Window Watching

Henri Bendel Window

One of my favorite holiday pastimes is heading into New York City early on a weekend morning, before the crowds arrive, to see the holiday windows of the Fifth Avenue department stores. It’s become a tradition in my family; we’ll wake up early, stop for coffee, and drive into Manhattan before most New Yorkers are even awake.  Besides being a festive outing, the artistry and creativity of the windows is always inspiring to me as a designer. This year the Henri Bendel windows featured some incredible scenes – ranging from an interpretation of the Nutcracker to amazing travelogues. If you’re in the New York City area, it’s worth a visit! And you may want to finish your window watching with breakfast at one of my favorite breakfast restaurants in all of Manhattan – Norma’s at Le Parker Meridien. No matter what city you live in, there’s so much great design to experience during the holidays!