The city will sparkle even more than usual during this holiday season. There’s jingles, cheers, and holiday magic at the 3T Holiday Lunch; Diamonds with Ellen Kaye; Infinity mirrors worth waiting for; and our favorite holiday trees and lighting ceremonies. Enjoy the season.

Nov. 30. Ellen Kaye’s Diamonds on My Windshield

Over the summer we got to preview Ellen Kayes auto-biographical evolving show, “Diamonds on My Windshield, a powerful and poignant story set to music about her teenage years in the mid-70s in the West Village, the Bronx, and the beyond.  Now you can see the next version at Dixon Place, a very cool developmental theater on the lower East side. Listen to some groovy tunes and take a walk on the dark side.  Show starts at 7:30. Tickets are just $15.

Until Dec. 16. Festival of Light & Infinity Mirrors

If you’re wondering why people are waiting on line for hours to see Yayoi Kusama’s infinity rooms the “Festival of Life” exhibit at the David Zwirner Gallery, check out this video. The waits average 2-4 hours, but wowza when you get in.

Holiday Lights

While the tourists flock to Rockefeller Center to see the tree lighting, real New Yorker’s know there are also other great places to see holiday lights and trees. East side, west side, all around the town, you will find tree lightings and holiday lights to get you in that ho, ho, ho spirit. Here are a few of our favorites and the tree lighting schedules.

November 27 @ 5:30 Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square.

The fun starts with the tree lighting in Dante Park at Broadway & 63rd St and festive tunes from Jazz at Lincoln Center and youth choruses.

November 28. Luminaries Holiday Light Show.

We love this display at the glass enclosed Winter Garden, at Brookfield Place in lower Manhattan. The display opens with a free party with holiday sweets, performances and ice skating. We love the stations that let you send a “wish” to the lanterns. Very cool.

November 29@7PM. Rockefeller Center’s Tree Lighting.

Well you know the actual lighting will be a zoo, but a trip to see the tree never gets old.  30,000 LED Lights, but the fantastic light show at Saks Fifth Avenue.

November 30 @5:30. Central Park Tree Lighting.

Santa, live ice carving demonstration, sing carols on the Plaza, and warm up with hot cocoa and cookies. The event concludes with lighting a flotilla of trees on the Harlem Meer.

December 1 @6PM. Bryant Park Tree Lighting.

One of our favorite spots, with the tree, the rink and the holiday shops. Special performance on the rink.

December 6@6PM.  The Washington Square Park Tree Lighting.

This is one of the city’s longest running tree lighting ceremonies.  There will be caroling, Santa, and candy canes.