OUTDOORS Tours & Hikes ADVENTURE ON A SHOESTRING "Splendid Grand Central Terminal," Sat. ...

ADVENTURE ON A SHOESTRING

"Splendid Grand Central Terminal," Sat. at 12; "Marvelous Murray Hill," Sat. at 1:45; "Hell's Kitchen Ramble," Sat. at 3:30; "Haunted Greenwich Village," Sun. at 1:30; "Stylish Gramercy Park," Sun. at 3:30; 265-2663 for res. & meeting place; $5.

 

BIG ONION WALKING TOURS

This week: "Before Stonewall: A Gay & Lesbian History Tour," Sat. at 1; "Historic Tribeca," Sun. at 1; "The Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour," Sun. at 1; 439-1090 for info & meeting place; $8-$13.

 

B'WAY GHOSTS & SCANDALS

Blood, Sweat & Pairs expose Broadway's secrets during tour of theaters along B'way?G version for kids & adult-version offered; Call 946-6375 for res. & meeting place; Sat. & Sun. at 4, $10.

 

CENTRAL PARK TOURS

Visualize Central Park during early 19th-century during "Views From the Past," Sat at 1; 794-6564 for res. & meeting place; free [through 12/18].

 

DR. PHIL'S NY WALKS & TALKS

Licensed guide Philip Schoenberg's tours of Brooklyn & Manhattan. Tours $12 unless noted, 888-377-4455 for meeting place & info. This week, "Child-friendly Ramble: Young People's American Indian Heritage of Manhattan Island," Sat. at 11; "Child-friendly Ramble: A Child's Eye View of the Jewish LES," Sun. at 11; "Jewish LES Talk & Walk" with free wine, Sun. at 2.

 

FOODS OF NEW YORK

"A Walking & Eating Tour" explores restaurants & specialty shops; 732-636-4650 or foodtours@aol.com for res. & meeting place; Weds.-Tues. 11:30-1:30, $20 incl. lunch.

 

JOYCE GOLD TOURS

Weekend tours cond. by Joyce Gold, a prof. of Manhattan history. This week: "A Chelsea Christmas: Seminary, Brownstones & Clement Clark Moore," 242-5762 for res. & meeting place, $12.

 

GREENWICH VILLAGE LITERARY PUB CRAWL

Visit pubs with rich literary histories & read from associated works. Stops incl. Chumley's, Cornelia St. Cafe, McBell's & Cedar Tavern; meet at White Horse Tavern, 567 Hudson St. (11th St.); 613-5796; Sat. at 2, $12, $9 st./s.c.

 

i'll take manhattan

This week, explore the culture, architecture & history of "Millionaire's Mile;" 732-270-5277 for res. & meeting place; Sat. at 1, $10.

 

LES SHOPPING TOUR

Ninety-minute shopping tour of Orchard St. district; meet at Katz's Deli, 205 E. Houston St. (Ludlow St.); 226-9010; Sun. at 11, free [through 12/26].

 

lower east side CONSERVANCY

Tours incl. "19th-century Tenement" (Weds.-Fri. & Tues.) "The Confino Family Apartment" (Sat. & Sun.) & "The Streets Where We Lived" (Sat. & Sun.); meet at 90 Orchard St. (betw. Broome & Delancey Sts.), 431-0233; call for times, $20, $14 st./s.c.

 

MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY

"The Flatiron District," Fri. at 11; "Millionaire's Mile," Fri. at 12:30; Learn the history of the "Meat-Packing" district during "Meat, Melville & Industrial Chic" tour, Sat. at 1; "Greenwich Village," Tues. at 11; 935-3960 for res. & locations, $10-$15.

 

NYC CULTURAL WALKING TOUR

"The Midtown Architectural Walking Tour" highlights past & present Manhattan with stops at The Waldorf Astoria & Trump's Tower; 979-2388 for res. & meeting place; Sun. at 2, $10 [through 12/26].

 

nyc discovery tours

"John Lennon & the Beatles" tour incl. stops at Strawberry Fields, The Dakota & Carnegie Hall, Sat. & Sun. at 12; "A Victorian Christmas," Sat. & Sun. at 2:30; "Historic Taverns at Christmas," Sat. & Sun. at 5:15; 465-3331 for res. & location; $12.

NY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

"Times Sq. & It's Signs Through Time;" outside Hanson's Brewery, 42nd St. (7th Ave.), 873-3400 ext.263, res. req.; Weds. at 6-7:30, $12, $10 st./s.c.

 

south street seaport tours

"Holiday Seaport District Walking Tour;" South St. Seaport Museum, 207 Front St. (South St.), 748-8786; Fri.-Sun. at 3, call for times & price [through 12/19].

 

STREET SMARTS NY

"Dandies, Dudes & Shady Ladies," Sat. at 2; "Pubs & Poltergeists," Sat. at 6; "Walks in Old Chelsea," Sun. at 6; 969-8262 for meeting place; $10.

 

urban TRAIL CLUB

Sat. & Sun. tours & hikes. This weekend, 7 mi. hike, "Long Path to Hudson Ave." & "Ft. Tilden/Breezy Point;" 924-7486 & 718-743-0920, respectively, call for meeting place, time & price.

 

Holiday Events

lincoln center's tree lighting

Ernest Borgnine MCs annual celebration with music by Juilliard's Tom Cabaniss, Sesame Street Music Director Dave Conner, Tania Leon & Project Youth Chorus. More entertainment provided by Sesame Street Muppets & the Jamaican drumming ensemble, Ancient Vibrations; Josie Robertson Plaza, Lincoln Center, B'way (63rd St.), 875-5108; Fri. at 7, free.

 

MIRACLE ON MADISON AVE.

Madison Ave. celebrates the holidays & helps raise money for The Children's Aid Society by closing down the streets for an afternoon of entertainment, caroling, eating & holiday music; 57th-79th Sts., 988-4001 or www.miracleonmadisonavenue.com; Sun. 12-5, free.

 

MUSIC & TREE-LIGHTING

Christmas/Chanukah celebration with The Bronx Arts Ensemble's Elijah's Angel feat. Robert Kapilow & Jim Friedland, followed by tree-lighting ceremony outside the Conservatory at 4:30; NY Botanical Garden; 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700; Sun. at 3, $3, $1 child.

 

ROCKEFELLER PLAZA TREE-LIGHTING

The 100-foot tree gets lit at 7; 50th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), free.

 

TREE-LIGHTING AT WASHINGTON SQ.

NY University Brass Ensemble accompanies lighting ceremony & parade through the park?tree is lit from 4 p.m.-12 a.m. through Jan. 5; arch at Washington Sq. Park, 5th Ave. (Washington Sq. N.), Tues. at 6, free.

 

Parades & Outdoor Sporting Events

FAST & FABULOUS CYCLING CLUB

December bike rides for gay & lesbian New Yorkers. This week, 80 mi. ride to Greenwich, CT.?road bikes only; meet at the Boathouse in Central Park on Sunday at 9 a.m.; 567-7160 for info.