2012 Holiday Window Displays in NYC

Window Browsing is Better than Shopping.

Holidays are often the best times for tourists with chance to see New York City during their vacation.  For New Yorkers its also a time to brood and avoid all the any plans that involve remotely going near main points of traffic.

However there is one that thing that both tend to enjoy is the holiday window displays.  People line up and wait just to see what will light up and what new themes stores have come up with.

Like the ice rinks that open, the special markets that open during this time of year, stores get into the season by decorating their windows with images that inspire anyone to take their camera out. I personally recommend starting midtown and walking up. Depending on the time of day you can visit them all in one day – be prepared to brave crowds and have your walking shoes on.

Barney’s New York displays have been in the news when they announced a collaboration with Disney.  As fitting for the “Electric Holiday” Collection, Barney’s is lit up like a neon tree with screens showing an original animation featuring Disney characters like Minnie, Mickey, Daisy, Tiana, Cruella DeVil, etc. along side real-life faces like Sarah Jessica Parker, BryanBoy, Lanvin’s Alber Ebaz, Cathy Horyn, Naomi Campbell, etc.

Thu Dec 6 – Wed Jan 2 
660 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065

Bergdoff Goodman also has a jazz theme that is becoming a fan favorite of mine.  With scenes of a party underway to a scene from a circus act to a couple dancing the tango, one can’t help but take a picture to bright up your day.

Thu Dec 6 – Tue Jan 1 
754 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019

Bloomingdales takes you to the circus with scenes from Cirque du Soleil: A World’s Away.  There are luchadors wrestling, ribbon dancers flying through the air, and carousel in the sky.

Thu Dec 6 – Mon Dec 31
1000 3rd Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Henri Bendel illustrate jazz age scenes with mannequins dressed in period fashion made of unusual materials like coffee beans, newspapers, an cupcake liners. This display was a collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum and features a place card in each window of the source of historic inspiration.

Thu Dec 6 – Tue Jan 1
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019

Lord and Taylors – See Santa visit the sights of Christmas around the world and New York City. With scenes of Central Park Zoo to a Christmas party to a scene of snowfall in Japan.

Thu Dec 6 – Mon Dec 31
424 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10018

Macy’s – The famous department takes a more traditional route by depicting the story of “Yes Virgina, there is a Santa Claus” on the 34th Street side.  On the other explores the “Magic of Christmas.”

Thu Dec 6 – Mon Dec 31
151 34th Street
New York, NY 10001

Saks Fifth Avenue – As fitting of the famous department store, there is a two-minute light show to go along with the displays from 5 – 10PM everyday.  Depicting a tale about a Yeti that lives on the roof of the store.  Meanwhile on street-level, one can enjoy nostalgic scenes of children playing – something we all wish we could still do.

Wed Dec 5 – Mon Jan 7
611 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Tiffany & Co. – If you’re significant other can’t take the hit, perhaps they should take a look at these windows.  Depicting a traditional scenes of Christmas trees with little blue boxes with white ribbon surrounding the tree, to doorsteps of rings covered in snow, to a simple silhouette of a couple in love.

Thu Dec 6 – Wed Jan 2
727 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Cupcake of the Week: LovelyLeeSoaps

This cupcake is actually soap!  This was in my gift bag from International Lolita Day at Lady Mendl’s.  From the creative mind of LoveLeeSoaps, this is a gift that’s too good to use.  Her shop has all types of food shape soaps from cupcakes to PopTarts to even pie!

But as a future tip for those who keep getting fragrant smelling things, you can always put them in your clothes/craft/fabric drawers!

What’s in a Name?

Will the real Lolita please stand up?

When I first started wearing Lolita, I would always avoid the term with a passion. Mainly because of its Western connotation to Vladimir Nabakov’s novel of the same name. However after four years I can confirm that the only aspect the novel and the Japanese fashion have in common is a reverence for youthful appearance.

