Once upon a time, many moons ago, Valentine’s Day had absolutely nothing to do with romance; instead it was a time to observe religious martyrs named Saint Valentine (apparently there were quite a few of them). Luckily we have the High Middle Ages and their tradition of courtly love to thank for the shift and so, for quite a long time, February 14 has been a time to celebrate love and being smitten. View More
We’re all familiar with the image: the perfect wedding, the beautiful bride, the pretty bridesmaids, grinning groom & groomsmen, incorrigible ring bearer and the fluttering troupe of flower girls. Typically our eyes are drawn to the bride: her dress (Monique? Ines? Oscar?) and how her veil drifts perfectly over her gown. But it is the prelude to her walk down the aisle that gives us all giggles… those darling flower girls spilling fistfuls of petals behind them. View More
Let me begin by saying that this post is dedicated to our gentlemen readers.
Yes, that’s right: this post is dedicated to the man who… waits….and procrastinates. You know who you are. Yes, you with the shameless, guilty grin…I’ve seen you on the Main Floor, 4pm Christmas Eve; you’re the one with a crumpled list full of names who are, undoubtably, missing gifts. So stop lurking in the shadows and listen up, boys. I’m going to keep this easy for you. So pull out your highlighter & get ready to print.
This is what she really wants to open this week View More
Remember that December 25 early morning rush? That tingly anticipation… the unstoppable curiosity to see what just Santa left under the tree. The before sunrise quiet… barely buzzing with suspense. I recall racing downstairs, ecstatic with the revelation that brother received the Lego Pirate Ship. I was three, he was seven. It was the awesomest Lego Pirate Ship ever. There were cannon-balls and palm trees, a yellow Lego pirate with a painted-on eye-patch and hook. View More
We make no judgments about those among us who have not crossed off every name on their Christmas list. What are the holidays without an extra serving of stress? But stay calm, there’s still time to do this right. View More
First: Imagine that you’re five or six years old. Rambunctious. Curious. And sly.
Second: You’ve snuck into Conde Nast and Isaac Mizrahi is your fashion fairy godfather. View More
Sometimes it feels as though New York was made for the holidays — from Fifth Avenue’s glittering stream of holiday windows and Rockefeller Center’s larger-than-life tree to the cozier, quainter charm found in Carroll Gardens, Little Italy and Todt Hill. Streamed with flickering snowflakes, our neighborhood streets transform with a line-up of seasonal additions: Christmas tree stands, holiday curiosity pop-up shops, carolers (we once came across a troupe singing to the strums of a ukelele) and more. We love our New York holiday traditions — amidst all the fast-paced bustle, they give us an opportunity to step back, be still and savor nostalgia. Which brings me to another time-honored holiday tradition: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. View More
It’s hard to find the perfect present for the tech-savvy among us—they’re so up to date on what’s what that your gift risks coming in a distant second to the next big thing. Stay calm, take a step back, and think about something that’s both inventive and simple. View More
“The Greatest Gift”, which was originally published in 1944 and written by author Philip Van Doren Stern, would eventually provide the inspiration for the screenplay of the classic Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” directed by Frank Capra. View More
