Friday, August 29, 2014

34th Street Labor Day Weekend Picks: Macy's Herald Square, Joe Fresh, JCPenney, and MORE

Macy's Herald Square
Get your WOW pass for an extra 15% or 20% savings this weekend at Macy's, and enjoy sales throughout the store. Check out the Rachel Roy and the bar III on the third floor, and if you're in need of some swim separates, visit the 8th floor for deep discounts. There is no finding matching tops and bottoms this late in the summer, but if you're like me, you love adding a cute red bcbg bikini top to your drawer for $9! 151 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue



Joe Fresh
Clearance items are now an additional 50% off the lowest ticketed price at Joe Fresh. Find loads of blouses on sale, and swim separates, tees, and cute beach bags for $4.50. 215 West 34th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues


JCPenney
Take an extra 15% off select items for Labor Day weekend, and an extra 25% off select clearance items. Use this coupon for in-store shopping. My picks? 30% off MNG by Mango and 40% off very pretty Bisou Bisou dresses. Manhattan Mall, 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue, lower levels one and two




Gap
Everything is 40% off this weekend at Gap. No exclusions. Yeah, don't miss it. 60 West 34th Street at Broadway



Aeropostale
Another sale not to be missed: 50% -70% off everything at Aeropostale. Parents, be sure to stop by the P.S. by Aero store next door and get some great, last-minute back-to-school clothes for less. School uniforms are on sale, too! Manhattan Mall, 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue, level one




Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Punk Rope, Market Shopping, Origami, Yoga, Meditation, and More: Now at One Penn Plaza!

A version of this post first appeared yesterday on the Bryant Park blog. Bryant Park is the 34th Street Partnership's* sister company. 

Blog readers who live and work near Penn Station may be pleased to know that we've teamed up with Vornado Realty Trust, a property owner in our 34th Street Partnership district, to enliven the plazas surrounding One Penn Plaza. The three plazas, located between 7th and 8th Avenues and 33rd and 34th Streets, surround one of the largest office buildings in the area. 

This collaboration between Vornado and the 34th Street Partnership brings activities you love further south. Just like the activities at Bryant Park and Broadway Boulevard, the classes are completely free and open to the public. They seek to help the hundreds of thousands of office workers in the area enrich their days with breaks that enhance productivity and increase mental focus. Following is more information on the variety of classes and offerings at One Penn Plaza:
  • Strengthen your body with twice-weekly Vinyasa-style yoga classes with Studio Anya on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 7:30am. Some mats are provided, but bringing your own is encouraged.
Downward dogs take over Park East at One Penn Plaza. 
  • Gain mental stability with meditation classes in partnership with Ziva Meditation, every Thursday at 3pm. 
  • For those who want a more intense workout:. 
    • Punk Rope brings together high-intensity cardio and jump roping and meets every Monday at 12:30pm;
    • Boot Camp with Warrior Fitness Boot Camp, which meets Fridays at 7am, is a calisthenics-style workout led by two former Marines.
  • Join the Bryant Park jugglers every day from 2 to 4pm and learn to juggle or just enjoy the show.
  • Each Tuesday from 3 to 4pm, learn the ancient and calming art of origami. De-stress as you impose order on the crisp folds of paper before you. 
Brightly colored origami paper brings people together every Tuesday at 3pm. 
  • Every Wednesday, the Penn Plaza French Market brings a variety of fresh produce, prepared foods for a scrumptious lunch, and handmade crafts and jewelry that are perfect for a quick browse on the way back to the office. Fans of the Broadway French Market will notice the markets are similar; they are both produced by Bensidoun USA.
Enjoy nature's bounty every Wednesday at the One Penn Plaza French Market. 
  • Unwind after a busy work day with jubilant brass band performances. The performances are three times weekly, starting at 5:30; check our website for the week's performers and dates.

Joyous brass brightens up the end of the workday. 
Stay tuned as we add other events, programs, and classes to the lineup.

Between 7th and 8th Avenues, and 33rd and 34th Streets
*The 34th Street Partnership owns and operates Fashion Herald.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Shopping Regrets: I've Got More Than a Few

When scanning July photos today, I spotted this green perfection from H&M Herald Square.


Upon viewing I immediately thought WHY THE HELL DIDN'T I BUY THIS? Shopping regrets, I've got so many piled up from years of shopping 34th Street.


Modified peplum, bronze shiny skirt, I should be wearing you right now. Oh, well, I'm sure if I walked into the Herald Square H&M this evening I'd find plenty more clothing to regret! Or just buy, dammit.

H&M
47 West 34th Street at Sixth Avenue

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Now at Banana Republic: Superga

Banana Republic now carries Superga, a sneaker I've been coveting all summer.


A colleague has the gray and they are cute as heck on her. The problem might be finding them in stores, however, as according to "Reserve in Store" availability online, there's only a couple colors to be found in Manhattan: size 8 1/2 in gray sage at the 59th and Lexington store, and size 10 in white at the 16th and Fifth Avenue store. But keep checking online or drop by your local Banana Republic for Superga updates. I'll be stalking the 34th Street location.
Update: The 34th Street store has the white in size 6. Hey, it's something...click "Reserve It" here.

