It's Christmas Time In the City

Yesterday was our 3rd annual Christmas celebration, me, Albert, Megan and Maria. This year we decided that instead of exchanging gifts, we would treat ourselves to dinner and a show. The night began with dinner at our favorite restaurant in the city, Carmine's. It is a family style Italian restaurant in the theater district. Reservations usually require about two months notice, but it's not impossible to get in within a reasonable length of time without a reservation. The food was amazing as usual. We did decide that in the future if we were ordering off the menu, we would ask for the price too. But it is Christmas and we were celebrating. After dinner we took a frosty stroll to Rockefeller Center to gaze upon the most famous Christmas tree in the world. I really do love Christmas in New York. The area abounds with Santa's, life-size muppets and cartoon characters come to life. Of course it wouldn't be New York if there weren't vendors selling all the usual along with hot roasted nuts and Christmas wear. When we were thoroughly frozen, we found, of all things, a Starbucks! After warming up over a pumpkin latte, we continued on to the theater to see Hairspray. This was the second time I had seen it, but by far a better show. Harvey Fierstein owns the role of Edna, sorry Norm. By the time we got on the train to return home, another wonderful Christmas memory had been made with some equally wonderful friends. It is a most wonderful time of the year.

Marissa Jaret Winokur