Just a mini post to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Whether you’re in New York or elsewhere, I hope you have a glorious day with lots of treats and loved ones… and an afternoon snooze. Sadly, I’m working in the city today – but I definitely got my fill of eggnog on Long Island …
Read MoreTag / Christmas
December 24, 2014
…was captivated by The Nutcracker
I can squeeze in another Christmas-themed post before the big day, right? Good – because a few weeks ago, after an endless stream of guests, Ryan treated me to a surprise #datenight for just the two of us: a visit to the New York City Ballet’s Nutcracker. I’ve only been to the ballet once before (when …
Read MoreDecember 19, 2014
How to do good this Christmas in NYC
I try to be generous throughout the year, but there’s no denying a particular urge to do good around Christmas time. And for you scrooges out there who don’t care about festive cheer, just think of the tax deductions… Christmas is creeping up on us, but there are still plenty of ways to do good in …
Read MoreDecember 18, 2014
…caroled on the steps of St Bart’s
I love Christmas in New York, but it also makes me homesick for my mum’s Yorkshire puddings, mince pies and roaring fires. And, thanks to years of school carol concerts, it also doesn’t seem quite right without singing some tunes in church. But I always make up for what I can. This year, I’ll attempt to make …
Read MoreDecember 8, 2014
The best festive activities in NYC
I love Christmas. The whiff of Christmas tree stands, the promise of so many cookies, Love Actually on repeat. It can never come too soon in my opinion. So what should you be looking out for this year? Here are my tried and tested favorites from years past: 1 :: The Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show, where every …
Read MoreDecember 25, 2013
…had an alternative Christmas
First of all – Merry Christmas! Secondly, it’s Christmas Day, so you’ll forgive me for being a bit rubbish today, won’t you? I’d planned to whip up a tasty Christmas dessert with Mummy Warren for my new thing today but – you got it! – we’re still out of power and hot water courtesy of …
Read MoreDecember 24, 2013
…walked on The Pantiles
A storm hit southern England last night – leaving my family’s home without power or heat (just in time for Christmas) and trees strewn across roads and train tracks. It meant that our plan to play tourists for the day in London was scuppered – no trains were heading north. So instead, we jumped in …
Read MoreDecember 23, 2013
…saw England’s tallest Christmas tree (lit!)
(First of all – sorry that my blogs have been so late this week! I had no power over Christmas thanks to a big storm in the UK. Bear with me and I’ll pop up the last week’s posts now…) When I was home in Sussex last month, Mummy Warren and I toured Wakehurst Place …
Read MoreDecember 20, 2013
…partied at SoHo house
New York City obviously has lots of exclusive spots. Among them is SoHo House – a members-only club for the media with bars, rooms, a gym and a roof deck pool with stunning views over the Meatpacking District and to south Manhattan. And for some reason they allowed MailOnline to throw our Christmas party there …
Read MoreDecember 18, 2013
…bought a Christmas gift for a child in need
I’ve been feeling the urge to do something nice for someone, seeing as it’s Christmas (because it’s banned all other times of the year, obviously). So I headed to the city’s most comprehensive guide for volunteering, New York Cares, and came across Winter Wishes. Every year, the program gathers thousands of presents from donors for …
Read MoreDecember 17, 2013
…met Santa at Macy’s
I’ve seen Santa a few times over the past week but today I decided to visit him in one of his most famous spots – Macy’s on 34th Street. Rachel and I prepared our wish lists and angelic faces before heading to Santaland on the 8th floor of Macy’s, the world’s largest department store. All …
Read MoreDecember 16, 2013
…visited St Bart’s Church (and saw St Nick)
I’d been looking forward to some carolling on the steps of St Bart’s church in Midtown with Ryan and Helen tonight so we scooted up there straight after work. Unfortunately, either we scooted too slow or the singers were too fast because when we arrived, the choir had disbanded and were munching on festive biscuits …
Read MoreDecember 14, 2013
…went to a Christmas carol event – for dogs
