After the Windows, we took rode a rickshaw to dinner, and walked the busy streets to Madison Square Garden for Cirque du Soleil: Wintuk. This was my 3rd CDS, but the first that had a skateboard ramp and BMX-style bikers, and a grand finale with snowflake confetti which dropped throughout the entire audience!
Still more windows to follow…..
The five main windows at BG are all white. Summer, Spring, Autumn, Winter, and Holiday. Breathtaking. Wonderous. Over-the-top cool. Here is "Holiday":
Much more to come…………..
The five main windows at BG are all white. Summer, Spring, Autumn, Winter, and Holiday. Breathtaking. Wonderous. Over-the-top cool. Here is "Holiday":
Much more to come…………..
…I would have liked to have been a Window Dresser. Back in my interior design days I got to prop out model condos….it was the closest I got to the fleeting fantasticness. I never got to witness Lisa’s store but I can imagine she had killer windows. Before I show you some of the pictures from the Window Watching last weekend I want to remind you of two cool books on the subject: Dreams Through the Glass by Linda Fargo of Bergdorf Goodman, and Confessions of a Window Dresser by Simon Doonan of Barneys. There are more…but that’s a good start.
It’s really hard to get good pictures of windows when your purpose is to show what’s inside. I’ll just say that it’s worth the trip into the city every Christmas just to see what Bergdorf Goodman will blow us away with. The other department stores have respectable vignettes, but BG is the master. I only have a few shots to show you today, but you get the idea.
Their theme this year was Tony Duquette, famed interior designer who….well, read up on him HERE. The five main windows were set as Air Water Fire Earth and Light, design directed by David Hoey. The side windows are always just as interesting. CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO, showing some behind-the-scenes and commentary about the 2007 windows.
Details of shells along the window frame and back wall taken just for Lisa.
The windows around one side were based on opposites. There was Naughty or Nice, Fact or Fiction, and this: Lady or Tiger.
My most favorite thing was a mini display in one of the niche-type windows at the front of the store where they had jewelry or something showcased. I didn’t even notice because I was too star struck with the other details. The white valance here is cut from PAPER….and as Jenny noted, even the tassles were made from cut and rolled paper. Like these tassles were about 1/2" long. And check out the fringe! Utterly cool. With all this glamour and fuss, the take-away for me was this one little thing.
We know they work all year long getting ready for the unveiling late November, and then Poof! The windows are filled with something else by January. I can imagine how much fun it must be to gather all this cool stuff, have items fabricated, and then install them. Don’t ya wonder where it all goes after?
In case you missed the link above, go see this video clip: HERE I’ve seen a few documentaries on the holiday windows over the years. I think it’s Lord & Taylor that have their displays on a hydraulic lift that drops down to the basement level where they can work on them out-of-view until they are ready to be hoisted back into position. I vote for a t.v. special every year showing us all the windows of all major department stores around the world and the clever artists who make them happen. In fact, the product displays within a store are just as fascinating, regardless of the season, so there could be a whole television series showing us something inventive about retail merchandising every week! Someone call Bravo. (Or did I miss something and they already have a show about that?)
…I would have liked to have been a Window Dresser. Back in my interior design days I got to prop out model condos….it was the closest I got to the fleeting fantasticness. I never got to witness Lisa’s store but I can imagine she had killer windows. Before I show you some of the pictures from the Window Watching last weekend I want to remind you of two cool books on the subject: Dreams Through the Glass by Linda Fargo of Bergdorf Goodman, and Confessions of a Window Dresser by Simon Doonan of Barneys. There are more…but that’s a good start.
It’s really hard to get good pictures of windows when your purpose is to show what’s inside. I’ll just say that it’s worth the trip into the city every Christmas just to see what Bergdorf Goodman will blow us away with. The other department stores have respectable vignettes, but BG is the master. I only have a few shots to show you today, but you get the idea.
Their theme this year was Tony Duquette, famed interior designer who….well, read up on him HERE. The five main windows were set as Air Water Fire Earth and Light, design directed by David Hoey. The side windows are always just as interesting. CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO, showing some behind-the-scenes and commentary about the 2007 windows.
Details of shells along the window frame and back wall taken just for Lisa.
The windows around one side were based on opposites. There was Naughty or Nice, Fact or Fiction, and this: Lady or Tiger.
My most favorite thing was a mini display in one of the niche-type windows at the front of the store where they had jewelry or something showcased. I didn’t even notice because I was too star struck with the other details. The white valance here is cut from PAPER….and as Jenny noted, even the tassles were made from cut and rolled paper. Like these tassles were about 1/2" long. And check out the fringe! Utterly cool. With all this glamour and fuss, the take-away for me was this one little thing.
We know they work all year long getting ready for the unveiling late November, and then Poof! The windows are filled with something else by January. I can imagine how much fun it must be to gather all this cool stuff, have items fabricated, and then install them. Don’t ya wonder where it all goes after?
