Celina - Life & Luxury Magazine | December 2019 by Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC

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Life & Luxury Magazine™

Celina’s Community Magazine Since 2014

December 2019 | Issue 69 LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

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Life & Luxury Magazine December 2019 | Issue #69 Published By Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC Editorial/Marketing Director Heather Reynolds Heather@CedarbrookMedia.com

Family 6

Christmas Eve - Eve Family Night

Community 8 Celebrating the Season 10 Merry Christmas Celina Homefront 12 Deck the Halls this Christmas 20 When to Plant that Tree of Yours In Good Taste 14 White Hot Chocolate 16 Pop Up Holiday Traditions Fashion 18

What Party Invitations Really Mean For Your Holiday Dress Code

Travel 22 Christmas in New York

Creative Director Jason Reynolds Jason@CedarbrookMedia.com Contributing Writers Rick DeMasters | Jill Roza | Heather Reynolds Jimmie Gibson | Joyce Godwin Sean Terry Photography Contributors Jason Reynolds | Joyce Godwin Cedarbrook Media Group www.CedarbrookMedia.com Production/Design Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC Admin@CedarbrookMedia.com Editorial Please send editorial considerations to Editor@CedarbrookMedia.com Advertising Information For media kits, contact Heather Reynolds at

972.347.6231 or email Heather@CedarbrookMedia.com Visit our website at www.WeAreCelina.com Celina Magazine PO Box 405, Prosper, Texas 75078 972.347.6231 | www.LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com A Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC Publication

CEDARBROOKMEDIA Magazines | Photography | Design

Celina Magazine is wholly owned and published by Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC. Celina Magazine is published 12 times a year. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or copied whole or in part without expressed written permission from the publisher, Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC. ÂŠ2019. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. The title and all material are protected by international copyright laws and are reserved. Although the greatest of care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine at time of going to press, neither Celina Magazine nor Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC can be held liable for omissions, inexactness or errors.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CELINA! For up to date news, events and web-exclusive content visit

www.LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

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Family

Christmas Eve – Eve Family Fun Night The holidays are such a busy time. It seems like every second of every minute from Christmas Eve morning to Christmas night is scheduled out and filled with family, food, gifts and more food. There is usually so much going on that as parents, we don’t ever have the chance to just sit with our children and enjoy the peace and joy of the season. But this year, here is a fun new tradition that you can start right before the hustle and bustle begins. It’s a great way to destress from all the holiday preparations and enjoy a nice night with your kids right before the Christmas festivities begin! It all starts with your family’s Elf on a Shelf. If your Elf has been visiting for a few years, you can create your own twist to the story. In our house, the Elf travels back to the North Pole each night so that he can give Santa daily reports about how the kids have been behaving. He sometimes brings a small treat or two throughout the month when they’ve been really good, and of course he gets into some mischief during the nighttime hours…but on the morning of December 23rd, he always brings us a special letter attached to a beautiful Christmas box and places it under the tree. If your family doesn’t have an elf, the special box can come directly from you. The special box is filled with everything we need for our Christmas Eve – Eve Family Night. The letter from our elf explains which Christmas movie he has chosen for us this year and why it’s important for our family to watch it together. And inside the Christmas box there are always new pajamas, a Christmas book, popcorn, packs of hot chocolate, marshmallows, special Christmas mugs, Christmas cookies, candy canes and any other sweet Christmas treats we enjoy. After dinner, we put on our new pajamas, make hot chocolate, popcorn and snack trays, and snuggle up as a family to watch the Christmas movie our elf chose for us. When the movie is over, we pile into the car and drive around the neighborhood looking at the beautiful Christmas lights. Finally, it’s time for bed and we close out our Christmas Eve – Eve Family Night by reading our newest Christmas book. We all go to bed relaxed, joyful and ready to celebrate the next morning! 6 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

What You Will Need: Elf on a Shelf (optional) Special Christmas Box New Christmas Pajamas for the Kids Christmas Movie Christmas Book Popcorn Christmas Mugs Hot Chocolate & Marshmallows Cookies & Candy CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!!

