Tony Award-nominee John Tartaglia starred in the acclaimed musical Avenue Q, appeared on Broadway in Shrek: the Musical and created and starred in The Playhouse Disney series Johnny and the Sprites.  Now he presents John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean.

A one-of-a-kind, interactive show, John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean is a magical, musical undersea adventure for kids of all ages.  Tank, Bubbles, and Dorsel are three best friends who just happen to be fish, and they’re about to set out on a remarkable journey of discovery.

Jam-packed with original music ranging from swing to R&B to Big Band, John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean is a blast—from the first big splash to the last wave goodbye.

NYMetropolista is giving away two (2) tickets to one lucky winner to this spectacular, fun-filled show! Tickets are valid May 23 to June 30 performances.

To Enter:

1) Leave a comment expressing your interest in the giveaway

2) Tweet about the giveaway and remember to @NYMetropolista

3) Join our FaceBook Fan Page

Winner will be chosen end of day Tuesday, May 4 2010.

For more information visit http://www.imaginoceanthemusical.com

Performances at New World Stages, Stage 5, 340 West 50th St., NYC

By now you’re all pretty familiar with my love of Central Park.  It really is a happy medium for city-loving tree-huggers like me.  Just the other day, a friend and I decided to take our little ones to the Central Park Zoo and had a truly wonderful time.  You would be surprised at all there is to experience in such a small zoo.  Here were some of our favorite experiences:

The Sea Lion Pool:  Those Sea Lions are some serious Show-offs!  Not only do they enjoy doing their tricks during feeding time with their trainers (which happens at 11:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.), but even when the show is over you can catch them hamming it up for onlookers.  At one point, one of the Sea Lions came up through the water, basked against the rocks, and stared at us with a very knowing look, ”You love me; you know you do.”

The Rainforest: My son clamored to see the snakes from the moment we entered the zoo (boy-oh-boy will he be disappointed if he thinks that he will ever get one as a pet), and the Rainforest exhibit had plenty of snakes for the viewing.  Large ones, small ones, even a pretty pink one with delicate gray streaks, all behind double-reinforced glass (thank you very much).  There were also Piranhas and other Rainforest creatures to enjoy seeing as well at that exhibit.

The Polar Circle:  On a hot day, the Polar Circle is the place to be.  Seeing the giant Polar Bears is exciting; then you get to go inside the chilly Penguin and Puffin exhibit, which will surely be a refreshing moment after having the hot sun beat down on you.  The great thing about the Penguins is that they are super friendly, and will swim right up to you on the other side of the glass to say hello!  I personally delighted in putting my nose against the glass and having Penguin after Penguin come over and rub their beak on the other side of the glass.  So amazing!

Besides these great favorites of ours, there are Monkeys and Red Pandas to be seen, Snow Leopards, many different kinds of birds, and the very best part, the Tisch Children’s Zoo.  There is no way you could have gotten me to feed a Llama as a kid, but my brave little two and a half year old fed the Llama, some goats, and some sheep.  After seeing him do it, I felt deeply ashamed of myself and mustered up the courage to feed them myself.  The animals are so very gentle!  They use their tiny little lips to pull in the food, never once using their teeth to get the food from people’s hands.  It was truly a wonderful experience.

All in all, the Central Park Zoo is a great way to spend a few hours with the family.  You’ll be amazed at all you can experience in such a small zoo, and the memories will last for a long, long time.

UPDATE: Grand Opening for this event has been moved to Friday, March 19th.

For the first-time-ever, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to experience some of the country’s greatest young circus artists and hip-hop talent in one spectacular variety show as The Blacktop Circus: Where The Big Top Meets The City Streets hits the stage at the legendary and newly revitalized Paradise Theater in the Bronx on March 12, 2010.

Taking place from March 12th – March 21st, the show will feature an eclectic array of acclaimed young performers, assembled from the blacktop — the asphalt pavements of city streets and playgrounds. The show is the only hip-hop variety show to provide a professional venue featuring these exceptional talents all under one roof.

The performances appeal to people of all ages and demographics, bridging cultural and racial boundaries within the arts. Audiences will recognize many of their favorite acts from appearances on television shows including America’s Got Talent, America’s Best Dance Crew and Showtime at the Apollo as well as familiar live touring shows.

The BlackTop Circus features exciting performances from aerialists, acrobats, dancers, illusionists and athletes bringing their own unique styles and techniques to the stage. Each young performer brings something contemporary, and never-before-seen, to these high-energy, awe-inspiring and gravity defying performances.

