We love to stick right here in New York during the holidays. Why? Three very good reasons.

Smaller Crowds in New York During the Holidays

So many of the locals bolt the city that you can almost hear a deflating sound the few days leading up to Christmas. Yes, more tourists arrive, but if you’re avoiding that damn 30 Rock tree and Macy’s, you have a heck of a lot of elbow room. Pop into Le Bernardin for lunch? No problem. Need a seat on the usually crowded subway? There you go, Ace. Want to see that blockbuster exhibit at the Met? Step right up, my little hombre.

It’s more fun in New York During the Holidays

It’s the holidays, man! Everyone’s in a better mood, you can take a couple days off work, and the whole city is amped up to 11. More to see, more action, even a little street theater here and there. And that’s FREE. Every year we reserve a couple days in December for “Manhattan Days.” These involve (after a lengthy sleeping session) breakfast or coffee someplace cool, a good long walk, some inevitable shopping, a museum visit, lunch (at, say, Le Bernardin), cocktails at whatever that hip place is that’s usually too crowded, dinner at a funky little place downtown (that would also normally be too crowded), then maybe even a movie or some live music. Damn, that’s a good day.

No Traveling!

New York: It’s all about islands and rivers. That means bridges and tunnels (unless you have a helicopter, which more and more people do these days) and THAT means bottlenecks, and plenty of them. And if I can avoid travel stress, then everything’s better for everyone.

Fellow citizens, I implore you: stay home in New York during the holidays. (Not ALL of you, of course.)