Ah, New York state in December, how I’ve missed you…. um, mostly. I’m absolutely loving getting into the real holiday spirit, spending some quality time with family and friends, and bustling around my favorite city and my beloved hometown. I’m even handling the cold okay! But, is it possible we could talk to someone about getting the lights left on a little longer? The fact that it gets dark outside at 4:30pm is a tough adjustment, and I keep asking people if it really was always this way, considering I did spent like twenty consecutive winters here. For the most part though, I think the fact that I missed the holidays last year and likely will again in 2015 makes me cherish this time at home even more deeply.

Over the last seven days I descended from Albany into New York City and have been all over the place, from ice skating in Prospect Park to celebrating a friend’s birthday in Brooklyn to supporting the WPA at their festive holiday soiree at Webster Hall. This week, I’ll be doing more backyard exploring in both the five boroughs (well, at least three of them anyway) and then back up in Albany, while trying to sort out the logistics and flights for my next big adventure — announcement coming soon!

Onto Photo of the Week!

Photo A

Brooklyn Photography WalkStrolling through New York City

Photo B

The Manhattan Bridge at SunsetWalking over the Brooklyn Bridge at Sunset

Photo C

Ice Skating at Prospect ParkIce skating in Prospect Park

Photo D

Lower Manhattan at NightThe Manhattan Skyline

Which photo is your favorite? What are you up to this week?

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54 Comments...
  • Rekha Devarapalli
    December 8 2014

    Hey Alex,

    Love D. The skyline is always amazing, no matter how many times you have seen it 🙂

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Couldn’t agree more. It still stops me in my tracks!

  • Kristen Noelle
    December 8 2014

    I swear, when winter rolls around and that 4:30 sunset descends it’s as if it’s a new surprise each year.
    Ice skating has to be in my top 3 favorite winter activities … love love love it.
    Which is why I think Photo C is adorbs, and I love the colors in A, but D wins me over completely since it’s no secret I’m a sucker for your sunsets and skylines.

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Ha, I’m glad I’m not the only one! I am just feeling really shocked and betrayed by this whole thing, ha ha.

  • Sarah
    December 8 2014

    I really miss my concrete jungle. My favourite place in the world. Been exactly a year since I have been there and it’s just making me crave it. The Christmas hustle and bustle. Needless to say, I’ll be looking forward to your NYC posts.

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Lots of pictures on Instagram already 🙂

  • Justine
    December 8 2014

    One thing I love about living near the equator (and not having daylight savings) is that it gets dark at 6:30 every night. I imagine it’s an adjustment getting used to sunsets at 4:30! I’m going with C this week…I would love to go ice skating right now!

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      It really is, especially after the long sunny days in Thailand 🙁 And it gets dark so quickly! Actually with the weather this week it’s kind of dark and gloomy all day…

  • Samantha
    December 8 2014

    Your photo of the skyline is amazing!

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Thanks so much Samantha! Seems to be the favorite this week 🙂

  • Rashaad
    December 9 2014

    The picture of the Manhattan skyline looks gorgeous!

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Thanks Rashaad! Its a view I’ll never get sick of seeing…

  • Laura
    December 9 2014

    It’s gotta be the skyline for sure, but the sunset from the Brooklyn bridge is a pretty good one too! Makes me miss home!

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      The colors were just insane! We felt so lucky to catch it at just the right moment…

  • Steve
    December 9 2014

    Alex, I am choosing D this week. Manhattan Skyline is so iconic and also the title of my favourite A-ha song.

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      I don’t know this song! Going to have to check it out…

  • Joella in Beijing
    December 9 2014

    Sounds like you are definitely making the most of being back home for the holidays! I’m excited to get home for the holidays too! I’ll pick the ice skating photo because it makes me feel all winter-y and holiday-y..!

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      I’m going to look at the lights at Rockafeller Center tonight too… can’t wait! It’s going to be holiday overload!

  • Janice Stringer
    December 9 2014

    The Manhattan Skyline is so beautiful…

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      My favorite in the world! 🙂

  • Amy
    December 9 2014

    B is my favourite; I’m planning a road-trip through New England next autumn and I also want to stop in New York around Christmas time so this is great inspiration for me! I’ve recently been looking in awe at your Martha’s Vineyard posts too and checking out Air B&B to look for cheap accommodation there – off the top of your head (and as a regular visitor) do you happen to know if such thing exists there?

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Indeed it does! Well, relatively…. I don’t know much about the rental scene there, but I do know that there is a campground where there are cute and affordable cabins (we stayed there once and loved it), and while I’ve never personally been I know there is also a HI hostel on the island. Let me know if you end up going — I hope you do!