With over 26 performers slated to appear, some of them being a:

•    Hip-hop illusionist/Elliot Zimet — renowned for his NY street-smart modern spin on magic, Elliot’s vision of using illusions, birds, dancers, special effects, lighting, and crowd-moving beats has captivated audiences everywhere with his unforgettable presence.

•    New York City’s renowned King Charles Unicycle Troupe — have been dazzling audiences for over 40 years with their high-energy game of basketball on unicycles developed and created right here in the Bronx.

•    The Kenya Safari Acrobats — a fast-paced troupe of eight highly trained athletes take the stage for gravity defying insane antics.

•    Aerialist Extraordinaire/Susan Voyticky – poetry- in-motion describes the elegance and craft of her aerial dance – a visually stunning array of physical strength, style and technique combine in a beautiful display of airs above the ground. Professionally trained in Londonat The Circus Space’s BA Theater. Susan Voyticky began training at an early and is proficient on single hoop and swing trapeze and aerial silks

•    Contortionist/Ricardo Sosa — bending his body parts past human limits, he has the uncanny ability to charm and in an unconventional body ballet, the physical strength, flexibility and grace to amaze.

•    Dance Performer/Kenichi Ebina – his incredible HipHop, Poppin’, Lockin’, Mime, House, Jazz, Contemporary and Ethnic dance styles have made him the only two-time grand champion in Apollo theater history.

NY Metropolista is offering one lucky winner a chance to win a (4) Pack of tickets to the Opening Night, March 12th, of The BlackTop Circus: Where The Big Top Meets The Street playing the landmarked Paradise Theater in NYC.

This family-friendly show, LIVE in the Bronx promises to be a fun event for all!

TO ENTER:

*Tweet about the giveaway and remember to @NYMetropolista

*Leave a comment sharing with us what you look forward to seeing the most!

Winner will be selected on Monday, March 8, 2010 by end of day.

To purchase tickets log onto www.paradisetheaterevents.com or call ticketmaster @ 212-307-7171 or The Paradise Theater box office @ 212-220-1015. Tickets prices from $13.50 for kids, $22 for adults, $20 for mezzanine and $30 for VIP seating.

Photo courtesy of Black Top Circus Facebook Fan Page

As a native New Yorker (Bronx-raised), much of my childhood centered on family picnics in Pelham Bay Park and playing sports as a teenager in Central Park. I loved the time spent outside enjoying the fresh air. In fact, my love of nature inspired me to move to rural Oneonta, NY for college and after having lived there for six years, I became dependent on the fresh air for piece of mind and balance.

When my husband and I moved to Yonkers we did not know much about the area. From my trips to Cross County Mall and Central Avenue, I believed that it was not a place to experience the beauty of the environment. Ultimately, in much the same way that people are shocked to learn that more than one tree grows in Brooklyn, I was amazed to find Tibbetts Brook Park in the middle of Yonkers.

We heard a lot about Tibbetts from our neighbor and babysitter. She often told us that she took our daughter to the playground there and that during the summer her boys enjoyed swimming in the pool. But we weren’t convinced. After all, we had been living in Yonkers for two years and never even saw this so-called Tibbets Park.  But, my husband refused to give up and decided that we would find it no matter how long it took. And find it we did.

Tibbetts Brook Park is hidden off of Midland Avenue, nestled between the Saw Mill River Parkway and The Cross County Parkway.  At 161-acres it provides its visitors with a place to gather for miniature golf, swimming (the pool is currently under-reconstruction), ice skating, geese watching, hiking, tennis, picnicking, and so much more. The park is dog friendly as long as your four-legged companion remains leashed and away from the picnic areas. And to ensure that the park remains dog-waste free, the County provides dog walkers with waste bags to aide in cleaning up after their pets.

The highlight of Tibbetts Brook Park, for my three-year-old daughter is the beautiful playground loaded with slides, swings and other climbing structures. My husband and I spend countless hours watching her from nearby benches as she explores with and chases  after the many children taking advantage of all that Tibbetts has to offer. And when she tires of the playground, we head over to the pond where we observe the numerous species of wildlife that call Tibbetts home. She is also fascinated with the gazebo and waterfall and we try to visit these spots at least twice a week. Because of the amazing scenic views we have recently started walking the paths weekly as a part of our exercise routine. While a park pass is required during the spring and summer seasons, Tibbets is free to explore during the winter months. It is open seven days a week from dawn until dusk.

