December 5, 2014
Norma's Weekly Snapshot         
     

Holiday shopping lists seem to grow every year and with the array of endless shopping options in one of the retail capitals of the world, it can be overwhelming to score the perfect gift in NYC. With this in mind, I've created my annual Holiday Gift Guide to provide recommendations  for simplifying your shopping experience. I have sifted through the flurry to uncover my treasured gems for all your gifting needs to make this holiday season a memorable one.  


Visit my past Weekly Snapshots for more Seasonal Features:
Holiday Markets & Pop-Ups
Ice Skating Rinks... Hot Chocolate Drinks  
Holiday Windows & Dazzling Lights

   
    


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General Events...General  
 

December 5  COS

129 Spring Street
The long-awaited sister brand of H&M, COS,  will debut in SoHo just in time for the holidays. I've been a fan of this shop and look forward to donning some of their Swedish minimalist pieces.

 

Through December 6  43rd Golden Tree Junior League Shopping Fair

Astor House (130 East 80th Street)

Shopping, mingling, food samplings and entertainment.    

 

December 6 28th Annual Miracle on Madison Avenue

Visit the website for all of the participating stores.  A portion of all the proceeds will be directed to Memorial Sloan Kettering.  From 10am to 5pm, shop 'til you drop.
 

December 7  TalkCinema

The Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center (165 West 65th Street

General admission or season passes available for the film series featuring new independent films... you won't know what you see until you arrive, but you'll be able to discuss the movie afterwards with directors, producers, distributors, critics and each other.


December 8 
TimesTalks: A Conversation with John Lithgow, Glenn Close, Lindsay Duncan
The TimesCenter (242 West 41st Street)
Purchase tickets for this event as part of the TimesTalks series, conversations between New York Times journalists and 21st-century talents and thinkers.  

December 11  A Vintage Christmas in Chelsea
High Line Hotel (180 10th Avenue)
Sing along to classic Christmas carols or mingle and enjoy complimentary treats, hot chocolate and warm cider.  
Holiday Workshop by Bronson Van Wyck 


December 12 & 13  Tribeca Holiday Craft Fair 

Manhattan Youth Downtown Community Center  (120 Warren Street)

30% of sales will be donated to West Africa Save the Children Emergency Fund.

    
Through December 14  
The Holiday Workshop by Bronson Van Wyck
St. Regis Hotel New York Hotel (2 East 55th Street)
A great spot to pick up some special holiday gifts!



Through December 21 Holiday House  
The Academy Mansion (2 East 63rd Street)

This is how I like to kick off the season of giving.  Holiday House, in the magnificent Academy Mansion, returns through December 21st.  All proceeds support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  Renowned designers decorate the rooms of this mansion with decor that will complement everyone's tastes.  Leonard Lauder is the Honorary Chair... Holiday House is all about the celebration of life; each designer selects a holiday or a special moment in life as the inspiration for their design.


Through January 4  Gingerbread Extravaganza
 Le Parker Meridien Hotel (119 West 56th Street)

Annual event with this year's theme as "Made in New York" featuring works from local bakeries. Benefits City Harvest.     

Through February 22  13th Annual Holiday Train Show
Grand Central - NY Transit Museum Gallery Annex
Metro-North, New York Central, and subway trains depart from a miniature Grand Central Terminal in this annual exhibit.
Washington Square Park

UPCOMING TREE LIGHTINGS:

  

December 7  The Park Avenue Tree Lighting

Brick Presbyterian Church (Park Avenue @ 91st Street)
 

The Carl Schurz Park (East 86th Street & East End Avenue)

  

December 9  Madison Square Holiday

Madison Square Park (23rd Street & Madison Avenue)

 
December 10  Washington Square Park Tree Lighting 

The Washington Arch - Washington Square Park  

  

ON THE RADAR: 

 
December 15  An Evening of Holiday Style & Glamour

The Erno Laszlo Institute (382 Broadway)

Hosted by GLOW Magazine... enjoy holiday cheer, raffle prizes, and networking with others to benefit Shining Service Worldwide.  

   


Cultural Pursuits...Cult 
December 12  Cooper Hewitt Museum Reopening 
(2 East 91st Street)
The long-awaited reopening... touted as a 21st century museum, I'm looking forward to viewing the renovation of the Carnegie Mansion and the inaugural year of exhibitions.

 

ONGOING EXHIBITS: 

ALLOUCHE GALLERY  (115 Spring Street)
Faile - Works on Wood: Process, Painting and Sculpture
Through December 10
To coincide with the release of the book by the same name, the exhibit features many of their celebrated works.


AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
(Central Park West at 79th Street)
Through August 9
Exhibit uncovers the causes of nature's forces. 

Dada & Surrealist Objects
BARD GRADUATE CENTER GALLERY (18 West 86th Street)
Through January 11
A trendy gallery that explores new ways of thinking about decorative arts and design. The exhibit visualizes 19th century New York through prints and photographs.

BLAIN/DIDONNA GALLERY (981 Madison Avenue)
Dada & Surrealist Objects
Through January 17
An exhibition that is the first devoted to this subject presented in any gallery or museum in America.
BROOKLYN MUSEUM (200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn)
Through February 15
Killer Heels explores the fashion world's most coveted accessory. I especially liked the shoes by Manolo Blahnik, Chanel, and Ferragamo.

CRAIG F. STARR GALLERY  (5 East 73rd Street)
Jasper Johns: Sculptures and Related Paintings
Through January 23
Incredible exhibit of sculptures and paintings from 1957-1970.
Roy Lichtenstein:
Reflections on Pop

DAVID BENRIMON FINE ART (The Crown Building - 730 Fifth Avenue)
Through December 18
The exhibition showcases works from this well-known artist's long career, examining how he became a central figure of the American Pop movement.

