Here comes the ultimate guidebook to this magical time of year, brought to you by the authors of Manhattan Users Guide. Its not too soon to get out your calendar, pick up the phone, make reservations, and get tickets for everything you and your family, friends, and guests will want to do. Heres just a sampling of the 350 absolutely best places to eat, shop, be entertained, sing and dance, take the kids, and generally make merry from mid-November through mid-January. * Two weeks before the Thanksgiving Day Parade take the kids to Hoboken to see a trial run of the new balloons (p 82) * On November 21st, be at St. John the Divine to Give Thanks to the First Peoples (p. 43) * December 2nd, watch the tree light up Rockefeller Center (p. 10) * Organize a Holiday Coat Drive at Work (p. 41) * Pick up a Letter Addressed to Santa and make a childs wish come true (p.40) * December 10th hear the Paul Winter Consort (p. 43) * Must-see on December 13th: 500 Tubas playing at Rockefeller Center (p. 66) and the holiday house extravaganza in Bensonhurst (p. 17) * December 15th: Finish Holiday Shopping (pp. 67-78) * Meet on December 19th, at Washington Square and go carolling! * Celebrate the Winter Solstice on December 21st at St. Marks in the Bowery * Join the Messiah Sing-In at Avery Fisher Hall, December 22 (p. 64) * Bring the dogs to the Blessing of the Animals (p.28) * Enjoy the Brandenburg Concertos at Bargemusic on New Years Eve (p.22) * Treat yourself to a day of Beauty at Aveda Spa (p.79) .
