Happy New Year from all of us at Bryant Park!

'Tis the Season: Post-Holiday Sales

Every week, a lucky Bryant Park Corporation employee gets to explore The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park to give you a glimpse at what this year’s vendors have to offer. It’s finale week at The Shops, so Sarah set out to find great deals and post-holiday sales in the park.


It’s your favorite word.  It’s my favorite word.  It’s everyone’s favorite word.

Sales!

Yes it’s after Christmas and that means one thing – discounts are everywhere.  And The Holiday Shops are no exception.

Unlike the other holiday markets around the city, our lovely shops remain open after Christmas (and New Year’s) until January 3rd, which means you have five more days to take advantage of the savings. Deals range from 25 to 50% off, with many BOGO (buy one, get one free) offers. 

Since I love lists, and if discounts alone don’t entice you, here are some other great reasons to visit The Holiday Shops:

1.    There are only 361 days until Christmas. Christmas ornaments and cards are deeply discounted. (Half-priced!) You’ll need them again next year, so why not buy them now? Then next year you can gleefully gloat to your friends and family that you were so organized and thrifty. 

2.    Your winter wardrobe will soon feel boring. We all go through the winter doldrums with clothing, especially us women. By late January, that black turtleneck seems rather boring and unthinkable to wear again. Luckily The Holiday Shops have great options for cool, funky accessories that can change an outfit without spending much cash.  Plus, statement necklaces work during all four seasons, making them an especially shrewd purchase.

3.    Your holiday gifts did not quite hit the spot. Exchanging gifts can sometimes be disappointing. We all have that relative who just slightly misinterprets our style. This situation is easily rectifiable. Swing by The Holiday Shops and treat yourself to something that you will actually like and use.

Here are some highlights around the park:

Cala Design
Purses, wallets, messenger bags, necklaces

Sitting on the Upper Terrace near the Holiday Tree, Cala Design has wonderfully colorful bags and wallets handmade in India. This is Cala Design’s fifth year at Bryant Park, with designs made especially for The Holiday Shops resulting in a very loyal and enthusiastic following. All of the vibrant creations are designed in New York and then handcrafted in India. 

And don’t miss the very pretty handcrafted paper necklaces ($22) made by a Ugandan women’s cooperative who have children in the Little Light Children’s Center in one of the poorest areas of the capital city Kampala. Cala Design pays the women fair trade prices and donates 20% of the sales directly to the women.  

Bags are regularly priced from $28 to $48 and wallets range from $24 to $28.

Current sale is buy one get, one 50% off.*

*Sale does not apply to necklaces.




Created with flickr slideshow.
Santa NY
Christmas ornaments

Santa NY is one of many Christmas shops offering big discounts on ornaments.  Located on the Fountain Terrace, stop and take a peek at the cute New York themed ornaments, especially the yellow taxi cabs. Now is the perfect time to take stock of your ornament collection and plug in the wholes for next year.

Ornaments are now 50% off at Santa NY with similar deals throughout The Holiday Shops.


Ornaments at Santa NY

Exotic Handmade Jewelry
Bold and colorful necklaces, earrings, bracelets

Just off the steps at 6th Avenue and 41st Streets, Exotic Handmade Jewelry is the perfect place to pick up a piece of statement jewelry. The bold and chunky pieces are made from natural tree resin mixed with amber. These are the types of necklaces and bracelets that add a ‘wow’ to a plain white blouse and are sure to garner the much sought-after question: ‘where’d you get that?’ And it won’t cost a lot of money for a real one-of-a-kind addition to your accessory wardrobe.
Necklaces normally $55 to $85, now feature a 30% discount.




Created with flickr slideshow.
Now get out and shop, then spread the wealth and share your finds with the rest of us.

What deals have you found at The Holiday Shops?


Cala Design: J11 on the venue guide, Upper Terrace near the tree

Santa NY: D02 on the venue guide, Fountain Terrace near 6th Avenue

Exotic Handmade Jewelry: D03 on the venue guide, Fountain Terrace near 6th Avenue

For additional information about these vendors and more, visit theholidayshopsatbryantpark.com, become a fan of The Holiday Shops on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

Did You Find Love in Bryant Park?