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Celina ISD Celebrating the Season The month of December is upon us and we have accomplished so much since we welcomed our students through our doors on August 14th. If the second half of this year is anything like the first half, May will be here before we know it and we will begin the process of planning for another school year. Our Athletic Department saw much success during the fall months. Our Cross Country Teams earned a trip to the State meet this year. Senior Gavin Frick came in seventh for the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; team. Adele Clarke came in 5th place to advance the girls team to a 2nd place finish overall. We congratulate Coach Eric Krepps and Coach Loretta Francis on their amazing teams this year. Our CHS Volleyball Team took us on a ride this season and made history for the department by qualifying for the first time for the Regional Final Championship in November. We would also like to congratulate Coaches Ginger Murray, Juli Krepps and Brittany Colbert for their contributions to an amazing season! We must also congratulate our CISD Athletic Trainers, Kyle Sheridan and Elizabeth Windland for their heroic efforts in saving the life of Mr. Dennis Bennett, who was the official who suffered a heart attack during the football game between the Celina Bobcats and Melissa Cardinals. During a November pep rally, Kyle was taken by surprise when he came face to face with Mr. Dennis, his family and Bill Theodore, who is presently the Assistant Executive UIL Director for the Texas Association of Sports Officials. They presented the Farney Award, which has only been awarded a few times to individuals that have displayed extraordinary acts of courage, service, and humanitarianism through their work with Texas High School Athletics. Mr. Bennett also presented a letter to Kyle that included pictures of his family. He wanted Kyle to know the people that appreciated his efforts that night, which allowed this husband, father, and grandfather to go home to his family and continue the activities that he loves. The month of December is always about the music and celebrating the season. The Junior High choir will start things off on December 3rd. Celina Elementary 3rd graders will have a concert on December 9th. The CHS Fine Arts Extravaganza will have everyone in the holiday spirit on December 10th, followed by two events scheduled for December 12th, which will include the Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Dell Elementary 3rd/4th Grade Music Program/Open House and the Junior High Band concert. We will cap off the month of December with an Early Release day scheduled for December 20th, which will be the start of a long break for our students, faculty, and parents. May your holidays be filled with the beauty of the season and shared with family and friends. Have a wonderful New Year and we look forward to welcoming our students back on Tuesday, January 7th! Happy Holidays! Rick DeMasters, Superintendent of Schools, Celina ISD

8 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

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Community

Merry Christmas Celina By Mayor Sean Terry

Photo: City of Celina

he unmistakable magic of the Christmas season is all around us. The brightly colored lights and seasonal decorations all over town are reminders of this most special time of year. The looks of anticipation on the faces of young children, and many adults as well, send a clear signal that, in spite of everything, there is still some grace and goodness in our world. That magic was most certainly be present at our annual Christmas On the Square celebration on Wednesday, December 4th. The celebration, presented by Celina Main Street and sponsored by the Stevens Insurance Group, included a Christmas train ride, an inflatable slide, bounce houses, a live reindeer display, a hayride, and much more. The Holiday Market is always a favorite, and of course, I got the privilege of officially lighting the traditional community Christmas tree. We listened to lots of holiday music and watched many performances throughout the evening. We hope you enjoyed and were able to be a part of it. Our administrative offices will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24 and 25, to allow our employees the opportunity to enjoy the holiday with their friends and families.

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Emergency personnel will be on duty, though, as always. If you see a police officer or firefighter on duty during the Christmas holiday break, please take a moment and express your thanks for their service in protecting our community. These men and women are on the front lines of keeping us safe, so our gratitude is extremely well-placed. And speaking of staying safe, the traffic signals on Preston Road will go into service this month, providing us the safety of controlled movement and right-of-way of vehicles traveling through our City. Please be mindful of the lights, and as always, please obey all traffic signals and warnings. Finally, remember that we are always eager to share our news with you. Join us on Facebook, sign up for our monthly online newsletter, visit our website, and come by City Hall whenever you like. We always enjoy hearing from you. From the Terry family to yours, Merry Christmas!