To this day I tend to respond “We’ve decided to dress up.” when others asking what or why are you wearing such clothes.  People respond better to this and there’s no need to include “Lolita” in your response.  However if people are persistence, then if you must use the term “Lolita fashion.”  Only when you have no other options.

People within this fashion community have attempted to relabel Lolita but to no avail. As such instead of relabeling the fashion, relabel yourself.

If you are taking the plunge or having second thoughts whether you should try Lolita fashion – remember it is just a name. Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.  While it’s true that words do hurt you, it hurts only a little bit at first.  And if you have the right petticoat and the right amount of friends, they will just bounce off.

You are not a Lolita, you are you.  It just so happens you like to wear clothes with a petticoat and blouses with puffed sleeves. The label Lolita is attached to style of dress, not you.  Giving a name power by calling it taboo is absurd, because at the end of the day you are wearing a blouse/skirt/one-piece/jumperskirt from Angelic Pretty/ Baby the Stars Shine Bright/ Innocent World/ Metamorphose/etc.  These happen to be designer brands associated with Lolita fashion.

While it does feel like a magical girl transformation from regular you to Lolita you — you are still the same underneath.  Nothing changes.  “Lolita” is just a name.

So pronounce it with me (it’s on the tip of your tongue).

Lo. Lee. Ta.

Cupcake of the Week: Cupcake Tree

Thanksgiving is over which means you have yet to get a jump on that extra long holiday list.  Instead of worrying about not taking advantage of the Black Friday deals start decorating that tree you just put up.

These ornaments were found at Mary Arnold Toys, the oldest toy store in New York City.  We stopped in on our way to a brunch at Hi-Life.  And if our tree wasn’t so small it would definitely be on our tree.

Sunday Brunch : Hi-Life

Hi-Life is a restaurant that has two faces depending on the time of day.  By night it is a restaurant that caters to the looking-for-a-good-time-involving drinks crowd; by day it is a family-friendly place for an Upper East Side brunch.

Last Sunday, a good friend had been aching to catch-up and my husband wanted to try their breakfast version of a bread basket (blueberry muffins and cinnamon toast) so we decided to meet up at Hi-Life.

The east side location of Hi-Life was closer to meet up so it was a natural fit.
With the 1930s decorating, Hi-Life seems more suited to a dinner crowd than brunch.  However the restaurant was still pretty full with strollers and small children, as well as young twenty-somethings trying to recollect their Saturday night. And unlike most brunch places if you arrive at noon you need to be prepared to wait, but we were quickly seated at Hi-Life. 

Bread baskets at its sweetest.

I do like the idea of complimentary muffins and toast in addition to a meal, but I felt the basket kind of lacking. Perhaps in a less economy-strapped time, these muffins would’ve been bigger and there would be more toast. Regardless everything tasted as it should – the muffins were cakey sweet and the toast was cinnamon sugary. The butter was actually a berry-flavored butter which was something different that I liked about Hi-Life.

Paul Bunyan needs at least two of these.

Hungrier than normal, I ordered the Paul Bunyan brunch special which consisted of scrambled eggs, bacon, and three silver dollar pancakes.  The silver dollar pancakes were more like regular-sized pancakes and was skeptically whether I could finish it all. Surprisingly I did – a rare feat that happens once in a blue moon.  Clearly this Paul Bunyan meal should be made double or triple if it’s to be suited for a man who dug out the Grand Canyon.

Prices weren’t outrageous, which seems right with all the families and young foodies; actually very reasonable for the amount of food and the so-so brunch satisfaction.

Overall Hi-Life is a restaurant is okay for a quick brunch before starting your day of shopping and walking around Central Park, but only if you are in the area and unable to find another restaurant.

Hi-Life Restaurant – East Side
1503 Second Avenue
212-628-5433

What Are You Thankful For?

 Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 
This is the one holiday where you get to share the reasons you are thankful to family and friends – not just stuffing your face like the turkey you are about to eat. 
I am thankful for a getting married to a loving husband this past year.

