Family Travelogue: New York Christmas Window Displays 2016/ Family Travelogue 26 November 2016

It was this month last year we were planning on how to spend our 6 days in New York from 26 November 2016. A week after the Thanksgiving day, Manhattan biggest department stores were akready geared up for the holidays. It has been a holiday tradition at the Big Apple, popular shops transform their windows displays into the Christmas magical theme. A wonderful experience to

check out the 2016 creative exhibits, we had the whole night to go and stop by at all these popular stores. We had stayed at Fairfield Inn in Queens. We took the subway from the Queens Plaza station to Lexington Av/ 53st, started frim there window displays hopping on foot.

Departed Changi airport at Singapore at 2am on 26Nov by Cathay Pacific. 4 hours stopped in Hong Kong before we were flown to JFK.

We took Uber to our reserved Hotel at the Queensborough, Queens, Fairfield Inn & Suites

We had our first meal in NYC at Panda Express, few minutes on foot from the subway. It serves chinese food at a reasonable price. We were unable to take photos of what we had but I got a photo of the sweet and sour chicken we had before our departure at LAX.

Bloomingdale's New York

About 10 minutes walk from Panda Express to Bloomingdale's at 3rd Ave.

Cast of the 2016 animated american movie, SING, was one of the featured this year's Bloomingdale's holiday window display.

Bloomingdales' Christmas Holiday window display

The actual highlight of the Bloomingdale's display was the rotating of the green and red lights in the entire building.

Bloomingdales' Christmas Holiday Lights display

Magnolia bakery inside the Bloomingdale;s building. We thought of trying its famous cupcakes.

Magnolia Bakery, New York

It's good to say we were once at this reputable bakeshop in New York. I guess... that's it! Could not say more... with all the cupcakes and cakes we had tried.

Magnolia Bakery, standing bar area

There was no seating area other than the couch. You can eat at the standing bar area by the window.

Dylan's Candy bar, New York City

Opposite Bloomingdale's was the Dylan's Candy bar, home to large selections of candies. Once featured at the TV show, Gossip girl (S2 E15)- Dan helping Vanessa finding a gift for Nate

Dylan's Candy bar, New York City

We have this kind of candy shop in Singapore, Candylicious. The popular one is at Resort World Sentosa and there is one at the Vivo City Mall.

Barneys New York 2016 Christmas Window Displays

8 minutes walk to Barney's store at the 60th street. This year's theme, "Love, Peace and Joy".

Barneys New York 2016 Christmas Window Displays

New York City at night, November 2016

Continuing the window displays hopping, 5 minutes to Bergdorf Goodman. The shop was located at 5th ave, near Central Park.

Greeny, whitey stuff in the jungle (???); Bergdorf Goodman's 2016 holiday theme.

Bergdorf Goodman Christmas Window display 2016

Within the area was the the Apple Fifth Ave. The famous Pullitzer fountain is nearby though, we skipped it on that night. We got to see it the following day when we cycled around Central Park.

Apple Fifth Ave, New York

Apple Fifth Ave in New York is the flagship store of Apple. The place is known for its iconic glass apple cube door. At present, this door has vanished and would not be seen either for few months or forever. The store is under renovation.

New York City at night

Tiffany & Co 5th Avenue Christmas displays 2016

Tiffany and Co 5th Avenue is a few steps away. This year's theme, "Make the World Sparkle".

Tiffany & Co 5th Avenue Christmas window displays 2016

Tiffany & Co 5th Avenue

New York City at night

Tourneau, New York City

Tourneau, a long time watch retailer in New York, famous for its facade of clocks in multiple time zones.

We happened to see this cutie window display on our way to Saks.

Saks Fifth Ave Christmas displays

About 6 minutes from Tiffany, Saks Fifth Ave. Latter is next to St Patrick Cathedral and opposite Rockefeller Center. We visited Saks the following day after hearing mass. It was getting late, from Tiffany we headed to Macy's

Saks Fifth Ave Christmas window displays 2016

Saks Fifth Ave Christmas Lights Show 2016

Still on fifth Ave, on our way to Macy's. The building with the pink lights was where the current NYC flagship of Victoria Secret.

2016 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting

2016 lighting of Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was from 30 Nov ~ 07 Jan 2017. Apparently, on the day of our window displays hopping, the tree was not yet lighted. The photos were taken on 01 December 2016. We were there on 30th Nov, when the place was messy and the staff were busy preparing for night event as decorating the tree. It was raining though, many were outside-waiting for the lighting of the tree. The Rockefeller Christmas tree marks the holiday symbol in New York City.

