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.

Henri's Girls

Henri's Girls, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

Henri Bendel's department store, 5th Avenue NYC gets my vote for not only best, but favorite department store.

I was first introduced to Bendels five years ago while on a birthday girls weekend celebration to NYC. My friend Judy was celebrating her birthday and was kind enough to invite two of us along. The department store showcases magnificent designer clothes, shoes and handbags among a vast and varied variety of accessories.

At that time I purchased a Bendel body cream without the matching candle called Tuberose, which was a combination scent of Jasmine and Rose. After about eight months, like any good obsessive girl I wiped the sides of the bottle clean with a Q-tip and was forced to admit my bottle of tuberose had come to an end and not living in New York City I travelled to the local mall in search of a secondary fragrance all the time never forgetting the intoxicating scent of my Bendel Tuberose.

Bendel's which was started in 1895 by Henri Bendel a milliner was the first to bring Coco Chanel to the US and has long housed many of the finest clothing designers. I recently read that Bendel's has made a decision to stop carrying apparel and instead to focus on accessories, cosmetics and home items such as candles, and much to my surprise I read that Bendels would be opening a store in the King of Prussia mall in Pennsylvania.

I recently returned to Bendel's and much to my delight found the same Bendel body cream, but was disappointed to discover they were sold out of my favorite fragrance the Tuberose; but while on 5th Avenue no visit for the holiday season could be complete without a stop to see Santa. So Santa Baby I said ~ could you please stuff my stocking with Bendel's Tuberose this Christmas? Why my child he said I will bring delights to all of the good girls, but just in case you can't wait - ring up that sleigh and head on over to the new Bendels in the King of Prussia Mall.