‘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:

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‘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…

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‘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.

‘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.

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

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‘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.

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‘Tis the Season: Gifts for Mom

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. Catherine discovered some great gift options for moms.

As much as I love my family, it has expanded in the past few years and buying Christmas gifts for everyone is no longer practical. We’ve become a name-drawing family, and this year I drew my mom’s name from the hat. I’ve already picked out her main gift, but wanted some fun accent items, too. Candles and olive oil are among the items on my mom-approved gift list, and I spotted some great options on the 42nd Street side of the park.

Long Island Candle Factory offers all sorts of treats for your senses, like all natural soy candles with cotton wicks, reed diffusers, bath salts and scented oils. They blend all the oils themselves, so you’re guaranteed one-of-a-kind products straight from Long Island (they even create a “Bryant Park” scent exclusively for The Holiday Shops). After smelling no fewer than 15 delectable candles, I opted for a Cinnamon candle with an aroma that made me want to eat it! Candles are priced between $12 and $20.

    

One of the closest kiosks to the 42nd Street mid-block entrance of the park, Sabon features a variety of products in amazing scents that are delectable enough to entice passersby off the sidewalk and into the park.

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‘Tis the Season: The Holiday Shops Gift Guide

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.

The range of products available right now at The Holiday Shops is more diverse than any of the six seasons past. To outfit a stylish newborn or toddler, head straight to Madison Parker on the 40th Street side of the park, near the Southwest Porch. The booth’s collection of pint-sized onesies, long and short sleeved tees, and hooded sweatshirts are printed with designs inspired by 1980’s nostalgia. Priced from $20 to $30, a large mix of colors and prints (including big wheels, record players, and old school boom boxes) come in sizes for newborns, 6 year olds, and all kids in between.

  

A few steps away, you’ll find Eda & Betty Heirloom Couture. Available at Nordstrom throughout the year, the handmade necklaces and bracelets are offered at The Holiday Shops for 70% less than in-store prices ($49 to $189 at Bryant Park, as opposed to $189 to $520 in the department store!).

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