Best Shopping In Manhattan Awards

AMNewYork, a free local newspaper, not just here but with editions in several US cities, has published its end-of-the-year Best of Manhattan Shopping Awards which I've linked so you can check out every winner in all the categories.

Above 👆and below 👇(pasted as it's easier to read) is AM New York's spotlight on 4 of the winners New Yorkers voted as the best retailer in the city. Locals and tourists alike might like to visit a few of the award winners for bargains and retail therapy:

"Best Antique Store

East Village Vintage Collective
545 E 12th Street
(646) 476-8036 – eastvillagevintagecollective.com

The East Village of old always had an artsy, fun, free, sexy vibe that was framed largely by fashion. Imagine discovering a curated collection of vintage clothing, accessories, and gifts that transports you back in time to this hip scene! It’s not a dreamscape, because the past is presently alive at East Village Vintage Collective. This retro shop offers a treasure trove of unique finds, hand-selected by their team of vintage enthusiasts. From everyday tees and dreamy dresses to statement pieces, there is something in stock for everyone to enjoy. Need a special fit for a photo shoot or production? They also offer rental and discount pricing on a wide range of vintage pieces. Enjoy a blast from fashion’s past while supporting a woman-owned small business.

Best Book Store

Strand Book Store
828 Broadway
(212) 473-1452 – strandbooks.com

Born in 1927 over on Fourth Avenue, on what was then referred to as “Book Row,” the Strand Book Store began as a modest used book store. The owner, Ben Bass, was a young 25-year-old entrepreneur who possessed a passion for reading. His goal was to create a place where book lovers would come together. The store got its name from a street in London where avant-garde writers once gathered. The Strand became the spot for writers to come together, sell their books, and discover books to purchase. Back in the day “Book Row” spanned six city blocks and was the home to 48 bookstores. Today, the Strand, a Greenwich Village staple, is the only remaining store of Book Row’s past.

Best Thrift Shop

Cure Thrift Shop
111 E 12th St
(212) 505-7467 – curethriftshop.com

An evolving repertoire of clothing, antiques and home goods attracts discerning shoppers to Cure Thrift Shop. The 12th Street location is a coveted boutique-like retailer at home in this chic part of town. Go in any time and find new and appealing selections and stylish items you’ll want to take home from this East Village treasure trove. Shoppers delight in finding an eclectic array of curated fashion pieces, accessories and one-of-a-kind design items. Check out how you can outfit your apartment, and pick up furniture you will realize are rare finds in this glossy city. Cure Thrift customer service individuals will step in to advise and share ideas if you ask. Some say the exchanges, in fact, relegate the shopping experience to more like meeting a new friend.

Best Liquor/Wine Store

Astor Wines & Spirits
399 Lafayette St
(212) 674-7500 – astorwines.com

If you love wine, or just enjoy making a nice mixed cocktail for friends and family, stock your at-home bar with vino and liquors from Astor Wines. There are so many bottles to choose from here – a whole array of champagnes, proseccos, scotches, tequilas and so much more. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, the shop has a “Staff Picks of the Week” feature, hand-picked by the expert team here to help you narrow down your search for a great wine or liquor. If you want to save a bit of cash, check out some bargain bottles. Amazing wines and spirits are often on sale at Astor Wines & Spirits, giving you tons of taste without having to drop big bucks!"

New Yorkers have spoken with their votes. You're welcome!🛍🛒

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Sterilite Drawer Carts Make Organizing A Breeze

In a small New York City apartment, organization is the key to maximizing space and keeping it free from clutter and chaos. Everything I own has a place, its own home so I can find and use it. I don't have spare bedrooms or a garage for storage and yet I need the same amount of things to cook, clean, and entertain friends as the lucky people who live in large apartments or houses.

Still, we shouldn't overspend on organizers! It's much better to purge than to buy pricey organizers. That said, every necessity should have a designated place. I love ♥Sterilite Drawer Carts♥(and plastic clear shoe boxes for small items). Not only are they inexpensive but they're relatively strong, a somewhat flexible plastic, durable, and well-designed for the task of keeping things compartmentalized and grouped together.