You know what? I’ve been seriously selfish this holiday season. The whole time I’ve been thinking about how best to get myself in the Christmas spirit, and I’ve failed to make sure Georgia gets the same treatment. Georgia is Ryan’s eight-year-old Shepherd-mix – and she is such a beauty. I’m sure Ryan is well aware …
Read MoreDecember 12, 2013
…browsed a trunk show
I’ve got to be honest, I still don’t really know what a trunk show is. I think it’s where people bring trunks of goodies and open them up to be sold, or it could be the equivalent of a car boot sale (like we have in the U.K.), seeing as ‘boot’ there means ‘trunk’ here. …
Read MoreDecember 12, 2013
…visited the Christmas window displays
While New York lacks some of my favorite Christmas traditions, it also has many of its own. Tonight I went to check out department store holiday window displays and, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve never seen such an elaborate or thoughtful equivalent over in the UK. The windows are so cute, creative and …
Read MoreDecember 10, 2013
…watched a festive variety show
Tonight was a flurry of many new things, courtesy of my friend Linnea, a food writer and knower of all things New York. We’d planned to go to a festive variety show in the East Village, but at the last minute, an invite to a night organized by Hendrick’s Gin popped up, so we decided …
Read MoreDecember 9, 2013
…saw the Rockefeller Christmas Tree
Tonight I headed to the city’s most iconic Christmas landmark: The Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Ever since 1933, the 100-ft tree has lit up the base of the Rock in Midtown and now it towers over flitting ice skaters and swarms of aimless tourists. Its lights were switched on last week and today was my first …
Read MoreDecember 9, 2013
…made a gingerbread masterpiece
I’ve been to various creative Christmas exhibits this year and they’ve left me itching to get out the glue gun. Today I finally got the chance to get messy – as Ryan and I helped his family construct a gingerbread village. We headed to his family home in Long Island where his mum, Stephanie, had already crafted …
Read MoreDecember 8, 2013
…marveled at the Botanical Gardens’ holiday train show
As we all know by now, I can never get enough of the New York skyline. And apart from the more recognizable buildings – the Empire State, the Chrysler Building, Freedom Tower – I also love the aesthetic of the other properties, from apartment rows, downtown streets and olde homes. Tonight I headed to a …
Read MoreDecember 3, 2013
…shopped at Union Square’s Holiday Market
Are you tired of reading about me doing Christmas things? Because, while I never thought the day would come, I’m pretty tired of writing about them. So I promise this will be my last one. (For a couple of days.) Tonight I headed to Union Square’s Holiday Market well aware that I’ve overdosed on festive cheer recently …
Read MoreDecember 2, 2013
…went to Winter’s Eve
For one night a year, Lincoln Square in Midtown transforms into a long block party for Winter’s Eve, a massive festive celebration. From the Lincoln Center down to Columbus Circle, bands, Christmas trees and food stands line Broadway – cramming the pavements with tourists, hungry locals and plenty of Christmas cheer. Or so it seemed… …
Read MoreDecember 1, 2013
…visited the world’s largest gingerbread village
Let’s get back to some Christmas events, shall we? How about a massive cityscape made of nothing but gingerbread, candy, icing and lashings of patience? Yes – I thought it sounded like a winner too. So today Ryan and I hopped in the car and went to the New York Hall of Science in Corona, …
Read MoreNovember 25, 2013
…toured Wakehurst Place
Today Mummy Warren and I wrapped up warm and drove to Wakehurst Place, a National Trust Park in nearby Ardingly. Not only is it home to a stunning mansion, expansive nature trails and the world’s largest seed bank, it also grows England’s tallest Christmas Tree. Unfortunately, we were a little early to see the Redwood …
Read MoreNovember 22, 2013
…browsed the Manchester Christmas market
While New York has everything I could ever need, it’s lacking one thing: Some of my favorite Brits. So today, after landing in Heathrow, I hopped on various trains to Manchester to catch up with one of them, Lauren. While Manchester was the best option because it’s midway between my family home and hers in …
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