The Scents of a New York Christmas

Every year, right after Thanksgiving, tree sellers arrive en masse in New York. Setting up stands on street corners, at park entrances (like above), by shops, in green markets, and in empty lots, these vendors camp out (often literally in small campers) selling Christmas trees to New Yorkers from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. Many return to the same locations year after year, becoming neighborhood fixtures. There's a real sense of community, even family, between the vendors and local merchants -- very similar to that experienced by designers attending needlework trade shows, or artisans at craft fairs.

The added bonus to all these tree stands throughout the city is the scent - that pungent, unmistakeable smell of evergreen which instantly shouts 'Christmas!' It's everywhere, and as you walk past a stand, you find yourself inhaling deeply, reveling in the wonderful scent.

I was thrilled to discover this tree vendor setting up across the street from my apartment Thanksgiving weekend. Usually I have to drag a tree home for blocks, the tree precariously balanced in my grocery cart. I couldn't wait to get my tree - it was going to be so easy!

Before I purchased my tree, I'd cross the street and take a deep breath whenever I needed a quick lift to my spirits. I often took the bus home rather than the subway because the bus stop was right next to the tree stand, and the scent welcomed me as I hopped off the bus.

Finally, over the weekend, I bought my tree. It's a frasier fir - my favorite evergreen for a Christmas tree as it's full but narrow, allowing for the proper display of a significant number of ornaments, something that's particularly important since I have an extremely large and every expanding collection of ornaments! The scent is wonderful -- permeating the apartment with the scent of Christmas.

See how pretty it looks? Although I think I can still fit a few more ornaments on it...what do you think? And no, the St. Nicholas tree topper isn't tipsy -- it's just that the top of the tree is off center and very thin. It gives the tree a little character!

Cynthia and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Theresa

New York As Winter Wonderland

New York rarely gets big snow storms. When a major storm dumps nearly 11 inches on New York in the middle of a weekend, well it's pure magic!


I happen to live across the street from Central Park. These snowy steps are actually one of the park entrances right outside my apartment building. When I woke up to a stunning snowy day on Sunday morning, like any winter loving New Yorker, I ditched the list of chores, bundled up, grabbed my camera and headed into the park to frolic. Oh, and I took an easier route into the park than those steps!

Gorgeous snow vistas met my eye. But they were far from empty.

New Yorkers -- 2 and 4 footed -- were out enjoying the park, all dressed in their winter best. Family groups were everywhere, with dogs bounding in the snow and kids building snow creatures, throwing snowballs and building snow forts and castles -- or maybe those were really New York highrises?

Even the ducks were out enjoying the snowy day!

The rustic park benches looked like snow sculptures alongside the paths.

And every hill of any size was instantly made for sledding!

I spent quite some time wandering around Central Park - people watching, thinking about how to memorialize the enchantment in a design. For now, these photos will just have to do.

Theresa