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Visit The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park
>> Bryant Park is always a beautiful and exciting place to visit. Throughout the year, you'll find plenty of places to sit and relax, 'wichcraft (a strangely-named sandwich and coffee shop), a decorative water fountain, an old-fashioned merry-go-round, and the beautiful Bryant Park Grill. It is, of course, just behind the magnificent main New York Public Library. There, you can browse special exhibits, examine research halls, view the architecturally mesmerizing main reading room, have your children enjoy story times, AND visit the well-stocked New York Public Library Gift Shop.
During the winter holiday season, Bryant Park celebrates Christmas and gift-giving by setting up The Holiday Shops in Bryant Park. This festive area includes approximately 125 vendors, The Pond (an ice skating rink complete with skate rental), Celsius (a restaurant tent with seating that overlooks the rink), holiday decorations, and zillions of lights.
Many items in The Holiday Shops, such clothing, scarves, jewelry, spa items, and accessories, appeal to women. Men will find sweaters, hats, and some unusual footwear (See Mama Shaman, below). Children's items include lively puppets, clothing, snuggly pillows, and toys. Holiday decorations, home-decorating accessories, candy, and snack foods are also well represented.
For serious shopping, eating, and/or ice skating, visit Bryant Park during the week in the morning to mid-afternoon because the area quickly fills up in the early evening. Needless to say, it's jammed on weekends.
No matter what time you visit, it's quite an accomplishment to see everything, especially if you're squirming in and out of crowds. To turn your exploration into a bit of a game, I've selected several shops that I especially like. See if you can find them when you browse on your own.
Dining
I love Bryant Park Grill, no matter what the season. That said, if you are visiting New York just for the holidays, make a point of dining here. The atmosphere is always great, prices are reasonable (especially lunch), service is professional, and the food is very, very good.
During the summer, the restaurant features an outdoor patio. In the winter, that patio is transformed via a white tent. The main restaurant, seen below, is a stunner. During the day, you can oversee the holiday fair from its wall of windows, and in the evening, thrill to twinkling lights.
Vendors
Below are two photos showing high-quality, hand-embroidery on fine, light-weight wool that are featured in Kashmir Moon's holiday tent. Here, you'll find women's jackets, shawls, bedspreads, pillows, and rugs, with each item being one-of-a-kind. Although Kashmirian needlework artists follow general patterns, they are free to embellish as the spirit moves them, making each piece a signature work of art.
These items must be seen and touched to be believed and you are lucky to get the opportunity to do so! Although based in New York City, Kashmir Moon is wholesale-only and public displays, such as found in this holiday shop, are rare. Clothing prices start around $250, with many items between $300 and $400. Heirloom rugs are significantly higher.
For more information, read Amy Kotulski's 2006 Littleviews article, Kashmir Moon in New York City.
The next three photos show products designed and imported by Advak Shani's Cala Design. These include a wide variety of leather wallets, pouches, and handbags, ranging from $28 to $45 - target prices for many gift-givers!
These colorful designs are first embossed in leather, followed by painting and staining. Unlike traditional leather handbags, they are light-weight and won't strain your shoulder.
The Cala Design holiday tent also features lush strands of rolled-paper, bead necklaces, all of which are made by Ugandan women who have children in the impoverished Little Light Children Center in Kampala. Proceeds from Cala Design's sales (20%) help fund that center.
Note that because the necklaces are so light-weight, you can wear multiple strands without feeling pressure on your neck.
The next photo is of Sabon's large holiday tent. Its open window display allows the scents of Sabon's Dead Sea salt-based bath, lotion, candle, and spa products to waft along the alley. Let your nose guide your selections!
Sabon stores in New York are known for demonstrating special exfoliating, hand-washing salts, which, after rinsing, leave your hands feeling softer than a baby's behind. Stop by their holiday tent (or any of their local stores) for a demonstration.
The next photo shows a sample of Mama Shaman's line, which include men's and women's handbags, totes, boots, slippers, heals, and flats. The colorful material used on all products is created using hand-stitched, Mola techniques on Kuna Print(R) material.
Mola techniques consist of layering contrasting swatches of cloth into a stack, lightly stitching them together. A pattern is then drawn on the top layer that's used to show where one or more layers is to be cut out. Once cut, the raw edges are folded back into the stack and are then slip-stitched so they stay in place.
Mama Shaman is a family business founded by Natalia Swanson. Carol Swanson, pictured here, is her mother-in-law. Prices generally run between $95 and $215.
Near Mama Shaman's holiday tent is the Kettle Corn tent. Yum!
A bag of munchy Kettle Corn (which is sold at many New York-area fairs) is great to carry when browsing because it won't squish in warm environments (like your shopping bag), or become too brittle when cold. Need help deciding what flavor to buy? Samples of this popular snack are freely handed out for your selection pleasure!
Of course, it's entirely likely that you'll quickly eat your bag of caramel Kettle Corn before leaving Bryant Park. My only recommendation is that you do so after dining at the Bryant Park Grill.
Links
Currently, The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park are open daily from 8AM to midnight through December 30. 2009. You'll find them behind the main New York Public Library at 42nd Street and 6th Avenue. Need more information? The following links will help:
- Bryant Park: Provides information about the park and its year-round events.
- Holiday Shops at Bryant Park: Provides information about the Celsius restaurant, skating, and special holiday events.
- New York Public Library Gift Shop: Read "Visit the New York Public Library Gift Shop," an article on Littleviews.
- Bryant Park Grill: Check this website for information about all of Ark Restaurant's establishments, as well as Bryant Park Grill's menus.
- Kashmir Moon: Note that access to Kashmir Moon's wholesale salon is by appointment only.
- Kashmir Moon in New York City: Read "Kashmir Moon in New York City," a Littleviews article on its wholesale salon and imports.
- Cala Design. Note that this website will be published in early 2010. All handmade products sold by Cala Design are fair trade.
- Little Light Children Center: A portion of the proceeds from Cala Design necklace sales go to help this organization in Kampala, Uganda.
- Sabon: Provides a complete catalog of Sabon's products, plus a list of all their storefront locations.
- Mama Shaman: Provides a complete catalog of Mama Shaman's handmade products, all of which are fair trade. No animal-based products are used.
- Kettle Corn: Can't get to a New York fair to taste this wonderful confection? Order it from their website and have it shipped to your door.
Questions? Ask Karen at Karen@littleviews.com
Article by Karen Little. Photos by Karen Little. First published on 12/16/2009. All rights reserved by www.Littleviews.com.
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