34th Street Weekend Picks: So Very Many Sales

Dr. Jay's
If you don't have a pair of Dr. Martens, go to Dr. Jay's soon and get a pair for 40% off! 17 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

Gap Herald Square

There are lots of 30% and 40% off sales throughout the store, including 40% off sweaters. I seem to only be drawn to neutral sweaters this season, you?! 60 West 34th Street at Broadway

WHO.A.U

Their Black Friday sale (40% off everything) and doorbusters are still going on, get there and get their adorable skinny jeans and plaid shirts for a great price! Also, thank you WHO.A.U for the festive holiday decor! 22 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

Aeropostale

Up to 70% off everything. Stock up on some Live Love Dream! 15 West 34th Street just west of Fifth Avenue

And finishing up on the northwest end of 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues...

Aldo, Zara, and Geox

All have up to 50% off sales. Look for the beautiful tall rainboots at Geox. 

Steve Madden

Up to 40% off boots...

 Levi's

An additional 40% off already reduced prices.

 Happy holiday sale shopping on 34th Street!

A Nautica Holiday

At the Nautica holiday party last evening, I was able to not just show off shiny, fabulous hair, but also pick up perfect family Christmas gifts. Let me make your holiday shopping super easy: Go to Macy's Herald Square, hit up the Nautica boutique, and buy scarves, sweaters, pajamas, slippers, and vests. Family? Friends? Check and check. Shopping done!

I have a sister who is obsessed with pajamas. Julia of Fashion Pulse Daily told me her Nautica pjs are "the most comfortable ever." Check!

Sometimes a guy likes it when you keep it simple: Nautica is the best for simple, beautiful sweaters and basic but luxe scarves.

I could do nautical-themed sweaters and vests every day in the winter.

Yes, Nautica is making it a happy (and easy) holiday shopping season!

Find Nautica at Macy's Herald Square on 34th Street

Get Gorgeous Hair with Colorist Sherry Ratay

We're doing a rare "off-34th Street" post today as I had an opportunity to get my hair done by award-winning, celebrity colorist Sherry Ratay this morning at the Julien Farel Salon, a wonderful oasis for hair located north of 34th Street on Madison Avenue. I was too ecstatic with the results to not share.

#LobbySelfie

First up, the woman herself: Sherry is a personable, talented, and honest colorist (every girl's goal should be to have an honest colorist on speed dial). She immediately sat me down and asked me about myself. Our conversation went a lot like this:

Me (elevator hair pitch): "I'm busy, I'm broke, I'm a mom, I'm going grey. And I sometimes use box color."
Sherry (reacting only to the latter): "OK, don't do that. But if you have to, only do the top section."
Me (grey pitch): "Maybe I should go all grey?"
Sherry (emphatically): "No."
Me: "Maybe by 55?"
Sherry: "Maybe 60."
Me: "I want a good grey transition color."
Sherry: "Yeah, there's no such thing"

God, how I love a forthright and frank exchange. Next, Sherry and I talked color. I told her how I love a rich brown, but don't like red tones in my hair. She said today we would stick to a darker brown, but I should someday do a subtle reddish shine on the ends. In my mind I went "OMG IS SHE TALKING OMBRE?" Turns out no, but soon the actual conversation turned to ombre.

Me: "Sometimes I make fun of ombre on Twitter."
Sherry (slightly disapproving, like I should know better than to make fun of an unstoppable hair trend): "Ombre is very beautiful when done correctly."
Me: "..."
And then Sherry said something that might have changed the way I think about ombre forever.
Sherry: "When it looks like a young girl's hair when her color is growing in darker from her baby color, then ombre is beautiful."

I'm not quoting Sherry directly in any of this, but the way she said the above was damn poetic. And she knew her audience: my girl's blond hair is now coming in darker. Sometimes I hold her very blond ends up and think "goodbye, white blond!"

At this point Sherry went off to mix my color, and I Instagrammed a #BeforeSelfie where it's really hard to tell my hair color or see my grey roots (#godblessfilters).

Then Sherry applied color (she uses Beth Minardi Signature color), we had a comfortable chat, and I sat under the heat. Next up, the wonderful Alicia Delbrey, who is Creative Artistic Director at Salon Ratay, Sherry's salon in Orlando, Florida. They travel together to New York about once a month to work their magic at Julien Farel. Alicia trimmed my bangs and styled my hair into some kind of perfect, natural, yet mega-bouncy superwoman hairstyle. The end result? Beautiful, shiny-beyond-shiny color with tons of body. Bouncy body. 

We all said goodbye, and I went down to the lobby where Julien Farel has the perfect post-salon selfie mirror. There I took a million photos while wondering if the receptionist was watching me on the security cameras, debating whether she'd have to call security to get me out of the building. Or perhaps she's totally used to endless selfies in the lobby, because why else would you put that awesome mirror there?

So many ways to pose for the shine.

I then bounced my shiny hair down 57th Street to catch a bus on Fifth Avenue, because I wanted to keep all that glorious hair care above ground. Here's a good #NYC tip: Don't waste a good hair salon visit on subway lighting. 

