With Christmas right around the corner everyone is rushing to finishing their shopping, but while you’re grabbing those last minute items, why not enjoy the scenery at the Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square located in San Francisco, CA! Union Square is one of the premiere destinations for shopping – they have everything from Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Levis. Located in the center of Union Square from November 11, 2009 to January 18, 2010, The Holiday Ice Rink will be in full force. It is a great place to take your family for a weekend extravaganza, or your significant other for a romantic date. The atmosphere is fun and romantic while you skate under the Christmas tree. I would recommend buying tickets in advance online so you don’t have to wait in line. The tickets are pretty cheap, and you can rent the skates at the rink. They are open everyday from 10 a.m until 10 p.m with 90 minute sessions. They also do group rates, which is great if you plan on going with a lot of people, and you can rent out the rink for your own private party! They host several private parties from birthdays to corporate events – could you imagine your next Holiday Office Party being held at an ice rink?! Afterwards you can grab a bite at the Cheesecake Factory located on the top floor of Macy’s and watch the ice skaters or catch a movie down at the Metreon Movie Theater. The Holiday Season in San Francisco is gorgeous – what better way to celebrate the season than by coming down to Union Square and ice skating at the Holiday Ice Rink. To find more great places during the Holiday Season, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory.

Clearman’s North Woods Inn has some of the best food in the greater Los Angeles area. They specialize in steaks, but really all their good is delicious like their famous cheese bread and their cabbage salad. It feels like Christmas all year long at Clearman’s with their snow covered roof, cabin interior, beautiful tiffany lamps illuminating throughout, and the moose and bear heads that are mounted on the walls are also quite interesting. The restaurant is fun for all ages, especially since they allow you to throw your peanut shells on the floor. Even though they specialize in steaks, they have a wide range of dished from fried chicken to Halibut, which is one of my favorites. If you ever want to see some of the biggest baked potatoes imaginable, stop in for lunch or dinner, they are about the size of a man’s size 10 shoe, not kidding. They serve the potatoes with their cheese butter, which is delicious and can also be bought at many large supermarkets. One other rarity is the piano in the bar area, you do not see that in any of the chain restaurants nowadays. The piano player is not there all the time, but he is there during the Christmas Holiday. So if you are looking to eat some great food and enjoy a great atmosphere, then Clearman’s North Woods is for you. To find more great places during the Holiday Season, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory. 

The Metro Diner in Jacksonville, Florida, is always the go-to restaurant for my family around the Holiday Season. When the leaves have fallen and North Florida is just starting to cool down, it is always nice to drive a few minutes down to San Marco and have a nice warm, delicious meal. The service and selection is great so my family and I never have to worry about a bad breakfast or lunch at the Metro Diner. This tradition started a few years ago when my friend that lives near Metro Diner suggested it to us. Sometimes we go in the morning for brunch and I always get the scrambled eggs and bacon with freshly-squeezed Florida orange juice. This is one of the meals that Metro Diner boasts in their specialty menu. Another favorite of mine is the Ham and Cheese Club sandwich with a cup of tea. This is a great place to stop by if you’re in San Marco shopping or just having a nice winter walk. I definitely recommend the Metro Diner to any residents of Jacksonville, FL or anyone traveling through the Jacksonville area around the holidays. You’ll be glad you stopped in! To find more great places in your area, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory. 

Just because Life Cafe is known for it’s late nights and wild stories doesn’t mean it can’t have a place in your heart for the holidays. Life Cafe has a wonderful, honest atmosphere. It has become a pillar in the Lower East Side and their roots run deep. There are plenty of reasons to consider it for a Christmas Eve dinner or pre-party meal location. It’s usually very quite around this time of year as many of it’s regular patrons have left to be with family – if you are able to make it in for a dinner it’s definitely worth checking out. The menu doesn’t suddenly become holiday themed, but the classic stand-outs remain great. The atmosphere is always friendly, relaxed, and casual. With the right amount of holiday cheer, it has proven to be totally capable of providing that at-home feeling right around the time of year when that matters most. The outdoor seating area here is excellent but usually too cold, as New York winters can be harsh and snowy. It’s best to pull up to a booth (or two) and enjoy the night with good drinks and hot food. There is no good reason to rule out Life Cafe as a holiday spot to stop at for some grub. Even a Christmas day brunch here isn’t out of the question as it is rumored hours might be kept for that day. To find more great places during the Holiday Season, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory.

Zest Restaurant is a great place to dine throughout the year, but during Christmas it gets even better. Located on the famous magnificent mile in downtown Chicago, it is not a place to miss. This is one of those places that you only go for special occasions. It does cost a bit to have a meal here but it’s worth it. They serve New American cuisine . On Christmas they normally have both brunch and dinner meals. I normally go during the dinner meal which you have your options of salmon or rack of lamb, which I have to say is the best lamb I have had hands down. Their brunch comes with a Angus Steak and open pasta/ salad bars which is so worth it. They will be open from noon- 10pm on both Christmas Eve and Day so you can celebrate on both days. The prices for this years brunch is $55 per person and Dinner is $67 or $92 if you want wine with the meal. I would recommend to have the meal with the wine – their wine selection is great. Zest also serves a wonderful lunch everyday. I haven’t been there yet for lunch, but I plan on trying it in the future. I hope to see you there on Christmas Eve this year. To find more great places in your area, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory. 

