I love NYC this time of year, I truly do.

You know what I even love more? How countless holiday delights are free-free-free or in some instances, next to nothing! For starters, Gen Art is having their annual Styles 2009 Presentation/Awards on Wednesday, December 2nd at 7W (7 West 34th Street). They’re combining it with their Shop NYC event which means one thing: delish. For $15/ticket you can get full access to the shopping main event with complimentary drinks and spa treatments from 7 to 10 pm. http://www.genart.org/shop/shop-nyc-with-styles-awards

Secondly, if you haven’t seen the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center in a while, whatcha waiting for? I haven’t seen it since ’05 which means I am due for a little bit of splendor before they stop bedazzling the stage (show goes dark on January 3rd). Tickets start at $10 for standing room only and if you actually go on foot to the box office you’ll save a few more bucks by not paying ticket fees. http://www.nycballet.com/ticketing_info/nutcracker.html

As for freebies in the city that never sleeps?

1. The tree at Rockefeller Center. This one’s a no brainer.

2. The spectacular light show inside Grand Central Station.

3. The tree at Lincoln Center.

4. Anywhere on 5th Avenue in Midtown, in particular the big red bow on the Cartier Building

5. The store windows, namely Barneys, Bloomingdale’s, Saks, Macy’s and Lord & Taylor

6. The smell of chestnuts roasting (sure, it’s typically a street vendor but can’t get enough of the scent)

7. Watching ice skaters in Bryant Park or Wollman Rink.

8. Walking on any street where Christmas trees are sold; nothing says the holidays like being immersed in that fresh pine scent.

9. The elaborate holiday train sets in the lobby of the Citibank Building (53rd and Lexington).

10. Deep relaxation yoga. Sure, this isn’t a full on holiday hotspot but technically stress can be related to the holidays for sure. At the Integral Yoga Institute in Meatpacking (www.iyiny.org), you can get a session of 45 minutes of deep relaxation, Yoga Nidra, on Fridays at 5 pm

-By Vicki Salemi, 405 Club Member Author of Big Career in the Big City Journalist Career Consultant