If the answer is “yes”, let us know!

We are planning a special celebration in the coming months, in honor of all the couples who met, fell in love, became engaged, or tied the knot in Bryant Park.

Contact Susie Sigel at ssigel@urbanmgt.com or (917) 438-5151 to share your stories and learn more about the event.

Receptacle Reminder

Help us decide on a new litter receptacle design and color for Bryant Park!

Click here to vote in the poll.

'Tis the Season: Gifts from Around the World

Every week, a lucky Bryant Park Corporation employee gets to explore The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park to give you a glimpse at what this year's vendors have to offer. Vita found an array of globally produced and inspired gifts for anyone on your shopping list.

One of my favorite things about New York City is that you can experience so much culture in one place. This season, The Holiday Shops present an incredible variety of merchandise from countries around the world.

Art of Kashmir has a bright collection of hand-painted boxes, from $10 to $20, perfect for your pack-rat friends. The round boxes on the top shelf do double duty as storage for matching coaster sets (at $25), and the animal shaped boxes are too darn cute. Art of Kashmir’s sister kiosk in the park, Kashmir Moon, is also worth a visit for a beautiful selection of handmade rugs and embroidered jackets in similarly intricate patterns.

At Modern Tibet I was intrigued by the meditation singing bowl, one of my favorite global gift finds…

The shop owner showed me how to spin the accompanying wooden handle around the bowl to create a hollow singing sound. According to the Zen method of meditation, the sound is a way to connect the spirit to the rest of the world. The small bowls start at $49. The kiosk also has a large selection of majestic and peaceful Buddhist Bodhisattva figurines.

From the same region of the world, Himalayan Artwear sells brightly embroidered shirts and hoodies ($35 to $55), as well as warm and friendly hats ($20 to $25), all handmade in Nepal.

Sterling silver Celtic jewelry, from necklaces to pins to earrings, all hail from Ireland at Ireland In Prints. Beautiful and educational, each of these bronze engraved plaques have Celtic myths inscribed on the back of the wooden frame (priced between $19 and $40). Another highlight in the kiosk is a selection of matted photographs from the Emerald Isle by Irish photographer Bill Doyle.

I finished my world tour at St. Petersburg Collections. I'm native Russian, so I looked past the matryoshkas to find some real treats, statues of Father Frost, the secular Russian version of Santa Claus. Without Rudolph or chimneys, Father Frost is a centuries old traditional St. Nick figure with a beard who wishes children Happy New Year and brings presents. All you need is a New Year's Tree and a little faith! These handcrafted lacquer boxes were another favorite find of the day. Some are painted with landscapes, but the best illustrate scenes from Russian folk tales.

Art of Kashmir: H02-H03 on the venue guide, 42nd Street side of the park

Kashmir Moon: L08 on the venue guide, Upper Terrace

Modern Tibet: F08 on the venue guide, 42nd Street side of the park

Himalayan Artwear: E02 on the venue guide, 6th Avenue side of the park

Ireland in Prints: C01 on the venue guide, Fountain Terrace

St. Petersburg Collections: J08 on the venue guide, Upper Terrace

For additional information about these vendors and more, visit theholidayshopsatbryantpark.com, become a fan of The Holiday Shops on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

Help Us Decide

We’re constantly improving Bryant Park, and our litter receptacles are no exception. We’d like your input on three new litter receptacle prototypes for Bryant Park, designed and developed by Bryant Park Corporation’s Director of Design, Ignacio Ciocchini. In the spring of 2010, we want to replace all the litter receptacles in the park with one of these three designs. The receptacles are currently on display in Bryant Park, north of the fountain near Sixth Avenue. Bryant Park Corporation has a Patent Pending on these designs.

Each of the receptacles can be made in any of the three colors that are on display. Please vote for your favorite design and color in the poll below (feel free to base your vote on the images if you haven’t seen the samples in person).

If you have any additional thoughts, please share them by commenting. For example, you may like the style of one receptacle, but prefer one of the other colors. Because the receptacles were created specifically for Bryant Park, any comments on how the designs relate to the park are also appreciated.

1/11/2010 Update: We have updated the images in the poll to reflect the new location of the receptacles in the park.

