A Day at Rockefeller Center and Broadway: A Christmas Eve Adventure

As we stepped out of our cozy apartment, the excitement was palpable. We were embarking on a day filled with holiday cheer, and I couldn't wait to share it all with you. My dad, being the seasoned New Yorker that he is, had planned an epic Christmas Eve outing to Rockefeller Center in Manhattan.

We made our way to the famous ice skating rink, where we laced up our skates and prepared to take on the frozen floor. The twinkling lights of the iconic Christmas tree towered above us as we glided across the ice, laughing and chatting with delight. My mom and dad were beaming with joy, and I couldn't help but capture it all on camera.

After working up an appetite, we took a break to grab some breakfast at a nearby bagel shop. I opted for a delicious Apple Danish with coffee, while my parents indulged in their own treats. We strolled through Time Square, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling city. My dad joked that he was going to buy an empty bagel to see if it would fill the void left by his surprise Christmas gift – but we'll get to that later.

Our next stop was the National Museum of American History's Space Show. As we entered, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer scale of the exhibits on display. My dad quipped that he hoped there wasn't too much "space" in there (ba-dum-tss), and my mom chuckled along with him.

We spent a good amount of time exploring the various displays, including a stunning model of Mars and even a real-life Mars rover (though, I must confess, it was a replica – no actual Martian rovers were on display). My dad couldn't resist pointing out the tiny black hole, which seemed to be staring us down from across the room. "What would you do if one crashed into our backyard?" he mused, sending my mom into giggles.

As we continued our adventure, we made a pit stop at the Nintendo store on Fifth Avenue. My dad was determined to pick up some merchandise for himself (and by that, I mean his ever-growing collection of num-chucks – also known as WeedChucks, or so my mom calls them). He joked with Kristen about not getting a video shot last night in her stunning Christmas dress; I'm pretty sure he was just trying to butter her up.

With our spirits lifted and bellies full, we made our way to the Top of the Rock, where we were treated to breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. The sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the towering skyscrapers – it truly was a sight to behold.

As the night drew to a close, my family made its way to the theater for a performance of White Christmas on Broadway. I must confess that I'm not typically a fan of musicals (I know, I know, what's wrong with me?), but the music and lyrics were catchy, if not entirely familiar to me.

The show itself was delightful, with a talented cast bringing the classic story to life. My dad quipped that he'd only seen it done once before (on Broadway, of course), and my mom joked that she was "off" singing along – but we all had a wonderful time nonetheless.

