It's that time of year

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stands lit in front of the General Electric building in New York's Rockefeller Plaza during the 73rd annual tree lighting ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005, in New York. The 74-foot-tall Norway Spruce from Wayne, N.J. weighs nine tons and is topped with a Swarovski star. (Jeff Christensen / AP)

The Macy's Thanksgiving's Day parade has passed and now the season of light offically begins. Marked by the lighting of the Christmas trees in both Lincoln Center and Rockefeller Center. After a welcome but brief return of Indian Summer to the New York area the temperature is set to dip into the 30's and it will begin to look and feel a lot like Christmas--leading to the biggest party of the year--New Year's Eve in Time Square.

Lord & Taylor's famous holiday window display is ready for the viewing and the holiday kiosks have returned to Bryant Park, flanking the new ice skating rink. This is also the second busiest time of year for tourism in the Big Apple, right behind summer. if you're planning to visit the city, make sure you pick up the discount holiday metrocard (and paray that there's no transit strike).

Yes, it's that time of year again and it's fun until the holiday parties and all the gifts have been unwrapped. That's when the bitter cold and gray skies hold the city in a bitter embrace for what seems like an eternity.

There are only 23 more days until Christmas and 201 days until summer!

That's So New York