Let It Snow

Created with flickr slideshow.

A reported 10.9 inches of snow covered New York City after the “Blizzard of 2009” that ended in the early hours of Sunday morning. Although Bryant Park looks magical under a blanket of snow, Bryant Park Corporation Sanitation and Hospitality crew members immediately began clearing pathways at 6am yesterday to create easy access to the park, The Pond, and all The Holiday Shops.

According to Coordinating Supervisor, Martin Nembhard, the team’s first priority was to clear snow and ice from all sidewalks and pedestrian crosswalks surrounding the park. Next up were the park’s Upper Terrace, Fountain Terrace, 42nd and 40th Street Allees. Staff members from Upsilon Ventures, producers of The Pond and The Holiday Shops, took care of shoveling the ice rink and green deck in the center of the park.

Martin reports that 16 crew members completed the bulk of the work in approximately 6 hours. 40 boxes (that’s 2,000 pounds) of calcium chloride were spread over the park grounds to melt ice patches and prevent slips and falls.

It’s tough work, but visitors to the park will attest to the fine job done by the Sanitation and Hospitality crews.

This Week in the Park

Extended hours are in effect for The Pond and rink-side restaurant, Celsius. Warm up for the holidays with a hot and tasty winter beverage or by taking a spin on New York City’s only free admission ice skating rink.

The Pond at Bryant Park
8:00am – Midnight
Daily through December 30
Weather permitting

Celsius Restaurant
12:00pm – Midnight
Daily through December 30

Visit bryantpark.org for a calendar of events in the park, or sign up here to have weekly listings sent to your inbox.

Bryant Park on the Web

“Plans envision multimodal ‘crossroads’ at Mt. Vernon Square” from GreaterGreaterWashington.org
Bryant Park mentioned as inspiration for D.C. public space.

“Dish Buzz: Bryant Park Grill” from Grits in the City
Restaurant critic reviews dishes from the Bryant Park Grill on her blog.

“Keeping things on the level at Fenway” from NHL.com
Engineer and ice rink consultant for The Pond, Tim Thiel, works on new rink at Fenway Park.


On our radar this week

“As Good as Having an Uncle in the Business” from The New York Times
Low cost and free cultural events in New York City.


Scenes from Bryant Park

“Man Down, The Pond at Bryant Park” from the blog City Feedback

The holiday season has hit the Bryant Park NYC Flickr pool.

From over 700 beautiful images taken by park visitors, we selected and were generously granted permission from Alex Kotlik to use his photograph Bryant Park Silence on the front of our holiday card this year.

Don’t forget to add your winter photographs of Bryant Park to the pool. We love seeing the park through the eyes of others, plus we’re already on the look out for a photo for next year’s card!

'Tis the Season: Gifts for Dad

Every week, a lucky Bryant Park Corporation employee gets to explore The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park to give you a glimpse at what this year’s vendors have to offer. Check out the gift options for dads that Ethan found throughout the park in just one hour of shopping.
Amidst the holiday music, parties, tree lightings, concerts, special events, and end of year work, it's time to brave the crowds and search for something unusual, useful and special for my Dad.

My Dad might be one of the most difficult people on my list to please. I usually get him books, but I'm determined to find something different this year. My ground rules are: 1) shopping cannot take very long, 2) the gift must be something that I like, 3) it must be something he will want to use, and 4) it must be able to be mailed easily. So I'm taking an hour at lunchtime to find and buy a perfect gift.

Although my Dad has never worn ties regularly, he needs at least one for special occasions. Andy Fera is a NYC designer that creates ties and cufflinks. He has silk ties in a variety of colors for $30 each, and microfiber ties (washable and ironable) that are 2 for $30. Andy's cufflinks ($50) are sterling silver and available in mother of pearl, enamel, coral, and geometric designs. As a holiday bonus, Andy gives a tie free of charge to anyone who signs up for his mailing list.



Ties and cufflinks from Andy Fera
In my Dad's office, there is empty wall space everywhere you see, so he needs something there. John Conn's photographs at The Conn Artist capture moments from 1980’s New York City, as well as from his adventures throughout the world. He uses a heat transfer process to put his photos on T-shirts ($25 each or two for $40), and his prints come unframed or framed ($45 to $125) and as cards ($4). Photo albums of his wonderful pics (handmade in Argentina by a friend) are sold for $100, and photos printed on canvas, locked between two layers of glass, and framed are $375. Next month, John is off to Antarctica for a new adventure and more photographs that we may see next year at The Shops.


