City Energy

I know it's cliche to talk about the energy of the city (I also know it's cliche to say cliche), but I believe real city energy--the kind that makes you feel connected to the world--is not so much about the "busyness" of the city as it is about being physically close to other people.

I came to this conclusion after returning from a week in Tuscon where things were in motion but people didn't brush up against each other like they do in New York. Here you are constantly adjusting your personal space for others, i.e., making yourself smaller in the elevator, inching over on your subway seat, or adjusting your path on the sidewalk. There are people everywhere. They are close to you. You have to lower your eyes or concentrate on looking ahead to avoid staring at them.

I find the energy that comes from being physically close to so many people all day is, well, energizing. Oddly, it's one of those things you don't realize you may be missing until you experience it then go without for a while, a bit like going without salt.

Here is another video from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Soooo many people. . . and this was a block off the parade path.

In a SOHO shop window.

Elegantly simple use of spray snow in a coffee shop window in SOHO.

A giant snowflake decorates an intersection of New York's Fifth Avenue.

Barneys New York and Lady Gaga

This is a sculpture inside Lady Gaga’s Workshop on the fifth floor of Barneys New York.

Foosball Barbies!

FAO Schwarz is a great place to spend an hour if the place isn't swarmed. There are musicians demonstrating the latest boxed magic kit and really patient sales people helping kids throw circular-flying Balsa wood airplanes. You can also get your photo taken with a very tall live toy soldier before entering the store. I wonder if he's also there for theft prevention like the Walmart greeters.

I was there on a Monday, and things weren't too crazy, but I am sure it's a madhouse most other days this time of year. Just so you know, I didn't see anything amazingly new. No matter how much imagination has been put into the toy design, the best play comes from using your own, in my opinion.

Bergdorf Goodman

The most amazing jewelry and handbags can be found on the first floor of Bergdorf Goodman. It is like walking through a museum of Beauty. It took my breath away. Every item on display felt like it was the only thing you should look at until your eye ventured onto the next thing. I spent two hours here just looking. My purchase was from the candy store- -$36 for a 16 oz. box of caramel toffee (roasted pecans and walnuts, sweet butter toffee, pink Himalayan sea salt and milk chocolate). Worth every penny.

Here's a very small section of one of their famous windows. This one was all paper sculpture and was stunning. Everywhere you looked, you found intricately designed objects made out of pieces of paper.

You can see their magnificent windows here.