This winter, Rockefeller Center once again becomes New York City's most iconic holiday destination, serving as a one-stop shop for New Yorkers to experience nostalgic holiday moments while adding new traditions for every member of the family. Whether searching for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts, seeking outdoor, socially distanced activities for the kids, or enjoying a meal you cannot get anywhere else in the City, Rockefeller Center offers an unparalleled holiday experience across its Midtown Manhattan campus that includes premium shopping and dining, new public art installations, ice skating, and the world-famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
“Since the early 1930s, New Yorkers have made a trip to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree an annual tradition. While this holiday season certainly feels different, the holiday spirit continues at Rockefeller Center,” said EB Kelly, Tishman Speyer Managing Director who oversees Rockefeller Center. “In addition to the most famous Christmas tree and ice skating rink in the world, Rockefeller Center offers several new holiday pop-ups, new restaurants, and recently launched retail locations that are sure to bring the holiday cheer to New Yorkers staying in the City this year. No destination in the world does the holidays quite like Rockefeller Center.”
Holiday shopping
In addition to dozens of retail shops offering everything from stocking stuffers to premium gifts this holiday season, Rockefeller Center introduces a number of new permanent retailers and special holiday pop-ups throughout its campus. Find this year’s can’t-miss items for kids and those young at heart from the likes of FAO Schwarz, LEGO, and Nintendo; or visit a premier apparel or accessory brand to add a timeless item to your partner’s wardrobe from Michael Kors, Mulberry, and Anthropologie. From up-and-coming local brands to the most iconic names in fashion, Rockefeller Center has something for everyone on your holiday list.
In addition, a special window arrangement is on display at 10 Rockefeller Plaza paying tribute to Rockefeller, the world-famous owl found in this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The seasonal display features a selection of owl-themed gifts available for purchase throughout the Center’s campus including owl books, puzzles, calendars, ornaments, stuffed animals, toys, and more.
New additions to Rockefeller Center this holiday season include:
Westerlind: The new Winter Wonderland at Rockefeller Center features the best of the best from Scandinavian design. Whether it’s a climbing jumpsuit, a waterproof down jacket or leather ski gloves to face the elements outside, or a cozy shearling slipper for the cabin, Westerlind will ensure you stay cozy and stylish, inside and out. The shop is located at 620 Fifth Avenue.
CO?TE A? COAST: Founded in 2015, CO?TE A? COAST is a New York-based men’s lifestyle brand with a modern resort point of view. Located at 620 Fifth Avenue, CO?TE A? COAST offers high quality clothing and home goods designed and produced in New York by skilled and socially responsible manufacturers.
MP at 30 Rockefeller Plaza: An homage to the great Italian specialty stores of the past, MP at 30 Rockefeller Plaza brings the kitchen of chef and owner Missy Robbins and business partner Sean Feeney to the hustle and bustle under the glow of the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Located at 55 West 49th Street, Chef Missy has prepared a wide selection of specialty items to grab and quickly cook at home from marinated vegetables and top-of-the-line pantry staples to pecorino crusted chicken cutlets and fresh pasta and sauces.
JILL LINDSEY: Brooklyn-based JILL LINDSEY’s brand emphasizes local craft, trend-forward fashion, and home goods, as well as earth-friendly skincare. The new 30 Rockefeller Plaza on 50th Street location offers a selection of apparel, accessories, jewelry, and skincare products, nearly all of which are made in New York. JILL LINDSEY is part of Rockefeller Center’s new RC Capsule retail initiative, bringing together the best of retail, real estate, and technology, where independent brands can lease turnkey, pre-wired spaces for six-month terms and work with Rockefeller Center to create one-of-a-kind retail experiences in the heart of New York City.
Steven Alan: Steven Alan has been a curator of independent labels for men and women from around the world and has created a globally recognized brand that is quintessentially New York and subversive by design. Steven Alan is open at 30 Rockefeller Plaza on 6th Avenue and offers men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, home goods, jewelry, and wellness products. Steven Alan also is part of Rockefeller Center’s RC Capsule retail initiative.
For a full list of Rockefeller Center retailers visit www.rockefellercenter.com/
Holiday Public Art
Brooklyn-based artist Oliver Jefferswas selected as the commissioned artist for the 2020 holiday public art installation at Rockefeller Center. Jeffers’ large-scale printed vinyl murals are displayed throughout the Rockefeller Center campus’ indoor and outdoor public areas. In addition, a free Rockefeller Center holiday map featuring Jeffers’ celebrated illustrations, all inspired by the iconic holiday season at Rockefeller Center, is available to all who work at and visit the Center and can be picked up when entering 30Rockefeller Plaza from 50th or 49th Streets and outdoors at Rockefeller Plaza.