T-shirts, prints, and cards from The Conn Artist
From Northampton, MA, (originally from Argentina) come the artists at Momo Glassworks, a popular kiosk on the Upper Terrace, full of art in the form of colorful and sparkly rings, pendants, pins, artwork, and more. For times when my Dad really wants (or has) to dress up, Momo's multilayered colored glass links are beautiful and they cost only $36. Plus, they create fused glass links with enamel and metal inclusions that really sparkle ($44), as well as wonderful art pieces that are meant to hang on a wall ($90 to $120).


Momo Glassworks kiosk and cufflinks
For any man who has dreamed of being a Samurai, this is the next best thing and perfect for everyday use. Knife designer Corey Milligan of New West KnifeWorks partners with bladesmiths from Seki, Japan (the center of Samurai sword making for the last 800 years) to create gorgeous, handmade knives. The blades are made from the finest high carbon stainless steel, optimized to hold an edge and to be sharpened easily. Corey fashions multi-colored fusionwood handles that will stay beautiful for years with little maintenance, as well as fusionwood knife displays for the wall or kitchen counter. The Phoenix Line features nearly indestructible Corian-like material or tropical Cocobolo wood for the handles, and 16-layer Damascus forged high carbon steel blades. Knives are $45 to $179, accessories are $25 to $59 (diamond sharpener is $39), and sets go from $150 to $995.


Knives and fusionwood displays from New West KnifeWorks
My shopping is now done for the day in under an hour, including a quick lunch on the go: a delicious spinach gozlem (with hot sauce) from the Turkish food kiosk, Eat & Go, and a huge chocolate chip's more cookie from Lovin Eat.
So what did I choose for my Dad? It was a difficult decision, but a New West Knife is too useful and beautiful to pass up, and one of the free ties by Andy Fera is a perfect stocking stuffer.
What great gifts have you found at The Holiday Shops?


Andy Fera: F03 on the venue guide, near 42nd Street & 6th Avenue entrance of the park

The Conn Artist: D04 on the venue guide, Fountain Terrace

Momo Glassworks: J05 on the venue guide, North side of the Upper Terrace

New West KnifeWorks: G04 on the venue guide, 42nd Street Allee

Eat & Go: H08 on the venue guide, 42nd Street Allee, East end

Lovin™ Eat: H07 on the venue guide, 42nd Street Allee, East end

For additional information about these vendors and more, visit theholidayshopsatbryantpark.com, become a fan of The Holiday Shops on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

Did You Find Love in Bryant Park?

If the answer is “yes”, let us know!

We are planning a special celebration in the coming months, in honor of all the couples who met, fell in love, became engaged, or tied the knot in Bryant Park.

Contact Susie Sigel at ssigel@urbanmgt.com or (917) 438-5151 to share your stories and learn more about the event.

This Week in the Park

Gift seekers and shoppers rejoice! Extended hours begin at The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park.

The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park
10:00am – 10:00pm
Daily, December 14 – December 23

Visit bryantpark.org for a calendar of events in the park, or sign up here to have weekly listings sent to your inbox.

Bryant Park on the Web

“Flush-Forward Is Out. Hand-Scrubbed Is In” from The New York Times City Room Blog
Herald Square Park and Greeley Square Park managers replace automated public toilets with manual restrooms, based on the popular amenity in Bryant Park.

“What’s the Deal: Bryant Park Kiosks” from NBC New York
Video of Frank DiPrisco, Executive Director of Upsilon Ventures, discussing The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park.

“Celsius at Bryant Park” from Greg Betza Illustration
Drawings of The Pond and Celsius by artist and park passerby, Greg Betza.


On our radar this week

“Le Pain Quotidien to Operate Cafe at the Sheep Meadow” from The New York Times Diner’s Journal
Popular restaurant chain wins bid to take over existing cafe in Central Park.


