Autumn Leads to Winter Leads Downtown.....

Last week I went downtown again. 

In the ‘90s and early ‘00s, come winter my colleagues and I would sojourn to South Street Seaport, meet up with some husbands and some kids and shiver as the Big Apple Chorus, bundled up in matching hats and scarves, climbed up the steps to wrap around the tree and sing Christmas Carols, conducted by a swell Santa who gave candy canes to the star-struck children.  It was a highlight of the season for us, year after year.  Even when I no longer worked down there, it was worth the trip.

Then in 2012 came Sandy, and the South Street Seaport has been trying to recover.  So this year, I went downtown, but you really can’t go “home” again.  The simplicity of the Singing Tree and people milling about, standing in the cold to listen and sing along with familiar carols is apparently a joy of the past.   

 In 2014, the tree is big and beautiful (48 years on Long Island, now on Fulton Street), a new ice skating rink is in place, and a small stage is slightly sheltered from the elements as individuals with names people younger than I may recognize sing unrecognizable melodies that blast out of huge speakers bawling all over downtown.  And they’re onscreen as well, of course.  Half the space is taken up by the “Talent Green Room.”

But at least you can learn to curl on Thursday nights.

My friend and I retired to a place engagingly named “NYC Stout” and recalled the fun it used to be. 

~ Molly Matera, trying to get into the spirit of the season....