I mean buckets.
We walked everywhere. We thought we had left with enough time to spare, but i guess arriving in Manhattan at 5pm for a 9pm lighting isn't really enough time. We were both soaked through, and in between getting rained on, trying to avoid barricades, and crushing on hot policemen, we heard the crowd at Rockefeller Plaza start the countdown. Everyone on the street though (we were just a block or two away) was also counting down, and the feeling was infectious. We counted as well, laughed along at the whole situation before heading to a Starbucks because we were so cold.
We decided to do our own lighting. which required walking right to an adjoining building of the plaza, closing our eyes, and counting down from five while we took a few steps forward. We opened our eyes at ONE - and saw the tree for the first time.
When life hands you lemons, right?
I saw the tree with friends all four years of college - and all were memorable experiences. Especially that first year, and then the following year, 2001, when all the lights were Red, White and Blue. Junior year was a nice group trip, and Senior Year was the icing on the cake, when the day we decided to see the tree, it snowed.
But the Plaza isn't just home to the tree. Lining the gardens are these angels. All lit up and trumpeting their horns. And in the background, Saks Fifth Avenue - with giant lit snowflakes, that put on their own musical show every few minutes.
So while the hubub is all about the tree, there are plenty of other things to see (especially when there are 100 or so tourists in your way).
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