Wednesday, October 30, 2013

DSW Shoe of the Week: UGG Australia Boots

Give me a huge shearling cuff and I'm totally on board.



UGG Australia's classic Maylin boot: warm, cozy, cute, and water-resistant. Find both colors at DSW on 34th Street and take your pick, because it's not getting any warmer out there. Well, Friday it's going to be warmer, but after that? Brrrrr. 


DSW
213 West 34th Street just west of Seventh Avenue

Monday, October 28, 2013

From the Archives: Choc Full o' Nuts

Today, to celebrate the opening of Broadway Bites, our 34th Street archivist Anne Kumer shares some dining history of the district. This post also appears on NYC Circa.

For many years a Choc Full o' Nuts lunch counter occupied retail space in the ground floor of the Hotel McAlpin, now, Herald Towers building, at 34th and Broadway. Like most restaurants in Midtown Manhattan, it was packed around lunchtime. 

December 1954, Alfred Eisenstaedt. Photo: LIFE via this blog post.
Choc Full o' Nuts opened its first store near Times Square at Broadway and 43rd Street, in 1926. The company continued to grow, opening its first cafe opened in 1932, and following with food trucks.


Possibly the first store, c. 1926 Photo: Pinterest


Food cart from the 1930s or 1940s. Photo: here
The company's founder was William Black, who, as his business grew, also became a well respected philanthropist. He donated a lot of money towards medical research, and in 1957 founded the Parkinson's Disease Foundation with an initial donation of $100,000.

One of Choc's most well known employees was famed baseball player Jackie Robinson. Shortly after retiring from baseball in 1956, he was hired as the company's Vice President and Director of Personnel. Mr. Robinson was an extremely vocal Civil Rights advocate as well. NARA has a great collection of his letters. 

William Black and Jackie Robinson at a store opening. Photo: NYT
The comments section of this post by Ephemeral New York includes many fond memories of the franchise in the city.

For a while, Choc Full o' Nuts at 34th Street and Woolworth's supplied Midtown workers with two solid lunch options flanking Herald Square. The 34th Street lunch counter closed in 1990.

Where do you go to get an Egg Cream now?

Friday, October 25, 2013

34th Street Weekend Picks: Levi's, Uniqlo, Steve Madden, & Geox

Levi's
Purchase a pair of jeans and get 30% off select tops and outerwear. Yes, I've got my eye on that brown jacket, too. 45 West 34th Street just east of Sixth Avenue


Steve Madden
30% off select boots, time to stock up for winter.  41 West 34th Street east of Sixth Avenue

 

Uniqlo
Sale on silk shirts, fabulous Celia Birtwell and Ivana Helsinki scarves, and pleather jackets. Also, I spotted new Celia Birtwell Heattech shirts!  31 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues




Geox
Buy more and save more at Geox this weekend: buy two items and get 20% off; buy three items and get 25% off.  29 West 34th Street




Thursday, October 24, 2013

Broadway Bites!


Moving in now, and opening in the 34th Street district on Monday, October 28th at 11am? Broadway Bites, UrbanSpace's brand new food pop-up market in Greeley Square! Check out UrbanSpace's website for more information, but expect fabulous comfort food (think lobster chili, lentil and ginger stew, and gouda grilled cheese, mmm) and so much more.

This culinary market will be open 11am-9pm from next Monday through Sunday, November 24th. Stay tuned for more info once the market opens, and be sure to use hashtag #bwaybites when you're Instagram-ing your lunch. See you on Monday, Midtown!


Broadway Bites
Greeley Square, 33rd Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue
Open Monday October 28th - November 24th, 11am-9pm daily

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

DSW Shoe of the Week: Superman Kicks!

This week is for the men.


Converse kicks for under $50 is a big lure. But Superman Converse kicks for under $50? GET OUT. Find them on DSW 34th Street.


DSW
213 West 34th Street just west of Seventh Avenue

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Lucky Brand Fit Event at Macy's Herald Square

Find your perfect Lucky Brand fit tomorrow evening at Macy's Herald Square, and get 20% off your Lucky purchase during the event.


A few weeks ago I tried on a pair of Lucky Brand jeans from their Made in America line and fell in love. They're just a little more expensive but well worth it, as the fit was fantastic. No saggy nothing, and I could have worn them to bed to sleep in, they were so comfortable. Look for the sign below and try on a pair tomorrow.



Macy's Herald Square
151 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue

Monday, October 21, 2013

Spirit Halloween on 34th Street

Getting worried about your Halloween costume?

                                   Image via the Kansas History Foundation and re-posted from the Bryant Park blog


Do not fear, or grab the nearest oil drum, because the 34th Street Halloween pop-up store is here. Recently named one of Racked NY's top eight Best Halloween Costume Shops, Spirit Halloween has opened a big pop-up on Broadway just south of 34th Street.


I've seen a lot of Halloween pop-ups on 34th Street, and I must say that Spirit impressed me with their selection of merchandise. We all know what to expect in these Halloween pop-ups: walls of sexy stockings, costume makeup, and monster masks. But while Spirit has all of the latter, I wasn't bombarded with one million French Maid costumes. Instead there was a prominent wall of "Everyday Hero" costumes for adults that I would actually wear trick-or-treating with my daughter (Wonder Woman, here I come). Also given nice display space: Ted and The Hunger Games costumes.


If my Disney Princess crown experience is a good barometer of quality, than I can say that Spirit's costumes are a step above the rest. The "Yellow Princess" (Belle) crown from Spirit Halloween is a solid piece of tiara work with intricate detailing and good construction. That means it hasn't snapped in half since I bought it two weeks ago, and that's a record in our house. It's going to actually make it to Halloween.


