UPDATE: It’s 2020 and with Covid, we are all stuck at home. Here’s a fond look back at our 2016 Christmas card from New York City, including windows from the late and lamented Lord & Taylor.
Madge got a last-minute opportunity to join gal pal Mary in New York City. You may remember her from an earlier madcap adventure to Chanute, Kansas. Mary’s husband couldn’t make the trip so Madge got to be the plus one. Any opportunity to visit Madge’s favorite city is an adventure not to be missed. And at Christmas with Mary, well that’s a wonderful bonus.
In an earlier post Madge bemoaned the loss of that great American invention, the department store. But in the Big Apple stores like Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s still shine, especially at Christmas.
Macy’s, the big kahuna of NYC celebrated the season twice with windows on one side of Herald Square featuring a Peanuts Christmas and on the other, Virginia O’Hanlon, who wrote the famous letter to the New York Sun in 1897 asking if there truly was a Santa Claus. The main entrance welcomed shoppers with both Snoopy and Virginia.
![Macys Christmas windows](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/macys-3.jpg?fit=800%2C558&ssl=1)
In this window Charlie Brown and Linus are debating his newly purchased Christmas tree as it falls over from the weight of a single ornament.
![Charlie Brown & Snoopy Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/C-Brown-filmstrip-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C275&ssl=1)
While next door – Snoopy fights the Red Baron
![Snoopy Red Baron](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/macys-1.jpg?fit=800%2C512&ssl=1)
Just inside the main entrance was a beautiful woodland display with animatronic squirrels and a wise old owl.
![](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Macys-Christmas-Trees.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
Lord & Taylor started their festivities with a spectacular sidewalk arbor of lights. Leading to Christmas goodies in both edible and wearable varieties.
![Lord and Taylor Christmas Window](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Lord-Taylor-window-6.jpg?fit=800%2C679&ssl=1)
The highlight of their windows was an enormous white Cuckoo Clock.
![Lord & Taylor Cuckoo clock](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/cuckoo-clock.jpg?fit=808%2C375&ssl=1)
An enormous gingerbread house with a luscious pastry selection next door.
![Lord & Taylor gingerbread men](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Lord-Taylor-window-4.jpg?fit=800%2C529&ssl=1)
![Lord & Taylor pastries](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Lord-Taylor-window-5.jpg?fit=564%2C800&ssl=1)
![Lord & Taylor Christmas WindowRed Dress](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Lord-Taylor-window-3.jpg?fit=800%2C1014&ssl=1)
Next up was Bloomingdales. The windows at Bloomingdales were a beautiful combination of flowers, bells, and mirrored animals. Here’s a nodding French Bulldog made of gold mirrors.
![Bloomingdales French Bulldog](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Bloomingdales-4.jpg?fit=701%2C1024&ssl=1)
This buck surrounded by red roses just took Madge’s breath away. If you look closely you can see that his horns are made of Christmas bells.
![Bloomingdales Christmas window Deer](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Bloomingdales-3.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
Who doesn’t like a red bear with a lollipop?
![Bloomingdales Christmas window Holiday bear](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Bloomingdales-5.jpg?fit=699%2C921&ssl=1)
By the way, Bloomies does sell clothes . . .
![Bloomindales Christmas window 2015](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Bloomingdales-2.jpg?fit=800%2C964&ssl=1)
The incredible display by Saks Fifth Avenue, Winter Palace, was a mind-bending combination of futuristic fashion and iconic wonders of the world.
![Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas windows](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Saks-4.jpg?fit=800%2C868&ssl=1)
![Saks 5th Avenue Christmas window](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Saks-5.jpg?fit=800%2C947&ssl=1)
![Saks Christmas window](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Saks-7.jpg?fit=800%2C779&ssl=1)
![Christmas window New York City](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Saks-11.jpg?fit=800%2C809&ssl=1)
Of course, a Madge NYC Christmas card wouldn’t be complete without Rockefeller Center.
![Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Rockafeller-tree.jpg?fit=800%2C1017&ssl=1)
![Radio City Christmas Decorations](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/String-lights.jpg?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1)
![Radio City Reindeer](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Reindeer.jpg?fit=800%2C568&ssl=1)
![Radio City Christmas Tree](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Radio-City.jpg?fit=715%2C1024&ssl=1)
Madge leaves you, dear readers, with a video of the Saks window launch. Madge and Mary delighted in this LED light show on the facade.
![Merry Christmas from MadgesHatbox Vintage](https://i0.wp.com/madgeshatbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/signature-christmas.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
4 Comments
Even our local Macy’s store is a delight to see. Fun collection of photos here, thanks for sharing.
Wonderful article that brought back memories of Shopping in the Big Department Stores with my Grandmother, there was so much glamor and magic! I sure do miss it.
wonderful! nothing like NYC at Christmas
Fun!!! I’ve always wanted to Christmas shop in Manhattan. Thanks for the tour.