It’s almost a cliché to go to Rockefeller Square on Christmas. But we were in New York over the holiday, and when we looked for a nice place to have dinner that wasn’t too pricey, the Rock Center Café was about the only place still taking reservations on the 24th. We had never been there before, and we were willing to give it a try.
The Rock Center Café is below street level — in fact, it’s right beside the famous skating rink. And to our great surprise, the hostess led us straight to a table only a few inches from the windows looking out onto the ice. The meal was delicious, and the service was excellent. But we hardly paid attention to that; we were captivated by an older man, tall and lithe, in a long trench coat and a silk scarf, skating back and forth near our window. He wore headphones, and was clearly in his own world. But his skating was impeccable. His long, smooth strides and graceful turns showed he was no amateur. Dinner and a show. For us, it was one of those uniquely New York City moments. Great food on a special occasion, hordes of people around — and then this little show, this little bit of unexpected humanity in the middle of it. It made for an unforgettable Christmas dinner in NYC.