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Homefront

Deck the Halls this Christmas Season With Christmas only a few weeks away, many of you have already decorated your homes for the holidays. But if you are still looking for a few fun ideas for every room in your house, we’ve got you covered with tips and tricks to spread cheer all throughout Christmas and the New Year. Holiday décor doesn’t have to be expensive to make a big impact…in fact, you can turn your home into your own winter wonderland by using simple props and decorations you already have around your house. And when it comes to color schemes, don’t be afraid to stray away from the traditional red and green…there are decorations for every palette, style and taste. There’s just no limit to what you can do during this most wonderful time of the year with a little bit of creativity and some decorating magic!

12 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

Miniature Bottle Brush Trees Do you have a side table that needs some sprucing up or a coffee table tray that needs a holiday lift? Miniature bottle brush trees are an inexpensive touch to your living room and come in just about every color scheme imaginable. Find them just about everywhere from Amazon to Pier 1 for only a few dollars each.

Garland and Plaid in the Bedroom You don’t have to put up a tree to spread holiday cheer in your bedroom…just add some oversized garland draped across your headboard, swap out your accent pillows and blankets and add a few holiday props. We tied this look together with a cozy sweater style blanket, flannel pillows and a plaid lampshade in coordinating colors.

Wrap your Gifts as Décor If you do your gift shopping early enough, you can wrap your gifts in coordinating patterns of plaid wrapping paper and display them throughout your home as added décor. Piling them into a fun basket, bucket or decorative wheelbarrow next to your tree is a nice touch. Or displaying them on tables and chairs in your entry way is an inexpensive way to welcome your guests.

Festive Front Porch Welcome the Christmas carolers with plenty of festive style by adorning your front porch with garland, ribbon and wreaths. Add a couple of plaid pillows to your rocking chairs, some miniature spruce trees, a sled, Christmas blankets and some lanterns and you’ll want to sit outside all season long, regardless of the cold and weather!

Holiday TableScape Christmas dinner with your family is a joyous occasion…so set the tone for a warm experience with this beautiful holiday tablescape. We started with a simple red table runner and added a few votive candles, swags of garland with pinecones and red berries, and placed a wreath at the centerpiece. We then added elegant white china topped with simple red napkins, which we embellished with a sprig of garland and red berries, to complete the festive tabletop.

LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com Celina | 13

In Good Taste

White Hot Chocolate When itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold outside, start up the fireplace, get your favorite slippers on, wrap up in a warm blanket and snuggle on the couch with this delicious treat. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect complement to an evening at home watching Christmas movies with your loved ones and is sure to warm your holiday soul. Happy Holidays! In a medium saucepan combine 1/4 of the half & half, white chocolate baking pieces, cinnamon stick and nutmeg. Stir over low to medium heat until white chocolate is melted.

White Hot Chocolate 3 cups Half & Half 2/3 cup white chocolate baking pieces 1 3-inch cinnamon stick

Add remaining half & half. Stir and cook until heated through. Remove from heat. Discard cinnamon stick.

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Add in vanilla and almond extract. Stir until mixed through.

1 tsp vanilla

Pour into your favorite mug(s). Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Garnish with Candy Canes.

Recipe courtesy of www.Culinary.net

14 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

1/4 tsp almond extract Ground Cinnamon (optional) Whipped Cream (optional)

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LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com Celina | 15

In Good Taste

POP UP HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

From decorating the tree to baking the ham, there are many time-honored holiday traditions observed by families around the country. However, the holiday season is about more than just celebrating old traditions. A perfect opportunity for creating new memories and traditions, popcorn can serve as an ideal ingredient to bring family time to life. Whether wrapping the tree with garland made from the light and airy treat, filling clear ornaments with freshly popped kernels or simply popping up a bowl as a nutritious alternative to other holiday noshes, popcorn makes it easy to get hands-on while you deck the halls. These seasonal recipes for traditional treats like peppermint bark and popcorn balls plus edible trees and a more elegant take on a simple snack highlight low-fat, non-GMO, gluten-free whole-grain popcorn as the main ingredient.

