Avenues and Alleys’ Brett Leveridge on Christmas in NYC

Avenues and Alleys founder Brett LeveridgeWe’re pleased to announce that Brett Leveridge, the man behind Avenues and Alleys, has a story in Guideposts magazine’s popular annual holiday publication, The Joys of Christmas.

In the story, Brett talks about the prominent role NYC has played role in forging America’s Christmas traditions and gives readers a sneak peek of what they’ll experience when they participate in one of our Christmas in NYC walking tours.

You’re encouraged to read the story and if you’re going to be in NYC for the holidays, book your tour early before all the slots are filled.

Christmas in NYC Tour Returns for 2015!

Hey New Yorkers, if you have holiday guests arriving in the coming weeks, you may well find yourself scrambling for activities to keep them occupied. Why stress? Let Avenues and Alleys take over. Treat your guests to our Christmas in NYC walking tour!

Christmas in NYC: Macy's on 34th StreetOur Christmas in NYC Tour is a 90-minute walk during which we visit the sites and share the stories that have made New York City the Christmas Capitol of America. This midtown tour includes a look at Macy’s, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center‘s legendary Christmas tree, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and a string of gorgeous holiday window displays at such iconic establishments as Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany and Co., and Bergdorf Goodman. We’ll also discuss New York’s iconic contributions to the holidays as they’re celebrated today, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, and even Santa Claus himself.

This seasonal tour is available for booking from Friday, November 27, through Friday, January 1, on the following schedule: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 12pm, 3pm, and 6pm. Contact us at info@avenuesandalleys.com to make arrangements.

The fee for the tour is $60 for up to four guests. Additional guests may be included at $10 per person.

If the above times don’t fit your guests’ schedule, other times might be available. Please contact us, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

We can’t wait to show you the town!

All aboard the Nostalgia Train!

Great news! A grand NYC holiday tradition is again renewed as the Nostalgia Train makes its weekly runs once again.

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View the Slideshow

What’s the Nostalgia Train, you ask?

Every holiday season in recent years, the good folks at the NYC transit have run the Nostalgia Train, which is made up of subway cars that operated from the 1930s to the 1970s. Not only do train fans and nostalgia buffs get to experience subway cars from another era, but all the ads that line the upper walls of the cars are vintage ones, ranging from the 1930s through the 1960s.

Our first experience with the Nostalgia Train came some years back, on a special express run from midtown to Coney Island on a hot summer day, but it’s even more fun at holiday time.

The train runs on Sundays from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m., November 28 thru December 26, making the same stops as the M train, traveling from the 2nd Avenue station on the Lower East Side to Queens Plaza and back again.

You can catch a ride on these classic R1/9 subway cars at stations along the weekday M Line icon line between Queens Plaza and 2 Av. You can board the train at these stations:

Queens Plaza

• Court Sq-23 St

• Lexington Av/53 St

• 5 Av/53 St

• 47-50 Sts/Rockefeller Center

• 42 St Bryant Park

• 34 St Herald Sq

• 23 St (6 Av)

• 14 St (6 Av)

• W 4 St Wash Sq

• B’way-Lafayette St

• 2 Av

Departures from 2nd Avenue are at: 9:58 a.m., 11:27 a.m., 12:57 p.m., 2:27 p.m., and 3:57 p.m..

Departures from Queens Plaza are at: 10:43 a.m., 12:13 p.m., 1:42 p.m., 3:13 p.m., and 4:43 p.m..

In the past, we’ve donned vintage clothing when riding the nostalgia train, and in a perfect world, everyone else would do the same—think how it would heighten the experience! But if you’re in from out of town and left your vintage wear at home, don’t let that stop you from enjoying this little bit of time travel.

The photos in the slideshow are from a ride we took in December 2008. They’ll give you an idea, we hope, of what a delightful experience the Nostalgia Train is.