Travel Photo Thursday: New York Christmas Scenes

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in New York.

Here are a few scenes from Bryant Park. I’ve always loved Bryant Park – it’s small and intimate, and very accessible especially for people who work in midtown. People stop by during lunchtime, sit at the tables and read or take advantage of their free wifi. In the summer, there are movies. In winter, ice skating.

Skating in Bryant Park
Skating in Bryant Park
Bryant Park Christmas Tree
Bryant Park Christmas Tree
Met Christmas Tree
The Metropolitan Museum's Christmas Tree

Last Saturday, as I traveled around the city, I couldn’t help noticing that almost every guy of a certain age (and some girls) was dressed like Santa. Cars honked and people waved when they saw them. But these Santa guys and gals weren’t going to dole out gifts, they were part of the Santas-only pub crawl – a flash mob type event that brings together people dressed as Santas, elves, etc. They go from bar to bar, drinking and generally having a good time. Great way to get “into the spirit,” isn’t it?

Going to the Santa Pub Crawl
Going to the Santa Pub Crawl

This Santa agreed to let me take a photo but pulled on his mask just as I raised the camera.

Santa Pub Crawl
Santa Pub Crawl

This is my submission to this week’s Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday series. Be sure to check out other photo and story entries on their website!

19 comments on “Travel Photo Thursday: New York Christmas Scenes

  1. I love Christmas in NYC.My favorite part has always been all the different Christmas trees all over the city.

  2. What fun NY can be at Christmas time. I’d dress like Santa and hang out in bars, just for the fun of it. Nice photos of those trees too.

  3. I do love Bryant Park – one of my favorite places in NYC any time of year. Bah Humbug to that Santa — but it is a cool photo! 🙂

  4. I’m so confused – are you in Jamaica or New York? Or have you discovered some means of transportation like on Star Trek – “beam me up”?

    Regardless, enjoying the posts from both.

    I wonder what the kids think of all these Santas wandering the streets? Little kids really do think it is the real Santa when someone dresses up.

    How weird would it be if people got dressed as Santa at other times of the year?

    I’m getting emails now when you post – thank you.

  5. Hey Narelle, sorry for the confusion. I am in Jamaica. I went to NYC for a week.
    I never thought of that. You’re right, it would be a little weird, wouldn’t it? And I’m glad you’re getting my posts now.

  6. Thanks, Cathy!
    Bryant Park is really a cool place. And so underrated. I guess because of Central Park but it’s really such a neat place.
    He was cool about it before and I didn’t even see the mask until he pulled it on. They girls didn’t seem to mind.

  7. Thanks, Totsy. You really should take a trip to NYC. Sorry I didn’t get your movie but the last few days were a blur — had so much to do and only a few days to get it done, I couldn’t get into the movie making mode.

  8. Oh! What beautiful pics… Those Christmas Trees are so beautifully decked up!
    Wish you Have a very Merry Christmas 🙂

  9. Great pictures and I love the Met Museum shot; especially given how much grief we got from the security guard who was yelling at everyone taking pictures of the tree… yours is perfect! 😉

  10. I’ve always wanted to Christmas in New York. They say, no other place is better than New York during the holidays. That’s quite a tall claim, but I would think New York can live up to it. Maybe someday I’ll see for myself.

  11. You should, Sherry. There really in no other place like NYC and especially during the holidays.
    The one thing I do avoid is Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
    Best wishes for 2012!

  12. Love the photos. Especially the one where santa has his masked pulled up, covering his face. It is very funny 🙂

    I really would like to go and have christmas in NYC some day.

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