For my family, Tibbetts offers us a getaway from the insanity of city life. It helps to remind us that while the conveniences of city living are often enticing, getting back to the beauty of nature is never too far away.

For as long as they have been making movies, New York City has been the place to shoot them. Many of the locations of key scenes in movies filmed on the streets of New York City can be visited today, and here is just a very small listing of several to choose from:

Stand over the famous “Marilyn Monroe subway grate”: In Manhattan on 52nd Street and Lexington Avenue, you will find the subway grate that Marilyn Monroe stood over in that fabulous white halter dress from the movie The Seven Year Itch.

Visit the Ghostbusters Fire Station: Hook and Ladder 8, located at 14 North Moore Street and Varick Street, is where you can visit the Fire Station that housed the ghost-busting team in the now classic 80′s flick.

Fake an orgasm like Meg Ryan did at Katz’s Delicatessen: Okay, so you might not want to actually fake a full-blown orgasm in the middle of the restaurant, but you can at least have fun remembering that hilarious scene from When Harry Met Sally while knoshing on classic NYC deli fare.  205 E. Houston and Ludlow Street.

Have a slice of pizza at Joe’s Pizza from Spiderman 2: Tobey Maguire’s character lost his job as the pizza delivery boy there but the deliciousness (and inexpensiveness) of their pizza slices is enough to forgive them for giving Spiderman the boot.  7 Carmine Street at Bleecker Street.

Mulberry Street Bar: This site has hosted quite a few shoots, and all of them mafia related.  Donnie Brasco, The Godfather III and even The Sopranos all had scenes filmed in this classic Little Italy fixture.  176 1/2 Mulberry Street.

New York Public Library Main Branch: The Main Branch is the “big gun” of NYC film location sites, boasting quite a long list of movies that have filmed either inside or directly in front of its location at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.  The list of movies that were filmed there includes The Wiz, Ghostbusters, Spiderman, The Day After Tomorrow, Sex and the City, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s among others.

FAO Schwartz Toy Store: Located at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street, this toy store was featured in Home Alone, but is perhaps most well known for the scene in BIG when Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia play “Chopsticks” and “Heart and Soul” on the huge floor piano there.

Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Opera House: This is where Cher met Nicholas Cage for his dream date at the Met in Moonstruck.  Broadway between 63rd and 64th Streets.

The Empire State Building: Go to the observation deck and relive the moment when Meg Ryan finally meets Tom Hanks in Sleepless In Seattle.  350 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street.

South Street Seaport: This is where Godzilla first steps out of the East River when he goes on his rampage in the 1998 version of Godzilla.  Fulton Street and East River.

Photo by Christian Wagner – Stock Xchng

Just off 5th Ave, a few blocks away from Bryant Park, on 38 West 38th St., you will find an very unassuming entrance to a building, much like any other in NYC. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor however, and you will enter Galli’s Fairy Tale Theater.  A small stage, with a few rows of chairs, it is the place where I witnessed a group of very young children take in the art of theatrical peformance.

The show, The Frog Prince, had one important lesson to teach the little ones about fear: Face it. Breathe it. Do it. And Galli Theater for Personal Growth teaches that lesson to children and adults alikethrough their theater workshops and camps. With classes like “Soul Movement” and “Be The Star that You Are” for kids, the Galli group really encourages self-expression and self-confidence while instilling the craft of acting and performance on stage.  Adults can learn ways to express their creativity, or gain the training they need to teach others the art of theater.

During the performance I attended, children were encouraged to participate and the actors would often interact, even inviting some of the children to walk on stage and dance with them.  Everyone was having a lot of fun, including the parents who took great delight in watching their children become so involved and concerned for the characters of the story.

Prince: Guillermo Hernández De La Fuente, Frog: Inga Jaanimets, Princess: Fatima, King: Steven Weisser

Very casual, and low key, this is a perfect place to bring your child and make him/her feel comfortable about the stage, the experience of theater, and maybe even the art of being in it.

And though The Frog Prince involved an all-adult cast, they also feature all-kids cast, and I have been told these are amazing as well! The next one will be Galli’s Wolf and the 7 Little Goats and will take place from Jan 23 – Feb 7; Sat & Sun at 3pm. Check out their calendar for performances and ticket information.

The holidays are upon us, and the kids are off from school. Great fun indeed, until the cabin fever starts to set in. What to do? What to do? If you’re the New York Metro area you are in luck!

