CityView Magazine

FEATURE Merry in Manhattan Take a bite out of the Big Apple this holiday season L By Miriam Landru iving in Fayetteville, we certainly have the Mormon. Show times for these productions and more vary best of both worlds. We are a mere three hours from the Appalachian Mountains and a twohour joyride away from the coast. Being nestled in the South, yet considered an East Coast state, North Carolina isn't far from a few major cities more north. If you're looking to spend Christmas and the winter holiday on a destination trip, you're merely eight hours by car from the city that never sleeps. (Though if you have someone else driving, you can take a nap on the way!) And by plane, you have the choice of taking a flight to NYC conveniently from the Fayetteville Regional Airport or travel to Raleigh for a trip that will take you less than 90 minutes. Airlines at the Raleigh-Durham Airport routinely have round-trip airfare to New York City So, now that you know how easy it will be to travel there, let's talk about how you will spend your time in the Big Apple during the Yuletide season. Midtown Manhattan, Times Square, Broadway & Fifth Avenue Midtown Manhattan is home to some of the world's most recognizable architecture. Most notably it features the UN Headquarters, Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. It's a heavily commercialized area of the city and chockfull of skyscrapers. You haven't been to New York City if you haven't been to Midtown. And you haven't been to New York City, if you haven't seen a Broadway show. At time of print, there is something on Broadway for everyone. The top three shows are the new classic Wicked, the long-running family favorite The Lion King and the controversial and raunchy The Book of throughout the day. You're sure to find some way to squeeze a top-notch show into your itinerary. From Broadway, stroll on over to Times Square for people watching. Rub elbows and take photos with the Naked Cowboy and gawk at the several hundred foot monitors. If you're hungry in this area of the city, grab a quick slice of New York style pie from any of the hole-in-the-wall greasy, authentic pizza joints that aim to please. A trip to Manhattan would be incomplete without shopping. Macy's, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co. and Bloomingdale's flagship locations are all located in Midtown. All boast fabulous window displays during the Holiday season. (need to look up past themes). The displays at Saks are my personal favorite, which are usually more on the whimsical side. Rockefeller Center Perhaps one of the most iconic holiday symbols that come to mind is the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. The evergreen is usually of the Norway Spruce Variety and nearly 100 feet tall. It's usually lit in late November or early December and NBC airs a special featuring the tree being set ablaze by thousands of tiny, twinkling lights. Though you may be tempted to ice skate at the iconic ring at Rockefeller you've seen on many TV series and movies, if you're on a budget it may be a better bet to head to Central Park. The rink at the park is much larger and more affordable per person. Plus, you may prefer your money to be spent sightseeing, seeing a Broadway show and shopping at the plethora of stores in Midtown. CityViewNC.com | 39

• Cover