New York for Christmas: A Festive Celebration

Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. Join us in the meeting room to register with the program staff and receive a final itinerary and any updated information. The location of our Road Scholar meeting room will be sent to you the week before in a welcome email from the program provider. Hotel security will also be able to direct you. If you arrive after this evening's scheduled events, the Group Leader will leave an envelope with the Front Desk; please ask for it when you arrive. Orientation: 4:30 p.m. In the same space, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. We will be walking a lot and using the New York City subway system which involves going up and down flights of stairs, long corridors, and often crowded conditions. It’s what New Yorkers do every day! Everyone will receive a MetroCard. If you've been with us before and have a Senior MetroCard, please bring it with you. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

In on of the hotel's restaurants. Dinner is available even if you arrive late. This program is able to offer vegetarian and gluten free meal alternatives. The gluten free meals are not guaranteed against cross contamination. While modifications to accommodate other dietary restrictions might be possible on a case by case basis, they cannot be guaranteed. Participants requiring other alternatives should discuss with the group leader upon arrival, be prepared to self-select from the included menu choices and discuss modifications with the serving staff at the restaurants.

After dinner, our Group Leader will lead us on a short stroll to familiarize us with the neighborhood around the hotel and to see some of the holiday displays. Upon arriving back at the hotel, the rest of the evening is yours to continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars or to rest up for the week.

In the Tick Tock Diner located within the hotel.

We’ll be joined by a local historian who will give us an illustrated lecture on the history of Christmas and holiday celebrations in New York City. You may be surprised to learn how many traditions originated here in NYC. Following the talk, we’ll take the subway uptown to Central Park, which we’ll stroll across to arrive at The Metropolitan Museum of Art where an art historian who will give us an exclusive introduction to the museum, focusing on some works of art that are relevant to the season including the beloved Christmas Tree and Neapolitan baroque crèche. This display is an annual NYC tradition and is a work of art in itself. The majestic tree is adorned with beautifully crafted antique angels and cherubs keeping watch over the Nativity, shepherds, the Magi, crowds of townspeople and peasants, scores of animals, and more. We'll have several hours to explore the museum independently.

On your own.

We'll regroup mid-afternoon and return to the hotel for a short break.

At a neighborhood restaurant.

We’ll take the subway to the charming neighborhood of Greenwich Village and attend a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at the Merchant’s House, a New York City landmark dating to the 1830s. Seated in the house's front parlor amid authentic 19th-century period furnishings, we’ll celebrate the season with a captivating one-man performance. Dickens himself often gave readings of his beloved tale and visited New York in December 1867. This evening's script is adapted from those readings.

In the Tick Tock Diner.

This morning, we'll head uptown with our Group Leader to The Cathedral Church of St. John The Divine. It vies with Liverpool’s cathedral for the title of the largest Anglican cathedral and fourth-largest Christian church in the world. The cornerstone was laid in 1892... and it’s not even close to being finished! In addition to its purpose as a house of worship, St. John is an arts, cultural, and civic center and a renowned “feat of human engineering.” One of the Cathedral’s educators will help us understand the history, features, and symbolism of this unique architectural treasure.

We’ll walk across the street to one of the city’s best pizza restaurants for a simple lunch of pizza and salad. Here's a tip: Pizza is finger food for New Yorkers who pick up their slice and fold it to make it easier to eat.

After lunch, we’ll head back downtown for a visit to the New York Public Library, best known for the lion sculptures proudly sporting enormous holiday wreaths. We’ll go inside to self-explore the wonderful Treasures Exhibit featuring countless items from the library’s collection: a Gutenberg Bible, the original grid plan for Manhattan Island, Christopher Robin Milne’s “Winnie The Pooh” doll, Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, letters from James Baldwin, and much more. We'll arrive at the library approximately 2:00pm; it will mark the end of the day's programmed activities. You’re welcome to spend as much time as you like in the library then maybe visit the Bryant Park Holiday Market next door. Beyond that, the city is yours to explore. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and logistical guidance. Return to the hotel at your leisure.

On your own to enjoy what you like.

At leisure. Maybe consider a live performance; the city is alive with performance opportunities at this time of the year. Same-day tickets for many Broadway and off-Broadway performances are available at 20-50% off regular prices at the TKTS Discount Booth. The Group Leader will be happy to give advice on how to use this valuable resource. See www.tdf.org for details. The app TODAYTIX is also helpful. One can purchase future performances at a discount. The fee is modest and well below those paid on Ticketmaster or Telecharge. If you're interested in classical performances, the websites for Carnegie Hall, The Met Opera and Lincoln Center are all excellent resources.

In the Tick Tock Diner.

We’ll head to the heart of the city this morning: Midtown and Rockefeller Center, which we'll explore with our Group Leader. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.’s “city within a city” went up during the worst days of the Great Depression, providing jobs for more than 40,000 people. As Christmas neared during the first year of construction, the workers erected a modest sized tree on the site and a tradition was born. As we'll see, today’s tree is anything but modest! Radio City Music Hall – where this afternoon we'll see the Christmas Spectacular featuring the world famous Rockettes – is located in Rockefeller Center. As a pre-show treat, we'll get a personalized look inside the legendary venue from staff.

At a restaurant in Rockefeller Center.

Radio City Music Hall is part of Rockefeller Center, so it's just a short stroll to see "The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes" from orchestra seats. Originating in St. Louis in 1925, the Rockettes have been performing in Radio City Music Hall since 1933 and have become part of the fabric of New York City’s entertainment tapestry. This amazing stage show showcases the legendary, high-kicking Rockettes with their precision dancing, more than 100 performers, lively music, vibrant holiday scenes, original choreography, multiple costume changes, cutting edge lighting technology, and even Santa Claus himself! After the performance, we'll regroup and return to the hotel for some “down time” before dinner. Alternatively, you may choose to take this opportunity to check off those last few items on your NYC to-do list.

One of New York’s unique holiday traditions is having Chinese food on Christmas Day. We’ll move up the day and enjoy our Chinese feast at a restaurant near the hotel.

Nothing says New York at Christmas more than Fifth Avenue. Our Group Leader will take us on a stroll down the famous thoroughfare to marvel at the department store window displays, festive lights and an animated video show. We'll also return briefly to Rockefeller Center to see the famous Tree in all its glory. Returning to the hotel, prepare for check-out and departure following our final session in the morning.

In the meeting room.

We’ll wrap up our festive celebration of New York at Christmas with an expert-led discussion of living in NYC during the holidays and how some authors and writers have interpreted this wonderful time of the year. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!