NYC Holiday Window Displays

A holiday shopping excursion in New York City is not complete without checking out the decorated windows.  I spent one Christmas Eve on a layover in the city, and enjoyed a trip to look at all the beautiful lights and decorations.  It made being away from home on a holiday a little less depressing.

What is there to see?  Here are some of the major displays that I’d recommend:

• Rockefeller Center:  The tree is lit, and the Swarovski decorations are up.  There are lots of other decorations to see in the area, and there’s skating at the ice rink.   Rockefeller Center is located between Fifth and Seventh Avenues and 47th and 51st.
• Sak’s Fifth Avenue:  Directly across from the Fifth Avenue entrance to Rockefeller Center, is Sak’s (5th at 49th).  This is one of my very favorite stores ““ any time of the year ““ but even more so during the holidays.  You’ll find the line to look at the windows snaking around the block.  The theme this year is Snowflakes, and includes animation and music.
• Lord & Taylor:  Just down the street from Sak’s you’ll find Lord & Taylor (5th at 39th).  The windows this year on based on an Antique Postcard theme, with each window decorated to reflect the era of the postcard.
• Macy’s:  These are some of the most famous holiday window displays around (Broadway, between 34th & 35th).  Every year the windows feature scenes from the classic Christmas movie Miracle on 34th Street, as well as another special theme for the year.  The theme this year is Trees, with each display tree decorated around a different theme such as peace (in photo above), friendship, joy and love.  The lines are long during peak viewing times.

There are, of course, lots of wonderful smaller displays scattered around the city, but these are the ones that always work their way to the top of my list. 

Photo credit:  flickr

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