This presentation is the latest iteration of the Art in Focus public art program presented in partnership with the non-profit Art Production Fund.The public mural installation and free holiday map are on view through the holiday season.
Fans of Jeffers will also get the chance to experience an Instagram Live drawing and reading event on Thursday, December 3on Rockefeller Center’s Instagram channel (@rockefellercenter). Jeffers will share his illustration process and read one of his best-selling children’s books.
Jeffers’ work is displayed in thirteen public locations throughout Rockefeller Center including inside 10 Rockefeller Plaza, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 50 Rockefeller Plaza and the street and concourse levels of 45 Rockefeller Plaza, as well as outside in Rockefeller Plaza.
For more information about Rockefeller Center art visit www.rockefellercenter.com/art-
Holiday dining
With many diverse restaurants on its campus, Rockefeller Center can satisfy any holiday craving, at any price point, whether looking for a healthy lunch, savory snack, indulgent dessert, or festive cocktail. A number of new outdoor food and beverage offerings joined Rockefeller Center this holiday season giving diners the opportunity to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, glass of mulled wine, or holiday sweets while getting an up-close view of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. These seasonal delights join Rockefeller Center’s roster of dynamic year-round eateries, each with their own holiday surprises for guests to enjoy.
City Winery: Founded in New York City in 2008 by Michael Dorf to deliver a unique combined culinary and cultural experience to urban wine enthusiasts, City Winery returns to Rockefeller Center this holiday season with two outdoor pop-ups. The popular Winter Domes return to the North Plaza this year, offering private spaces for guests to take in unobstructed views of the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree while dining. In addition, City Winery opens a new holiday pop-up café directly adjacent to The Rink at Rockefeller Center, where a rink-side experience gives diners an opportunity enjoy hot cocoa and festive snacks while directly overlooking the ice as skaters glide by.
Joey Bats Café: Inspired to bring authentic Portuguese cuisine to New York City, founder Joey Batista presents a selection of desserts and hot beverages to his grab-and-go café. Every item on the menu is Portuguese, most notably the signature dish, the pastéis de nata –a warm crème brûlée wrapped in a flaky croissant – which dates back to Lisbon in the early 1800s. The dish earned Batista the distinction of best sweet at the 2018 edition of The World Fare, an outdoor market in Queens with more than 100 food vendors that celebrates the diversity of New York City cuisine. Joey Bats Café is located at 1 Rockefeller Plaza.
FIELDTRIP: A community-based dining experience that celebrates culture through the shared experience of rice, as rice is found at the center of tables in almost every community, Chef JJ Johnson’s FIELDTRIP’s fast casual cuisine is influenced by global flavors and techniques used within various cultures. Throughout the pandemic, FIELDTRIP has emerged as a prominent black-owned business that supports the Harlem community and extends its core values of community engagement and hospitality to its new Rockefeller Center location, located on the Concourse Level at Rockefeller Center.
Frenchette: Following two successful outdoor pop-ups at Rockefeller Center, Frenchette returns this holiday season with a food truck located at the South Plaza serving sweet and savory crepes, and hot chocolate. Chef-Owners Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson’s Frenchette was the 2019 James Beard Foundation Awards winner of Best New Restaurant and first was featured in Rockefeller Center with a summer al fresco picnic dinner, followed by the prix fixe Chabrot at The Rink at Rockefeller Center.
For a full list of Rockefeller Center’s food and beverage options visit www.rockefellercenter.com/dine
The Rink at Rockefeller Center
The most famous ice rink in the world, the Rink at Rockefeller Center is an iconic holiday destination that gives families an outdoor activity they can do together that they are certain to remember forever. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. until midnight, skaters can purchase tickets in advance at www.skatingatrockcenter.com. To maintain social distancing, the number of skaters on the ice will be limited. Discounted tickets and discounted skate rentals are available during the first and last sessions each day. Skaters exit into a winter forest scene, with festive décor - perfect for family photo-op.
Originally designed as a temporary attraction to draw visitors to Rockefeller Center’s outdoor “sunken plaza,” The Rink opened on Christmas Day in 1936, becoming a permanent fixture in 1939. Throughout the proceeding decades, it evolved into one of the city’s most legendary landmarks for New Yorkers and visitors alike.
Due to scheduled construction around The Rink, this year’s shortened season will run through Sunday, January 17, 2021. A complete list of ticketing options can be found at www.skatingatrockcenter.com.
Top of the Rock Observation Deck
With more outdoor space than any other New York City observation deck, Top of the Rock Observation Deck, the famed viewing platform that sits atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza, presents incomparable, unobstructed 360-degree panoramic views of New York City from Central Park and Yankee Stadium to the Statue of Liberty and Flushing Meadows.
