With Big Apple Portraits taking up most of my time, Thanksgiving is such a blessing for me. For the two days of blissful time-off, I get to enjoy spending the holiday with my husband and my little girls. And as an Upper West Sider, our family loves all the activities that come with the holiday in our very own neighborhood:
Taking My Children to See the Balloon Inflation
Having grown up on the Upper West Side, I have such wonderful memories of walking the dog late at night as the balloons were inflated at the Museum of Natural History. Now it’s even better (but a million times more crowded) watching my two girls, Asher and Amelia, get a kick out of it. A few years ago, we made the decision to buy a family membership to the New York Historical Society and it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. As a perk, my family and I no longer have to stand in line on a crowded sidewalk to walk past the floats – we can see them front row at 77th Street. If you don’t want to be stuck in a line for hours, I can’t say enough to buy a membership. It’s worth it.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
The hordes of people can make any parent cringe at the idea of taking your family to see the parade in person. While most would say to watch it on TV, I no longer have cable and am a proud cord-cutter (HBO GO and Netflix is my best friend). The best way to beat the crowd is to find a friend who lives on Central Park West and luckily, our friends have invited us back year after to year to join in on the festivities. It’s another item on our list to be thankful for!
Sledding at Great Hill in Central Park
For every first snowfall in New York, my family and I make it a tradition to go sledding at Great Hill in Central Park. While I’m not a fan of the last few cold fronts we’ve had (talk about January temperatures!), I can’t help but be grateful for the early snowfall this season. For once, it was perfect timing on Mother Nature’s end.
Remembering To Give Thanks
Living in the city is a constant reminder of how difficult life can be for so many, especially as it’s hard not to notice those without homes. On this day, I’m grateful for so many things. Having a loving family, being able to have my own business, and the simple things we take for granted – having shelter above our heads and having warm food on the table.
The Gathering of Family & Friends
This holiday is the holiday of being surrounded by family and friends. I love having this time to share a meal with my favorite people in the world and being able to just take it all in. It’s true what they say, these moments are everything.
As it’s Thanksgiving Eve, I just want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! I can’t thank you enough for the support throughout the years. May your Thanksgiving be filled with laughter, great food and family + friends.