  • Leah
    December 9 2014

    I looooove that ice skating picture! The lighting is heavenly! Seriously can I blow that up for my wall? The skyline picture is a close second…where is that taken from?

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Taken from right under the Brooklyn Bridge as we were boarding the ferry to Greenpoint! And heck yes you can blow up the ice skating photo for your wall 🙂

  • Shaun's Cracked Compass
    December 9 2014

    My cousin lives in Hoboken so I can never get enough of that skyline. I was there in October and I walked the entire High Line Park trail backwards (That is, I started at 34th street, not walking heels first the whole way)and ended by 14th in the Meatpacking district.

    There’s a really good biergarten near 12th street just north of the stairs at Washington & Gansevoort

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Despite not being a beer drinker, I have been to that biergarten! It’s a good one, nice atmosphere. Love the Highline.

  • Marni
    December 9 2014

    While I think photo D is beyond stunning and absolutely beautiful, there’s something about photo C that makes it my favorite. It might be the snow and ice, or it might be because skating on a rink fills me with all those bubbly Christmas feelings I love so much. Either way, photo C wins it for me!

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Ah, I love those Christmas feelings. The smell of pine needles does it for me!

  • Emily
    December 9 2014

    It gets dark where I am around 6:15… and I thought that was bad! Love all of them, but Photo D is my favorite this week.

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      I would love 6:15! It really puts me in a funk every day around 5 🙁

  • Marie @ Marie Away
    December 9 2014

    Super cool photos! I love Photo C, it is just so beautifully composed.

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Thanks Marie! It was snapped pretty quickly too — I was very afraid of being run down by munchkins on skates!

  • Brianna
    December 9 2014

    Photo C! I might be a little biased 😉

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      🙂 Thanks so much for planning that outing!

  • Jana
    December 9 2014

    I just LOVE the ice skating picture!!! It is incredibly beautiful and shows the texture of the ice rink perfectly!!! What an amazing shot!! Enjoy the rest of your time in good old NYC – one of my most favorite cities on earth!!!

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Thank you Jana! It was right before the Zamboni made a pass 🙂

  • Petra @ The Global Couple
    December 9 2014

    I love B! Those colours are amazing. It gets dark at 4pm (or even earlier if it’s raining!) here in Vancouver – give me summer any day! I recently wrote an article on cheap and free things to do in NYC over a weekend – you should take a look! https://www.theglobalcouple.com/36-hours-new-york-city-cheap/

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Awesome! I’m sad to report however that the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park is temporarily closed 🙁 Found out the hard way!

  • I can’t wait to hear about your upcoming travel plans; this is always the exciting part! I’ve seen your name on the TBEX list so I do know where you’ll be in April 😉

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Hmmmm… I’m not sure if there was a mixup but I’m registered for the TBEX in October, not April! But at least now you’ll know where I’ll be then 🙂

  • Photo D – stunning photo of New York 🙂

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Thanks Katie! It’s my favorite city 🙂

  • Maria from Nerd Nomads
    December 10 2014

    Wow, I love photo D! Nothing beats the Manhattan skyline! Wish I was there….even though it sure is warmer here in Indonesia! 🙂 But also a lot of rain, not a big fan of rainy season…. Looking forward to hear where you are off to next, maybe back to Asia? 😉

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      All will be revealed soon 😉

  • Ashleigh Schap
    December 10 2014

    You’re here in new york! Me too! we should get coffee!

    • Alex
      December 10 2014

      Awesome! What are you here for Ashleigh? And for how long?

  • Chris
    December 11 2014

    The skyline is unreal.

    Can’t wait to get my first taste of NYC and the east coast next year

    • Alex
      December 14 2014

      You’ll love it… it’s a magical city!

  • Photo C is lovely, so Christmassy! It’s my first Christmas at home for the first time in a couple of years too, so I’m making the most of it. Sounds like you’re having a wonderful time!

    • Alex
      December 14 2014

      I am indeed. Ice skating is one of the few winter sports I can say I really enjoy 🙂

  • Rahman @ Destination Iran
    December 14 2014

    I particularly like “The Manhattan Skyline”. It’s such a great example of a well-planned urban view overlooking the water. I appreciate the dominant dark aspect of the picture which makes it so eye-catching.

    • Alex
      December 14 2014

      Thank you Rahman! Loved reading your insights.

  • Camels & Chocolate
    December 14 2014

    D for Duh (as in that last photo is amazing!).

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