Showing posts with label [photos: Top - Saks Fifth Avenue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label [photos: Top - Saks Fifth Avenue. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Macy's Holiday Lane Is The Best


When I first moved to Manhattan I found my 
Christmas ornaments and stockings mainly at Saks Fifth Avenue with a couple of radiant ornaments at Bloomingdale's. There was no need to leave my neighborhood to go down to Herald Square for anything. 

Nowadays Macy's is the only retailer I'd consider because for sure, of the 3 stores, it has the most extensive assortment of holiday decor and accessories, including Nativity Scenes which 
Bloomingdale's and Saks have sadly dropped from their inventory, a decision that makes little sense!

Certainly, I understand people not buying a Nativity Scene who don't celebrate Christmas, but when retailers won't sell the religious artifacts that Christmas epitomizes it's a silly attempt to be politically correct! My Jewish friends love Christmas chorals and celebrating my holiday with me, and they don't feel less Jewish for it. Likewise, I'm honored to be invited to the celebrations of other religions. I never feel disloyal or like it's an attempt to convert me. Hell, we live in a global world and melting-pot country. Everyone should be free to take pride in their ethnicities, cultures, and faith traditions, and we shouldn't be afraid to take a glimpse of the wider world by stepping outside of our rituals.

What's more, Saks and Bloomingdale's don't carry enough of a holiday selection
 anymore, restricting their holiday offerings to one small area of a floor. Macy's still makes its offerings look like Santa Claus's workshop, which is located on its 9th floor. All of the glitter and gold as you walk the floor helps you understand the magic of Christmas, commercial though it is. You remember the awe you felt as a child when your parents took you out to see Christmas displays where you shopped.

In addition to a wide array of stock to choose from, Macy's offers the best prices and sales on its merchandise so you'll return home happier and less broke.:) Even if you have everything you need from your Christmases past, it's worth a trip to Macy's just to see Holiday Lane. I know from my friends of diverse backgrounds that people of all faiths enjoy it! All are welcome. Who isn't uplifted for a window of time by the sparkle and festiveness!🌍🌎🌏

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Combine Gift Certificates With Seasonal Sales

Every January I'm reminded of how much I like gift certificates. I like giving them, and I like getting them. Receiving presents from people who truly know your tastes is lovely. But, the next best thing is for family and friends to know where you like to shop and to buy you a gift certificate at that store. I've heard more than one school teacher express a preference for gift cards over gifts of food, crafts or wine.

No one has ever offended me with a gift certificate. If it's from a place I like to shop, I'm grateful and delighted to receive it. What I like about giving them is, I know for a fact the recipient will get something he, or she likes -- perhaps, something that was left out of his Christmas stocking. Plus, the person I'm trying to make happy has the option of adding money to my gift -- for a splurge on an expensive item that she can now afford without busting her budget. If your brother loves Apple products, a $50 gift card buys one computer accessory, or is a generous contribution towards software or hardware. So there are few downsides to gift certificates. [Frankly, I can't think of any!]

If the receiver is family or a good friend, we often plan a day of shopping together and catching up. So along with a gift certificate, you're also giving and receiving the gift of time. [These outings began when I was too young to drive and needed a parent to take me shopping. Now with adult friends and a new generation of youngsters, the tradition continues.]

I'm lucky to have my birthday in the summer, and Christmas in winter. When the bi-yearly sales hit, I take my gift certificates and make out like a bandit, often with markdowns of 50% - 75% off. And because I take friends and relatives with me to redeem them, I have a collection of warm memories. Clearly it's time well spent.