Every year, the top NYC department stores compete to impress us (and lure us inside with our credit cards) with inspired and artistic holiday window scenes. And every year, thousands of us fight the crowds to get a glimpse of the latest holiday window offerings.

Photographer  Rudy Pospisil is sharing his amazing photographs of the 2009 department store holiday window displays so you can enjoy them from the warmth and comfort of home. For years, Rudy has been inspired by the department store windows of New York and has made a project of documenting the creative work of our ingenious window designers.

• Bergdorf Goodman -- Bergdorf Goodman, as always, outshines the competition with their elegant Christmas window displays featuring polar bears, unicorns, and the Fantastic Mr. Fox.

• Bloomingdale's -- Bloomingdale's windows have Santa, bright lights, beautiful clothes, and dynamic duos.

• Barney's New York -- Barney's New York wishes you a very witty holiday with their witty window displays.

• Macy's -- Macy's windows show you how all of those letters to Santa find their way to the North Pole and Santa's workshop.

• Saks Fifth Avenue-- Saks Fifth Avenue has a winter fashion wonderland in their holiday windows this year.

See more photos of New York City during the holiday season.

Tuesday

• Make last-minute Thanksgiving dinner plans. Stock up on cranberry sauce and baby marshmallows or impress your guests with a fully prepared turkey and/or catered side dishes to go.
• Or finally realize that stuffing a bird is too much work and make restaurant reservations for Thanksgiving dinner.

Wednesday

• If you're heading out of town for the holiday, check NYC-area traffic advisories before you leave to avoid the worst of the gridlock.
• If you're staying in NYC, make a trip to the Upper West Side to see the inflation of the giant Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons.
• Later, it's time to hit the bars for Thanksgiving Eve, one of the biggest party nights of the year in New York City. Nobody has to get up in the morning for work, so it's probably going to be an all-nighter. Just don't forget to put the bird in the oven before you stumble into bed just after sunrise.

Thursday

• Those who went to bed at a decent hour will want to get up bright and early for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. There's nothing like seeing it live. We've got tips on how to enjoy the parade despite the crowds and the November chill.  We've also got information on street closures and where to park.
• Have a happy Thanksgiving! Make nice with the relatives for as long as necessary. Then stuff yourself at Thanksgiving dinner, unbuckle your belt, and fall asleep in front of the game.

Friday

• Put on your comfy shoes for a marathon Black Friday shopping spree. Retailers want you to spend, spend, spend today and they're bribing you with plenty of deals and discounts.
• If you're stuck at work, feel free to slack off and curse your boss for not giving you the day off. Update your resume.
• Nibble on leftover turkey and stuffing. Avoid the scale. Vow to get back on your diet tomorrow.

It's the weekend before Thanksgiving. That means holiday decorations are popping up all over the city and some of our favorite holiday attractions are opening for business.

• Gotham Independent Film Awards Series -- See the year's best independent films at MOMA as part of the "Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You" series sponsored by the Gotham Independent Film Awards.




• Free Flu Shots -- New York City is offering free flu shots at clinics in all five boroughs this weekend. Find out if you qualify for a free vaccination and learn how to get free medical advice if you experience flu-like symptoms.

• Thanksgiving Planning -- Time is running out to order your turkey and trimmings, finalize your Thanksgiving restaurant reservations, organize your Macy's parade outing, and otherwise wrap up plans for Turkey Day in New York City.
  

• Shop and Skate in Bryant Park --The marvelous Holiday Shops and free ice skating rink are open in Bryant Park.  Enjoy a day of shopping and skating.

• Harlem Holiday Trunk Show -- Head to Harlem on Saturday for this day of shopping at Casa Frela, an art gallery in a renovated brownstone in Harlem's Mount Morris Park Historic Landmark District.  The event will feature unique gifts from 10 designers, music by DJ Vega Benetton, and complementary beverages.

• Cupcake Crawl --This month's Free NYC Dessert Fest is a Cupcake Crawl. Sample the sweetest cupcakes in Manhattan on a tour through the East Village and Lower East Side. Stops will include Baby Cakes, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, and Crumbs. You'll pay for your cupcakes as you go and the suggested $5 donation benefits the Food Bank for New York City.  Meet the tour guide with the red ball cap on Sunday  at 11 am at Baby Cakes at 248 Broome Street, between Orchard and Ludlow.

New York City has just launched NYC FluLine, a free service  to provide New Yorkers with medical advice regarding flu-like symptoms through 311. Callers with symptoms of influenza will be connected to registered nurses, who  will advise them regarding  whether to see a doctor or stay home. When necessary, on-call nurses will refer people to clinics.

If you are concerned about seasonal flu or the H1N1 virus, New York City can also  help you find vaccines, treatment and information. If you are a member of one of the priority groups for H1N1 vaccination, you can receive a free vaccine at weekend clinics in New York City.

New Yorkers in the following groups can receive free vaccine at weekend clinics:

• Pregnant women
• Anyone 4 through 24 years old
• People 25 through 64 with health conditions that make flu more dangerous. These include asthma, diabetes, chronic heart and lung conditions, kidney failure, or a weakened immune system.
• Anyone who lives with or cares for children less than 6 months old
• Health care workers who have direct contact with patients and cannot receive vaccine through their employers.

Learn more about H1N1 in New York City and how to get vaccinated and prevent influenza.

Find the NYC  weekend clinics offering free flu vaccinations this weekend