To book an appointment with Sherry Ratay at Salon Ratay in Orlando, Florida, call (407-330-5151).

For NYC appointments contact the Julien Farel Salon Madison Avenue location, (212) 888-8988, for when Sherry and Alicia are in New York City.

Post-Sales Sale

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, do shoppers sigh and say "Well, that's it till Super Saturday!" Nope.

Instead, stores like Banana Republic are continuing to tempt us with offers like 30% off full-priced items (through 12/5, check website for details). The above faux fur accessories are a perfect gift for a friend, family member, or yourself! We all need a little something extra warm and cozy to get us through the holiday shopping season, right?!


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

From the Archives: The New York Aquarium at 35th Street and Broadway

Because we don't do Cyber Monday on 34th Street, today we are looking back at what will be the new location of Urban Outfitters with some retail history from archivist Anne Kumer. A slightly different version of this post appears on NYC Circa, a New York City history blog.

One of the more outlandish things in Midtown Manhattan during the 1800s was The New York Aquarium, located at the NW corner of 35th Street and Broadway.

The aquarium was a short-lived, but very ambitious venture, founded by William Cameron Coup and Charles Reiche. Coup was already well-known for his collaborations with P.T. Barnum -- he helped set up and managed P.T. Barnum's Museum, Menagerie and Circus.

 The New York Aquarium opened on October 11, 1876. The building was 20,000 square feet, and included space for exhibition as well as research. The centerpiece of the main pavilion was a 30-foot tank intended to house a whale, or, whales (plural). Additional tanks flanked the whale tank, intended for sea lions and elephant seals, and tanks along the pavilion's north and east walls housed fish.

Image: MCNY

In his memoir Sawdust and Spangles, Coup devotes a chapter to the Aquarium and it's specimens. It sort of reads like a manual on how not to transport aquatic animals from distant places. Even so, his enthusiasm and love for the creatures comes through. He starts with a description of a rare species of Japanese fish that has three tails (it's a goldfish), and continues with a description of whale transport  that involved a days-long journey by boat from the Norwegian coastline to Canada, then a 90-hour train ride from Canada to New York City. Three died en route on separate journeys before one was delivered alive and transferred to the aquarium on October 15, 1876, a few days after the aquarium's official opening.

The whale exhibited -- briefly, before it too died -- was most likely a beluga whale. 

White Whale, drawing, c. 1820: source

The year 1870 brought the aquarium's first sea lions, another main attraction. Pinnipeds have been exhibited in captivity since around the 1600s, but this exhibit was likely one of New York's first. The pinniped pen was located next to the whale tank, and drew guests from all over.

In 1879 Coup and Reiche disagreed on the practice of opening the business on Sundays --  Reiche was for it, and Coup against. Reiche bought out Coup's share of the company and went on to pursue other enterprises.

The aquarium closed in 1881, and the NW corner of 35th and Broadway soon became known for its theater venues, first as the location for the New Park Theater in 1883, and from 1894 until 1914, the home of the Herald Square Theater.

Hour Passion Opens Tomorrow on 34th Street!

Big news: tomorrow, on Black Friday, the first Hour Passion store in the U.S. opens on 34th Street! The Swatch Group, the world's largest watch manufacturer, is behind this multi-brand concept boutique that includes Longines, Rado, Tissot, Balmain, Certina, Mido, Hamilton, Calvin Klein Watch and Jewelry, Swatch, and Flik-Flak.

Image courtesy of The Swatch Group

Soon after the Herald Square Hour Passion opens, Swatch will open a second U.S. location in Las Vegas. The 2,500 square foot 34th Street boutique, just steps from Herald Square and across the street from Macy's Herald Square, will feature each brand in its own retail area. Exclusively in New York is a mezzanine lounge where customers can view selected timepieces and brand exhibits and novelties.

Image courtesy of The Swatch Group

Nick Hayek, President of Swatch Group Management Board said: “The US market and the American consumer are very important to us. We feel that they should be served in the best way possible. The outstanding Hour Passion boutiques in New York and Las Vegas will give consumers a chance to experience some of our finest brands.”

Special opening day hours for Black Friday are 8am-9:30pm, and Hour Passion will offer an exclusive brand gift with each purchase. During the holiday season, the store will be open from 9am to 10pm Monday-Saturday and 9am to 8pm on Sunday. Regular hours will be 10 am to 8 pm Monday-Saturday and 11am to 7pm on Sunday.

Welcome to 34th Street and New York City, Hour Passion!

Hour Passion

112 West 34th Street just west of Broadway

Opening tomorrow, November 29th, 8am

Black Friday Sales on 34th Street: The Top 15 List

Black Friday has come early this year with some stores already dropping deals. But Friday, and in some cases Thursday, will feature even bigger discounts and incentives in stores. We've put together a list to help you figure out where and when to shop Black Friday on 34th Street. Below are our top fifteen picks for the year's biggest shopping holiday on 34th Street (in no particular order). The list may be updated through the week. Happy holidays, and happy holiday shopping!

