FOCAL POINT STYLING: Christmas In New York City

It's the most wonderful time of the year: Christmas in New York City! Whether for a weekend, or even a quick day trip, I highly recommend a trip to NYC during the holidays! The last time I had visited NYC during the holidays was back in 2003 - and I actually got to experience it with snow. Last week, my hubs surprised me with a quick trip up to the City (our first since being back east!) and it was during the eve of the lighting of America's Christmas Tree, the tree at Rockefeller Center! We were there only a short time (and arrived later than expected due to weather delays), but it was still wonderful to "be a part of it." Seeing all the lights, decorations, people, and storefronts dressed for the holidays can really lift ones spirit - even with a few precautionary street closures...

The Rock Center Tree has come a long ways, with the first tree being erected by the Rockefeller Center construction workers on Christmas Eve in 1931. The tree was only 20ft tall - Today's 83rd tree (2015) stands 78 feet tall!

The evening of the tree lighting, the sidewalks were so incredibly packed with people - so much energy in the air along with a few rain drops and quite the light show across Fifth Avenue at Saks!

Saks not only had dressed their windows for Christmas, but the outside of the building had lights pulsating to classic Christmas carols...

And oh those windows!!! (will share in a separate post -- now back to the tree plus the classic / vintage Christmas angels...)

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Angels & Trumpets were introduced in 1954, and have become a part of this New York City Christmas tradition...

The Rock Center tree is open to visitors daily, from now until 8pm, January 6, 2016. Once the holidays have passed and crowds have dispersed, the tree comes down and it will be donated to Habitat for Humanity (for the ninth consecutive yer). The tree is then milled, treated and made into lumber that is used for home building. Each year, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree continues to be a symbol of hope, and inspired the children’s book, “The Carpenter’s Gift,” written by David Rubel and illustrated by Jim LaMarche in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity.

The above pic is out #RockCenterXmas selfie - Below is a pic I took the day after Jeff surprised me in New York back in 2003: We had been dating, but had split for 2 months, when he flew up on December 3rd to profess his love to me.... and 12 yrs. later, we were not only married in NYC, but had our wedding dinner, with our moms at the Top of The Rock - The Rainbow Room, and flew off to Italy for our 10 Day Honeymoon the following day... Life is funny.... :)

Rockefeller Center Tree Factoids

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Stats

The tree must be at least 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide, but the preferred height is usually between 75 and 90 feet tall and proportionally wide.
The tallest Rockefeller Tree in history was in 1999- 100 feet tall!
Most of the trees are Norway Spruces. Because this tree doesn’t typically grow to this size in the New York area, most of the trees are cultivated in peoples’ yards.
A helicopter flies over New Jersey and Connecticut to scour the area for potential candidates.
There is no monetary compensation offered for the tree if yours is selected. It is a donation and considered an honor to have your tree as the official Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
The tree is only decorated by lights and a star.
There are over 30,000 lights on the tree (about 5 miles of strands!)
The star used on the current trees was made by Swarovski crystal. The star is 10 feet tall, weighs 550 lbs and has 25,000 crystals.
The tree now uses LED lights. As compared with the old incandescent bulbs, the LED lights save enough energy every day to power a 2,000 sq ft home for a month!
The tree stays up until at least January 6, which is the Christian Feast of the Epiphany (the official end to the Christmas Season.)
The tree is recycled after it is taken down. Over three tons of mulch can be made from the trees.
In 1942, in honor of the war effort, the traditional large tree was replaced with three smaller trees, decorated in red, white and blue.
The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is seen in the films Home Alone 2 and Elf, as well as several others.

- See more at: http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-lighting/#sthash.QQsOP3uD.dpuf

Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Stats

The tree must be at least 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide, but the preferred height is usually between 75 and 90 feet tall and proportionally wide.
The tallest Rockefeller Tree in history was in 1999- 100 feet tall!
Most of the trees are Norway Spruces. Because this tree doesn’t typically grow to this size in the New York area, most of the trees are cultivated in peoples’ yards.
A helicopter flies over New Jersey and Connecticut to scour the area for potential candidates.
There is no monetary compensation offered for the tree if yours is selected. It is a donation and considered an honor to have your tree as the official Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
The tree is only decorated by lights and a star.
There are over 30,000 lights on the tree (about 5 miles of strands!)
The star used on the current trees was made by Swarovski crystal. The star is 10 feet tall, weighs 550 lbs and has 25,000 crystals.
The tree now uses LED lights. As compared with the old incandescent bulbs, the LED lights save enough energy every day to power a 2,000 sq ft home for a month!
The tree stays up until at least January 6, which is the Christian Feast of the Epiphany (the official end to the Christmas Season.)
The tree is recycled after it is taken down. Over three tons of mulch can be made from the trees.
In 1942, in honor of the war effort, the traditional large tree was replaced with three smaller trees, decorated in red, white and blue.
The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is seen in the films Home Alone 2 and Elf, as well as several others.