It’s the thick of the holiday season in New York City.  And while much fanfare is bestowed upon the Rockefeller Center tree each year, to me, what truly makes the city an enchanting place at the holidays is the myriad of corner tree vendors that spring up across the city.

I can still remember the first time I returned to the city from Thanksgiving break, filled with that bittersweet feeling of leaving family and friends and the excitement and anticipation of holiday festivities to come.  As I made the trip uptown from Grand Central, I saw them.  Everywhere.  On nearly every street corner.  Each had its own flair.  Some had lights, some music, some had inflatables, but each brought an undeniable helping of good cheer.  They come each year, often entire families, from upstate, New England and Canada and set up shop for the month.

Since that first sighting, I eagerly await the return of the tree vendors each year.  It is, for me, the true start of the season.  Here are some of my other favorite NYC scenes:

• The Holiday Fair at Grand Central Terminal – home to nearly 100 artisans and merchants, it’s a great place to find unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry, toys, and more.  Its location makes it ideal for lunchtime or after-work browsing.
• The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden – imagine replicas of some of New York’s iconic landmarks, constructed completely from tree bark, twigs, nuts and leaves – great for kids or to bring out the kid in you.  Wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers – the wait time can be long and the conservatory gets warm.
• Wollman Rink – home to a few past Hunter PR holiday parties, a skate at this open-air rink is the stuff holiday memories are made of. 

- Amanda

When I graduated from college last May and began working at Hunter Public Relations, it was so strange for me to not be identified as a dancer. I have been dancing since before I can remember (there may or may not be videos of me as a diaper-clad one year old dancing around to the 1989 hit “Lambada”) and my love of dancing has always been an integral part of my personality.

When I was six years old, I began training in Kathak, a form of Indian dance. Kathak is the only one among the eight dances of India deemed “classical” that originates from the north. Northern India has seen hundreds of foreigners throughout its tumultuous history and as a result, Kathak dance reflects a wide variety of cultures.

When I went to college, my dance repertoire was further expanded to the genre of South Asian fusion dance when I joined Brown Badmaash. Though it’s quite the mouthful, “South Asian fusion dance” is a thriving subculture that is both widely known and fervently followed. South Asian fusion dance consists of an eclectic mix of South Asian dance forms along with any other dance style from around the world, including Brazilian samba, Spanish Flamenco, West African dance, and more.

This video is a performance of Kathak that tells the story of the Hindu Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. The dancers are Sean Holmquest and myself, accompanied by Nandini Jayakrishna as the vocalist and Anshul Parulkar on the tabla.

If you’re interested in learning more about South Asian dance, I recommend Duniya Dance and NYC Bhangra. For performances, look for events at the Asia Society and Sanskriti. Additionally, Bollywood movies always feature great dance sequences; for starters I would try Lagaan or Aaja Nachle.

Balle balle! Sujata

It’s a little known fact around here that I’ve always had a can-do attitude toward crafty do-it-yourself projects (not to mention an inexplicable affinity for glitter which goes hand in hand with said crafting). For these techniques, I mostly credit my mom’s penchant for ‘weekend art projects’ and Martha Stewart’s omni-media presence.

Lately, my Martha intake has increased ten-fold thanks to Twitter. With 2,162,682 followers, Martha Stewart is one of the most popular celebrities on Twitter and in following @MarthaStewart, I’m privy to Martha’s thoughts, TwitPics, whims, questions and contests, the latter of which I recently won.

What was my prize you ask? It wasn’t her latest Easter Egg Dying iPhone App, nor was it a subscription to one of her fabulous magazines, it was a VIP invite to attend a live taping of Martha’s Sirus XM Radio show. Her guest? The ‘tastemaker of technology’ and Tri-Founder of Twitter, Mr. Biz Stone.

With my iPhone charged, a front row seat and my trending hashtag ready (#MarthaBiz), I was able to live-Tweet the entire event along with the rest of the listening world. Below, I’ve compiled some of my favorite Tweets from the interview, Tweenjoy!

Fun fact: @biz 's real name is Christopher Isaac Stone. #MarthaBiz "my mother used to tell people it's short for Elizabeth."