Those costumes, too, are better than Disney princess costumes I've seen in Target and other stores.

Or perhaps you're in need of scary decor?


For just under $50, this enormous spider jumps up at you when one hits the pedal (not shown). Scream-inducing, for sure.



Spirit Halloween

1286 Broadway just south of 34th Street 

Friday, October 18, 2013

34th Street Weekend Picks: Best West End Deals

Kmart
BOGO 1/2 off all their full-priced shoes. Which really makes me want to buy the black and white Route 66 studded lace-ups. 250 West 34th Street


Joe Fresh
Check out their newly-renovated store, and take advantage of $5 opening day deals through Sunday. 215 West 34th Street


Thursday, October 17, 2013

Joe Fresh: Open Again on 34th Street

Guess what? Joe Fresh is back in business on 34th Street.


When I stopped by this morning, they weren't yet open for business, but a quick peek inside revealed a bigger and prettier layout. I can't wait to shop, try on some clothes in their new dressing rooms, and take advantage of those opening day $5 deals, good from now through Sunday.

Welcome back to 34th Street, Joe Fresh, we've really missed you!


Joe Fresh
215 West 34th Street just west of Seventh Avenue

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

DSW Shoe(s) of the Week: BCBG & Report Signature

That Report Signature shoe on the right really gets me. It's serious disco, but the ankle detail keeps it in the aughts+.


Also, the BCBG platform is a classic. Find them both at DSW on 34th Street. But if you're nowhere near 34th Street, go online and get this Report Signature sneaker. I need.


DSW
213 West 34th Street just west of Seventh Avenue

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Banana Republic Does Blazers Best

For $150, I challenge you to find a better pink blazer in town.



This is technically a hacking jacket, but hacking doesn't start with a "B" so I'm calling it a blazer for title's sake. Find it online here, or try it on in person at the 34th Street store.


Banana Republic
17 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

Friday, October 11, 2013

34th Street Weekend Picks: Columbus Day Weekend Sales & Fit to Fight at Lady Foot Locker

Old Navy
The entire store is 30%, 40%, or 50% off this weekend. I'd take advantage of this sale and stock up on their new collection of cute sweaters. The one below is very pretty and really comfortable, a perfect sweater to keep in your office to fight office chill. 150 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue

H&M
So many holiday deals! Take an additional 50% off already reduced merchandise, like the items pictured below. Also, go here for a coupon for 40% off one item (see link for details). AND Columbus Day deals mean up to 60% off select items. 435 Seventh Avenue at 34th Street


Uniqlo
Weekend sale on their Ultra Light Down parkas and jackets, now $59.90. 31 West 34th Street


Lady Foot Locker
LFL is celebrating ten years of their retail partnership with the American Cancer Society and making strides against breast cancer. Be sure to stop by the store on 34th Street this weekend and shop their ACS Collection. 120 West 34th Street just west of Broadway


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

DSW Shoe of the Week: Ralph Lauren Boots

It's fall, it's finally getting chilly, and soon you will be wearing suede riding boots.


Ralph Lauren riding boots, now 50% off at DSW on 34th Street.


DSW
213 West 34th Street, just west of Seventh Avenue

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mango 34th Street: Select Picks for Fall

Things I really love about Mango: their jackets, their boots, their blouses, and the fact that they hang really cute ensembles at the front of a display rack, and behind it, on the same rack, are all the elements of the really cute ensemble. Almost all combinations below are such ensembles. 


I was iffy on the red, quilted bomber ($89.99) until I tried it on. Great piece. The gray coat ($189.99) speaks for its own fabulous self. Boots are $109.99 and I must have them. They are a perfect neutral ankle boot.


 White bomber is $109.99, and the sheer blouse underneath is $59.99. See? Great jackets, boots, and blouses.


Mango
7 West 34th Street just west of Fifth Avenue

Monday, October 7, 2013

Gap Dresses: Herald Square Haul

So many adorable dresses at Gap right now, and perfect fits for work and casual cocktail. Also, those booties? Yup, Gap. I love Gap boots.

 Find them at Gap Herald Square!


Gap 
60 West 34th Street

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Emerson Spring 2014

Jackie Fraser-Swan is a designer that has come a long way from her first presentation at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Spring 2012. However, as a developing designer, sometimes I find that she incorporates too many elements in a collection. I want to quote Coco Chanel's "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory," only in this case, remove one trend. 

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Solid purple contributed to the success of some of Fraser-Swan's strongest looks. I loved the top look, the Katy, with ivy-patterned, lazer-cut leather balancing a full chiffon skirt dappled with ivy leaves. As a leather jacket, detailed sheer dress, or cocktail dress, this ivy pattern was stunning. The headpieces were not so striking.

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For much of the rest of the line, it was difficult to not view Emerson as a junior collection, not surprising considering her inspiration of a garden party crashed by punk rock kids. From her choice of patterns to the cuts, the styling, and choice of models, it had a very youthful feel. The neon shoes also said "punk rock kid," but struck me as awkward in the collection as a whole.

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The designer focused on custom design prints, and when delivered right, revealed her great potential. Fraser-Swan's Garden Gate pattern brought a pop of neon floral to spring. Hand-painted zebra and houndstooth prints with fine tailoring could and did make a rocking jumpsuit. Her favorite flower, Allium, made a whimsical fun graphic pattern, but didn't need to be echoed in a large headpiece.

Overall, there are many bright points in the Emerson collection, and when fine-tuned in seasons to come, will prove Jackie Fraser Swan can absolutely get it right.

All photos from The Cut