Sterilite Drawer Carts come in a few sizes to fit larger or smaller spaces. The medium cart that measures 14 1/2" (D) x 12 5/8" (W)  x 24" (H) fits best in my small apartment. I bought 2 of this size and they sit perfectly side by side on the floor of one of my closets to give me 6 good-sized easy-to-open and close plastic drawers that I can see-through to know what I stow inside. I like to put small hair tools such as a curling iron, hair straightener, and crimper inside one drawer, and personal care or household items such as extra tissue boxes and lightbulbs or even gifts I aim to give to friends in separate drawers. If these objects didn't have a drawer of their own (i.e., a home) they'd be piled up inside my closet and I'd have to remove everything to find what I need. What a waste of time!

The drawer carts are also perfect for seniors who have trouble walking for keeping their essentials such as tissues, napkins, or moisturizers next to their chairs. Mothers of infants have inexpensive storage to neatly keep diapers and baby wipes. They provide plenty of storage at a low cost.

Four wheels make moving the cart effortless to vacuum. 

The plastic cart is also suitable in a bathroom, office, or craft room. The carts come in different colors and opaque textures but I like to see-through the drawers identifying their contents before opening them.

A Sterilite Drawer Cart hack for customers who need to use vertical instead of horizontal space: You can remove the top panel of one cart to affix a 2nd cart (snapping them together) and thus make one secure tall 6-drawer cart! Oh, genius. Perhaps I love these storage drawer carts, inanimate objects that they are, a little too much.♥ You'd think I was writing about fine jewelry! :)

Walmart offers the lowest prices on Sterilite Drawer Carts, but do check Amazon and hardware stores!

Update; In my research, I've discovered another company to buy storage containers at low prices ($10 for the medium drawer cart!!) -- so I've written a part 2 to this blog. Check back on Monday for it to post.

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Pretty And Practical Drop Earrings

Eight years ago during two of Macy's rock-bottom jewelry sales, I bought 2 pairs of drop earrings. Both purchases were splurges, not steals because although the sale prices knocked 2/3rds off the full retail prices, it still cost a chunk of change to buy each pair. 

I noticed that Macy's keeps this drop earring style in its inventory by offering it in different gemstones. Right now the stones available are diamond and multicolored sapphires (top image👆) as well as diamonds and opals.

I wear earrings every day of the year, so I've gotten plenty of wear out of mine. Not too big or too small with good ear coverage and sparkle, they are the perfect everyday earrings. The marquise cut of the gemstones with small round accent diamonds is lovely.

The earrings are 14k yellow gold, 1-carat total weight of selected gemstone with 1/4 carat diamonds. The drop design of the earrings gives the illusion of a greater carat weight. I bought the earrings first in blue sapphires and liked them so much I got the same style in rubies. [Once upon a time they were also offered in emeralds and diamonds, but I stopped at 2 pairs.]

If looking for earrings you can wear every day to work or play, look no further than this ear ribbon style. Without a doubt, I think fine jewelry in 14k gold is too expensive today for the pieces we get, plus the pushbacks that hold the earrings on our ears are extremely slight, but once you bite the bullet and shell out the cash, you'll get a ton of wear out this classic and versatile style.

If in search of a wearable splurge, put these drop earrings on your wish list and wait for the best of Macy's sales for the lowest price. Wait, wait, wait it out to pay $330 - $400 at the most. Nowadays with the high price of gold, they'll rarely get any cheaper, but hey, you might get lucky if they become a Macy's Last Act item!

What's your favorite splurge ... the thing that puts a spring in your step?

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My Little Man Broke!

 

James the Butler has served me well for 30 years. He brings an element of whimsy into my home. Sometimes, if a visitor mentions his cuteness, I like to say he's the man I live with and I explain how cooperative James is. He never gives me any trouble! Often, James the Bulter holds food or drinks for guests who sit on my coach. 

About a week ago, this hardworking, poor little wooden bulter fell off his stand! It's a tragedy that surprises me! At first, I couldn't figure out why. It turns out that the wooden dowels (know that "dowel" is a word I just learned, replacing "thing-of-ma-jig") weakened and deteriorated. A friend told me this is common with today's wood. Nowadays furniture is made with more inferior wood than 50 or 100 years ago. He likes to buy retro and antique furniture to get sturdier furniture that is durable.