"We'll always keep Twitter totally free." @biz #MarthaBiz

"We don't monitor content or screen Tweets but we do have policies in effect re: violence" - @biz (paraphrased) #MarthaBiz

"I make pocket Tweets and butt Tweets all the time." - @MarthaStewart #MarthaBiz

"Having a lot of followers doesn't necessarily affect influence." -@biz #MarthaBiz

"The constraint (140 char) breeds creativity in Tweets." - @biz #MarthaBiz

"...And you could use a little haircut." @MarthaStewart to @biz #MarthaBiz

@Jenna_Galloway

For some living in Manhattan (I’m tempted to even say most), the Financial District is another country, a Siberia, a no-man’s land of suits & banks that ceases to exist after 6 pm; a neighborhood where avenues & street numbers have been abandoned; a piece of the island where no one ventures unless you’re a tourist visiting Ground Zero or Century 21.  Well, I’m here to break these myths & give my fellow Manhattan-ites a reason to visit the Financial District, fondly known as “FiDi” to those who call it home.

Besides having the Brooklyn Bridge & Statue of Liberty in our backyard, FiDi has great things to offer in the way of history & culture.  For exhibits and museums, there is Bodies at the South Street Seaport, which allows visitors to explore the human form, The Museum of Jewish Heritage, a living memorial to the Holocaust, and The Skyscraper Museum.

If you’re looking to fill your food & drink cravings, try one of the numerous restaurants and bars in the area -

Adrienne’s Pizza Bar is a great option for Italian lovers.  Try the Insalata di Arugola & Bianca Pizza!

Nelson Blue is NYC’s first New Zealand restaurant & bar.  The food is good, music dance-worthy & the atmosphere is always fun. 

Probably the most well-known spot is Stone Street, a cobblestone road tucked away in the heart of FiDi, home to several great spots like Ulysses’ (a pub style bar with live music on most Saturday nights) and Vintry Wine & Whiskey (a luxury bar that offers 80 wines and 100 whiskies).

So now that you have a brief overview of the Financial District, it’s your turn to explore.  Hop on practically any train, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…A, C, E, 4, 5, 6, R, J, Z.

Melody

As a child, my favorite Christmas tradition featured a single VHS tape of Christmas specials recorded from television. It was a time capsule of the late 80's, complete (now vintage-looking) commercials for Teddy Ruxpin, Holiday M&M’s, and something called Kodak film. To commemorate this forgotten family treasure, which was a casualty of the great Losh family outdated technology purge of 2000, here's a flashback to my three favorite recordings from the tape:

 A Claymation Christmas Celebration - 1987

By one of the original claymators, Will Vinton, this rarity was hosted by a bantering pair of odd couple dinosaurs named Rex and Herb. It was a collection of music videos including "Carol of the Bells" and a soulful version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by the California Raisins—easily the most famous dried fruits of that year.

A Muppet Family Christmas - 1987

In what starts as a quiet visit from Fozzy Bear to his Ma's house for the holidays, this special turns into the mother of all Muppet crossovers, uniting the Muppet Show cast, Sesame Street gang, and Fraggle Rockers in joyous song. Newcomers to Ma's include a jive talking Christmas turkey, a stand-up comedian snowman, and one hilariously-slippery icy patch.

Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special - 1988

This masterpiece is a star-studded spectacle with appearances by Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Charo, K.D. Lang, Little Richard, Zha Zha Gabor, and Magic Johnson. During the festivities, Pee Wee gets too many fruitcakes, discovers that his claymation dinosaurs are Jewish, and gets help from Cher reading the secret word (shhh! Don't say it or we'll all scream!).

For my long-lost VHS tape and on behalf of the Raisins, Muppets, and Mr. Herman, I wish everyone a safe and warm holiday season and a very happy new—year! (AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!)

 Eric

…PR! Well, except show business. And as we’re smack dab in the middle of the holidays, here are a few gift suggestions for the theatre lover in our life.

A pair of tickets to a Broadway musical is an excellent gift! You can go with a tried and true musical like Wicked, The Lion King or Billy Elliot, or an upcoming, much buzzed-about show like How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (starring Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe), Catch Me If You Can (based on the popular Hollywood movie) or the classic The Importance of Being Earnest (perhaps the funniest play ever written). Couple that with dinner at a nearby Times Square restaurant (I like Bond 45 or Virgil’s BBQ) and you have a gift experience that will be remembered for years to come.

If you frequent off- and off-off-Broadway plays, an terrific gift is a membership to TDF (Theatre Development Fund), which provides members discounts to theatre and other performing arts productions all year long. At $30, it’s a great gift that keeps giving, as TDF helps small, fledgling theatre companies get started and stay afloat.