I’m thankful to have a myriad of Lolita and (non-Lolita) friends, who have inspired me to continue this strange but frill-filled fashion. 

I am thankful for my readers for continue to read my blog. It still astounds me when I meet someone new and they say they’ve read Lolita and the City.

 I am thankful for being able to begin a new career. It’s scary and new but good.

And of course, living in one of the greatest cities in the world.
So now what are you thankful for?

Cupcake of the Week : Vietnamese Coffee

 

Vietnamese Coffee is known to be strong and good for a nice kick of caffeine.  Imagine if it was in cupcake form?  You can find it at Spot Dessert Bar in the St.Marks area.

Coffee cake, coffee frosting, chocolate espresso beads, and a surprise liquid coffee-flavored molten center.  It’s satisfies your sweet tooth and gives you a much needed pick-me-up something to get you through the day.

Cupcake of the Week: Cupcake Wine!

We bought this as a welcome to the neighborhood gift for friends of ours who recently moved nearby. I actually sampled this wine during this year’s Fashion’s Night Out. It’s a white wine that’s very sweet. Great for desserts or just treating yourself!

Have a cupcake you’d like to share? Feel free to email me at lolitaandthecity(at)gmail(dot)com. Just put CCWK in the subject line and what it is and where you found it (preferable anything that is accessible in NYC or the internet).

My Bryant Park Holiday Shop Picks!

The Holiday Shops and the ice rink opened up last Friday, leaving me to grab my skates and head to Midtown after work. After a couple of rounds on the ice, I decided to check out the shops that were all ready for business. There were some old favorites, new shops, and some relocations. As well as plenty of food.
Caution: You may get hungry. 

Animated Closet – A shop for people who like shopping for PopArt style clothes to match their quirky fashion sense. 
 
Big Apple Cider – One of the best shops with hot apple cider. It’s a spot I always warm up at after a couple of rounds of skating. Ask for a cinnamon stick.
 
Jammin’ Nut – A new shop for this season that brings you home with PB&J. Mixing their love of music and comfort food with sandwiches like “Fiona Apple” (apple butter, peanut butter and gala apple slices) and Smashing Pumpkins (pumpkin butter, cinnamon, crunchy peanut butter and sliced apples on whole wheat). Goes extremely well with Big Apple Cider who is right next door.
Kettle Corn NYC – is always a favorite with their free samples and their cloud-like, melt-in-your-mouth popcorn. It’s still in the same old spot right as you exit the ice rink. 
Le Churreria – Last year I stumbled upon this shop when there was long line at Big Apple Cider. This year it’s back with the usual Bavarian cranberry spice cider (my favorite now!) and churros. 
Macarons and Cookies by Woops – This shop will be a definite stop for Lolitas doing shopping or skating or both. It may be hard to spot with the long line, so to help people out it is closest booth in front of Celsius.  And then stop by LT Burger for more macaron goodness with a Macaron Shake. 
 
Max Brenner – Need I say more? It is chocolate after all.  I urge all of you to find out what a chocolate syringe is and find out what chocolate by the bald man tastes like. 
Stone Flower – another old favorite and has move from its normal location to what looks like a bigger booth. With charms and trinkets of all kinds, this place is good for last-minute presents or gift exchanges.
Raaka Chocolate claims to be vegan, nut-free, gluten-free, and made with organic ingredients. It’s also locally made in Brooklyn. 
Wafels and Dinges – For curious readers, dinges are simple toppings. And for an extra $2 you can get an unlimited amount of dinges on your wafel. Be aware to hide your wafel as you walk past jeaslous passerbys.
Wonderwarmers – These handy gadgets will keep you warm again and again this winter.  As a whim my husband made a purchase from this shop and now it’s a holiday present list staple.
WRecords by Monkey – A shop I think people should check out if they are into DIY and upcycling. It’s a shop that has taken old, unplayable vinyl records and turned them into wearable jewelry, wallets, and hangable decor.  Last year, I treated myself to a pair of earrings with the NYC skyline.