The Radio City Music Hall Marquee

Halloween just passed.  Thanksgiving hasn’t even come yet, but the malls and department stores are decked with boughs of holly and other Christmas decorations and ‘Tis the Season is already playing on the public address systems.

Where else has Christmas arrived already?  At Radio City Music Hall in New York City.  Performances of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes began this past weekend.  Whether you like to get in the mood early or you wait to see Christmas shows until just before the holiday, the time to buy tickets—for Radio City Music Hall or any Christmas event—is now.

Some families go to the Christmas Spectacular every year.  Others go less often.  For others, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.  As for us, my wife and I have taken our seven year-old daughter twice in the past few years.  My daughter loves everything about New York and everything about seeing a show.  To be honest, when we were first going to the Christmas Spectacular I would have preferred seeing something on Broadway.  But, after going to the Christmas show—and seeing how much my daughter loved it—I was so glad we chose it.  Her favorite part of the show, she said, was “the Santas.”  There were a few dozen dancing Santas on stage (with more descending into a screen behind them while Santa explained that he had “helpers” to be in so many places at once.)  My wife and I loved when it actually snowed on the audience—and not just fake foam or plastic but wet snow that actually melted on us.  The second time we all saw the show, my daughter said that her favorite part was the life-size teddy bears dancing The Nutcracker.  She also loved the Rockettes dancing as rag dolls and soldiers.

Several parts of the Christmas Spectacular are repeated each year and new scenes are added as well while others are phased out.  Traditions like the Rockettes’ Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and a Living Nativity have been included every year since the show first opened in 1933.  Appearances by Santa, more from the Rockettes, scenes of Christmas in New York, and other songs and dances fill out a usual ninety-minute performance.  The show isn’t even the only attraction there.  Radio City Music Hall itself is a 1932 art deco movie palace that underwent a $70 million renovation 1999.  Some of its highlights include the original five-ton thirty-two foot high Wurlitzer organ, the largest theatrical curtain on earth, and a twenty-four carat goldleaf ceiling.

Ice Skating in Rockefeller Center

One of the best things about seeing the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall is that there’s also so much else to see during the holidays in midtown Manhattan.  Radio City Music Hall itself is part of Rockefeller Center—home to one of the country’s most famous Christmas trees and a great ice skating rink.  Other attractions within just a few blocks are St. Patrick’s Cathedral, FAO Schwarz toy store, and the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue.  For hotels and dining, options in New York City are endless.  (Seriously, before I could name them all I bet at least one more would open.)  For eating in midtown though, kids would probably love the American Girl Café, Mars 2112 or the Hard Rock Café.  The food is good to mediocre at these restaurants, but it’s not the main attraction—it comes in second to the surroundings.

There’s no denying that New York City is loud and crowded.  During heavy tourist months like December, it’s even more loud and crowded.  But there’s a reason that so many people still love going into the City for the holidays.  With the entertainment, the excitement, the stores and the sights, it’s a pretty magical place to be.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular plays through December 30, 2008.  See the Radio City Music Hall website for detailed performance times and ticket prices. VIP Packages are also available which include priority seating, a pre-show reception, and deluxe gift bags and souvenir books.

One thing most of us do during the holidays is reminisce about our past. There is just something about Christmas that makes you take a moment and take stock of your life – where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you are going. It’s a wonderful time to look back at the history of our country as well. So if you’re a history buff or just looking for something a little different to do this holiday season, Texas offers a variety of attractions that will transport you and your family back in time.

Number one on the list is Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, one of the most well-preserved frontier forts west of the Mississippi. Over a thousand volunteers, re-enactors, merchants, artisans, and entertainers transform the site’s 40 acres and 24 buildings into a breathtaking 19th century holiday scene.

Some of the features of Christmas at Old Fort Concho include:

• The “Winter Rendezvous,” a large encampment of 1800s soldiers, settlers, traders, Native Americans, and civilian life historians who bring alive the sights, sounds and smells of the 19th century.
• Hourly military drills, morning and evening ceremonies, and ongoing demonstrations, concerts and activities provide entertainment and education for guests all day.
• Within the many fort structures, vendors and merchants offer unique shopping experiences, and a row of period traders lines the Parade Ground.
• Four entertainment areas provide a wide range of frontier, gospel, traditional, and modern music.
• A food court and a restaurant inside the officers’ quarters offer food and drinks. A children’s area offers ongoing crafts and lessons for the younger visitors at no additional charge, and a variety of ticketed workshops and events offer additional opportunities for the young (or young at heart).
• Other features include a Friday and Saturday concert, a Saturday morning “Pancakes with Santa,” breakfast, and a Sunday morning Cowboy Church service.

My second choice of historic locations to celebrate the season would be the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. The Star of the Republic Museum, Independence Hall and Barrington Living History Farm, offer a unique insight into the lives and times of the men who fought and won Texas’ independence from Mexico and the expansive park grounds along the Brazos River provide an absolutely beautiful setting for sightseeing.

This picturesque park, located on the Brazos River, was the site of the 1836 General Convention which would decide the fate of Texas. Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is revered as the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. Washington remained a town of some prominence in early Texas until the eve of the Civil War. Washington was the first county seat of Washington County in 1836, the capitol of Texas from 1842 to 1845, the home of the last president of the Republic of Texas, Anson Jones.