This holiday season, the 67th floor Weather Room at Top of the Rock has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland, perfect for photo ops for the whole family. As an added benefit, throughout the holiday season and the end of 2020, kids 12 and under receive free admission (one free child per paid adult; to be redeemed at the box office).
Additionally, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is being live-streamed daily, from 8 a.m. – midnight, and can be viewed from the 69th floor breezeway area.
To ensure visitors are able to stay at least six feet apart while visiting, a limited number of people will be permitted to the observation deck at one time. Timed-entry reservations can be made in advance at http://www.topoftherocknyc.com
2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Perhaps the most well-known symbol of Christmas in New York City, the 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree hails from Oneonta, NY. Standing 75-feet tall and measuring 45-feet in diameter, the tree is wrapped with 50,000 multi-colored LEDs and crowned with a Swarovski star containing 3 million crystals. The Tree will be lit during the 88th annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Wednesday, December 2. There will be no public access to the tree lighting ceremony this year, but the public is invited to view the live national broadcast “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” from home on NBC.
Rockefeller Center officially began the Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1933, when a Christmas tree was erected in front of the then eight-month old RCA Building and covered with 700 lights.
Spectators can view the lit tree each day at Rockefeller Center from 6:00 A.M. - 12:00 A.M.; all day (24 hours) on Christmas Day; and from 6:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. on New Year’s Eve.
New this year, people from all over the world who are unable to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in person can bring the spirit of the season into their homes by viewing a livestream of the lit tree at www.rockefellercenter.com. The livestream begins on Thursday, December 3rd and runs 8 a.m. to midnight every day throughout the holiday season.
ROCKEFELLER CENTER CHRISTMAS TREE VIEWING GUIDELINES
The 2020/21 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree viewing guidelines, approved by New York State and New York City, will follow social distancing and capacity control protocols.
Thursday, December 3, 2020 through early January 2021 tree viewing protocols:
TREE VIEWING ENTRANCES AND ZONES
49th and 50th Streets between 5th and 6th Avenues will be closed to vehicular traffic (limited loading dock access for Rockefeller Center tenants only).
Tree viewing entrances located on 49th and 50th Streets at 5th and 6th Avenues ONLY.
Dedicated tree viewing zones located on 49th and 50th Streets between 5th and 6th Avenues ONLY.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center will be accessible on 49th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues.
GENERAL RULES
The Tree will be lit from 6 a.m. to midnight every day.
Virtual queuing will be activated to manage lines. Guests can scan a QR code to see wait time and receive an SMS to return to the line.
Five-minute tree viewing limit.
Masks mandated at all times.
Six feet social distancing will be enforced.
Guests will be directed to delineated pods, spaced six feet apart, with no more than four people in one pod. Groups of more than four people will be separated into two pods.
Center Plaza, where the tree is physically located, will be closed to the public.
Entrance to tree viewing and social distancing will be managed by Tishman Speyer security.
RETAIL/TENANTS
The Channel Gardens (gardens located between 49th and 50th Streets just west of 5th Avenue) will be open for retail customers and tenants only, not open for tree viewing.
Shops and restaurants in the Concourse can be accessed from 49th and 50th Streets.
Rockefeller Center tenants will have regular access to their spaces with tenant ID.
For the most updated information on how to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree visit www.rockefellercenter.com.
For more information, visit www.rockefellercenter.com and follow Rockefeller Center on Twitter @rockcenternyc, Instagram @rockefellercenter, and Facebook @rockefellercenternyc.
About Tishman Speyer (tishmanspeyer.com)
Tishman Speyer is a leading owner, developer, operator and investment manager of first-class real estate in 27 key markets across the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. We develop, build and manage premier office, residential and retail spaces for industry-leading tenants, as well as state-of-the-art life science centers through our Breakthrough Properties venture. With global vision, on-the-ground expertise and a personalized approach, Tishman Speyer is unparalleled in our ability to foster innovation, quickly adapt to global and local trends and proactively anticipate our customers’ evolving needs. By focusing on health and wellness, enlightened placemaking and such customer-focused initiatives as tenant amenities platform Zo., and our flexible space and co-working brand Studio, we tend not just to our physical buildings but to the people who inhabit them on a daily basis. Since our inception in 1978, Tishman Speyer has acquired, developed, and operated 424 properties, totaling 184 million square feet, with a combined value of approximately $97 billion (US). Our current portfolio includes such iconic assets as Rockefeller Center in New York City, The Springs in Shanghai, TaunusTurm in Frankfurt and the Mission Rock neighborhood currently being realized in San Francisco.