This Holiday week is full of tons of things to do, and though the tourists have sort of replaced the residents in larger numbers, it still means that a lot of your favorite places might not be as crowded as usual (if you get there earlier than most especially).

From now to tomorrow, Dec. 24, catch a The Miracle on 34th St. at Macy’s Herald Square’s new Puppet Theater presented by The Puppetworks, Inc., a puppeteering group based in Park Slope, Brooklyn. If you miss this show, Puppetworks is also presenting The Nutcraker Sweets and The Steadfast Tin Soldier from Dec, 26 through Jan 10.  Check their site for more info.

If you love puppets, but don’t want to travel outside of Manhattan to enjoy a show, than check out Central Park’s own Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater’s The Three Bears Holiday Bash. On now through Jan. 3.

Don’t miss the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden. A holiday favorite, the recreations are works of art, made of natural materials, celebrating the beauty of New York City.  Display is on from now till Jan. 10. Enjoy some hot drinks and gingersnaps. A wonderful adventure for the entire family! Check their site for more info.

If you love trains, but want to stay in Manhattan, head on over to Grand Central Terminal, and catch NY Transit Museum’s 8th Annual Holiday Train Show, a display of awesome Lionel trains (from now through Jan. 18). While there don’t forget to also stay to watch  their Holiday Light Show (till Dec. 31) and Holiday Fair (till Dec. 24).

Our we can go a’Caroling! In Washington Square Park, on Dec. 24 from 5:00PM-6:00PM, or head on over to Stuyvesant Square from 6:00PM to 8:00PM for a Candelight Caroling celebration.

The Queens Theater in Flushing Meadow park is presenting Santa Meets The Wicked Wizard on Dec. 26 and The Nutcracker from Dec. 29 to Dec. 30). Tickets are $12.00.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has several events going on during the Holidays as well, from Holiday gift card making going on today, Dec. 23 and tomorrow, Dec. 24, to Highbridge Voices Holiday Concert. Check out their site for event listing and tickets.

Get out, have fun! And from our family to yours, we wish you a Happy Holiday Season!

I am super excited to be part of this wonderful NYMetropolista family. To be given the opportunity to share with you any new, exciting, off the beaten path places,activities I come across on my many adventures with my family throughout New York City

I am a little late with this review with just three more dates left I strongly suggest it is a must see for the whole family.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (LIVE) Accompanied by a jazz trio who performs the soundtrack composed by Vince Guaraldi, who  is on this classic animated television show. Performed live at this pretty cool venue in Brooklyn called the Brooklyn Lyceum. This production is in its second year at this venue. Having spent my entire childhood in Trinidad and Tobago one of my fondest memories was watching with my cousins A Charlie Brown Christmas. When I read about this live performance of this great classic I knew I had to take my 4 year old son Jaden and husband Joe to see this show. We arrived at the Brooklyn Lyceum and out first impression of the venue was it looked very industrial and organic in nature. Once we were escorted upstairs to where the show was performed we were wowed by how they created the set in a magical sort of way. It is a bit cold so dress warmly and there are heating lamps set up strategically around the seating. To us it just lent to the whole experience of being outside with Charlie Brown and his crew. The set was re-created as perfect as possible to the cartoon and before the show started Jaden got to walk around and tour the stage.

“Pig Brooch Theatre Company, Inc. was founded in May 2004 when their original play Happy Mundanes was accepted into the New York International Fringe Festival 2004. After a successful run, the company teamed up with Dustin Helmer’s Kiek in de KökPlayers to create and produce Love Is in the Air, a lost 1920s silent film presented by a company of Estonian clowns. Love Is in the Air was produced at the 2005 Fringe Festival before touring to Hamilton College in the spring of 2006 as part of a fundraiser for a new multi-million dollar theatre facility. The immensely talented performers from this production come from all areas of the New York theatre scene, from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, to Broadway, to the Metropolitan Opera House, to every rock and roll music venue in the city.A Charlie Brown Christmas is a tradition at the Penn State Theatre program that has finally arrived in Brooklyn. The actors all share a deep love for this holiday favorite and have worked extremely hard to match the exact physicality of the cartoon characters from Charlie Brown Christmas Special”

Joe and I were amazed at how the actors performed the entire Charlie Brown Christmas verbatim, down to the characteristics of the cartoon characters. The live music by the jazz trio performing all the Vince Guaraldi classics made it so magical for us adults  and brought back such warm and “Christmasy” feelings inside. Jaden as well as all the other kids that were there laughed throughout the entire show which was a perfect 40 minutes from start to finish.

