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Holiday in New York

Published on Fri Dec 02 2011

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The Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel is one of the most elegant rooms in New York.

PHOTO COURTESTY THE PLAZA

By Richard OuzounianTheatre Critic

Most Unique Nutcracker: You think you’ve seen the classic holiday ballet in every guise? Think again. “Nutcracker in the Lower” re-imagines the work to suit NYC in all of its cultural diversity, something a Torontonian could relate to easily. Everything from krumping rats and a salsa festival to some authentic and beautifully done ballet is part of this inventive package at the Abrons Art Center in the Henry St. Settlement. 466 Grand St.; 212-352-3101 orwww.henrystreet.org.

Most Unusual Bar: Did you ever want to be a superhero or spy-guy using a telephone booth to achieve awesome transformations? Then drop by PDT (Please Don’t Tell. Go through the phone booth on the side wall of Criff Dogs and you’re suddenly in the hippest 2011 speakeasy around. The cocktails are pricey ($15) but good and you can order a hot dog from Criff’s. How’s that for cool? 113 St. Mark’s Place. 212-614-0386.

Best View of Manhattan: To get the best view of Manhattan, you have to leave it, but not far. SHI Restaurant is in newly hip Long Island City, features an awesome menu of really tasty Asian small plates at reasonable prices ($6-16) and a truly killer look at the East Side Skyline. 47-20 Center Blvd. 347-242-2450.

Best New York-style pizza: Thin-crust? Check. Coal oven? You bet. First-rate toppings? Absolutely. Must be Nick’s Pizza. The atmosphere is cozy and the clientele are here for one thing: pizza. The thin-crust pies ($14 and up, serves two) are baked to perfection. Save some room for their famous cannoli. 1814 Second Ave. (at 94th St.), 212-987-5700.

Best Place to Commune With Ghosts: The Morris-Jumel Mansion is a gem of a historical site, despite its out-of–the-way location. Full of wonderful revolutionary war artifacts and atmosphere (George Washington didn’t sleep here, but dined with his cabinet) and a lot of well documented ghosts including Eliza Jumel, the mansion’s former mistress. She’s the one dressed in purple, if you see her and want to say hello. 65 Jumel Terrace, 162nd St., west of Amsterdam Ave.; 212-923-8008.

Busiest Brunch: Not only is it one of the best brunch places around, but with only 32 seats it’s one of the tiniest. That’s why the Clinton St. Baking Company is a place you get to early (8AM weekdays, 9 AM weekends) or wait on line for the Buttermilk Biscuit sandwich, packed with scrambled eggs, cheddar and homemade tomato jam. Served with hashbrowns for $9, it makes getting up worthwhile. 4 Clinton St.. 646-233-2813.

Best boat ride: A no-brainer. The Staten Island Ferry runs 24/7 and it’s totally free for a 25-minute ride with unmatched views of the NY harbour. It leaves from the foot of Whitehall Street at the southern tip of Manhattan Island. And once you’re there, check out NYC’s “forgotten borough” which has a lot of neat stuff to offer. www.visitstatenisland.com.

Best Place to Lift Your Pinkie: Traditions come and go, but tea at the Palm Court of The Plaza: a Fairmont managed hotel remains a constant joy. It’s not cheap ($49), but it does include Truffled Quail Egg Salad, Maine Lobster, Sturgeon Caviar and Fresh Baked Scones with Double Devonshire Cream. Yum. Reservations a must. Fifth Ave. and 59th St. 212-759-3000.

Most “New York” Skating Experience: Sure, everybody goes skating at Rockefeller Center at Christmas, but there’s a reason: it’s just so darn beautiful. There’s really nothing like skating around in circles under the single most gorgeous tree in New York City, while hundreds of people look down and think how lucky you are. Rockefeller Plaza, www.rockefellercenter.com.

Best Comedy Club: Ignore those dudes pressing flyers into your hands around Times Square trying to lure you into comedy venues. The best, hippest and cheapest place is The Upright Citizens Brigade, with two NYC locations. You can see the famous and soon-to-be famous plying their trade in a variety of ways. Check out the lengthy schedule at www.ucbtheatre.com. 307 W. 26 St. 212-366-9176. Or 153 E. 3rd St. 212-366-9231.

Best Place to See Santa: Christmas in NY isn’t Christmas without a visit to Macy’s Herald Square. Not only is the store a holiday-trimmed wonder in its own right, but it’s a great place to go shopping and they do Santa old school, which is just how you want him to be. Remember Miracle on 34th Street? 151 W. 34 St. 212-695-4400. www.macys.com.

Where to Drink in a Bank Vault: Around the side entrance at 115 Broadway, you’ll find the stairs down to Trinity Place It was originally a bank dating back to 1904, but you can now drink and dine inside the 35-ton vault doors. The bar has an awesome selection of sliders (Kobe beef, pulled pork and Lobster BLT) and you can seat till you’re stuffed for $20. The selection of single malt scotch is pretty great as well. 212-964-0939.

Hardest Restaurant to Get Into: Thomas Heller’s temple to fine dining, Per Se is probably the most difficult to get a reservation at, but it’s also the most expensive ($295 for a 9-course meal) and it’s definitely the best. If a once-in-a-lifetime occasion is in your future, believe me, this is the place you want to go, so save your pennies, plan early and make a reservation. 10 Columbus Circle. 212-823-9335.

Best Toy Store: It may not be quite as unique as it was back in the day, but F.A.O Schwartz still remains a destination to widen the eyes of the child inside all of us, no matter what the age. And yes, the giant floor keyboard from the movie Big is still there on the second floor if you want to get in touch with your inner Tom Hanks. If you need some quick energy, stop into F.A.O. Schweetz, their awesome candy store. 767 Fifth Ave. 212-644-9400. www.fao.com)

Best Hotel Room Views: The Ritz Carlton Battery Park offers great views of Lady Liberty. It’s hard to beat the view of St. Patrick’s Cathedral from some of the rooms, and from the gym, at The New York Palace. Two West St. 212-344-0800. www.ritzcarlton.com.

Best View of a Hotel Room: For a while, folks at The Standard, which hovers above the wonderful, new High Line Park on the west side, were encouraging guests to strip and perform for passersby below. 848 Washington St. 212-645-4646. www.standardhotels.com.

Best Hot Chocolate: Please show some more imagination that dropping into one of NY’s ubiquitous Starbucks when you want a sweet, hot beverage. Just slightly removed from the shopping mecca called Union Square is The City Bakery. They use melted chocolate bars, not cocoa powder or anything synthetic. And the giant marshmallows they melt on top are heaven. 3 W. 18th St.; 212-366-1414. www.thecitybakery.com.

Best Place to Worship a Fallen Icon: Strawberry Fields, the memorial to John Lennon in Central Park. It’s on the west side near 72nd St., not far from Lennon’s former home in the Dakota apartments. He was killed outside his home Dec. 8, 1980.