I wonder how much it would cost to repair James. I dislike handyman work because I don't know what I'm doing and usually I don't want to learn. But! As it turns out, I can buy the wooden dowels for $5 to $15 for a bunch of different sizes. However as I tried to remove the broken dowels, they didn't pull out in one piece, and now I must locate and borrow a tool (that I hope exists) to get the remainder of the wooden dowels out of James' feet since they no longer protrude to grab onto for pulling out of the holes. If I can do this task myself it will be cheap to replace dowels and attach James back on his platform but if I must take him to a repairman, I'd have to find one, then I believe I'd be charged anywhere from $50 - $100 for the labor.

So for now, I disassembled James the Butler's wooden body from his serving tray, which unfortunately caused his arms to detach and fall off (old dowels again!), so I'm hiding him under my bed for safekeeping until I work out the details of how to make him whole again.

Meanwhile, shhh! Please do not inform New York's Finest, the NYPD about the body under my bed! I don't want a detective ringing my doorbell asking any questions. 😳

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Happy New Year 2025

Photo: iStock

Here we are again starting a brand new year. Truthfully, I'll live the new year much like I did the old one. No monumental changes that I can predict.

For several years now, I've been on a reduce-and-organize kick. I don't deprive myself of things that make my life better, easier, or happier, yet for sure, I've become a more mindful shopper. Call me an under buyer as opposed to an emotional buyer. Beautiful, impractical things stay on a retailer's shelf even if I fall in love while standing in front of them! I do that plenty of times! Still, if I don't have a place, budget, or need for ''it'' (whatever it is) I move on. [↑Photo of fireworks above left: Istock] 

Rockefeller Center tree taken on December 30, 2024

I also take stock of what I already own such as articles of clothing like t-shirts, leggings, or shoes; scented soaps; skincare products (retinols and moisturizers are a weakness); or makeup from eye shadows to lipsticks and have formed the habit of using up what I have at home before adding new products. Over time I've learned our lives get simpler if we're not always out and about looking for more commodities to haul home. When we do replace possessions that either run out or wear out, we can fully enjoy new purchases. It turns out that buying more than enough doesn't tend to save us money or increase our happiness. So my motto is: Always buy enough, not more than enough!

Photo: Dreamstime

There is an area of life where spawning more than enough rocks ... and increases happiness. It's showing kindness to our fellow humans. We can't shower others with more than enough kindness. If you can help someone do it. Little appropriate kindnesses can make a huge difference in the lives of other people. Judge people less. Assess your time and energy to know what you can give. Be generous with your time, acceptance, and hospitality. There are no small gestures only overthinkers who are afraid of extending themselves. In instances when your goodwill isn't received well (as there are all kinds of imperfect people in the world) remember you're only responsible for your good intentions, not someone else's reaction. Move on to the next human, chances are s/he will be on the same page as you! Surround yourself with positive, generous, kind people.

So in 2025, let's rekindle our best efforts from 2024, 2023, 2022, etc. ... and continue growing wiser and better at connecting with one another.

Happy New Year🎉, Readers! Now and then drink the champagne. Know that I love and appreciate you! Many thanks for your support!!

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Merry Christmas Everyone

Adoration of the Christ Child (1620) by Gerard Van Honthorst at The Uffizi Gallery in Florence Italy

Merry Christmas from THE SAVVY SHOPPER. I hope the week fills your life with love, peace, and joy. Whatever your faith tradition is or wherever you live on our globe, everyone is equally valued here, where we can share or learn about each other's cultures and holidays.

Inside my kitchen for Christmas ...

I made a Kentucky bourbon fruitcake (with walnuts, pecans, dried apricots, pineapples, cranberries, raisins, frozen cherries, and fresh blueberries). I baked the cakes the first week of December and have been soaking them with bourbon every few days, aging our treat for Christmas Day.

Know that I baked all these cookies in 2024, then returned to older blogs to switch out the Google images I originally posted, so don't be confused.:)

Four batches of cookies will do this year - Springerle, Scottish shortbread, pecan cookies, and coconut macaroons are enough for family, friends, and building staff.

We're keeping Christmas 2024 low-key. I'm happy to spend it with my senior mother and whoever drops by for homemade low-fat eggnog and treats. During Christmas week I'll walk with a friend down to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree but plan to stay close to home.

A neighborhood friend has her heart set on making us chicken coq vin as a Christmas dinner which we'll gladly accept. Usually for Christmas in my childhood home, my mom made a roast beef dinner. She grew up eating a stuffed roasted goose for Christmas but didn't carry on the tradition of serving any special meal. On December 25th, we simply ate a hearty balanced dinner often roast beef with either potatoes or 

Kartoffelklöße (potato dumplings), gravy, vegetables, and a salad with a loaf of grainy rye bread heated in the oven. It's still one of my favorite meals although I don't eat as much red meat as I did growing up since it's no longer doctor-approved. How we stayed healthy in the past is a mystery.:) 

In celebrating Christmas around the world ... or just joining your friends who do🎁👑🎄: 

Merry Christmas in 25 different languages

• Arabic: عيد ميلاد مجيد (Eid milad majid)
• Chinese: 圣诞快乐 (Shèngdàn kuàilè)
• Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest!
• Farsi: کریسمس مبارک (Krismas Mobaarak!)
• French: Joyeux Noël!
• German: Frohe Weihnachten!
• Greek: Καλά Χριστούγεννα! (Kalá Christoúgenna!)
• Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka!
• Hebrew: חג שמח (Chag Sameach!)
• Hindi: क्रिसमस की बधाई (Krisamas Kee Badhaee!)
• Irish: Nollaig Shona!
• Italian: Buon Natale!
• Japanese: メリークリスマス (Merī kurisumasu)
• Korean: 메리 크리스마스 (Meli keuliseumaseu)
• Latin: Felix Nativitas!
• Polish: Wesołych Świąt!
• Portuguese: Feliz Natal!
• Russian: С Рождеством (S Rozhdestvom!)
• Spanish: ¡Feliz Navidad!
• Swahili: Krismasi Njema!
• Swedish: God Jul!
• Tagalog: Maligayang Pasko!
• Turkish: Mutlu Noeller!
• Vietnamese: Giáng sinh vui vẻ!

If your native tongue isn't on the list, please add it in the comments below. May the season's goodwill touch the world and last in the hearts and deeds of people throughout the year! 

Merry Christmas Everyone!🐑🐪

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Absolutely Beautiful High Jewelry

Harry Winston

We look at lots of eye candy during the holidays. My eye candy of choice is looking at high jewelry, a perk I get that comes with having to walk up or down Madison and 5th Avenues to leave or return home. Today I'll share some of that gorgeous eye candy I see with you. Let's call this Debra's Dream Jewelry, shall we? 🙂

Cleef & Arpels

Few of us could afford high jewelry and if we owned pieces so expensive, the cost of insuring and keeping them safe would undoubtedly complicate our lives. Moreover, unless we get invited to the Met Gala, where would we wear high jewelry? The celebrities who attend award shows are usually loaned their jewelry so when you have the lifestyle, you don't even have to shell out the money to buy it, but I digress.

DeBeers High Jewelry

A glimpse at these absolutely beautiful pieces gives us a boost of endorphins while costing us absolutely nothing.

Le Vian High Jewelry Collection

Le Vian also makes affordable fine jewelry sold at Macy's Herald Square, so if you like the design give Macy's Le Vian Jewelry in its fine jewelry department a browse. As I often say, first a dreamer, then a realist!

Lugano at the upscale preloved stores

Readers, you now understand very well what I must go through here in Manhattan just trying to make my way home.🙂

All these stunning jewels are for sale to folks with deep pockets. Which is your favorite?

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White Poke Cake Made Two Ways

Photo: Tasteful Recipes from Facebook

I haven't made a White Poke Cake -- once upon a time called an Angel Food Cake -- in years but this one is perfectly festive as a Christmas dessert, plus with an alternate custard topping it's suitable for the rest of the year. Perhaps I like the poke cake because I love custard pudding!

The recipe for the Christmas version, which is circulating on Facebook, uses cake mix, however, I never, ever buy cake mix. In my home, the rule is if you eat cake, either buy a good bakery cake or make one yourself. Every cake that enters your piehole must be worth its calories!!

For sure making a cake from scratch is as easy as opening a box of cake mix:

Ingredients for the White Cake Batter

½ cup butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large egg whites, room temperature
½ cup milk, room temperature
1½ cups all-purple flour (I never buy cake flour, but you can.)
2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

1) With an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar.

2) Add the egg whites.

3) Pour in the milk and continue mixing.

4) Follow with the all-purple flour and baking soda.

5) Next pour in the vanilla and almond extract.

6) Bake in a prepared buttered 9-inch square baking pan in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 25 - 30 minutes or until the center is firm.

7) Remove the white cake from the oven. Let cool and remove from the pan while still warm. Next, sit aside to cool completely.

You could make a topping for this White Poke Cake any number of ways, but I'll give you two options. The first cranberry topping is festive for Christmas:

I. Cranberry Poke Cake Topping🎄🎁🔔

ingredients:

14 oz of cranberry sauce - either homemade or canned

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup sugar if it isn't already sweet (taste it and judge.)

Directions:

Simmer the ingredients in a stockpot on the stovetop until smooth and uniform in consistency. You'll pour the cranberry topping over your white poke cake (see #4 below).

The 2nd topping is for the rest of the year:

II. Vanilla-Almond Custard Poke Cake Topping🥛🥚🥛

Ingredients:

4 cups of milk

Photo: iStock

4 egg yolks

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

1) Toss the milk, eggs, sugar, and flour into a stockpot on the stovetop and whisk together. [FYI: I get a smoother custard by blending these ingredients cold.] Stir occasionally while the mixture is heating up.

2) Bring to a boil and on medium heat continue whisking while simmering until the mixture thickens into a custard.

3) Near the end, add the vanilla and almond extracts and stir. Turn off the heat.

4) With a fork poke holes in the top of the cake. Pour your topping of choice on top of the cake. [I've never combined the cranberry and pudding toppings, but if I did I'd use straight cranberry sauce without thinning it with water on top of the custard which I'd pour into the holes of the cake first.🐪🐑]  

At Christmastime, you can use your 4 leftover egg yolks to make my pecan cookies, which I linked, or save them for a breakfast omelet. Waste not, want not.

5) Finish the cake with a dab of real whipped topping if you wish. The sweet creamy goodness only improves the cake.

Bon appètite!

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Shampoo, Conditioner And Soap Bars

Kitsch

There are many good reasons to buy bar soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. IMHO they make excellent pampering and practical gifts! Hint, hint!🎄

Bypassing liquid soaps, shampoos, and conditioners sold in plastic bottles is beneficial, i.e., great for the environment. Less plastic bottles filling up landfills.

I have this shampoo bar.

Bars are concentrated. Consumers skip paying for the water in liquid soap, shampoo, and condition. One bar of product often lasts 2 - 3 times longer than its liquid counterparts, saving you money!

In buying the various personal care bars, be sure to read labels to ensure the ingredients are natural or organic (backed up by an organic certification seal and/or a list of clean ingredients) and free of harmful chemicals such as sulfates and parabens that may be detrimental to human health, as well as, end up in our water supply.

Unlike their liquid peers, bars of soap, shampoo, and conditioner are ultra travel-friendly. You'll have less trouble fitting them into your suitcase or taking them on airplanes. You won't have to wait until you land to begin your vacation by looking for personal care products you like and can afford.

To get you started, here are 8 brands known for their good, clean ingredients, transparency, and minimal packaging to peruse:

EcoRoots

🧼 Ethique

🍃 Lush

🧼 EcoRoots

🍃 SheaMoisture

🧼 J.R. Liggett

🍃 Kitsch

🧼 Davines Love

🍃 Aari & Co.

According to the magazine Natural Awakenings which is free at health food stores, the use of bar soaps, shampoos, and conditioners is on the rise. It recommends keeping the bars dry in between uses to prolong the bars and to keep them hygienic. Keep in a soap dish with drainage holes or a reusable tin for storage. The bars are said to be as effective as liquid soap, shampoo, or conditioner. Says the article, "High-quality bars can produce an impressive leather."

Solid soap, shampoo, and condition for trips make thoughful holiday gifts that a giftee might not buy for themselves!

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