I have been to First Chinese BBQ at least a dozen times, and as it turns out they are open on Thanksgiving as well as Christmas! Now chow mein and mu shu may not be the first thing most people think of when they think “holiday treat”, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with breaking from the norm and getting something that is not necessarily traditional for a holiday meal. While it may not be as festive, it is just as good! My absolute favorite thing to get here is the BBQ Pork, which is the best in town, maybe the state, maybe the world. When you first enter the establishment, directly in front of you there is a glass case that contains BBQ and Roasted Pork, Roast Duck, and a few other things I have not tried (pig stomach and entrails are a bit too authentic for me). If there is one rule about eating at this place, it is to make sure to get some BBQ Pork, or at least try something else from the case. Yum! Other dishes I have tried that are really good are Orange Chicken, Stir Fried Rice Noodle, Beef Flat Noodle, and Chicken with Black Mushroom – all winners. First Chinese BBQ is one of the best chinese joints in town. Why not start a new tradition and head down to First Chinese BBQ this Holiday Season. To find more great places during the Holiday Season, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory.

The Isle Casino and Race Track is a great place to take the whole family out for a Christmas Eve meal. They have a great Isle Buffet and my family has been going there for many years as our Christmas Eve tradition. They have plenty of room to accommodate any size group. We have many great memories there as well as beautiful photos of the whole family every year. They have an amazing waterfall inside right where you eat that makes for taking great family photos for Christmas. The employees are very kind and cheerful. The atmosphere is wonderful and the food is great. The buffet has everything from carving stations with turkey, ham and roast to a soup buffet. They have all the sides you can think of: mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato pie. Plus, the dessert options are to-die-for. This is why they are so great, the homemade taste is just like you made it yourself. Having the dinner buffet style, makes it easy for the family to choose exactly what they want to eat, this way everyone’s happy.  Isle Casino Buffet is always such a great experience every year, I recommend it to anyone looking for a delicious and fun Christmas meal. To find more great placed during the Holiday Season, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory.

The Milleridge Inn in Jericho, New York, is a wonderful place to eat during the Christmas season. You are immersed in the festivities from the moment you arrive. The Milleridge Carolers perform every night in December singing traditional songs and some new ones as well. The historic Grand Mansion, where the restaurant is located, is adorned with lights and many decorations. The multiple fireplaces are always burning and bring warmth and the comforts of home into the rooms. Also on the grounds, the Milleridge Village shops have all of your favorites in stock! In addition to the Bridal and Baby Boutique, Florist, Bread and Jam Shoppe, General Store, Grandma Shoppe, Confectionary Shoppe, School House, and Cranberry Cottage, the Library has seasonal items. There you can find Christmas gifts as well as unique ornaments. As Milleridge Inn is known foremost as a restaurant, the food is wonderful and includes specials such as Christmas Goose, Leg of Lamb, Pork with Candied Yams, Vermont Turkey, and Honey Baked Christmas Ham. There is a full bar as well. Call ahead for Preferred Seating, as the restaurant is justly busy over the holidays! Parties of twelve or more can make special arrangements with the Banquet Office for reservations. The Milleridge Inn provides a unique experience that goes beyond dining and truly embraces the Christmas spirit. To find more great places during the Holiday Season, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory.

The William Penn Inn has been in operation since 1827, and its original structure was built in 1714! This restaurant has served thousands of customers in it almost 180 years of existence as an inn/tavern. This Inn is one of the most romantic places one can stay and dine at in suburban Philadelphia. It hosts many weddings and celebrations, Corporate Christmas parties are booked years in advance. The William Penn Inn is decorated magnificently with a relaxed, cordial setting. It has a famed bake shoppe where one can buy homemade desserts which are sold in its signature restaurant. The restaurant is a fantastic choice for the Christmas Season. They offer an exclusive Holiday Menu for its diners. For appetizers some excellent choices from the cold bar are the chilled shrimp cocktail ($15.00), fresh blue point oysters ($11), or the crab cocktail with vodka pepper sauce ($15). For hot appetizers one may get baked clams casino ($10) or the jumbo crab cake ($12). On the holiday menu, there are traditional soups served such as snapper, lobster bisque, and French onion soup, these range from $5-$10 dollars. Entrees range from $19 to $25. These all include salad or soup. Entrees to choose from include petite filet mignon, veal oscar, jumbo crab cakes, chicken pot pie (made from scratch), braised short ribs, and chicken breast sautéed with lemon. The restaurants’ desserts are all homemade and delicious. If you are looking for a colonial, classic Christmas dinner, make a reservation with the William Penn Inn, you won’t be disappointed. To find more great places during the Holiday Season, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory.

Every Christmas Eve my family goes to see all the wonderful events in downtown Chicago. We go to the Winter Wonderland at Navy Pier and the lights festival on the Magnificent Mile. However, it can be quite hard to find places to eat during the holidays. Yet, if you do your homework some restaurants have great deals during this time in Chicago. My favorite place to eat at this time of the year is the Drake Hotel near North Michigan Avenue. They have a special buffet on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Their buffet includes such items as butternut squash soup, stuffing, turkey, yams, and countless desserts. The food is delicious and there is something to make the whole family happy. A family of four can eat here on Christmas Eve for around $200.00 dollars. There is also a group of carolers that sing countless holiday Christmas tunes to help set the mood while you are dining. In addition to all of this, Santa Clause will be in attendance – the kids always enjoy having Santa around.  Our family has made it a tradition to come to the Drake Hotel to eat every Christmas Eve. So, if you are ever in Chicago around Christmas time and need a place to eat, The Drake Hotel is the place to be! To find more great places during the Holiday Season, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory.