The holidays got off to a great start on the 5th day of Hanukkah in Harlem with the Victorian Holiday Lighting festivities at the Dana Discovery Center on the Harlem Meer in our beloved Central Park. Not ones to usually goo over kids, Harlem has an inordinate amount of the cutest, prettiest children you will ever see. They were out in full cute force, decorating gingerbread cookies while the Victorian carolers put us all in the Bob Cratchit holiday spirit. Up next week is the 7th Annual East Harlem Holiday Tree Lighting at Franklin Plaza (106th St & 3rd Ave) on Dec. 10th at 6:30pm. No doubt, the 106thstreeters will be there with bells on.

Holidays at the Harlem Meer. C. Nelson, 2010.