In case you missed the link above, go see this video clip: HERE I’ve seen a few documentaries on the holiday windows over the years. I think it’s Lord & Taylor that have their displays on a hydraulic lift that drops down to the basement level where they can work on them out-of-view until they are ready to be hoisted back into position. I vote for a t.v. special every year showing us all the windows of all major department stores around the world and the clever artists who make them happen. In fact, the product displays within a store are just as fascinating, regardless of the season, so there could be a whole television series showing us something inventive about retail merchandising every week! Someone call Bravo. (Or did I miss something and they already have a show about that?)
Today I took my daughter Fallon (right) and her friend Theresa to the city for a day of capturing the holiday spirit. It’s a ritual to visit the Christmas windows in New York City, but I do not recall ever being there when it was 59 degrees like today. Here we are are on New Jersey Transit making the 50 minute ride from home, kids ride free on weekends! And those wicked cool Vans? They are mine, ready for a full day of walking.
First stop, Bergdorf Goodman to see what Linda Fargo conjured up, pouring her fertile imagination into brimming vignettes under glass. The first two photos are from a Twin themed scenario. I wish I could have captured every little detail to show you as it was simply breathtaking, clever, and utterly handsome. Two of everything from the paired mannequins to the top hatted doves holding miniature old fashioned cameras. The double vision phrenology heads was genius. The black and white really lending itself to the discovery of the many nuances within. Picture 3 is a glimpse into the series of circus windows rounding the corner. Love this performer in her top hat and starry eyes. Last photo showing a winged bust amongst a plethora of rusty, decaying, perfectly imperfect toys and memorabilia.
Within the store was this magnificent bird – perhaps an albino peacock or large pheasant. Not sure I was welcome to shoot photos so I hastily snapped these two and legged it for the door. The last is a view from the outside…..no detail overlooked here.
Another set of photos from a Gingerbread wonderland window. You could almost smell this as you stood in amazement. Check out the sepia architectural print of the elaborate frosted home (photo 3).
Around the far side at Bergdorf’s there are much tamer windows. But I had to show you this one……remember when Fallon and I had our Gotham day in November? I was wishing I could have popped into the open window for a quick shot of ME sitting on that loveseat. Second picture shows you the photo I took when the access door was open. Third is another Fargo window….not too Christmas-y but over-the-top in fabulousness. Fourth shows you what we first saw when approaching the Barney’s windows…..their theme this year: Happy Andy WarHol-idays. Can you stand that gigantic Fornasetti face on a tray?
Andy and his prints, and quotes, covering every spare inch in these Barney’s windows. Since I was carrying my soup bag I had to pose. Should have been wearing my soup shoes too. Terrific tribute to this icon, although not so Christmas-y. Still – I wouldn’t have missed it. The girls didn’t quite get it, had to explain who he was.
Between Bergdorf’s and Barney’s we made a little side trip into Tiffanys. Well, it was going to be a little side trip….simply because Fallon recently saw Breakfast at Tiffanys and fell in love with Audrey. But – we were stopped at the door by a terrific salesman who handed the girls a catalog, gave them a little speech about Tiffanys being a classic, and even would be stylish for a girl who was into Goth, as he notes Fallon’s skull and crossbone bangle she’s wearing. He sent us up to the third floor where the girls could try on bracelets and fondle the silver charms. I’m amazed I didn’t cave and buy something as it was such a sweet little excursion.
We skipped Bloomingdales as I was worried the little legs would tire out so we headed down Fifth Avenue to Saks. Didn’t get any good pictures because there were too many people around. I can’t stand people in my pictures! Next to Saks is the American Girl store. Definitely a great place to visit (we even had a birthday party there) but it’s crazy in there at this time of year. We merely went in so Theresa could say she’d been there. Next – Rockefeller Center and the famous tree overlooking the skaing rink. Massive crowds in this section of town and all the way down to Times Square. The photos above are taken at the Royalton Hotel. 44 W. 44th Street. What a great address. Graham and I stayed here the weekend we got engaged and I took the girls in to show them it’s coolness. I mean, look at the guest hallway! The walls and ceiling and carpet are all royal blue and it makes you feel like you have to whisper. A wonderful 15 minute respite from the bustle….plus they have a lovely restroom off the lobby. You need to know where you can make pit-stops when you’re on foot in the city.
Here we are in a bicycle-driven rickshaw. Fun night to be riding in style down Broadway. Our destination was Union Square to see Bright Nights, a light and sound event sponsored by Target, featuring artist Tord Boontje. You’ve seen his awesome paper cut decor all over Target this year, and his graphic elements don all holiday labels this season. The coolest stuff. This presentation was hard to capture as it’s an interactive light show that moves and reacts to you as walk through the space. I did get some video of it and may try to upload it to YouTube. Very cool. Edit: Someone already has a flip clip to see HERE.
All through the city there are holiday fairs – small marketplaces set in booths surrounding parks. Terrific artist offerings – lots of jewelry, felted bags, handmade scarves. I think next year I’ll come earlier and do my shopping in the city. Last stop of the evening was Trash and Vaudeville on St. Marks Place. Fallon had to show her friend the cool rocker shop. Not a place to buy stuff, but fun to look. We had hoped to see 11 Spring Street where there was an entire building that had it’s interior covered in Graffiti Art…..but the line of people was long and it was supposed to close at 5. The girls didn’t know we missed it but I was a little heartbroken. Here’s a link to see what I’m talking about: SEE HERE
It was a grand day. You could say…..visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
Edit: For a grand book on Linda Fargo and her Bergdorf windows, SEE HERE. And for a fun book about Barney’s windows and Simon Doonan, SEE HERE.