As we left the theater, my feet were killing me, but my heart was full. It's not often that I get to spend Christmas Eve with such an amazing group of people, taking in the sights and sounds of one of the world's greatest cities. This has been truly a night to remember – stay tuned for more footage and updates from our holiday adventure!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhello you idiot it is December 17th 2008 and we are on our way to New York City for our annual Christmas visit and with me are Dad hello Dad David of course obviously and the always lovely and Charming Kristen thank you Mom good job you're welcome the doggies to the K they're very nice scarf too I like it thank you do go to sh very candish so yes we are on our way to New York City it's going to be great guys the last time I was in the city was my birthday of last year which is 22nds so I'm almost 23 that's serious krist's only 16 where do you want to shop e I'm not 16 I'm kidding oh my if one person cars me when I tried to buy ladder TI it to New York I'm going to freak out and say oh I'm an idiot dad CH I still get CED at at casinos and liquor stores just for 21 they have to card everybody that looks anyway any this video should be pretty interesting we're going to do a tour of the city hopefully show you some apple footage and the hotel and hopefully dad will mature throughout the trip and stop saying Mama I'm just kidding I like I like when he does that of train all right a lot of cars are merging with us so be back soon we're pretty freaking High well we are on the top floor of the parking garage right Kristen come here so This Is Us in the parking garage just killing time until some crazy lady but yeah it's definitely nice view well all the trees are day cuz it's winter obviously it's a lot of cars though and as you can see it recently snowed here which is awesome which is sweet your shoes are just chilling we have arrived Echo really all right we're going to get in the elevator in real time good luck sorry selling iPods here silhouette D remember you all the buttons David and we got was like thanks David does anybody else to go to bathroom Okay what level was that we parked six the last one Dave Sweet feel how thick my jacket is done feel it yeah it's always simple but it always amazes me I love train tracks there's just something about train tracks that I'm really interested in maybe I'm just e easily amused there's a train approaching quickly it's not our train it's the Express Train I believe yes this thing is booking it's going to get really windy here it comes we are on the train successfully we got on the train within like minutes of arriving at the station and is boarded I'm boarded Kristen's boarded she doesn't want to be on camera right now for whatever reason and Mom and Dad are there Mom Dad hello I know we're getting into the city at like this video will get more exciting when we get to the city trust me so stay tuned see you in a second thanks too good job iPhoto magic we're at the train station and you and you just have to check out these all these decorations in the Lance they look really nice very nice very Christmasy obviously right Dad y Dad how was the ride overall I slept did you film the candy can yes you just missed that part chist my ha why you Whispering oh hi guys are we recording yes we are recording we are in the room look dad you put the stuff away I need plug this is our room here's a quick here tour of a Geeks hotel room in New York City that's not what I'm calling it I just thought of that on my head right now I can't really talk here we go first of all po T something po dad is this yours the Bose thing yeah you brought it came with it very nice with the room David we have a good view of other people's rooms sick so we can spy on them at night time I'm looking forward to that I'm kidding of course or am I there's the street there's our limo that we pulled up in no not really we took a cab although that cab driver kind of scared me sometimes he got really close to that car he was crazy dad trying to do a tour he almost knocked me down did Dad I'm trying to get by that's okay I did this is our bed I thought you did it's on New York thing you were me other window of view right down there is the hotel Wellington ah nice touch dad I love that music Table Painting over to the bathroom K's in there let's hope she's not doing anything well this is like an illusion Kristen I know crazy cuz why are you well this is a weird bathroom it's a pretty cool bathtub I like that this is relaxing seriously if I lived here I'd probably do my like my video blogging from here like my geek updates even though I haven't done a geek update in a while but it's a nice simple background and it's comfy sobody $14 a day for internet I love the internet guys but that's not worth it screw that that's why the Apple Store is what two blocks from here yep yeah yeah which is awesome so I'll just go there and why you yelling check the.tv show off your.com Shameless plugs right there Kristen that's kind of freaky you just standing in the background but yeah Apple store has totally free internet always it's very fast there too for the most part person where are we we are walking towards Fifth Avenue towards arm exchange and each them why Mom down look are you serious we got to go that way it's a nice view of the city of course they got Christmas lights up there is a gorilla pod see I they're very cool they kind of like wrap around poles and stuff for camcoders and um still cameras that building's really nice it's like a giant present as you can see it's very crowded hi Mom hi where are we going I'm going hn where youza go I'll go there I'm going to m& welcome to Nintendo World a Christmas style this store is like an Apple store for gamers just think of it as that way it's a flagship store in the US it's amazing got some Classics here this is a godsend in my eyes lots of vom Crossing merchandise awesome stuff then we have we fit going on over there then bunch of we kiosks again love it they have such awesome merchandise here seriously it's like a dream come true there is the Rockefeller tree all its glory and dad has a big bag with him after Madness at some store we won't say yet I did just in case my mom watches this video which she will eventually but you guys will find out in Christmas morning right Dad yes explain the madness we had to go through to get that manager please yes there were guns going off F fights film NBC oh yeah there's a studio for NBC the actual studio so this isn't some like just a prop or whatever this is the real thing and let's hand over here look on the Christmas trees I don't know who those people are oh my God A steeve J I'm just kidding oh