Stranded With The Rockettes

No Better Place in the World to Be Stranded at Christmas than Rockefeller Center!

A city unto itself with no shortage of fun at Christmas.

I worked for Rockefeller Center years ago and loved going to work there every day. If you have to work somewhere, it's not a bad place to be. It was once said that Rockefeller Center has a soul as all great places do.

My Favorite Things to Do at Rockefeller Center

Natalie Portman - Saturday Night Live by shockingbird

See Saturday Night Live

Rockefeller Center Rooftop Garden by i love nyc

Visit the Rooftop Gardens

A guided tour of the artwork inside 30 Rock including this mural on the ceiling.

Saks Fifth Avenue. Okay, not officially at the Center, but it's right across the street.

Eat Champagne Truffles at Teuscher. My most favorite chocolate in the whole wide world.

A New York minute she will never forget... by Jesse Morgan

Getting A Marriage Proposal

Tour the NBC Studios

Wave Signs at the Today Show

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There are more than five miles of lights on the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and 25,000 bulbs.

Oh Christmas Tree!

Fun Facts to Know and Tell

Workers at Rockefeller Center say stringing the 75-90 ft. tree is their favorite job of the year. Each limb is individually wrapped to give it the dramatic lighted effect.

The landscape department at Rockefeller Center scours the countryside year-round for an appropriate tree. Those chosen are usually planted as single specimen trees in front or back yards. (Those in forests don't get as much sunlight.) When the tree is brough down for mulching, it's mulched lights and all.

I actually got to visit a tree at a family's home with the landscapers one year before it was chopped down. Sitting beside a modest little house, just off an exit ramp in New Jersey, as is usually the case, the family said Rockefeller Center was doing them a favor by cutting the tree down. (Can you imagine how much it would cost to have a 90-foot Norway Spruce cut down!)

The tree is trucked in every year just after Thanksgiving, and it takes about a week to string the lights. The official lighting of the tree signals the start of Christmas to New York.

Cool Stuff on eBay

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Links to Incredible Dining at Rockefeller Center

More than 40 Restaurants Throughout the Center

Sea Grill: One of the most elegant restaurants at the Center with an enchanting view of the Ice Rink at rink/concourse level.
The Rainbow Room: At the top of the GE Building, The Rainbow Room offers dinner and dancing with a live big band orchestra on selected Fridays and Saturdays. An enchanted evening gliding on the revolving dance floor in the center of the dining room.
The Rainbow Grill: The Rainbow Grill offers fine dining, Northern Italian cuisine in an extraordinary atmosphere on the 65th floor of the GE Building. Upon entering the dining room, you will be amazed at the view of the southern tip of Manhattan through windows that run the entire length of the restaurant. The lavish Art Deco motif presents an energetic and expressive force in American Modernism prominent throughout our landmark building, without distracting from the simplicity and grace that Cipriani prides itself in.
Morell Wine Bar and Cafe: Overlooking the Channel Gardens and skating rink, Morell Wine Bar and Cafe offers more than 2,000 wine selections and 150 by-the-glass selections. Chef de Cuisine Edwin Bellanco designed the menu at Morrell Wine Bar & Cafe with a thoughtful mix of American classics and contemporary creations.
Brasserie Ruhlmann: Brasserie Ruhlmann, located at 45 Rockefeller Center, is a meticulously-crafted restaurant that pays homage to the great Art Deco designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. Conceptualized and designed by Jean Denoyer, the Restaurant evokes a uniquely French sentiment, adhering to traditional standards of simplicity, detail, and elegance that are universally and enduringly valid.
Tossed: An upscale, quick-service restaurant focused primarily on made to order salads.The quality, presentation and creativity of their salads are on a par with those found in fine restaurants. See for yourself why The New York Times says, "This stylish restaurant exalts the salad."
Tuscan Square: A chic restaurant with bar upstairs, esspresso bar, bakery and marketplace downstairs that showcase gourmet foods and scrumptious fresh baked pastries.

"Rockefeller Center has a soul as all great places do."

Fabulous Shopping at Rockefeller Center

An American Craftsman: Sells extraordinary works made by top craft artists from across America. Located directly across from Radio City Music Hall on the street level of 30 Rock.
Anne Fontaine: Anne is a young French designer whose creativity stems directly from the grand tradition of "White Linen" in her country of origin, Brazil. Through her collections she captures the purity and simplicity of white which is believed to bring luck in Brazil.
Botticelli: This is Botticelli's flaship store in the British Building on the Channel Gardens. Sells a wide variety of Italian leather shoes, accessories and outerwear.
Christie's: World famous auction-house established in the 18th century. Upcoming auctions listed on the website.
Falconnable: From its most humble roots as a family tailoring in Nice, France, Falconnable has embodied the art of tailoring and craftsmanship for more than 50 years.
Libraire De France: The leading foreign bookseller in the U.S., Libraire De France sells books in several different languages, along with travel guides, dictionaires and more. Located on the Channel Gardens.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Store: Jewelry, books, scarves and more reproductions from the Metropolitan Museum. All sales support the educational mission of the museum.
Swarovski: In the concourse of 30 Rock, Swarovski is recognized around the world for its devotion to creating a huge range of crystalline components and objects.
Teuscher Choclates of Switzerland: My all-time favorite place at Rockefeller Center! Sells a variety of chocolates made from the most expensive natural ingredients blended together using absolutely no chemicals, additives or preservatives. All chocolate is made in Switzerland and flown into the U.S. weekly. On the Channel Gardens.
Tumi: A leading brand of prestige luggage and business accessories that has garnered a dedicated following among affluent executive travelers and celebrities. Another fav at 30 Rock on the street level.

Top of the Rock

Open 365 Days a Year - The Observation Deck on top of 30 Rock

TOP OF THE ROCK is an experience in history and scenery that culminates with unparalleled views of New York City from the newly opened Observation Deck on the 70th floor of 30 Rockefeller Center. Visit during the day to see the splendor of the city unfold beneath you or visit at night and see the city sparkle.

There's a certain peace at 70 stories above the city, and TOP OF THE ROCK Observation Deck was conceived with the express purpose of keeping that peace uninterrupted. Panels of fully transparent safety glass - the only thing between visitors and the city - are crystal clear for unobstructed, open-air viewing. The reserved-ticketing system is designed to ensure the deck is easily accessible and the experience is always amazing.

The view itself is unique and astonishing. Unobstructed for 360 degrees from the 70th floor, the breathtaking landscape stretches for miles in every direction. It includes a panorama of Central Park and the northern half of Manhattan that cannot be found anywhere else. New York's other landmarks are visible as well, including the Chrysler Building, Times Square, the Hudson River, the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. It is, quite simply, the most spectacular view in New York City.

The shop features exclusive merchandise ranging from vintage photographs of the construction workers building 30 Rockefeller Center to trendy fashion accessories not found anywhere else.

HOURS OF OPERATION - 8:00 a.m. to midnight, 365 days a year with the last elevator going up at 11 p.m.

Go here for more information: www.topoftherocknyc.com