Scenes from Bryant Park

“Bryant Park Carousel By Night” from the blog New York in Photographs

'Tis the Season: Fashionable Finds

Every week, a lucky Bryant Park Corporation employee gets to explore The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park to give you a glimpse at what this year’s vendors have to offer. Kati discovered one of a kind clothing items from a few of the emerging fashion designers who have created boutiques in the park this season.


I set out to survey the fashion options at The Shops, and ended up doing more shopping for myself than the people on my holiday list.

Miss Hoe is the proprietor and designer of her self-named shop on the Fountain Terrace. Her colorful, cheery, and chic pieces will make you immediately forget the cold winter weather. I found some very interesting items (knitwear, graphic prints, florals and plaid) in cuts I haven’t seen in other stores. I loved the flexibility of her offerings, as many pieces do double duty as tops, or belted tunics. They are well worth the price at $75 to $165. The individuality of Miss Hoe’s designs are only matched by her out-of-this-world toys. Made to be fastened in any way you might dream up, these cute collectibles come with 3 pieces of hardware for keychaining, necklacing, cell phone charming, safety pinning and ornamenting.


Created with flickr slideshow.

Sandra Baquero Designs on the Upper Terrace is a great spot to outfit yourself for the winter season.

Her collection of coats, dresses, and accessories comes in a variety of vibrant patterns and colors. Amongst all the designs, I zeroed in on the sleeveless version of Sandra’s convertible wrap dress. This is versatility in overdrive. Belt it as a dress. Wear it as a vest. Wrap the collar as a scarf. Throw the hood up in the rain. Drape it for warmth. The signature piece starts at $65 in jersey and is $190 for more rare and unique prints. Stop by when you’re in the park for a full demo of the ten plus ways to wear this wardrobe staple.

Created with flickr slideshow.

Another fun sartorial stop at The Holiday Shops is Animated Closet. With an array of patterns and styles inspired by European trends and Japanese Anime, you’ll find a piece for everyone on your list. Dresses and skirts are reasonably priced from $48 to $88, and the highest priced garment in the store, the jacket-dress, is $168. Children’s clothing stays under $44, and jewelry falls in the $15 to $60 range. The shop also carries a vibrant selection of bags, accessories, and even some brightly colored undergarments.


Created with flickr slideshow.

Miss Hoe: D14 on the venue guide, Northeast of the fountain on the Fountain Terrace

Sandra Baquero Designs: L07 on the venue guide, Upper Terrace near the Holiday Tree

Animated Closet: L15 on the venue guide, Upper Terrace near the William Cullen Bryant Monument

For additional information about these vendors and more, visit theholidayshopsatbryantpark.com, become a fan of The Holiday Shops on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

Setting Records at The Pond

Yesterday, ABC Family successfully broke the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of Santa’s Elves on
The Pond at Bryant Park.

The World Record Elf party, held in honor of ABC Family’s Original movie Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe, attracted 607 people dressed in Guinness World Record approved elf costumes and broke the previous record of 250 elves.

Santa Baby 2 stars Jenny McCarthy and Dean McDermott were on hand to thank the crowd and accept the Guinness World Record certificate.

Photograph courtesy of worldrecordsacademy.org

Read more about the event on ABC Family’s blog, and watch the elves do the wave at the World Records Academy website.

Another record was broken recently at The Pond on Saturday, November 28, when 5,220 people skated in a single day! The previous record of 5,004 skaters was set in 2008.

This Week in the Park

Help ABC Family set the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of Santa’s Elves. You’ll get your very own elf costume when you come to The Pond for an afternoon of games, prizes, and holiday cheer. Special appearances will be made by Jenny McCarthy and Dean McDermott from the new ABC Family original movie Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe.

Please note, public skating will be closed during this event, but The Pond Skating Pavilion will remain open to those who wish to watch or participate in the event. Skating will open to the public at 2pm.

ABC Family’s World Record Elf Party
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Monday, December 7
The Pond at Bryant Park

Visit bryantpark.org for a full calendar of events in the park, or sign up here to have weekly listings sent to your inbox.

Bryant Park on the Web

“Rangers, fans score for Toys for Tots” from NHL.com
Recap of 16th annual NY Rangers Holiday Toy Drive, held at The Pond at Bryant Park.

