The Pond at Bryant Park, New York City

While on a recent visit to New York City I stumbled upon a park in the middle of Midtown Manhattan called Bryant Park. Never having been to Bryant Park, I came home and did a little research and found that the park once known as a sight for muggings and drug deals, is now a much sought location for concerts, performances, eating, drinking and shopping. It is a park that has apparently been transformed from run down and somewhat dangerous, to a place lined with food delights, hand crafted jewelry and clothing kiosks.

The park sits on several acres and from what I read is known for its French classical style showcasing beautifully manicured lawns and magnificently sculptured gardens in the warmer months. On my most recent visit, in December I noticed the park surrounds a large ice skating rink open 8 AM til 10 PM for public skating pleasure. If you are not a skater, but enjoy watching the skaters and the sheer ambiance of the winter holiday, you can sit overlooking the skaters at the restaurant connected to the rink, and enjoy a delicious bowl of cream of Pumpkin soup and a glass of fine red wine

The park was donated a finely crafted French carousel crafted to compliment its French classical style. Children clutch the wooden horses and rabbits with tiny fingers while their parents snap photos and look on with delight. The carousel sits in the center of the park. All through the park there are chess tables for playing and books for reading.

If you have a chance, while visiting New York City, I highly recommend a visit to Bryant Park.

Let the Holidays Begin!

After the turkey was carved and lips licked clear of pumpkin pie, the dishes washed, a football game viewed and a nap had by many, it was time for making a few holiday plans.

Black Friday arrived and I set off on an excursion with a good friend to New York City. As is always the case when visiting New York, there are so many wonderful places to go, so much to see and even more to do. We decided to spend the majority of this trip in Manhattan, walking from Broadway to Bryant Park, Central Park to Broadway, stopping, eating, drinking and shopping at many wonderful places along the way.

Wherever I go I search for a photo opportunity; and New York ~ the city that never sleeps, the city known as the Big Apple, is a city that never disappoints. New York is a city that never disappoints in delivering the new, the old, the bizarre, the conservative, the trendy, the downtrodden, the rich, the famous, glamour, glitz, rock, roll and rhythm; there is something to be had for one and something to be had for all.

Walking down Fifth Avenue, forever remembering Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, I am continuously fascinated by the haute couture of one design fashion house after another and never more so than when standing before the breathtaking, superb design of the window displays of Bergdorf Goodmans'.

There are many I can write about Sacks, Henri Bendel, and none that disappoint, but for the purpose of this post I will give a brief background ~ researched from the teller of all true tales Wikipedia on Bergdorf Goodman.

Bergdorf Goodman is located on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in NYC. The department store a seller of luxury goods, was originally opened as a tailor shop by Mr. Bergdorf an immigrant from France in 1899. His employee Mr. Goodman purchased the store in 1906 and moved it to its present location on Fifth Avenue.

From the early 1960's to the late 1970's the store underwent several changes and some major challenges. To combat lagging sales the store tried opening branch locations, one of which is now its sister store and competitor Neiman Marcus.

The store features boutiques for Chanel, Armani, Gucci, Versace to name a few.

There is no doubt much to see at Bergdorf's, but for me I could not get past the window displays, which are more remarkable than words could ever describe. I must have taken twenty photos, but from those twenty photos, selected my favorites and created the collage below. For a more detailed visual of Bergdorf's windows you can Google Bergdorf Goodman Window Displays, photos by photographer ... and you will see detailed photos of each and every window in this amazing store.

This holiday season if you are in search of a fun filled day with a few rays of some enticing eye candy, take a stroll down Fifth Avenue, grab a cup of peppermint hot chocolate and stop for a stare at the holiday display windows at Bergdorf Goodmans.