We begin with this, out of respect for The Man, The Legend, The Bingster: Bing Crosby, who stole our hearts in White Christmas the movie, and has come to define this holiday thanks to White Christmas the song (written by Jew Irving Berlin, giving his mother so much nachas and making Garrison Keiller a little meshuggeneh). I love the dialogue before between Bing and David Bowie, face unpainted (this was in the Ziggy Stardust years, after all) — the cross-generational discussion, the commonalities, the joining in song — decades later the message is still here: We’ve got a lot still to love about — and learn from — the greats from earlier generations. Also, Peace on Earth.

Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid

I can still remember going to Sam The Record Man at Don Mills Center to buy my single of this song. It was 1984, and videos had only recently killed the radio star — and seeing all these people together in one room making one song was a little mind-blowing. Now such collaborations are de rigeur, but what Bob Geldof made happen in 24 hours was pretty incredible (Wikipedia has the deets). “And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy/Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime.” Great message, and one to take to heart this and every year (we did!).

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town
Bruuuuuuuce! In a FUR-TRIMMED SANTA CLAUSE COWBOY HAT! You’d better be good, for goodness sake. This is awesome, and such a classic. Seriously, stuff like this is where a little Jewish kid from suburban Toronto gets her Christmas culture.

Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano
This *may* be the happiest of the Christmas songs. How is it not possible to smile through this one? Okay maybe on the gazillionth play but still. Also helpful in teaching the above-mentioned Canadian Jewish kid how to say “Merry Christmas” in Spanish.

>>>NEXT: All I Want For Christmas Is You, And Maybe The Deed To A Platinum Mine (and Those Outfits The Mean Girls Wore, And Also Will Ferrell)

A collaborative effort, New York, I Love You is an anthology of 10+ shorts directed by the likes of Brett Ratner to Natalie Portman, and starring almost every actor in the world. To celebrate its arrival — and the arrival of glorious Fall in New York — we’ve nostalgically compiled a list of the cheesiest, most romantic, most epic and irresistible movies starring our favorite city.

1. Manhattan

One of Woody Allen’s many silver screen love letters to New York, the opener to this 1979 film has become a classic all on its own, perfectly capturing the combination of majesty and neurosis that is New York. In addition to Diane Keaton‘s unforgettable lines (“What do you want? I say what’s on my mind, and if you can’t take it well then fuck off”), it features Woody Allen making out with a 17-year-old during a carriage ride through Central Park, there is iconic shot of Queensboro bridge all of which make it easy to believe Allen when he says of Manhattan, “it’s really a knockout,” as he looks over the East River.

2. Moonstruck

La bella luna! This film about an Italian American family living in Brooklyn Heights is so packed with unforgettable scenes it’s hard to pick just one: Cher and Cage meeting at the Met fountain, the streets of Brooklyn, Cosmo’s moon, that house! (“It’s a house.”) Actually, you don’t have to choose because the entire movie is on YouTube.

NEXT: The Ephron Years – When Harry Meets Sally, When Seattle Meets the Empire State Building