It’s cold outside. Dark, too. But an army of New York City hotels stands at the ready with an instant antidote to the gloom. Lights! Trees! Ornaments! Photo ops!

Whether it’s in response to the drumbeat of turbulent news or just a reflexive urge to be hospitable, the city’s hotels seem especially merry and bright this year. And that’s reason to cheer. So before the year’s up, take a few minutes to admire the choreographed exteriors, then duck into as many lobbies as you can. Or scroll down and drink in what we saw. Read more