I loved this show so much I am contemplating going back again this weekend with some friends. A perfect holiday classic A Charlie Brown Christmas for the young and the young at heart.

SHOW DATES AND TIMES:
Fri Dec 18 – 7pm
Sat Dec 19 – 2pm and 7pm
Sun Dec 20 – 2pm and 7pm

All tickets are $10 and available at: BrooklynLyceum.com

A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the Children’s Aid Society

Location: Brooklyn Lyceum   227 4th Avenue in Park Slope.   R train at Union Street. 718.857.4816.

Also playing at the Brooklyn Lyceum which I have not seen so unable to review:

“Just in time for the holidays!  Mainspring Collective and The Brooklyn Lyceum present the first installment of their new children’stheater series, Monster Literature, written and conceived by Daniel John Kelley. The first episode, ‘Twas the Night Before…MONSTERS!’ offers a new twist on an old classic when an evil wizard threatens to destroy the holiday spirit by changing the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ by unleashing his army of silly monsters.  Young heroine Benjy Bleeglehorn (along with her dashing sidekick, Bravo Kirkwood) must battle this army of misguided monsters with their wit and compassion in order to restore the poem and rediscover the spirit of the holidays.  ‘Twas the Night Before…MONSTERS,  featuring original music and video elements, is original holiday fun for the whole family. Join us for some monstrous fun at the Brooklyn Lyceum as we kick off this new ongoing series! Official Monster Literature website: MonsterLiterature.com”

Showtimes and Specifics:
Sat Dec 19 – 12 and 3:30pm
Sun Dec 20 – 12 and 3:30pm

Running time: 30 minutes.  For ages:  Pre-K – 5yrs, and adults too!
All Tickets $5/each or $15/four.

Looking for a Broadway show without all the hustle and bustle of the busy New York City streets? Well, I have found the perfect spot! It’s called the Westchester Broadway Theatre and it just minutes away from the Big Apple in a tranquil Westchester neighborhood. You get the same effect of attending a Broadway show in New York City and much, much more but in a serene Westchester neighborhood.  You’ll see professional actors and actresses from the most popular Broadway shows AND there’s no need to decide whether or not to eat dinner before or after the show because a three-course meal is also included in their low price of approximately $78.00.

If you think about it, since Broadway show prices are in the $100 per ticket range, it’s like getting a free meal provided with your show at the Westchester Broadway Theatre.  This is an undeniably excellent deal considering our current economic times.  You really can’t find anything like this at any New York City theatre.  It’s a win-win for all!

This year is extra special because it marks the 35th anniversary of the Westchester Broadway Theatre. They’ve been in business since 1974 and are the only theatre in New York State to have the longest running 52 week a year professional theatre.

I’ve been to the Westchester Broadway Theatre twice.  The first time my husband and I went to see a show at the WBT (Westchester Broadway Theatre) was to celebrate our five year anniversary.  We saw The King and I.  It was spectacular.  Their costumes were amazing, the acting was on point, the stage was magical and the food was great. They really know how to take you to another place. The second time I took my daughter to see Beauty and the Beast.  We are huge Disney fans so we could not take our eyes off the stage.  The characters were brought to life and felt so realistic.  The stage even turned into a part of the castle.  It was truly magnificent.

Now showing for the month of December is The Christmas Voyager. A show that is perfect for the upcoming holiday season to get you in the holiday spirit.

The Christmas Voyager is a true celebration of the Season. All the splendor of Christmas is brought to life in a magical journey through Yuletides past. The holiday songs we all know and love are wrapped up in a heartwarming celebration of spirit that will delight audiences of all ages. Lost in a future time and desperate to return to his home galaxy, our Starman journeys back through time searching for that magical December 24th evening when three brilliant stars came together and changed the course of history. Knowing that these same stars will set him on the right course toward home, Noel journeys around the world and touches down in a small town in America, The North Pole, Dickens’ England and many other places on his quest.

Their 2010 schedule looks phenomenal because you’ll be able to see Peter Pan, Rent, Jekyll & Hyde and lots more shows.  If you love Broadway shows like me, you’ll definitely love the shows the Westchester Theatre has to offer.  It’s totally worth the drive if you live in the NYC metro area.  There’s no other place like it.  Where can you get a good meal and a fantastic show for the price of one, all in one location?

