NYC Christmas Windows With Ribbons and Lights and Magical Displays

Bundle up, hook arms and admire the City’s festive window displays. New York is absolutely magical during the holidays. The spirit is cheerful, little shops are wrapped in ribbons and lights and the biggest stores are totally decked out for the holidays through New Years. Grab a cup of steamy cocoa and hit the pavement, fa la la la la, la la la la. Here’s a little, self-guided walking tour.

Begin at the Lord and Taylor windows (38th and 5th Avenue; 212/391- 3344 at Fifth Avenue).

Walk north up Fifth Avenue, past the New York Public Library, to the Saks Fifth Avenue windows at 611 Fifth Avenue (at 49th Street; 212/ 753-4000).

Cross the street to admire the larger-than-life Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Continue walking north up Fifth Avenue to Bergdorf Goodman’s windows at 754 Fifth Avenue (at 58th Street).

Walk one block east to Madison Avenue and then three blocks north to the windows at Barney’s at 600 Madison Avenue; 212-826-8900.

If you want to take in Bloomingdale’s windows (at 100 Third Avenue), walk two blocks south to 59th Street and then a couple of avenues east to Third Avenue.

Note: The Macy’s window displays are also engaging. Macy’s is located at Herald Square and Broadway between 34th and 35th streets.

9/11 Will Always Be Heartbreaking

9/11 Will Always Be Heartbreaking.

via 9/11 Will Always Be Heartbreaking.

Cyber Monday Travel Deals

You only have a couple more hours until midnight to grab a great cyber travel deal for New
York City’s Jade Hotel in Greenwich Village or the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown. I wrote about the deals in this CNN article–and you’ll find lots of other great travel deals, too! Happy travels! http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/28/travel/cybermonday-post-thanksgiving-travel-specials/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

Con Daily is an All-Star

I am so proud today. I have written many articles in my career but I am especially excited about my article that appears today in today’s Boston Globe. http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/travel/2013/07/13/metropolitan-museum-art-new-york-celebrates-baseball-with-its-legends-dead-ball-era-exhibit/AhkiuUBfUVXHAyZwdyErSP/story.html

It is a tribute to baseball, to the All-Star Game, to NYC, to my favorite baseball pub, Foley’s. But, more importantly, it is such an honor to include my great-grandfather, Cornelius (Con) Daily, in the article. Con is part of the 30,000 baseball card collection and, while not part of the current Dead Ball exhibit (the photo cap is wrong) he is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s prestigious baseball card collection. I salute you Con, and love you very much.

If you get a chance, visit the Museum to see the Legends of Baseball exhibit, hit up Foley’s for a beer and, hole up in the Hotel Belleclaire for a night (this is where Babe Ruth once lived.)

Baseball lives on in our hearts forever.

Brewski in NYC

Eataly beer garden (Photo credit: Tim Rodenberg)

 

NYC has become big with brewskis with more than 50 beer “gardens.” La Birreria on the roof of Eataly (eatalyny.com) is a hot spot for a cold one. So is Chelsea Brewing Company–throw back one of 25 hand-crafted beers and you can tour the brewery, too (chelseabrewingco.com.) And in Astoria, Queens, the 100-year-old-plus Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden (bohemianhall.com) is spot on for oompah bands, knockwurst and pitchers of foamy beer.

 

Want more fabulous tips for exploring NYC on a sunsational day like today this spring? Here you go! http://www.amazon.com/York-City-Made-Easy-ebook/dp/B0047DW6EY/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1367172490&sr=8-1&keywords=new+york+city+made+easy

 

Well, hello spring! Beauty in NYC!

Socrates Sculpture Park (Photo credit: roccocell)

What a day to be outside, if even for quick stroll. Or, maybe you can steal away an hour or two. Here are two ideas. Celebrate the sunshine!

The Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens, is a haven for art lovers who come to admire the thought-provoking sculptures as well as the Manhattan skyline views (socratessculpturepark.org.) And, the off-the-radar Shakespeare Garden that’s tucked away in Central Park (centralpark.com.) is a romantic strolling spot; a nod to the Bard is evident with quotations from his works on bronze plaques. Need more inspiration? You’ll find lots of sun-kissed ideas in my bestselling book New York City Made Easy http://www.amazon.com/York-City-Made-Easy-ebook/dp/B0047DW6EY

Writing Tip

My dad, Donald Bain, an author of more than 120 books, loved the saying, “If I had more time, I would have written less.”

Ever since I was a little girl, starting out as a writer, following in his footsteps, I have thought about that saying often. I am not sure where he got it from, I don’t think he coined it, but in my mind, it is one of the most important pieces of advice that my dad taught to me about writing. In a nutshell, it means that the more time you have to write, the more time you have to edit out unnecessary words.

In my NYC travel guidebooks, I write pages and pages of information about restaurants, sights, hotels and give lots of NYC-related advice and tips.

In this blog, I write less–about those same wonderful NYC spots, hotels and restaurants. I have more time to do it. I don’t have deadlines breathing down my back to get these posts finished or publishers waiting for my guidebook copy.

I have the pleasure of time to share with you my love for NYC.

Where to Warm Up in NYC

 

Whoa whoa whoa, it’s frosty out there. Here are some fab places to warm your tootsies and your soul.

http://www.nycgo.com/slideshows/bars-with-fireplaces/?a=1&b=1&cid=facebook_dining

December in NYC

Outside cafe! Yesiree! Fabulous day in the Big Apple to enjoy lunch or an afternoon hot toddy while seated at an outdoor sidewalk cafe. Or, a picnic in Bryant Park. Or, a stroll along the High Line–I love that moment when the Statue of Liberty suddenly appears in the distance. How about a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge–stop off for hot cocoa at Jacques Torres! Nice. Take advantage of the mild temps New Yorkers. Who knows what’s around the corner? Happy Mild Monday!

Christmas Windows in NYC

NYC – Macy’s 2007 Holiday Window Display – Santa’s Big Night (Photo credit: wallyg)

Time to dazzle! Some of NYC’s dazzling holiday windows are already glittering and there’s a lot more glam to come in the coming weeks. Want to see the best of the best of the gussied-up window displays? Of course, you do, my little merrymakers. And well, what do you know, here’s a book that’ll take your hand and walk you to Saks and Bergdorf‘s, Macy’s and Lord & Taylor, to name a few of the sensational stores that will be wrapped in ribbons and lights. http://www.amazon.com/Self-Guided-Chocolate-Christmas-Displays-ebook/dp/B004774MWO

The best part? It doesn’t cost a dime to hook arms and stroll the streets admiring the joys of the season. And please take the time to help those you meet along the way. There are more homeless people than ever this season thanks to Hurricane Sandy, not to mention a hurting economy. Keep them in your heart–and, if you can help, please reach out.

Enjoy the windows–they’ll make you smile. Promise.