2016 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting

view of the Empire State Building

New York Public Library

New York Public Library is also located along Fifth Ave. It is the second largest library in USA and fourth in the world. There are two sculpture of lions in front of the facade. In 1930, the then mayor of NYC, Fiorello La Guardia, named the two lions: Patience and Fortitude- the qualities he thought needed by the Yorkers to survive the depression.

Adjacent to the building is the Bryant Park.

Bryant Park is a must visit when in New York. It is known as Manhattan town square. It is located between the Fifth and Sixth ave., adjacent to New York Public Library and surrounded by skyscrapers.

The Rink at Bryant Park, Manhattan, NYC

The Rink at Bryant park was opened this winter from 29 Oct 2016 to 05 March 2017. The NY only free admission ice skating rink commenced in 2005

Bryant Park, NYC

It was a walk for almost half an hour from Tiffany's. Further half kilometer to Macy's Herald Square from Bryant Park. Stayed at the park for a while. The big kidz were to ice skate, the rink was closed for its scheduled maintenance. We didn't wait for it, Macy's was waiting for us :).

Winter Village, Bryant Park, NYC

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. Around 125 stores start to open days before the Halloween, the same time as the Rink. Christmas season then is felt in New York.

Shake Shack

Had an american burger before we continued the hopping. Seven (7) minutes walk from Bryant Park to Herald Square. Shake Shack is a burger chain in NYC. As far as I know, Shake Shack store are only available in New York. Burgers were better than In and Out's and french fries were so good. Pricey though.

Macy's Herald Square is the flagship of Macy's department stores located in Manhattan, New York City. To date, the store has been situated at this site for 116 years. Macy's Herald Square is considered as one of the world's largest store with a size of approximately 205,000 square meters of retail space, almost take the whole block.

Food truck in NYC

Christmas window display at Macy's Herald Square was unveiled on 18 November, Friday at 5:30pm. This year's theme was "Believe"

15 foot tall Santa Claus statue at Macy's Herald Square, NYC

The best spot to see Santa Claus this season was at Macy's. This year's holiday highlight at Macy's Herald Square, a 15 foot tall Santa Claus statue above the store's entrance.

The displays in the six (6) windows at Macy's represent what Christmas was meant for us, especially when we were still a child. Six qualities we were taught as we were growing up: Believe, Celebrate, Together, Giving, Love nad Magic.

Macy's Herald Square Christmas Window Display #1 2016 titled, "Believe"

Macy's window#1 display showed Santa Claus at the communication station. Upon receipt of children's wishes, the gifts will match to nice kids and to transport to would be happiest recipients.

Macy's Herald Square Christmas Window Display #2 2016 titled "Celebrate"

Macy's Herald Square Window Display #2 titled "Celebrate". The window showed pinball machine with three bumpers each representing the 90th Anniversary Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, Skating at Rockefeller Center and the New Year's eve ball drop at Time Square.

Macy's Herald Square Christmas Window Display #3 2016 titled "Together"

Window three showed the importance of togetherness. There could be no one to spend this season but with our loved ones, especially our family.

Macy's Herald Square Christmas Window Display #3 2016 titled "Together"

Macy's Herald Square Christmas Window Display #4 2016 titled "Giving"

Christmas is giving. The window showed a golden reindeer with 25 elves pass gifts between each other.

Macy's Herald Square Christmas Window Display #5 2016 titled "Love"

Macy's Herald Square Christmas Window Display #5 titled, "Love". The window showed Mr and Mrs Claus at an oversized jewel box dancing and sharing romantic moment. It represents the love for family and friend.

Macy's sixth window display titled, "Magic". It showed the final preparations of Santa Claus the night before Christmas at the North Pole winter wonderland with his reindeer and other magical animals.

Please check out the moving video taken at Macy's Herald Square's window displays showing the full feature of the 6th window titled "Magic" and the other five (5) windows.

Macy's Herald Square, New York

There you go guys, the conclusion of the NY Christmas Window Displays hopping. Oooops! we forgot Lord & Taylor. we still had 5 days though but I am not sure if we were able to take photos. Nevertheless, Lord & Taylor's theme 2016 was enchanted forest.

Needed to end the day. It was our first day, we touched down JFK at noon... still managed a long day at the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps.

Check out next posts: St Patrick Cathedral/Rockefeller Center, Walk Along Fifth Avenue,
Central Park, Top of the Rock

Click the photo for our 2016 US tour itinerary