Bright Lights, Big City

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I’m a sucker for Christmas decorations. Really. Unlike many other types of decorations, they have to go a long way before they hit my tackiness threshold.

There used to be a guy living in our neighborhood who decorated his house right after Thanksgiving–spent several days outlining the house and fence in lights, putting inflatable figures in the yard and on the roof, adding wreaths and lights of miscellaneous sorts in various spots. With the leaves off the trees, you could see his house at night from several blocks away, even though he lived in a little hollow. It was a hollow on a cul-de-sac, so we never were sure how his neighbors felt about all the traffic, but we loved his house. We called him Christmas Guy.

Alas, Christmas Guy moved away, so we have to get our fix in other places. A recent trip to New York gave me several opportunities to enjoy holiday decorations, even though I was a little early for most of them. The big tree at Rockefeller Center was still hidden because they were decorating it. And celebrating Swarovski, which had a booth nearby on the plaza.

The plaza itself was already decorated. At one end, Saks Fifth Avenue had snowflakes outlined in lights on the building, but they weren’t illuminated yet. Below is a shot of the plaza with Saks visible in the background. I once got to spend time in New York in December, and I remember being entranced with the various decorations.

There were also toy soldiers guarding the skating rink behind the usual flags. I noticed on TV last night that the various nations’ flags have given way to ones with a holiday motif, which I couldn’t quite make out. This guy is one of several surrounding the rink, each with a different instrument. The trees behind him appear to be wired for lights, but I didn’t get to see those illuminated.

No one I knew played with toy soldiers like these, though you could argue that the board game Risk comes from about the right period. I have seen marching bands wearing similar gear. Regardless, they look festive in the plaza.

Some of the stores also were decorated. This one also is on Rockefeller Plaza. I didn’t go in since I was in a hurry, but it certainly struck me as cheerful and inviting, if a little chaotic. Like I said, I love holiday decorations. This window certainly put me in mind of the season.

Many of the stores on 5th Avenue had their decorations up. My favorite was probably the wintry wonderland tree branches at Van Cleef & Arpels, though the lights don’t show up very well in these daytime shots. I liked the sort of fairyland aspect to the silvery branches and the lights, which weren’t bright white but also sort of silvery.

I liked the winter wonderland aspect of this one, too. (Of course, it also includes cake, something I can enjoy vicariously even if I’m not having it at the time.) Other people were photographing this woman and her cake, too. She looks as though she could be the Queen of Winter in that gorgeous dress with all those cakes and decorationis surrounding her. The little creatures in the suits could be putting the finishing touches on a party for woodland creatures and people. I just wish I could remember which store this was–but I do remember it’s on 5th Ave. Of course, I should’ve had a note pad, but I didn’t think of that until I was almost finished.

This is probably the most unusual window I saw, with boxing polar bears. Other people were photographing it, too, so I had to wait a few minutes for a clear shot. We have a weakness for polar bears at our house , so I was naturally drawn to these. At Bergdorf Goodman, a fact I remember mainly because part of the store’s name is in the photo.

Our son had a picture book about a polar bear’s Christmas when he was growing up, and we have a polar bear ornament, a white bear on a deep blue glass orb, for our tree. And we love Gus, the back-stroking polar bear at the Central Park Zoo. We go see him whenever we’re in city. I did that day and was delighted to find him in the tank, doing “his thing.”

Of course, there were also more traditional decorations. I’ve included, left and below, two pictures of ones I liked a lot. Take a look and then tell me: What kinds of holiday decorations do you like? Understated and subtle? Or gaudy and bright? Or in between?

So which kinds of decorations do you prefer? Do you have a favorite on this page? One commenter chosen at random wins, in honor of the holiday season, a $10.00 gift certificate. I’ll draw the winner on December 23.

Time to sign up for my newsletter and win a writer or reader book package ends December 17th, so if you want to enter, use the newsletter link. I’ll draw winners on the 18th.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season!

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