It's actually not so crowded as usual, the Rube hears himself saying, with pride because it means he's becoming a veteran New Yorker, as he looks as this picture.

The biggest crowds come at night. The police set up traffic patterns so that the crowds work their way down the Channel Gardens up top, past the skating rink in the center, up to the tree, and then exit to one of the sides.

Along the sides are vendors who will offer to take your picture in front of the tree, or with one of their cronies who has dressed up as Barney or Pokemon or something.

Viewpoint: 2nd floor of NBC Store, looking east., 12/22/01 3:46 PM.