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

Friday, August 15, 2014

34th Street Weekend Picks: Back to School Denim Days

American Eagle Outfitters
It's crunch time: while others have started school or will in the next couple weeks, us NYC kids have until after Labor Day. That means we're still shopping, and this weekend is a good time to stock up on new denim styles, especially when all AEO jeans are currently under $30. 40 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

Express
Three day denim sale: all women's jeans are $39.90. I'm a long-time Express denim fan. If you are too get to one of the 34th Street stores this weekend and stock up! 7 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues; Manhattan Mall, 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue level one


Old Navy
Jeans start at $19. Get their latest styles for less and you're set for back-to-school denim. 150 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue

Thursday, August 14, 2014

DSW Shoe of the Week: Rebecca Minkoff

Sleek, stylish, and sexy, this is one covetable shoe. Find it at DSW on 34th Street and wear it through fall. 


DSW
213 West 34th Street just west of Seventh Avenue

Friday, August 8, 2014

34th Street Weekend Picks: Back to School Part II

JCPenney
This is a ridiculously hot sale for back-to-school! Click here for the Manhattan Mall ad and details on all the deals, and shop soon as this sale ends Saturday. 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue, Manhattan Mall, lower levels one and two


Gap
Talk about perfect timing: Friends & Family starts today at Gap. Get 40% off your purchase through August 10th, so stock up for back-to-school (exclusions apply, see store for details). 60 West 34th Street at Broadway



Thursday, August 7, 2014

From the Archives: Empire Views

Today our 34th Street archivist Anne Kumer shares some history of the 34th Street district. This post also appears on NYC Circa.

On March 17, 1930 construction began on the Empire State Building. It was built by the newly formed Empire State, Inc., who took their name from the moniker bestowed on New York State by George Washington in 1785. Designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon (who also created another 34th Street District treasure, the Gimbels Traverse) and built during the Great Depression, the new office tower became a symbol of perseverance and hope. E.B. White wrote of it in his 1949 essay "Here is New York": "The Empire State Building shot twelve hundred and fifty feet into the air when it was madness to put out as much as six inches of new growth."

It opened just over  a year later on May 1, 1931. Over 5,000 visitors stood in line at the street level on a rainy day to view the city from what was then the tallest man-made structure in the world (NYT, 1931-05-04).
Visitors to the 86th Floor on opening day, May 1, 1931. Image: tumblr
The 86th floor observation deck immediately became a popular destination for tourists. A photographer was on hand to capture the moment, which was then printed on a postcard.
Visitor Postcard photo taken on the Empire State Building observation deck, 86th Floor, May 8, 1934; front. Image: private collection (Pisark's)
Visitor Postcard photo taken on the Empire State Building observation deck, 86th Floor, May 8, 1934; back. Image: private collection (Pisark's)
Visitor Postcard, Empire State Building Observation Deck, 86th Floor, August 1935. Image: private collection (Pisark's)
Visitor Postcard, Empire State Building Observation Deck, 86th Floor, [1930s]. Image: Private collection (Pisark's)

Visitation to the observation deck increased throughout the 1930s and into the next decade, despite a few setbacks in the 1940s. On July 28, 1945 a B-25 Bomber crashed into the north side of the building during a routine personnel transport mission killing 14 people and injuring elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver. The building was re-opened the following Monday.


Just two years later, a photography student named Robert Wiles happened upon the aftermath of Evelyn McHale's suicide and took a photograph. The photo, published by LIFE magazine on May 1, 1947 is still regarded as one of the most poignant portraits of suicide.

Following this and other incidents, building management announced the forthcoming construction of an additional steel barrier along the building's parapet. A New York Times article also stated that during the Empire State Building's first 16 years of operation, there were 9,000 visitors, and only 15 suicides (with just one instance of injury to a pedestrian below) (NYT, 1947-05-11).

The steel barrier and parapet, 1948. Image: Private collection (Pisark's)

Though taller and larger buildings continue to rise throughout the city, the Empire State Building remains one of the city's greatest treasures, and receives nearly 3.6 million visitors a year.

Other Sources and Sites of Interest:
-Empire State Building Historical Timeline
-Empire State Building fact sheet
-Columbia University Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library, Empire State Building Archive

Friday, August 1, 2014

34th Street Weekend Picks: Back to School Sales, Part 1

Old Navy
There's a big back-to-school sale, including school uniforms. Uniform polos start at $5, khakis at $10, and sweaters at $14. 150 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue


H&M 
Back-to-school styles start at $9.95, including a t-shirt and pants mix-and-match combo for $9.95. 435 Seventh Avenue at 34th Street and 47 West 34th Street at Sixth Avenue


Steve Madden
Stock up and save on shoes for school! Select items are 50% off. 41 West 34th Street just east of Sixth Avenue


American Eagle Outfitters
If you don't have to wear a uniform to school, you're going to need jeans. $10 off all jeans at AEO! 40 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

Crocs
If you think you can't find Back-to-School shoes at Crocs, you're wrong! Hit up this great B1G1 50% off sale, and you can get a pair of shoes for school and a pair of traditional Crocs for next summer. 152 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue