Journey 2da Tree!!

Going to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a quid pro quo of sorts.  The Tree is usually gorgeous, but the amount of people there often makes it unbearable.  2O1O would be no different.  City Belle and I decided we would make our journey to the tree this past weekend, despite our knowledge of the chaos that would ensue.  We realize it's a big deal when we go and hear about folks driving from Canada just to see this thing.  Talk about great marketing?!  Come to North Carolina we got bigger trees than iiis'!

City Belle had a frugal idea; we took the bus up 3rd avenue to Bloomingdale's first and would eventually walk all the way back to the apartment.  She directed me in a circle-loop down towards 5th avenue and towards the Christmas tree.  Eventually she planned it so we would end up at the restaurant we got engaged at.  (pretty cool City Belle) She's a planner and I'm a dreamer so I listen and she leads.  It works, trust me.    :-)   

We didn't go inside. We just did some window shopping. 

The Plaza on 5th avenue, and speaking of WINDOWS!

Bergdorf Goodman is about as good as it gets.  They're eclectically creative; abstract meets renaissance in a post-industrial apocalyptic trip.  These folks are really working on a different plane of creativity.  I mean just look....We have a blatant symbolic white-winged horse ridden by a 1920's flappers girl.  I don't know what it means, and I don't care but it was cool as crap.

Mushrooms and diamonds?

Come fly away with me!!!!

And here we have an avatar type green snow-woman sitting atop a huge pink slipper.......

City Belle window shopping at Tiffany's

We went here for just a second.  

City Belle and Tiffany's were born on the same date: September 18th.  
At least we know the air is clean in NYC; they subvert it through a plastic pipe higher off the street....(sarcasm)

It was insanely crowded! Going to see the tree is like a journey to an abyss of humanity. 

more people.......

Getting an actual great shot of the tree is an enormous challenge in itself. People are standing on top of every platform trying to get the best shot, not caring about others behind them.  You have to really push your way through in New York, and especially around Christmas.  It got a little too much and we had to leave.

 Rockefeller Ice Rink
 Notice the lady squatting in middle taking a picture of the couple?

Gabriel?

THERE SHE IS!!
Overall we had a great time and are happy we went.  Each year the City does the lighting differently and some years are better than others.  We felt it was a great year this year because they went back to the traditional colors of blue, red, and green.  It was magnificent!

until next time,



~Country Boy

Share the Joy- Part 2

The Lord & Taylor Share the Joy event continued into the evening with a Holiday concert on 5th Avenue.  Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth performed with NYC Young People's Chorus. 

It was a beautiful night and a great event. 

After the performances, they involved their newly designed store windows. 

There were tons of people, so my pics were not the best!  :)

Afterwards, Lord and Taylor had more events in the store- 

Free Hot Chocolate, Fashion shows, etc. 

They also had another book signing.  This one was for the launch of Dylan Lauren's new book from her shop, Dylan's Candy Bar. 

 Dylan's Candy Bar is a beautiful Candyland store that will appease any sweet tooth.

I love Dylan's Candy Bar and I was so excited to meet Dylan.

 Here is the Dylan's Candy display inside of Lord & Taylor.

 Me and Dylan.

The book is Awesome!  It has so much Eye Candy!  Ha, ha :)

Signed Copy-Yay!

Lord & Taylor did a great job with the event.  It was ton of fun!

Happy Holidays!

~City Belle

Lord&Taylor, Share the Joy

It was an Awesome Monday!  I rarely say that about Monday's, but it was truly an awesome Monday!  Lord & Taylor kicked off the season with their Holiday Store Windows on 5th Avenue in NYC!  They launched their Christmas Windows with an all day event, called Share the Joy, a few weeks ago.  

The celebrating started at lunchtime.  Lord & Taylor had a complimentary book giveaway and signing from Sarabeth.  Sarabeth is a famous pastry chef in NYC and has opened multiple restaurants.   

She even has a small location inside Lord & Taylor.   

She sells tons of her Sarabeth products in gourmet kitchen stores across the country.  Jams, jellies, muffins, cookies, etc.  YUM!

So, I went to L&T and got to meet Sarabeth herself.  I thought the line would be unbearable, but fortunately it wasn't too bad, and I got her book for free and she signed it for me!

 The cookbook is amazing!  

It's a large hard bound book with beautiful pictures and amazing recipes. 

Now, I just need to bake something!  :)

Before I headed back to work, I stopped by the 2nd floor to meet Lauren Bush and check out the FEED bags.  

Lauren Bush, model and niece of Geogre W. Bush, is CEO and Creative Director of FEED projects. FEED is a line of bags whose proceeds go to helping World Hunger and feeding children all over the world.  L&T has an exclusive line of FEED bags and Lauren was there signing them for the event.

Lauren was really friendly and super stylish.  She was actually in line behind me, buying more FEED bags.  She signed my Guatemala pouch, which is the perfect size for makeup. 

Lauren is also in the new GAP holiday ads. 

It was a great Monday!

Happy Holidays!

~City Belle

Black Tooth Grin

December 8th is an eclectic day in music history.  It's the day Lennon was killed and shot twice in the back on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.  It's the same day "Dimebag" Darrell, axe god of Pantera was murdered while performing live on stage.  And ironically, it's the very day James Douglas Morrison (Jim) lead singer of the Doors was born.  And to really freak you out, Sammy Davis Jr. has a birthday today too! DERN!!  

painting by Giorgio Casu

Also Horace, the great Roman poet was born today.  I find it appropriate to mention him because aren't most talented musicians poets?  Before post-production crap and voice-over technology, musicians had to actually write their own stuff, i.e. John Lennon and the Beatles.  Now I'm no astrological follower of the stars, but December 8th has some strange sorta twist intermingled with eccentric souls and irony, wouldn't you say? If you don't believe me yet, Sinead O' Connor is singing Happy Birthday today as well.  Could it get any more BIZARRE!!?!!

"Dimebag" Darrel  Lance Abbott

All they wanted was peace.  Peace man, peace.

We are all dreamers and Lennon was especially, but as we all know he's not the only one.  We miss you John, but we also miss you Dimebag Darrell.  Metal just ain't the same without your riffs and crisp cords; and music today would be forever changed if you were alive Mr. Lennon.  We all know you were stolen too soon.  Sometimes, especially on days like today, I could only imagine John and Darrell sharing a Black Tooth Grin.

until next time,

~Country Boy