THE FESTIVE SEASON…
FROM SKYSCRAPER MANHATTAN TO SMALL TOWN AMERICA
A great spot for a festive instagram photo
Headed for the holidays from London to my second home in small town Lexington, Virginia, I couldn't resist dropping by Manhattan to sample some big city festivities. And where better to begin than the Empire State Building, totally renewed and reimagined since my last skyscraper safari a few years ago?
Towering over Fifth Avenue what was until 1972 the world's tallest building, and is still one of it most iconic ones, the Empire State Building was lit up like a candy cane in red and green stripes; inside the foyer was adorned with a large Christmas tree and from the 86th and 102nd floor observation areas the view of the sparking urban panorama of the Big Apple some 1,250ft below was pure magic.
A photo opportunity with a 1930s ‘construction worker ’ taking a break from his mates in the background busily building the Empire State Building
The exhibitions all along the way were more appealing than ever before, taking visitors on an interactive trip back through time from the day in 1931 when the Empire State Building had its gala opening until the present day when the building has had a $165 million refit including environmentally-friendly windows, lighting and and energy sources.
You can peer through large floor-mounted binoculars and see street scenes from decades long past, view workmen soaring on ropes and hanging wooden structures outside windows as they build the structure, have selfies made with a couple of these workmen cast in bronze, enjoy displays of past print and film coverage of the building and, of course, have yourself photographed in the fist of King Kong, who in 1933 starred in one of the most famous of the 250 film and TV shows featuring the skyscraper. And, of course, the exit leads through the gift shop where you can purchase, among other things a stuffy of King Kong embedded in a ESB or a photo of yourself with a backdrop featuring the giant ape.
A display showing one of the comic book covers featuring a super hero exhibiting heroic skills at the world’s most famous skyscraper
Sleepless in Seattle poster
How can you resist a King Kong souvenir in the gift shop?
Ice skaters at the base of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
Down below, the massive Christmas tree was up at Rockefeller Center, the ice-skaters gliding around its base. There were more skaters on the Central Park rink, the Rockettes were in high kicking formation at the Radio City Music Hall; the shop windows were crammed with tempting treats and Broadway was back to vibrant theatrical life after the long pandemic lockdown.
It was of course a totally different, much more tranquil scene in the Shenandoah Valley-based college town of Lexington, Virginia, population 7,320 – although it did manage to stage not one but two seasonal parades.
The first, really more of a candlelit procession, featured hundreds of carol-singing local residents strolling down Main Street behind an illuminated horse and carriage bearing Father Christmas, his ultimate destination the town square where the towering Christmas tree was to be lit. And the second was a more flamboyant parade with marching bands from the local Virginia Military Institute and one of the town schools, plus numerous seasonally decorated vehicles, one featuring an undulating, green Grinch and another a jolly Santa Claus.
My son and daughter-in-law contributed to the merry-making by hosting their annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, the top prize won by a tall, jovial VMI professor whose award was not so much for his stripped sweater as for his general ensemble enhanced by trousers so patterned that they inspired a game of Tic-tac-toe.
Tree lighting ceremony (image courtesy of Lexington & the Rockbridge Area Tourism Development)
Joining Lexington’s candlelit tree-lighting celebrations
Deciding to shop locally as much as possible we headed for Main Street's Pumpkinseeds which is fronted by a large pavement placard modestly proclaiming itself “The cutest darn store ever” and which, in fact did yield up a couple of “cute” presents including some heart-shaped Lolita style sunglasses for one of my step-granddaughters. Next stops: the shops along Washington Street featuring Virginia-made arts and crafts and, yes, the local charity shops which offered amazingly tempting bargains. In one of them my son found a small cloth sack of catnip which drove Wally, the family feline, into an frenzy of festive frivolity, well deserved after his recent successful stand-off with a skunk who dropped by for a visit through our off-kitchen cat door not to forget last Christmas, when a bird Wally brought in, unharmed, flew off to perch for a challengingly long period at the top of our floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree.
Party time - welcoming in the New Year with Lexington friend Kelsey Goodwin
And on New Year's Eve we decided to forego the Main Street festivities featuring a ball drop and Mick Jagger impersonations by a local character (who doubled as the Grinch in the Christmas parade) in favor of a jolly local party with an odd theme: Awkward Family Photos. We went as Goths – and actually won the prize (pictures are too embarrassing to include). Next comes my granddaughter Rose's forthcoming 10th birthday party with its requested Harry Potter theme –we are assuring the guests' parents that no quidditch competitions will be on offer.
Wherever you are I hope the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays were also very special for you and that 2023 will be one of the best years ever.
Check out the features in the current issue of Essentially America magazine. To subscribe visit www.esssentiallyamerica.co.uk
Meanwhile, check out my new book of travel and lifestyle anecdotes, Goodbye Hoop Skirts – Hello World! The Travels, Triumphs and Tumbles of a Runaway Southern Belle.
