Rockefeller Center

Wish you were here, Hello, Monticello from Rockefeller Center in New York City. Pictured in our Santa hats, we were strolling back to our hotel after seeing the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular with the high-kicking Rockettes when we stopped to see the famous Christmas tree seen to the left clothed in scaffolding that will be lit in Rockefeller Center on December 2.

We photobombed the little guy standing in front of us as his mother snapped a picture of him.

This year’s tree, a 78-foot Norway spruce, will be dressed in 45,000 multi-colored LED lights and topped with a nine and a half foot star made of 25,000 Swarovski crystals, 720 LED lights and estimated to be worth $1.5 million.

Originally, in 1931 construction workers building Rockefeller Center put up the first tree decorating it with tin cans, paper garland and strings of cranberries. The Depression-era workers also got a welcome surprise that year, a pay check.

As a child in the 1950s, we watched the tree lighting during the “Howdy Doody” show while chomping freshly-baked cookies and drinking hot chocolate.

The holidays are quickly approaching, time to decorate your own tree and make some memories for your family and friends.