*There are also a few other limited-time and/or one-night holiday shows that are great for kids of all ages, such as Frosty the Snowman & Tony Kenny’s Christmas Time In Ireland.

For ticket information and show times, call the WBT at 914-592-2222. They’re open every day at 10am. Call 914-592-2225 for group reservations and for Luxury Box reservations, call 914-592-8730. For private parties of 6 to 22, additional features include an expanded dinner menu, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, and a private powder room.

Westchester Broadway Theatre
One Broadway Plaza
Elmsford, NY 10523
Broadwaytheatre.com
Photo credit: WBT

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The night before Thanksgiving, while y’all may have been on a plane, prepping for a feast, or in line for a pre-parade glimpse of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day balloons, I was getting re-acquainted with an old friend: the holiday windows at our fabulous NYC department stores. It’s the only time my hubby doesn’t cringe when I say I’m heading out to “just look” as this kind of looking doesn’t cost a dime.

We started our window-viewing at Barney’s (Madison Ave and 61st) celebrating 35 years of Saturday Night Live (Coneheads, Weekend Update, etc.). No movement, but great art. They even feature a window of artwork along 61st Street of tiles for sale by students at the East Harlem School. We then walked the two blocks over to Bloomingdales (Lexington and 60th Street) to check out their holiday window displays. We could easily spot the building from blocks away as it appeared to be draped in a blanket of white lights. With a theme of “Wonderfun,” the windows were colorful,  and several were interactive: taking video of you on the sidewalk and putting it into a frame (we had to drag my four-year-old away from this!), transposing your smile into a whimsical mouth, etc.  My son really liked the “Dynamic Duo” window with full-size Batman and Robin characters in line with President Obama and Michelle to visit Santa.

Next we trekked over to Bergdorf Goodman (Fifth Avenue and 58th), where we spent the longest time studying each window – they were stunning and incredibly complex. . .and reminded me of the CW’s Gossip Girl. Their windows were inspired by the works of Lewis Carroll ( “A Compendium of Curiosities”). The sideways chess window and window-sized wooden doll house windows were remarkable – after the clothes and acessories of course. We had several great photo opps of holiday decorations down 5th Ave from here, with the huge sparkly snowflake strung in the intersection of Fifth Ave and 57th Street, Trump Tower holiday lighting, and several others all the way down to Saks in the distance. It was easy to spot Saks next with giant blue lit snowflakes cascading down the storefront. Their windows featured “Twinky” a twinkling snowflake, and the theme carried over to inside Saks’ with the walls decorated with falling snowflakes.

Up to this point, we’d spent about an hour and fifteen minutes on our tour, and our four-year-old was growing tired of walking, so we cabbed it down to a drive-by of Lord & Taylor’s windows on Fifth Ave and 39th Street. They featured old-school traditional holiday scenes and celebrations, but weren’t as exciting as what we had just seen. We saved Macy’s for last and it was a fantastic finale!

If you’ll view the windows with kids and won’t have time to hit all of the stores, I recommend breaking this tour up into three “family-friendly” visits:

1) Visit Macy’s on 34th Street with enormous, colorful windows filled with a lot of movable parts and recognizable scenes for children to identify. (i.e. Santaland, Mircale on 34th Street) Along Broadway, one of their windows features an interactive opportunity to ”write a letter to Santa” – scroll through options to complete your letter. The kiddos will likely beg to go inside to see Santaland. Do it. If you have time and energy, walk up 5th Ave to see the Lord & Taylor windows.

2) Visit Saks – they have a smaller stretch of active windows, and you can then step inside to see the twinkly winter wonderland lights, with falling snowflakes lit on the walls of the first floor. From here, you can cross the street to American Girl Place, and another block down is the Build-a-Bear Workshop which has been made over as Santa’s Workshop for the holidays. Or, head across from Saks’ to Rockefeller Center to enjoy the festive decorations, ice rink, huge tree, and even watch the trains inside the Lionel Train Store at 30 Rock (it’s on the side across from Radio City Music Hall).

3) Visit Bergdorf’s, Bloomingdale’s and Barney’s.

Because the holidays are filled with so many family-friendly traditions, I’d have to recommend the most child-friendly windows along the route this year in order:

1. Macy’s
2. Bloomingdale’s
3. Saks
4. Lord & Taylor
5. Bergdorf-Goodman
6. Barney’s

Spot any other visit-worthy holiday shop displays about town? Let us know! Leave a comment below.