We’re deep into the season of bright shiny objects. Some of the prettiest, cleverest, liveliest, happiest, wittiest – you get the idea — hang from the branches of New York City’s hotel trees. For a dose of instant cheer, check out our top trees of 2012.

 

Big Tree — This towering faux fir looks utterly at home in the lobby of the Four Seasons New York.

 

 

Birdcage Tree — Big birdcages mix easily with ribbons and gold balls at the Intercontinental New York Barclay, a salute to the grand brass birdcage stocked with tweets (the original kind) that served as the lobby centerpiece for years. (Guests traveling with pet birds could add theirs to the Barclay’s colorful flock during their stay.)

 

 

Gatsby Tree — Spinning snowflakes brings a splash of Hollywood to this beauty at The Plaza. It was created by Academy Award-winner Catherine Martin, production designer for Baz Luhrmann’s  The Great Gatsby (coming soon to a theater near you). The Plaza connection? F. Scott Fitzgerald was a frequent guest.

 

 

Origami Tree — Dozens of colorful paper birds flutter on the boughs of Le Parker Meridien’s lobby tree.

 

 

Sleigh Tree — A big red sleigh — and brightly garnished tree — dress up the lobby at the newly renamed ONE UN New York, formerly the Millenium UN Plaza. Also new — the smartly renovated rooms in the hotel’s west tower.

 

 

Foxy Tree — Who needs ornaments when you’ve got snow-covered branches — and a matching white fox? We love Dream Downtown’s winter wonderland.

 

 

Squiggle Tree — This undulating garland — and its identical twin — flank the entrance to the restaurant at the newly branded Westin New York Grand Central, formerly the Helmley New York.

 

Chandelier Tree — Who needs a star when you have a crystal chandelier dating from the 1920s? We love the Roosevelt Hotel tree’s crowning glory so much we’ve included this tree in our round-up all three years.

 

 

Hipster Tree — No lights, wooden snowflakes, straw angels — the tree at the Standard High Line NYC is as healthy, organic and as exquisitely simple as a Christmas tree can be.

 

 

Ornament Tree — Talk about bright shiny objects. That’s all you see on this tree at the Grand Hyatt New York made entirely of big round balls.

 

Skater’s Tree — The Pierre is steps away from Central Park’s Wolman Rink, arguably the second most popular outdoor ice skating spot in town (it’s not Rockefeller Center, but it’s bigger). So what better way to salute the holidays than with a preview of the big attraction across the street? For apres skate, the hotel’s Two E lounge serve hot chocolate, spiked or plain.

 

Purple Tree — We love how this ultra-cool lobby tree at the Gansevoort Meatpacking District skirts red-and-green and serves up pale purple. (We like the matching wreath and garland, too.)

 

Music Tree — Treble clefs, bass clefs and notes create a visual holiday soundtrack — (chesnut’s roasting, anyone?) — on Carlton New York’s towering lobby tree.

 

 

 

Great Outdoors Tree — Every year the New York Palace hauls in a huge living tree and dresses it in the terrace by the historic Villard Houses that form the base of the hotel. This year, as the hotel undergoes construction, the terrace is scaffolded — but lighted! — and the tree looks as merry as ever.

 

 

Flower Tree –  New brand, new look. The Jumeirah Essex House morphed into the JW Marriott Essex House this year, and the lavish holiday decorations sport a new look. We love these jeweled balls and velvety magnolias dressing the lobby’s big tree.

Happy Holidays!