In this series on Christmastime in New York City 2016, I'd like to share some of the photographs that I took with my new camera: the Sony RX100 V. It was a birthday present from my wife and it's a substantial upgrade from my Canon PowerShot DSC 1400 IS. Thanks honey!!! This is my first real use of the RX100 V and all images in this post are unedited.

While these pictures are just me using the newbie automatic mode, I look forward to learning about all that this camera has to offer.

Inbound to New York Penn Station ...

My wife and I took the train into Manhattan this past Saturday with the primary goal of seeing the 2016 Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center.

We drove to Metro Park Station and took a mid-morning train into New York Penn Station. The train was running about 15 minutes late, likely due to the large crowds that converge on New York City at this time of year.

According to my wife's FitBit we walked about 7 miles on our day's travel and we didn't arrive home until after 11:00PM.

Itinerary

Our main NYC stops were:

• Bryant Park to see the Bryant Park Christmas tree, watch the ice skaters, and do a litte Christmas shopping at a few of the many vendor booths that occupy the majority of the park.

• Top of the Rock, where we were treated to a very chilly, windy, but very cool NYC sunset from 69 floors up.

• And the pièces de résistance, the Spectacular 2016 Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center.

I'll be sharing more photos from these stops in upcoming posts.

Back to the beginning ...

Waiting in a sunny spot to keep warm on the platform at Metro Park Station.

In addition to all the people headed in to see the Christmas tree and the myriad of other events that are happening on any given Saturday in NYC, our train had lots of people headed in to partake in the famous SantaCon 2016 event. There was also a Villanova / Notre Dame college basketball game at the Prudential Center which added another crowd of passengers.

The train was so crowded that we had to stand almost the entire way into the city. It was literally sardine-packing with people posing as sardines, and the train serving as the can. I was separated somewhat from my wife and I spent almost the entire train ride on the steps between the upper and lower deck with just a hand's width of railing to call my own and hold on to.

The crowd on the train thinned a little once we got to the stop for the Prudential Center, and we then managed to secure a single seat for my wife. Whew, it was a challenging ride in!

If there was any highlight, it's that the train was too crowded for the conductors to walk their rounds and punch the tickets, so we got to ride in for free. No such luck on the return trip.

Below is an image showing the escalator walk up (it wasn't operational) from the train platform to street level. Yes, it was major crowded, and that would pretty much remain the theme for the day.

I took over 300 pictures and I plan on presenting some of them in several additional parts in this series. The captures in this series will show some of the SantaCon participants, some shots of the Macy's Herald Square Believe Christmas Window displays, and a few other assorted images.

I hope you enjoy this series.

Without any perspective, you may be fooled into thinking that these are your typical tiny Christmas lights, but each light is actually several feet long. These giant lights are on display about a block from Radio City Music Hall.

A Salvation Army volunteer ringin' the bell, rockin' the block, and bustin' a move.

The SantaCon 2016 event (i.e. charity pub crawl) was taking place and there was no shortage of santa sightings.

Macys Herald Square.

Do you believe?

Some SantaCon participants that we met and exchanged photo taking with. This is in front of Macys Window 2 - CELEBRATE

It was pretty chilly (high 30s Fahrenheit), but not cold enough for this. Someone dumped some ice.

Santa apparently owns quite a few pairs of pajamas!

Another SantaCon group that was nice enough to stop, chat, and pose for us.

New spin on a Santa hat.

There was noticeably heavy NYPD out and about.

Victoria's Secret at the corner of Sixth Ave and West 34th Street.

Good luck sneaker hanging from the handlebars of a Chinese food delivery bike.

Subway entrance at Bryant Park.

To wrap up part one of this series, here are a few nighttime captures of the Macys display windows. These shots were taken around 8:30 or 9:00PM and the crowds had thinned out quite a bit.

Macys Window 1 - BELIEVE
Some things never change…some children believe in Santa Claus while others skeptically question his existence, but the one thing that has changed through the years is how they communicate with him. From email and texting, to creating Santa-specific YouTube videos, Window #1 takes a look into Santa’s “Communication Station” where, upon receiving these messages, Santa is able to make his list, and check it twice. Nice children from all over the world are then “matched” up with their gifts. Once a match is made, the gift is magically transported from the communication station up through the magic gifting vortex where they make their way to their delighted recipients.

Macys Window 2 - CELEBRATE
The experience turns interactive in Window #2 in which the audience is invited to celebrate the unique experiences that make the holiday season so special in New York City. A custom designed vintage-style pinball machine is displayed within, with three bumpers each representing the 90th Anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, skating at Rockefeller Center and the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square. By touching the specially designed buttons on the glass, spectators are able to “play” this sentimental arcade favorite, launching the pinball toward the three bumpers which all light up spectacularly upon contact.

Macys Window 3 - TOGETHER
One of the most important themes of the holiday season is exemplified within Window #3…the idea of spending time together. This concept is illustrated by silhouettes staged within a “Family Tree” each highlighting different displays of human interaction and affection. This window not only symbolizes the connections and relationships between loved ones, but also the interconnectedness of nature, with the trees and the branches flowing through and into one another with a crystal forest illuminated against the night sky.

Macys Window 4 - GIVING
This window illustrates the beauty of giving. A majestic gold leaf reindeer rules this window, his delicately bejeweled antlers supporting 25 handmade elves as they generously pass gifts between each other, filling Santa’s sleigh against the backdrop of a crystalline snow covered forest.

Macys Window 5 - LOVE
The elegant beauty of love is presented in Window #5. Set within an intricate oversized jewel box, Santa and Mrs. Claus are shown dancing and sharing a rare private moment. Not only does this window recognize the importance of love for family and friends, but it also salutes the great love that people share for the season. Passersby are once again able to participate in the fun at this window by way of an interactive “love” game which, not only measures the amount of love one has for the season, but also seeks to answer the age old question—“Naughty” or “Nice”?

---

All images @cognoscere and taken in NYC on Saturday December 10, 2016
Sony RX100 V