look how the trees twinkling now well it was it twile very nice setup the city takes Christmas seriously which is always good here's another view of the tree very nice and there's the ice skating rink down there thought I got it very nice isn't it Dad yes now show us what you bought yeah that the bag open the bag I got an empty bag what the hell it's hard to hear that big surprise had a ship at UPS so you wouldn't peek on the train not me Mom yes and here's an even better view of the ice skating ring again under the tree very very nice just Top of the Rock finally get up go to work overall successful night so far my feet are killing me we're seeing White Christmas on Broadway at 8:00 right Mom 8:00 yeah I can't believe you saw the tree without us it looks great mom we'll go without them um we avoided yeah Sor we'll we'll say it again it's Mom it's not going anywhere um screen and it has lights it looks awesome see more footage to come and I'll be sure to let you guys know what I thought of White Christmas after we see it starts at 8 like I just said and it most likely ends at 10 it's the next day I just didn't feel like taping last night cuz unfortunately I got a little sick and I sound congested yester but I promise you guys a quick review of White Christmas I liked it very much the music was great I off I KN it off once or twice to be honest but that's that's Broadway for me I'm I'm not a huge Broadway person but the music was definitely cool and the character um L it was very good right especially that old guy at the end yeah he was funny yep or whatever guy all right um I'm going to show off the family real quick you call me but first just want to show you this who is this sexy stud let's go attack New York let's go David do you need a num Chuck from Nintendo store a what a numchuck A numchuck or a weed Chuck my mom calls it I numchuck or a we Chuck we remote works mom cuz we and Rees sound together sound simar so it's not a we Chuck no none Chuck nuu n c h u k Kristen kisten what are you do you haven't even been in the video look at her she today I mean Kristen you didn't get a video last night in her gorgeous Christmas dress we're going to the Rockefeller Center for breakfast you suck D I'm going to get a bagel bagel brunch or a Danish with a coffee what the kid kiding we just took the subway for One Stop didn't we mom yes we could have easily walked our right there yeah we're in Time Square check it out we are in Rockefeller Plaza on Concourse it's called yeah my hair looks weird today with me are Kristen mom dad and the ice skating rank right outside US how cool is that it's a great view while enjoying my Apple Danish in my coffee that's a great oh yeah I love the city we are at the hidden planetarian yeah me and my dad this place looks very familiar I think I've been here before and if I have it hasn't been in like over 10 years we're about to look at space the fin yes I hope I really hope that there's a lot of space in there cuz I don't I don't like tight Corners that's a really bad space joke but yeah check it out looks like a giant Apple Store The Fifth Avenue doesn't it the cube but with a giant ball in there we are inside here's one of the Mars rovers not the actual thing obviously CU It's s in Mars but this been nice here's a view of the first floor want to see my black hole dad lots of stuff to there check out the ceiling goes pretty freaking High very nice the will met minor right barely half a pound no not even that wow very big that's now think of that crashing into our backyard what would you do sohello you idiot it is December 17th 2008 and we are on our way to New York City for our annual Christmas visit and with me are Dad hello Dad David of course obviously and the always lovely and Charming Kristen thank you Mom good job you're welcome the doggies to the K they're very nice scarf too I like it thank you do go to sh very candish so yes we are on our way to New York City it's going to be great guys the last time I was in the city was my birthday of last year which is 22nds so I'm almost 23 that's serious krist's only 16 where do you want to shop e I'm not 16 I'm kidding oh my if one person cars me when I tried to buy ladder TI it to New York I'm going to freak out and say oh I'm an idiot dad CH I still get CED at at casinos and liquor stores just for 21 they have to card everybody that looks anyway any this video should be pretty interesting we're going to do a tour of the city hopefully show you some apple footage and the hotel and hopefully dad will mature throughout the trip and stop saying Mama I'm just kidding I like I like when he does that of train all right a lot of cars are merging with us so be back soon we're pretty freaking High well we are on the top floor of the parking garage right Kristen come here so This Is Us in the parking garage just killing time until some crazy lady but yeah it's definitely nice view well all the trees are day cuz it's winter obviously it's a lot of cars though and as you can see it recently snowed here which is awesome which is sweet your shoes are just chilling we have arrived Echo really all right we're going to get in the elevator in real time good luck sorry selling iPods here silhouette D remember you all the buttons David and we got was like thanks David does anybody else to go to bathroom Okay what level was that we parked six the last one Dave Sweet feel how thick my jacket is done feel it yeah it's always simple but it always amazes me I love train tracks there's just something about train tracks that I'm really interested in maybe I'm just e easily amused there's a train approaching quickly it's not our train it's the Express Train I believe yes this thing is booking it's going to get really windy here it comes we are on the train successfully we got on the train within like minutes of arriving at the station and is boarded I'm boarded Kristen's boarded she doesn't want to be on camera right now for whatever reason and Mom and Dad are there Mom Dad hello I know we're getting into the city at like this video will get more exciting when we get to the city trust me so stay tuned see you in a second thanks too good job iPhoto magic we're at the train station and you and you just have to check out these all these decorations in the Lance they look really nice very nice very Christmasy obviously right Dad y Dad how was the ride overall I slept did you film the candy can yes you just missed that part chist my ha why you Whispering oh hi guys are we recording yes we are recording we are in the room look dad you put the stuff away I need plug this is our room here's a quick here tour of a Geeks hotel room in New York City that's not what I'm calling it I just thought of that on my head