Retrace Buddy’s Steps: 5 Iconic ‘Elf’ Filming Locations In NYC You Can Visit This Christmas

Christmas is right around the corner and besides looking forward to the glorious dinner and kisses under the mistletoe, we also want to cozy up with our loved ones and watch some of the best holiday movies, most of which are filmed right here in NYC . And they’re not just for kids. One of our favorite films that always brings the holiday cheer is without a doubt *Elf *. Who doesn’t love *Elf *? (If so, show yourself!) It tells the story of Buddy the Elf , a human raised by Santa’s elves in the North Pole, who heads to the Big Apple after discovering that his biological father lives there. The 2003 movie was mainly filmed in the city, offering glimpses of the **Rockefeller Center Christmas tree**, the **Empire State** **Building**, Queensboro Bridge , Central Park after Buddy sees Santa’s sleigh crash, and obviously, the iconic Gimbels department store (now defunct), which also made an appearance in the 1947 film *Miracle on 34th Street*. The exterior of the fictional Gimbels was shot at the Textile Building in New York City using CGI, while the interior scenes were filmed 3000 miles away in Vancouver, Canada. But we still remember the store’s greatest scenes, like when Buddy sees Jovie for the first time , praising her decorating skills. Or when Buddy confronts department store Santa for being a fraud. Or the store decorating frenzy, which features a jazzy version of *The Nutcracker Suite *, an iconic festive score that has become synonymous with Christmas. If *Elf* sparks your interest for more Tchaikovsky-related experiences, Candlelight is offering two Christmas specials featuring *The Nutcracker*and more holiday music. Source: https://secretnyc.co/elf-movie-filmed-in-nyc-locations-concerts/