Suggestions for LIers seeking fun in the city
1THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF
NATURAL HISTORY. The dinosaurs never get old, the suspended 94-foot model of a blue whale is still awesome and the butterfly conservatory a delight. Check out the museum's unusual Origami Tree, with more than 500 handmade paper ornaments. (Central Park West at West 79th Street., 212-769-5100, amnh.org)
2HOLIDAY WINDOWS AT
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. Not your grandmother's holiday windows. This year the retailer goes high-tech, with digital images of snowflakes and bubbles projected onto the store's limestone facade, every 10 minutes from 5 to 10:30 p.m. (611 Fifth Ave., 212-753-4000, saksfifthavenue.com)
3ICE SKATING AT BRYANT PARK. The rinks in Rockefeller Center and Central Park are more traditional, but this ice pavilion in the shadow of the New York Public Library has no admission charge. (Skate rental is $13.) Hot chocolate and snacks are available at the rinkside concession. (Sixth Avenue at West 41st Street, thepondatbryantpark.com)
4COLUMBUS CIRCLE HOLIDAY MARKET. If you've exhausted the mall, head to Columbus Circle for funky handcrafted gifts by local artisans and entrepreneurs, who have stalls at the foot of Central Park. (Central Park West at West 59th Street, 212-529-9262, urbanspacenyc.com)
5THE TREE AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER. We don't need to tell you about this New York City icon - just go see it. The 12-ton, 74-foot Norway spruce is decorated with more than 30,000 multicolored lights, 25,000 crystals and topped with a crystal star from Swarovski. The tree is lit from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily, and around the clock on Christmas. (1250 Sixth Ave., 212-632-3975, rockefellercenter.com)
6EATALY. Pick up a panettone, sip a cappuccino and wander the aisles of this 42,500-square-foot emporium of Italian foods - a one-stop shop for pasta, bread, cheese, salumi, meat, fish, vegetables, pastry, chocolates, wine and coffee. And with eight in-store restaurants, both casual and white-tablecloth, you won't go home hungry. (200 Fifth Ave., 646-398-5100, eataly.com)