Speaking of staying afloat, another gift idea that can make a real difference is a contribution to your favorite non-profit theatre. In tough economic times like these, the arts is often first to be crossed off peoples’ annual giving lists. So even a small contribution can make a huge difference. And it’s a tax write off before we ring in 2011! Some of my favorite companies include Red Bull Theatre, Pearl Theatre Company, and Phoenix Theatre Ensemble (f/d: I’m one of this company’s founders).

Lastly, if you don’t want to give the gift of theatre, but you are a fan and in the NYC area, treat yourself to show. It’s a generations-old tradition that can always benefit from more support.

Happy Holidays!

Mike

It’s Christmas time in New York City – one of my favorite seasons of year! And a new favorite annual tradition for my husband and I since having our son nearly two years ago is visiting the Holiday Train Show at The New York Botanical Garden. It’s an amazing display of 140 New York City landmarks that are recreated entirely out of natural materials – nuts, tree bark, fruits, pinecones and leaves – and enlivened by model trains. No doubt it delights adults and children alike! And if you have children as fascinated with trains as our son is, they are sure to be enchanted as they explore the sights and sounds. Favorite replicas include the original Yankee Stadium, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Belvedere Castle and New York City’s bridges. Each year there is always something new added to the display and this year it’s the Eero Saarinen-designed Trans World Airline Flight Center at John F. Kennedy Airport.

The Holiday Train Show is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM through January 9^th, 2011. Don’t have a car? Take the train to the trains! The New York Botanical Garden is just 20 minutes from Grand Central on Metro-North.

Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance online and go as early as possible in the day to avoid crowds, especially on the weekend. However, I have also heard that an evening (after 4 PM) at the train show with twinkling lights is pure holiday magic!

Happy holidays,

Caryn

After working at Hunter PR for 7 years, there are certain things I look forward to each year – our annual off-site training, the Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper contest, and the Art in the Park.  Every day I walk through Madison Square Park on my commute to and from work and love to see the latest art installations.  Every year, there are usually several installations that usually pique my interest, such as stainless steel trees placed amidst the living trees or wooden tree houses.

The latest art installation may be one of my favorites – it is called Scattered Light. In the center of the park, there are 2,000 light bulbs suspended on a support structure spanning 80 feet long, 20 feet high and 16 feet high.  At night, the lights flicker and create an illusion that shows shadows of people walking through the lights.

Every night when I leave work and see the lights flickering, it puts a smile on my face.  I wonder what will be next?

Melissa

From recently rescued Chilean miners to fist-pumping Jersey Shore icons, there were an array of topical Halloween costumes on display in the office today. Its the Friday before All Hallows Eve and, as a new addition to the Hunter PR staff, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got to the office this morning.
 
I’d been warned the costume competition was fierce, so I put my best foot forward and came up with (what I thought was) a creative costume. That is, until I got here and was outshined by my colleagues. Here is a photo of everyone on staff:

I’m a member of Team Gallo and Team Diageo, so I thought it was fitting to wear a ‘spirited’ costume and come clad as a martini. While I thought I’d been clever, everyone came in wearing amazing costumes like bedbugs, a food truck (with homemade cookies!), Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and the singing Filet-o-Fish from McDonalds. We also had the chance to vote for the best costumes. Some of the winners were:
 
Scariest – The Joker:

  
Best Overall – The board game “Operation” :

In my opinion, everyone came out a winner. It was a great Hunter-ween and I am glad to be part of such an amazing team!
 
Carly

Almost every Sunday morning I head to Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City, NY and patiently wait outside an attractive store front on the second floor with 30 or so other early risers.  No – I don’t run in a pack of aggressive shop-a-holics – I’m just excited for my weekly dose of free yoga at Lululemon!

Lululemon, an athletic apparel store that makes clothes for “yoga, running, dancing and most other sweaty pursuits,” has locations around the globe that offer in-store events ranging from self defense to my favorite Sunday morning routine – free yoga.  Once I found out that there was a store not more than 15 minutes from my apartment I couldn’t resist checking it out.

The store is cleared of any floor exhibits and each month instructors from one studio on Long Island are featured and demonstrate the different types of classes they have to offer, including Bikram, Vinyasa, Yogalates and more.  My favorite so far has been with an upbeat Vinyasa teacher from a studio in Freeport, NY.  As a yoga newbie I never quite knew how many different types of practice areas there were and love getting the chance to test out the various forms of yoga while at the store.  

I really look forward to these weekly, early morning sessions and love the type of healthy and calm lifestyle Lululemon promotes in their mission statement, which is posted in many places all over the store.  I would definitely recommend checking out a store near you to see what they have to offer and maybe even think of joining a class yourself! 

Namaste.

Trisha