WHITE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT POPCORN BARK 5 cups popped popcorn 12 ounces white chocolate baking chips 1 cup crushed peppermint candies Cover baking pan with foil or wax paper; set aside. Place popcorn in large bowl; set aside. In double boiler over barely simmering water, melt chocolate, stirring until smooth. Stir in crushed peppermints. Pour chocolate mixture over popcorn and stir to coat. Spread onto prepared pan; cool completely. When chocolate is cooled and set, break into chunks. Makes about 1 pound

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EASY, ELEGANT HOLIDAY POPCORN 8 cups popped popcorn Â˝ cup milk chocolate chips Â˝ cup white chocolate chips Candy sprinkles Line baking sheet with wax paper. Spread popcorn in thin layer on prepared pan. Place chocolate chips in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium 30 seconds; stir. If necessary, microwave in additional 10-second increments, stirring after each heating, until chips are melted and smooth. Drizzle over popcorn.

FESTIVE POPCORN TREES 10 cups air-popped popcorn 1 bag (10 ounces) miniature marshmallows 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Nonstick cooking spray Green decorating sugar Blue decorating sugar 1 tube white frosting Small, colorful candies, such as sprinkles and miniature silver dragees Place popcorn in large bowl. In medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stir marshmallows and butter until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour mixture over popcorn in bowl. Toss well to coat popcorn evenly.

Place white chocolate chips in separate microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium 30 seconds; stir. If necessary, microwave in additional 10-second increments, stirring after each heating, until chips are melted and smooth. Drizzle over popcorn. Sprinkle desired amount of candy sprinkles over warm chocolatecoated popcorn. Allow chocolate drizzles to set until firm. Break popcorn into pieces. Note: Chocolate chips can be replaced with cut up chocolate bars. Makes 8 cups

Line baking sheet with foil. Spray hands with nonstick cooking spray then scoop about 1 cup popcorn mixture. Shape mixture into cone, keeping base flat to form tree. Sprinkle tree with decorating sugars; place tree on baking sheet. Make nine additional trees. Using decorating tip, pipe frosting on trees to make garland then decorate with sprinkles and silver dragees, as desired. Serving suggestion: Place each tree on sugar cookie and decorate serving tray with shredded coconut to resemble snow. Notes: For best flavor and color, start recipe with unflavored white popcorn. You can make colored sugar by adding food coloring to sugar then stirring in bowl or shaking vigorously in sealed container. Add additional food coloring for more intense tones. Makes about 10 trees. Find more modern takes on traditional holiday recipes at popcorn.org.

LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com Celina | 17

Fashion

What Party Invitations Really Mean for Your Holiday Dress Code Have you ever ripped open a party invitation only to get very confused by the dress code? From “festive attire” to “California cocktail,” we’ve seen it all. Do we wear Santa socks? Ugly sweaters? Cocktail dresses? Or all of the above (we hope not!). One thing’s for sure: we want to make decoding the holiday dress code easy—so keep reading for our take on what that invitation really means and what to wear.

HOW TO DECODE FESTIVE ATTIRE Festive attire means “cocktail attire” or “don’t show up in jeans and a sweatshirt, please,” more often than not. Knowing your audience is extra important here as this dress code is a direction from your host to let you know what kind of party they want to have.

1. First, what’s the hosts’ personality like? Once you’ve removed the invitation from its envelope (or opened it in your inbox!) ask yourself: is this a friend who loves to throw over-the-top dinner parties? Or, is this your old college roommate who hasn’t changed a bit? (Dust off your ugly sweater).

2. What does the invite say? How mysterious is the invite? Do the words seem like multiple (and maybe nonsensical) adjectives strung together or is it as clear cut as “wear black and white?” If the words casual, laid-back, dressed-down or cool appear on the invite, it’s safe to assume less formal attire will do the trick. If the words evening, finest, black-tie, or your best appear on the invite, we’d say it’s time to dress up.

3. Where’s the party at?

CASUAL GATHERING a.k.a. dinner party, kickback, house party, light-bites gathering, Secret Santa Keep it cute and casual while being merry with friends. A solid pair of jeans with some seasonal texture like velvet or faux fur is the perfect way to turn up the festive spirit!

COCKTAIL SOIREE a.k.a. black tie, evening cocktail party, dinner party

celebration,

This is your time to shine. Black tie is a chance to go all out: sequins, sparkles & plush fabrics in rich holiday tones! Top it off with a pair of killer heels and the only thing rivaling your sparkle will be the bubbly.

