It was raining this morning & forecast to continue until about 2pm. We headed out on foot towards Grand Central Station and came across the Grand Central Market. Thus was full of fresh food stalls - beautiful looking cakes & gingerbread houses, every type of cheese you could want, meats, fruit & vegies, nuts & spices & flowers. It was busy in there with people most likely getting food for their Christmas celebrations. We also found the holiday market inside the station which had different stalls to the other markets across the city.
We jumped on the shuttle to Times Square and did some shopping there before walking back to the hotel. We stayed in for a bit before heading out again. This time we walked along 3rd Avenue down to Bloomingdales. The stores weren't too busy so maybe most people had finished their Christmas shopping by then. Some stores had already started their sales.
We walked back to the hotel & got ready to go down to Bryant Park. We were booked in for dinner at the Bryant Park Grill. The menu was attached to the reservation confirmation so I knew I wouldn't be having roast turkey. Our table was at the back of the restaurant, next to a window looking out onto the beautiful Christmas tree in Bryant Park. Thanks Jane, I'm sure you had something to do with that. We started with a pre dinner cocktail but had only had a sip or two before our meals arrived. That felt a bit quick. My dinner of scallops, prawns & a whole Maine lobster was good. Desserts were even better!
We caught the train back to Rockefeller to walk back to the hotel. 5th Ave was heaving with police. Our street, 50th, was closed to traffic between 5th & Madison Avenues and was full of police cars and bomb squad vans. I know 5th Ave had been closed earlier today because of a suspicious package and all churches are on high alert but we didn't expect it to be so full on. I would have liked to have gone to the 11pm carol service but it just feels better to be away from 5th Ave & in our hotel tonight. There are services again in the morning we can go to. Merry Christmas, everyone.