#1. Macy's Herald Square
Click here for a Black Friday specials preview. There will be doorbusters and morning specials. And if you haven't shopped Macy's in the middle of the night during the Black Friday frenzy, take it from someone who has been there: it is a blast! Below Macy's has kindly shared with us their #BlackFriday survival kit. Take their advice and stick to the Keds.

Open 8pm on Thanksgiving Day and staying open till 10pm on Black Friday.
151 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue

#2. JCPenney
Click here for their Black Friday offers. Doorbusters, big deals, and SNOWGLOBES! Yes, everyone can relax, the free Mickey Mouse snowglobes are back, and it looks like they will be available in the Manhattan Mall store at 4am on Black Friday. Plan that shopping strategy accordingly!

Open 8pm on Thanksgiving Day and staying open until 9pm on Black Friday
Manhattan Mall, 901 Avenue of the Americas at 33rd Street

#3. WHO.A.U
They're calling their Black Friday sale epic, and I cannot disagree: jeans and sweaters for $9.90? Totally worth a 12am call time, especially considering WHO.A.U's high quality and adorable clothing.

Open Thanksgiving Day 9am-6pm
Open 12am on Black Friday
22 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

#4. H&M
Pre-Black Friday deals are going on now, starting at $2.95 for accessories, and more deals from $2.95 on Black Friday. Also, the scratch-offs are key: first 100 people in line get a scratch-off valued up to $300, only valid Friday 11/29.

Closed Thanksgiving Day
Open 12am on Black Friday
435 Seventh Avenue at 34th Street
47 West 34th Street at Sixth Avenue

#5. Uniqlo
Stop by the store for special promotions on Black Friday (specials are not yet announced)! While there, look for the adorable Orla Kiely turtle-neck T-Shirt (below), and check out the ultra light down. The hooded coat below is now on special for $69.90.

Closed Thanksgiving Day
Open 6am-9pm on Black Friday 
31 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

#6. Express
The Black Friday fun has already begun at Express! Right now you can get 50% off every single item until noon on Friday. I am so totally impressed.

Open 10am on Thanksgiving Day at 7 West 34th Street and open through Black Friday.  
Open 8pm on Thanksgiving Day at the Manhattan Mall store at 33rd and Sixth Avenue through 11pm on Black Friday.

#7. American Eagle Outfitters

Click here to shop their holiday gift guide. Currently, American Eagle has 40% off everything. Starting Thanksgiving Day through 6am on Black Friday, everything in the store is 50% off. After 6am on Black Friday, everything is 40% off.

Open 10am Thanksgiving Day till 11:59pm on Black Friday at the 40 West 34th Street store

Open 8am Thanksgiving Day till 11:59pm on Black Friday at the One Penn Plaza store at 34th and Seventh Avenue.

#8. bebe

Bebe is "Bringing Sexy Black Friday" this week and they aren't kidding! When you've got dresses like this on sale, who's arguing?! Stop by on your 34th Street Black Friday route for the best skinny pants, cute quilted vests, and yes, sexy dresses. They are being very coy about their Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday specials: "You have to come in and see," they purred. I'm thinking that's a good thing. Updated to add: 30% off everything plus a gift with $125 purchase when you shop early on Black Friday. See store for details.

Open Thanksgiving Day noon-6pm, Black Friday 8am-10pm

One West 34th Street at Fifth Avenue

#9. Desigual

30% off the entire store! That's the entire store, Desigual by Lacroix, the shoes, bags, and adorable accessories, and the amazing, yes, amazing kid's collection (all at the 34th & Fifth store).

Open Thanksgiving Day 11am-2pm, Black Friday 12am-10pm, Herald Square store at 35th and Sixth

Open Thanksgiving Day 11am-4pm, Black Friday 12am-10pm, Fifth Avenue store at 34th Street

#10. Joe Fresh

40% off everything starting today through December 2nd.

Open Thanksgiving Day 1pm-8pm

Open Black Friday 7am-10pm

215 West 34th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues

#11. Old Navy

50% off the entire store, starting 7pm Thanksgiving Day. Also, a chance to will a million dollars for the first 500 people in line at the store before opening at 7pm.

Open Thanksgiving Day 8am-4pm. Reopening at 7pm through Black Friday

150 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue

#12. Gap Herald Square

50% off the entire store on Black Friday.

Open Thanksgiving Day noon-10pm

Open Black Friday 12am-11:45pm

60 West 34th Street at Broadway

#13. Hour Passion

The Swatch Group's first U.S. location of this multi-brand boutique opens on Black Friday, and will offer an exclusive brand gift with every purchase.

Opening Day: Black Friday 8am-9:30pm

112 West 34th Street just west of Broadway

#14. Vince Camuto
30% off all regular-priced items, and 50% off all sale items through December 3rd. Updated to add: Then Ten Hour Event. 40% off all regular-priced items, and 50% off all sale items, from 12:01am-10am on Black Friday.

30 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

#15. Banana Republic
Special gifts and surprise offers every day till December 1st.

Open Thanksgiving Day 10am-11pm
Open Black Friday 12am-10pm