OFFICE PARTY a.k.a. casual cocktail, happy hour, snacks and drinks Ok, so office dress codes may still apply, but that’s no excuse for turning up the heat! Ditch your go-to trousers for a form fitting dress, your classic white-button-down for some forest green frills. If you’ve got meetings in the morning, a blazer is an easy way to stay professional.

SCHOOL CELEBRATION a.k.a. PTA party, classroom volunteering, after school meet-up A party in the classroom is a great time to play with textures and colors. Delicate patterns in festive hues are a sure-fire way to create a cheerful and jovial vibe — perfect to set the mood for a cookie decorating activity!

Consider the venue. Is this year’s fête being thrown at a rented venue or is it an athome soiree? If the venue is on the grander side, your outfit should fit in with the location, location, location.

4. How close is it to the holidays? Does this year’s “holiday” party come at the beginning or the end of December? Keep close attention to the date and the kind of celebration your host wants to have.

18 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

Article compliments of Stitch Fix. When in doubt, always go for overdressed rather than underdressed. You can always shed (or add) a layer that will make your dressier ensemble a little less dressy. Our favorite no-fail outfit for almost every party? A little black dress! Visit www.stitchfix. com to schedule your fix!

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Growing Celina

Send your landscaping and gardening questions to Jimmie Gibson Jr. at http://www.absolutelybushedlandscaping.com or jimmie@ absolutelybushed.com Jimmie is a Prosper resident and the owner of Absolutely Bushed Landscaping Company, an award winning, family and veteran owned and operated business created in 1980 to provide the highest quality custom Outdoor Renovation available to homeowners in the Dallas Ft. Worth area.

ne of the most frequently asked questions I receive is, “Jimmie, when is the best time to plant a tree?” Depending on how I am running on time that day, I can give either the short answer or the long answer.

In general, the best time for planting trees is mid fall to early winter or early spring. If that doesn’t fit your schedule, then aim for autumn. Summer is a bad time because the weather’s too hot and the actively growing plants are too susceptible to damage. Weather also restricts your options in late winter because the cold causes the ground to freeze. If you had the foresight to do all your digging before the ground freezes, it’s not impossible to plant trees in winter. But unless you can water them sufficiently, late winter is not the best planting time either. Trees in a Dormant Phase: When the temperatures from the hot summer subside and the cooler days and nights of fall set in, most trees begin to enter a “Dormant” phase where the sap starts falling down from the canopy and slowly works its way into the main trunk and eventually into the root system. On a deciduous tree, this is when the leaves start turning all the pretty colors of fall and a few weeks later a big wind will come through and blow them into your yard! Note to self – teach the kids how to rake leaves!! When to Plant Deciduous Trees: In a way, the best time to install deciduous types is more obvious. The dropping of their leaves in autumn signals that they are entering dormancy. The unfurling of buds in spring signals that they are leaving dormancy. When to Plant Evergreen Trees: You have more leeway in the matter of when to plant evergreen trees. You can undertake the operation earlier in the fall and later in the spring than their deciduous counterparts. 20 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

When to Plant that Tree of Yours However, you’ll still want to avoid planting them when it’s hot. If it’s still hot in late September, hold off until later in the fall. Likewise, it gets pretty hot here by June or July, so plant those evergreens earlier in the spring! A Follow-Up Consideration: Intense heat is a major enemy to newly planted saplings. But lack of water for their root systems is another. And although you may not think of winter as a dry time due to cooler temperatures, most of our trees still require about an inch of water per week year-round! That’s why watering trees properly in fall is important -- regardless of whether you’ve opted for planting in autumn or in late winter/early spring.

