New York at the Threshold of Winter: That Shining Season
At the beginning of November, wanting to enjoy the warmth of the year-end and the Christmas spirit a step ahead, I boarded a plane to New York. From the moment I waited for the flight under the gentle sunlight filtering through the glass ceiling of the airport terminal, my heart was already racing toward the brilliant tree lights in the forest of buildings.
The Way into Manhattan from Queens
Taking the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) from the platform of a quiet neighborhood in Queens where my accommodation was located got me to midtown Manhattan in no time. The sign on the platform clearly read "Direction to New York," adding to the excitement every time I stepped onto the tracks.
When the train started running and the scenery outside the window changed from low trees and residential areas to dense high-rise buildings, I finally realized I was close to Manhattan. When I finally got off at Penn Station, huge Christmas trees began to light up in street shops and building windows, giving off a lively year-end atmosphere.
Coming out of the Penn Station exit, which is a modern glass passageway, I walked toward Hudson Yards. Inside the glass window of the One Manhattan lobby, a brightly shining tree was set up, catching the eyes of passersby.
Beyond the glass outer wall of One Manhattan, Christmas trees decorated with numerous ornaments stood in a row, adding romance to the winter city. People walking on the street also stopped one by one to look at the warm light of the bulbs.
The interior of the Hudson Yards mall was also filled with holiday decorations. Under lights hanging like the Milky Way, a giant hot-air-balloon-shaped light fixture hung, giving off a fantastical atmosphere. Walking outside, the unique honeycomb structure of the Vessel stood tall and geometric under the sunset sky. Perhaps because access to the place had been restricted for a while, it left a heavy and special impression.
On the way back, I realized the LIRR platform information board rule a bit late. On the first day, not knowing that the track number only appears on the display board ten minutes before boarding, I tried to check it thirty minutes early and ended up taking the wrong train, rushing all the way to New Jersey. I couldn't help but chuckle at the memory.
Dry Silver Grass on the High Line and City Lights
If there is one place I never fail to visit whenever I come to New York, it is definitely the High Line. This trail, which transformed an old freight railroad into a park, delivers a strange sense of leisure even in the desolation of the city center. Between late autumn and winter, the sight of many people walking quietly along the rustling silver grass path provided a calm comfort.
Looking down from the High Line, the streets were lined with yellow-colored trees and calm brick apartments. As it got dark, I came down to the street where the red taillights of congested cars and the bright lights of building windows blended together, radiating New York's unique energy.
The Leisure of SoHo and the Brunch Table
You can't miss brunch on a trip to New York. I visited Sadelle's in SoHo, famous for its wait, and opened the mint-green leather-covered menu. A smile naturally spread across my face when the warm French toast and the stacked smoked salmon sandwich tower were served.
After eating, I strolled through the streets of SoHo. It was fun to look around the luxury brand shops lined up between the unique cast-iron style building facades with intertwined fire escapes.
The Christmas spirit was in full swing in every shop window. A macaron tree and colorful ornament boxes decorating the inside of the windows caught the attention of passersby.
As mid-December approached, a restaurant near Nassau, Long Island, also hung poinsettia decorations and sparkling lights throughout the hall. Wherever I went, the unique warm and bustling atmosphere of the season lingered, making me forget the cold.
Skyscrapers Hidden in Mist and Another Culinary Delight
One day, it drizzled and the whole of Manhattan was damp. The red traffic lights reflected in the puddles on the road, and the tops of the dense high-rise buildings were hidden by dense mist, showing no shape at all. It was another side of New York, calm and atmospheric, completely different from a clear day.
On the morning of Christmas Eve Eve, I visited another famous spot, Balthazar. Under the warm lighting of the classic French bistro style, a large mirror decorated with yellow garlands and a tree welcomed guests.
Chatting over freshly baked pastries, warm omelets, and homemade sausage, I felt like I had stepped into a scene from the drama Sex and the City, where the main characters enjoyed morning brunch and chatted.
Manhattan's Night Unfolded in the Cityscape
In the afternoon, I crossed the George Washington Bridge, also known as the 'GW Bridge,' and moved to New Jersey. A deep blue twilight sky was settling over the majestic bridge steel structure.
Standing on the hills of West New York, the night view of Manhattan's skyscrapers across the Hudson River unfolded at a glance. The cluster of buildings, including the Empire State Building, twinkling with colorful lights, was breathtakingly dazzling.
As the night deepened, I headed to Brooklyn Bridge Park. The dots of light on the massive suspension bridge cables and the red and blue lights reflected on the river combined to elevate the romance of a New York night to its peak.
The Glowing Village of Dyker Heights and the Christmas Highlight
On Christmas Eve evening, I headed to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn. The whole neighborhood decorated their homes with care and splendor, as if a Christmas lighting contest were being held.
In front of each house yard, large Santa Claus figures, nutcrackers, and stone statues stood close together, and the laughter of residents and visitors filled the alleys. It was an overwhelming spectacle, matching the rumor that they select the most spectacular house in the village every year.
The day after Christmas, I came across a large red tree-shaped modern art sculpture in an outdoor plaza near Hudson Yards. Among the calm gray concrete buildings, it was impressive, as if exuding a powerful vitality.
Next, I moved to Fifth Avenue and visited my favorite, St. Patrick's Cathedral. The sight of the sharp Gothic spires meeting the tall modern buildings beyond the horizon showed the coexistence of antique and modern beauty.
Directly opposite, on the facade of Saks Fifth Avenue department store, a giant clock and star decoration made in collaboration with Christian Dior was shining brilliantly. A huge crowd gathered with cameras to capture the display show.
The place that marked the end of the journey was in front of Rockefeller Center. The towering Rockefeller Tree was emitting an exquisitely grand light, closely intertwined with tens of thousands of bulbs. Along with the admiration of how they could hang all those bulbs, this moment of fully holding the dreamed-of Christmas in New York in my heart will shine forever.
Starting from the quietness of Queens to the sleepless city of Manhattan, the romance of winter New York, which made me forget even the cold, remains as a warm lamp in a corner of my heart that will not go out for a long time.