The Barrington Living History Farm, home of Anson Jones, last President of the Republic of Texas offers handcrafted reproduction log buildings and cropland and demonstrates the working of a Brazos Valley farm, circa 1850. Interpreters in period costume work the farm as it was done long ago. This is truly a treat during the holidays and you and your family will be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable historical holiday attraction anywhere else in the country.

These two places are great for family trips and an excellent way to treat you and yours to a truly “old-fashioned” Christmas. Do you have any favorite historic areas you have visited or a story to share? Please send it on – I’m always looking for new places to visit

From guest blogger, Stefania Pomponi Butler, of City Mama

My family and I spend just about every Christmas in Honolulu, Hawai’i because I was born there and it’s where my mom lives. For us, Christmas means fresh ahi poke, wearing “formal” flip-flops to parties (you know, the beaded ones), and spending Christmas in our swim suits. Christmas trees are shipped in from the Pacific Northwest and are dried out by the time they hit Hawaiian waters, and there isn’t any snow, but who cares when it’s 80º outside and the heady fragrance of plumeria flowers perfumes the air.

Honolulu is much-maligned for being touristy and crowded, but if you love the energy of big cities combined with a tropical locale, this is the place for you. Even if you aren’t on Maui or Kaua’i, you can still have a relaxing, Hawaiian holiday.

All Honolulu hotels will have listings of holiday events and the concierge can help you secure tickets to events so if you haven’t made any holiday plans, don’t panic, you’ll be well taken care of. But, if you’d like some ideas of where to go and what to do, read on!

If you land in Honolulu with holiday shopping to do, chances are you will end up at Ala Moana Center, Honolulu’s biggest mall and the home of flagship stores for Chanel, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Prada, Christian Dior and more. Honolulu is the glittering gateway to Asia, and the stores at Ala Moana cater to O’ahu’s cosmopolitan tourists and discriminating locals. You can drop a lot of cash at Ala Moana or you can simply walk around and enjoy the festivities. Kids can ride the Santa Train or enjoy snow in Hawaii every evening. Check the the site or ask the helpful personnel about special performances on the main stage. Children of all ages will enjoy the nightly pageantry of the Christmas Gift of Aloha show and parade. We spend lots of time at the mall, but we try to time our visit to coincide with one of the fabulous holiday events.

Once it gets dark, you can pile into your rental car or hire a taxi and do the Honolulu City Lights tour. This is a longstanding local tradition. Think about that street in your town that gets really done up for the holidays and you’ll have a taste of what to expect. Times 100. Honolulu’s downtown district—near the state capital building—gets decked out for the holidays with lights, your favorite holiday scenes, and a giant, barefoot, lei-adorned Santa and Mrs. Claus. Touring the area is free, but once you are downtown, be sure to stop by the Christmas carnival where there are rides and delights for kids.

Around the holidays, Honolulu boasts many different concerts and performances. My favorite is the A Cazimero Christmas featuring local musicians The Brothers Cazimero. It has everything a Hawaiian Christmas needs: beautiful music, amazing singing by the Brothers Caz and their guest artists, and plenty of hula. Get your tickets well in advance and enjoy the recently remodeled Hawai’i Theater.

If it’s a big city experience you are after, and you’re in the mood to get dressed up after all those days on the beach, check the schedule for the Honolulu Symphony. From a Motown Christmas to a visit by Burt Bacharach, from classical to pops, there’s something for everyone.

On Christmas Eve, Kawaiaha’o Church, Honolulu’s oldest church, holds two candlelight services. Erected in 1842 by Christian missionaries, Kawaiaha’o Church was built from 1,000 pound coral blocks hewn by Hawaiian chisel-wielding divers. Experience what Christmas is all about in an intimate setting at the “Westminster Abbey of Honolulu.”

For a New Year’s Eve you’ll never forget do what we do and watch the fireworks from the beach. Our favorite viewing spot is right in front of the Kahala Hotel and Resort. All beaches in Hawai’i are public, even the groomed ones in front of the fanciest hotels. If you are lucky enough to stay at the Kahala ask for a beach front room. If you aren’t, bring your champagne out to the beach (look for the public access paths) and watch the fireworks literally burst right over your head. I can’t think of a more magical way to start the new year.

If you don’t want to do anything at all for Christmas but park yourself on the beach, you can do that, too. And remember, locals don’t pack up their towels when it rains, they head into the ocean and wait for the drizzle to pass. They call it “liquid sunshine,” and if you ask me, it’s better than any Christmas tree lights.

Mele Kalikimaka, Haouli Makahiki Hou!

From guest blogger, Stefania Pomponi Butler, of City Mama

It’s the holidays, a time to over-do-it in more ways that one! We over-shop, over-eat, and over-commit ourselves, but one thing we don’t have to do is over-spend on fun holiday activities. The San Francisco area is rife with festive ways to enjoy the holidays without breaking the bank.

In San Francisco, it doesn’t cost a thing to walk around Union Square and enjoy the decor. From the tree in the middle of the plaza to the fancied-up holiday windows, there is plenty to see and you don’t have to spend a dime. I love window shopping around the square then stepping into St. Francis Hotel for a drink in the lobby where they serve cocktails from the Michael Mina bar. From there, you can head over to Justin Herman Plaze and ice-skate on the outdoor rink. Around $10 buys you 90 minutes on the rink. If you don’t want to spend the money, you can always grab a warm drink and watch ice-challenged Californians slip and slide their way across the ice.

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