Question: Jimmie, thanks for your wonderful columns! I so enjoy reading them and really learn a lot from your years of wisdom. I am thinking of buying a new tree for my backyard and I spoke with a tree farm on the phone and the first question they asked me was if I okay with a B&B tree?? Since I immediately thought, “What the heck is that?”, I figured I better ask you before I went any further! Thank you again for your time and help! Suzanne S. in Celina Answer: Hi Suzanne, thanks for the kind words! A B&B plant is a transplant shipped to the consumer after having been planted, dug up and wrapped. Also known as Balled in Burlap or Ball & Burlap, “balled” refers to the root ball which has been dug up, while “burlapped” refers to the wrapping material traditionally used for transporting tree and shrub deliveries. The burlap is secured with string, wire or twine. When purchasing balled and burlapped plants, ask if the burlap has been treated to be rot-resistant. Anything not biodegradable needs to be removed when planting (e.g., wire and rot-resistant burlap). Your best (but more expensive) trees

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purchased from a grower would be “Container Grown”. They have all the roots the tree has had its entire life and has the best chance at surviving in its new home!! Question: Jimmie, I had a young man stop by my house the other day and advised me to do some tree work out front to my trees and claimed he was an arborist. I figured if anyone would know how to check this man out it would be you. Is there somewhere you know about to follow up on this guy to make sure he is legit? Thank you so much for your time! Tom P. in Celina

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Answer: Hi Tom, Arborists are professionals who practice arboriculture. They are knowledgeable about how trees grow and how to take care of tree problems that homeowners may experience. Before hiring arborists, check to ensure that they are certified. While this will not guarantee the desired outcome, at least you are starting the project with someone “a cut above” the sort of jack-of-all trades who may offer to do the work for less money -- but who may only exacerbate the problem. Certified arborists are accredited by the International Society of Arboriculture.

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LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com Celina | 21

Travel

hristmas in New York is a dream for so many, which is why we’ve chosen it as our travel spotlight this month. It is the most wonderful time of the year, and a very special time to be in New York City. There is so much to do and see…exciting shows, places to visit, shopping and decorations all over the city. If you enjoy Christmas and everything that comes along with it, New York is the place to be! The winter weather in NYC is cold, but if you don’t mind layering up in plenty of warm clothes and jackets, it is a great time to visit. There’s simply nothing better than celebrating Christmas in the city that never sleeps! The highlight during Christmas in New York is the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. It’s truly something that you can’t miss, and during the holiday season it is THE most photographed thing in the city. Each year the Norway Spruce tree, which has grown for over 90 years, arrives in NYC from various towns in New York and Pennsylvania. The famous tree is typically around 85 feet tall, has over 50,000 LED lights and boasts a tree topper that is made from 25,000 real Swarovski crystals. The Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, and once lit, remains on until early January. On average, the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center receives nearly 500,000 visitors each day, making it the highlight for tourists all over the world. Another huge attraction during Christmas time in New York is ice skating. The most famous rinks are the ones in Bryant Park, the Rink at Rockefeller Center which has the Christmas Tree in the backdrop, and the famous Wollman Rink in Central Park. Speaking of Central Park… it’s always a great destination to visit, no matter what the season. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the already beautiful, peaceful and magical park covered in snow. After you’ve seen the tree and done some skating, you’ll want to be sure and take a stroll through the streets of New York to see the holiday window displays and do some shopping. The entire city is decorated with wreaths, bright lights and holiday signs. New York City is home to Fifth Avenue, one of the most famous streets for shopping in the world. Calvin Klein, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana have flagship stores there, as well as less expensive brands such as Hollister, Adidas, Apple and Abercrombie & Fitch. Other must-see shopping areas include the Shops at Columbus Circle, SoHo, the Meatpacking District and Herald Square. Finally, no Christmas in New York trip is complete without tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. A true NYC Christmas classic show, it features over 140 dancers who perform for 90 minutes on a unique stage set in sparkling costumes. The stars of the show are Santa Claus and his elves – “The Rockettes”. With the reputation of being the one of the best dance groups in the world, The Rockettes perform perfectly and flawlessly. The popular show features up to five performances per day, but the shows do sell out relatively quickly. Ticket costs range from $50-$400 – and the good news is that there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Christmas in New York By Heather Reynolds

22 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

The Big Apple has plenty going on during the holiday season and can be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the city. It is highly recommended that you book a tour to completely zone in on the Christmas atmosphere. And if you’re fortunate enough to be in the city that never sleeps on Christmas Day, there is no reason to stay in. Many of the restaurants, broadway shows and main attractions are open for your enjoyment.

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