right now I can't really talk here we go first of all po T something po dad is this yours the Bose thing yeah you brought it came with it very nice with the room David we have a good view of other people's rooms sick so we can spy on them at night time I'm looking forward to that I'm kidding of course or am I there's the street there's our limo that we pulled up in no not really we took a cab although that cab driver kind of scared me sometimes he got really close to that car he was crazy dad trying to do a tour he almost knocked me down did Dad I'm trying to get by that's okay I did this is our bed I thought you did it's on New York thing you were me other window of view right down there is the hotel Wellington ah nice touch dad I love that music Table Painting over to the bathroom K's in there let's hope she's not doing anything well this is like an illusion Kristen I know crazy cuz why are you well this is a weird bathroom it's a pretty cool bathtub I like that this is relaxing seriously if I lived here I'd probably do my like my video blogging from here like my geek updates even though I haven't done a geek update in a while but it's a nice simple background and it's comfy sobody $14 a day for internet I love the internet guys but that's not worth it screw that that's why the Apple Store is what two blocks from here yep yeah yeah which is awesome so I'll just go there and why you yelling check the.tv show off your.com Shameless plugs right there Kristen that's kind of freaky you just standing in the background but yeah Apple store has totally free internet always it's very fast there too for the most part person where are we we are walking towards Fifth Avenue towards arm exchange and each them why Mom down look are you serious we got to go that way it's a nice view of the city of course they got Christmas lights up there is a gorilla pod see I they're very cool they kind of like wrap around poles and stuff for camcoders and um still cameras that building's really nice it's like a giant present as you can see it's very crowded hi Mom hi where are we going I'm going hn where youza go I'll go there I'm going to m& welcome to Nintendo World a Christmas style this store is like an Apple store for gamers just think of it as that way it's a flagship store in the US it's amazing got some Classics here this is a godsend in my eyes lots of vom Crossing merchandise awesome stuff then we have we fit going on over there then bunch of we kiosks again love it they have such awesome merchandise here seriously it's like a dream come true there is the Rockefeller tree all its glory and dad has a big bag with him after Madness at some store we won't say yet I did just in case my mom watches this video which she will eventually but you guys will find out in Christmas morning right Dad yes explain the madness we had to go through to get that manager please yes there were guns going off F fights film NBC oh yeah there's a studio for NBC the actual studio so this isn't some like just a prop or whatever this is the real thing and let's hand over here look on the Christmas trees I don't know who those people are oh my God A steeve J I'm just kidding oh look how the trees twinkling now well it was it twile very nice setup the city takes Christmas seriously which is always good here's another view of the tree very nice and there's the ice skating rink down there thought I got it very nice isn't it Dad yes now show us what you bought yeah that the bag open the bag I got an empty bag what the hell it's hard to hear that big surprise had a ship at UPS so you wouldn't peek on the train not me Mom yes and here's an even better view of the ice skating ring again under the tree very very nice just Top of the Rock finally get up go to work overall successful night so far my feet are killing me we're seeing White Christmas on Broadway at 8:00 right Mom 8:00 yeah I can't believe you saw the tree without us it looks great mom we'll go without them um we avoided yeah Sor we'll we'll say it again it's Mom it's not going anywhere um screen and it has lights it looks awesome see more footage to come and I'll be sure to let you guys know what I thought of White Christmas after we see it starts at 8 like I just said and it most likely ends at 10 it's the next day I just didn't feel like taping last night cuz unfortunately I got a little sick and I sound congested yester but I promise you guys a quick review of White Christmas I liked it very much the music was great I off I KN it off once or twice to be honest but that's that's Broadway for me I'm I'm not a huge Broadway person but the music was definitely cool and the character um L it was very good right especially that old guy at the end yeah he was funny yep or whatever guy all right um I'm going to show off the family real quick you call me but first just want to show you this who is this sexy stud let's go attack New York let's go David do you need a num Chuck from Nintendo store a what a numchuck A numchuck or a weed Chuck my mom calls it I numchuck or a we Chuck we remote works mom cuz we and Rees sound together sound simar so it's not a we Chuck no none Chuck nuu n c h u k Kristen kisten what are you do you haven't even been in the video look at her she today I mean Kristen you didn't get a video last night in her gorgeous Christmas dress we're going to the Rockefeller Center for breakfast you suck D I'm going to get a bagel bagel brunch or a Danish with a coffee what the kid kiding we just took the subway for One Stop didn't we mom yes we could have easily walked our right there yeah we're in Time Square check it out we are in Rockefeller Plaza on Concourse it's called yeah my hair looks weird today with me are Kristen mom dad and the ice skating rank right outside US how cool is that it's a great view while enjoying my Apple Danish in my coffee that's a great oh yeah I love the city we are at the hidden planetarian yeah me and my dad this place looks very familiar I think I've been here before and if I have it hasn't been in like over 10 years we're about to look at space the fin yes I hope I really hope that there's a lot of space in there cuz I don't I don't like tight Corners that's a really bad space joke but yeah check it out looks like a giant Apple Store The Fifth Avenue doesn't it the cube but with a giant ball in there we are inside here's one of the Mars rovers not the actual thing obviously CU It's s in Mars but this been nice here's a view of the first floor want to see my black hole dad lots of stuff to there check out the ceiling goes pretty freaking High very nice the will met minor right barely half a pound no not even that wow very big that's now think of that crashing into our backyard what would you do so\n"