“Dear Mayor of New York City” from LettersofNote.com
Image and transcript of a complaint letter to the mayor from 1911 about “disgraceful acts that take place daily in Bryant Park”.

“It’s the holidays, Time to drink” from NYBarFly.com
The Pond’s rink-side restaurant, Celsius, is a recommended seasonal drinking spot.

“Where to stay for a very merry New York Christmas” from Oyster Blog
Bryant Park Hotel makes the list of top hotels for taking advantage of NYC holiday attractions.


On our radar this week

“Mike’s Angels” from The Architect’s Newspaper
Roundtable discussion with NYC commissioners of transportation, design and construction, planning, and parks.


Scenes from Bryant Park

“Bryant Park silence” by Alex Kotlik from the Bryant Park Flickr Pool

Take a "Carol-oke" Break in Bryant Park

Stop by The Pond at Bryant Park until 6pm today to test your pipes and get your groove on at “Carol-oke” hosted by TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

Record your own holiday caroling video in the park and in the spirit of the season, TJ Maxx and Marshalls will donate $1 to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program for every video uploaded to their YouTube site. You can also participate in special contests, giveaways, and interactive games on site.

From 12pm to 2pm, celebrity guests including Hairspray’s Nikki Blonsky, American Idol’s Kimberley Locke, and cast members of the hit TV show Glee, will be on hand to coach and carol with the crowd.

If all that singing makes you hungry, check out one of the many dining options in the park. From rink-side restaurant, Celsius and the Bryant Park Grill, to ‘wichcraft’s menu at the Southwest Porch or snacks from The Holiday Shops, we’ve got you covered in all corners of the park.

'Tis the Season: Presents for Animal Enthusiasts

Every week, a lucky Bryant Park Corporation employee gets to explore The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park to give you a glimpse at what this year's vendors have to offer. Nell hunted down great gift items for animal lovers and pet owners.

My best friend from high school is a true animal lover so I hit the Holiday Shops in search of the perfect gift for her. I was pleasantly surprised to find a number of fun ideas throughout the park.
First, I stopped into J-Wave on the Upper terrace near the Holiday Tree. The shop is chock full of charming home accents and perfect stocking-stuffers. An adorable collection of animal shaped desk calendars, from panda bears to bunny rabbits, caught my eye at $10 apiece. Add a matching notepad and you’ve got a perfect gift set. The shop also sells a wide variety of animal themed holiday cards including pop-up and advent cards for $5 each. For tea enthusiasts, consider a Tea for Two set, complete with two cups and a pot adorned with a precious animal figure lid. The sets sell for $39 and are sure to brighten any rainy afternoon.



Just around the corner on the Upper Terrace, I wandered into Bear Hands & Buddies, a delightful store specializing in mittens, scarves and hats.
Their signature item is a pair of mittens which resemble the paws of a bear. Available in adult and youth sizes, the mittens have a flap at the palm which allows for the use of your digits on cold days. The scarves and hats feature stuffed animal details that children will love, and are a clever way to convince your little ones to bundle up in the cold. The mittens run from $13 to $21 and hats and scarves are $16 a piece.



My friend is also the proud owner of a feisty French bull dog, and lucky for me there is a whole shop dedicated to doggy treats and outfits in the southwest corner of the park. Annie's Dog Bakery and Boutique has a fantastic collection of canine coats, sweaters, hats, and cookies. I was immediately blown away by the delectable looking selection of treats behind the counter including everything from dog-healthy cannolis, pretzels, and doughnuts, to cookies shaped like martini glasses and taxi cabs. Single treats range in price from $2 to $3.50 or you can purchase an assorted gift box for a friend who loves to spoil his or her pup. For the dog-owning baseball fan, Yankees jerseys and sweatshirts in canine sizes are bestsellers this year.




J-Wave: L05 on the venue guide, Upper Terrace near the Holiday Tree

Bear Hands & Buddies: K04 on the venue guide, Upper Terrace near the Holiday Tree

Annie's Dog Bakery and Boutique: B01 on the venue guide, 40th St. side of the Fountain terrace

For additional information about these vendors and more, visit theholidayshopsatbryantpark.com, become a fan of The Holiday Shops on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.