campaigns : Campaign Archive

December 7, 2006

Shopping the Holiday Fairs in NYC from your computer; Saving Lord and Taylor; there’s more than one tree; and don’t forget the martinis

The Three Tomatoes love New York City during the holidays. As the song says “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”. But the best description of New York City during the holidays would be a little more Charles Dickens, "it’s the best of times and the worst of times.” The worst: You can’t get a cab and even if you do, you’ll be sitting in grid lock traffic with that little fare meter going ka-ching, ka-ching; restaurants have been booked for months; stores are mobbed; and tourists are everywhere. The Best: Tourists are everywhere, the windows are magical, the tree at Rockefeller Plaza is spectacular, Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue are glorious, and no matter how humbug you’re feeling, eventually the “spirit” of it all does do its magic. So we thought we’d share a bit of the holidays in New York with some of our favorite things, starting with some great items we’ve found at the Holiday Fairs that are in full swing all around the City.

You can shop the holiday Fairs from your computer

Last month we did a round up on the holiday fairs and markets that open up all around the city this time of the year, from Union Square to Columbus Circle. Well last week, The Three Tomatoes took advantage of the spring like weather we were having and did a whirlwind of several of the fairs. We found some terrific items all from New York based designers and manufacturers. And here’s the best part. The ones we’re sharing with you all have e-commerce web sites so you can let your mouse do the walking.

At the Bryant Park Holiday Fair, we were enticed by the incredible scents from The Long Island Candle Factory. These candles are hand poured and soot free. And you’ll love the fun names like Montauk Mist, Oyster Bay, Fire Island, Hampton Beach, and Long Beach. With these scents you’ll think it's summer on Long Island all year long.

Moving downtown to Union Square, we loved the bags and accessories from Insiders New York. This unique line exhibits the beauty, energy and raw imagery of urban New York City. All the bags and accessories are created from their own original photos, and then hand printed on leather and other fine materials at their factory in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. It doesn’t get much more New York than that.

We found the most adorable childrens hats and jackets from Paradis Found Designs , (also at Bryant Park). They have classic ear flap hats and camp jackets handmade from vintage cotton blankets from the 1940s and 1950s, all one of a kind.

Okay, this was one of those “one for you, one for us” purchases. We couldn’t resist the hand made soaps and skin care products from Niño, Made with Love. Made from minerals and salts from the Dead Sea you’ll love them. We bought a shea butter face cream, yummy.

And from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, comes Kee-Ka, the most adorable little tee shirts for infants and toddlers that are packaged in award-winning little brown boxes that are self-sealable and ready to mail. You’ll find them at all the holiday fairs. And if you’re wondering Kee-Ka means baby talk in every language on this planet.

At Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Station, you’ll find exquisite table runners and place mats from New York designer Jeanne Melillo of Jeanne Home Designs. Made of glorious silks, linens, and other great fabrics, the designs range from traditional to contemporary and encompass many styles. Most are limited editions or one of a kind.

Holiday Windows and saving Lord and Taylor

The best time to really view the holiday windows is in the morning before the stores open. You won’t get pushed and shoved, and you’ll actually get to see them. Our favorites once again this year are Macy’s and Lord and Taylor’s, with the latter taking top honors. And by the way, there is an ugly rumor circulating in Crains Magazine that the owners of the Lord and Taylor flagship Fifth Avenue store may close or relocate it. In fact in an incredibly out of touch statement, a Crain editor wrote “If Lord & Taylor were to leave Fifth Avenue, few New Yorkers would miss it.” Hello? Well the entire Three Tomatoes world would miss it for starters. So, please, if you want to keep this venerable Fifth Avenue landmark exactly where it is, email RichardBaker@nrdc.com. Mr. Baker is President of NRDC Equity Partners the firm that recently bought this 180 year old institution. And you might want to cc EButler@crain.com while you’re at it so she'll know there are a lot of us who would miss L&T on Fifth Avenue.

The other trees and martinis at the most Christmas place in NYC

Okay, so it’s not really the holidays until you’ve stood with the masses to see the tree at Rock. But there are some other trees worth seeing too. Like at Bryant Park, the South Street Seaport, Lincoln Center and the Museum of Natural History, to name but a few.

Whew we’re exhausted. Time to head over to Rolf’s on Third Avenue at 22^nd Street. This old time German restaurant is decorated to the hilt with 10,000 Christmas lights and German Victorian Christmas ornaments everywhere you look. A great place to stop and have that much deserved martini and get a little holiday cheer.

Happy holiday shopping,

‘til next week,

The Three Tomatoes