Fallon and I had a day in the city Friday. Our first stop was to see the windows at Bergdorf. We make a trek there each Christmas just for window watching at all the big stores, but this year we went in early to catch the final days of Bergdorf’s "Gothic Splendor" windows, as inspired by the House and Garden article in the Nov 06 issue. Douglas Little, of D.L. & Co. collaborated with Linda Fargo on these windows – his gothic curiosities in each display. It was a real treat to get this close to such magnificence.
Here you can see one of the extra shots provided at the H&G site, – how did this chair not make the magazine? Reading the credits on the H&G site I find the artist is Scott Campbell. The description said tattooed chair….I had to find out more….. AND LOOK! It was actually tattoed! Scott is a tattoo artist, and actually tattoed this leather. Now how cool is that? And the photo on the right? It was difficult to take photos of the windows with the glare, so we thought it was really clever to have Fallon stand in the reflection. (Couldn’t complain about the sun….it was freeeezing!)
Here’s another shot from the magazine article. This scene was re-enacted in the windows with a painted staircase and mannequins. The spider web chandelier was to die for, made of silver chain and Swarovski crystals. Of course I couldn’t get a good photo of it during the day – I’m sure it was lovely in the evening…..but we couldn’t hang around….we had more stuff to do!
Before we headed off, we had a quick run through the store….Fallon was in Project Runway Wannabe Heaven when we landed on the floor with the couture evening gowns. You know the department you would normally just pass by, knowing the lady at the desk would size you up and wonder what you were doing there? Well, that kind of thing doesn’t phase an 11 year old. In we went…..dreamily looking at and touching dresses that sell for $11,000 plus. I admit, it was so very special to see the dresses through her eyes. I think there is a Cinderella in all of us, no matter what our age.
As we were leaving out a side door of Bergdorf’s we caught a sight that I have never experienced. The magic doors that lead to the windows were open. These side windows were in the process of getting their winter window dressings. There on the door were the tools of the worker bee. This one window was uninhabited…..some minimal props had been set in place, including a little loveseat…..it was really just asking to be sat in. I was dying to have a seat in the window…..but I knew Fallon was too much of a chicken to go out on the street and take the picture of me sitting there. Would have been great though don’t you think? This last shot shows a gal continuing the process. Since we only go to New York to see the holiday windows in December I have never witnessed them being put up. It was cool.
My first visit to a Hard Rock Cafe was in 1984, London. That was the original one….now there are over 100. We took our kids to their first one in Niagara Falls, Canada. Yesterday, Fallon and I went to the new one at Times Square. It’s huge! And there’s a stage! We sat near Ace’s guitar – pretty cool as we are KISS fans. Gotta love the fork sign….it’s giving the rock and roll fingers! I think I may bend a few myself.
Last stop was the HERE theater so see the marionette show, The Fortune Teller, by *Erik Sanko. (Got the heads up on this event from my friend Lynne.) My daughter has been to Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, and several Broadway shows……so this was a bit of a departure but I knew she’d love it. You couldn’t see an authentic marionette show in anything larger than the HERE theater. When you get there, you show your ticket to the guy at the ticket counter, that doubles as a refreshement stand. He actually crosses Your Name off his list and hands you a program. You sit in a small holding room on random bits of living room furniture. When the guy announces the doors are open you leave the room, out the doors, follow the red tape along the sidewalk, enter another set of doors, keep following the red tape, down a stairwell, around the corner and into the performance room. The stage is set with a building front at 1/3 real life scale. The lighting and music set the eery tone. The people shuffle in…..less than 100.
It is a fantastic show. The marionettes are clever and gothy and works of art themselves. The narrative is provided by the perfect British voice as he unravels the tale, music provided by Danny Elfman (yes, of Nightmare fame). The old house is the ultimate stage….the door opens, then later a front panel raises to show us the dining parlor with the full cast of characters. There are two side sections that not only open, but mechanically move forward to illuminate a detail within the story. Several times we saw the hands that hold the puppets – a reminder that these were just a couple of guys behind the scenes working their magic. As you can see from this card, there is a sticker updating the schedule, with more dates added for December. Go if you can!
A GREAT DAY IN GOTHAM CITY. By tomorrow night Fallon’s memories will be upstaged by the Guns N Roses concert she and my husband are going to – but I’ll remember this day forever.
*Erik Sanko is a musician with Skeleton Key and has been with several other bands. His wife is an assemblage artist, Jessica Grindstaff. In a review I read of a collaborative show they did (Marionettes and Music Boxes) they were described as "Cut from the same cloth, hatched from the same egg, they are the illegitimate love children of Tim Burton and Joseph Cornell. In a sea of papier-mache and wood, taxidermy and music, gravity and motion, here are the shining, dust covered examples of a couple of esoterics indulging their idiosyncracies."