DOMINIQUE LEVY GALLERY (909 Madison Avenue)
Local History: Castellani, Judd, Stella
Through January 3
The exhibition captures a fleeting but profound moment of creative intersection in the careers of these three post-war artists.

DTR MODERN GALLERY (458 West Broadway)
Contemporary and pop art on display.

EDWYNN HOUK GALLERY (745 Fifth Avenue) Through December 20
A retrospective photographic exhibit.





ELLIS ISLAND
Unframed - Ellis Island
Ongoing
This first time exhibit is by the French artist, JR.  Life-size historic photographs of Ellis Island immigrants are displayed on more than 16 selected interior walls on the south side of Ellis Island, where the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital once was.

THE FRICK COLLECTION (1 East 70th Street)
Through April 5
Jean-Antoine Houdon and Claude Michel were two of the foremost sculptors in France during the late 18th century. Their sculptures are shown together for the first time, highlighting the artists' expressive ranges.
 
GAGOSIAN GALLERY (522 West 21st Street)
Picasso & the Camera 
Through January 3 
This exhibition is the fifth in a series of Picasso surveys.     

GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM (1071 5th Avenue) 
Michelangelo and Versilia
ZERO: Countdown to Tomorrow, 1950s-60s
Through January 7
First large-scale historical survey in the U.S. dedicated to the German artistic group Zero. 
   
INTREPID SEA, AIR, & SPACE MUSEUM  (Pier 86 - 46th Street & 12th Avenue)
Hubble@25
Through September 15, 2015
Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the exhibition showcases the history of this project and its scientific achievements. View artifacts, photographs, and Hubble-produced images.
ITALIAN CULTURAL MUSEUM (686 Park Avenue)
Michelangelo and Versilia
Through January 4
Exquisite pieces from four Italian cities including Forte dei Marmi and Pietrasanta.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (1000 Fifth Avenue)
Thomas Hart Benton's America Today Mural Rediscovered
Through April 19
A captivating exhibit of 1920s America in New York City.

Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection
Through February 16
Experience the most important exhibition of the essential Cubists (such as Pablo Picasso) in more than thirty years.

El Greco in New York
Through February 1
Also at the MET, an exhibit from this iconic painter.  

Amie Siegel: Provenance
Through January 4
An installation of a cinematic representation of economic and political cycles.
 
THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM  (225 Madison Avenue)          
The Untamed Landscape: Theodore Rousseau and the Path to Barbizon
Through January 18
70 works of Theodore Rousseau's approach to open-air oil sketches.    
Dance & Fashion 

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
Through January 11
An annual tradition, the museum displays the original A Christmas Carol manuscript.  And don't miss Winter Family Day on December 7th.
     
THE MUSEUM AT FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (Seventh Avenue at 27th Street) 
Through January 3
Dance & Fashion features 100 dance costumes and dance-inspired fashion ranging from 19th century to the present... an inaugural showing of most of the collections.  


THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK  (1220 Fifth Avenue)

Mac Conner: A New York Life  

Through January 19 

NYC's saga of the original Mad Men! Hand-painted illustrations for advertising campaigns and women's magazines just after WWII.     


THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (11 West 53rd Street)
The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec
Through March 22

Prints and posters by this renowned artist.

 

Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs 
Through February 8
Opened for the first time in twenty years, the exhibit includes painted sheets cut into various shapes and sizes, thus creating compositions of contrasting colors.
Sturtevant: Double Trouble
Through February 22
The first comprehensive survey in America of Sturtevant's 50-year career, a collection of her version of pop art.

NEUE GALLERIE (1048 5th Avenue)
Through January 19 
One of the 20th century's most important artists, the exhibit showcases portraitures by the masterful Austrian artist, Egon Schiele. 

 

THE NEW MUSEUM (235 Bowery)

Through January 25
The exhibit spans the artist's influential career, encompassing his paintings, drawings, and sculptures.

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY (170 Central Park West)
Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage
Through February 22
Over 70 photographs are on display... a new direction for one of the world's best known living photographers.  Landscapes, interiors, and objects that captured her curiosity.
Picasso & Jacqueline: The Evolution of Style


Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection
Through February 22
An ageless and spectacular exhibit of toys and trains from a bygone era from the renowned Jerni Collection.    

PACE GALLERY (32 East 57th Street)
Through January 10
The iconic artist's devotion to Jacqueline Rogue and his homage to Matisse.

PAUL KASMIN GALLERY (293 10th Avenue)
Robert Motherwell: Works on Paper 1951-1991
Through January 3
Nearly 100 works on view.

Victoria Goldman: Mythicos Divinare




ROBIN RICE GALLERY (325 West 11th Street)
Through December 14
Victoria Goldman's twenty-year-long fascination with Tarot has created a series of photographs based on the imagery and the mythology behind the ancient Tarot cards.

THE RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART (150 West 17th Street)
Through March 23
French photographer Marc Riboud's photographic journals through Asia in the 50s and 60s...a time of both political and cultural transition.

THE SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM (39 Battery Place)
Times Square, 1984
Through January 18
The exhibit captures the decisive moment and transformation of the urban renewal of Times Square... now known as the crossroads of the world.   

VENUS OVER MANHATTAN (930 Madison Avenue)
Calder Shadows
Through February 1
Renowned sculptor, painter, and illustrator, Alexander Calder, was also a master engineer of dancing shadows.

ON THE RADAR:
Modern Photographs from the Thomas Walther Collection

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (11 West 53rd Street)
December 13 
Modern Photographs from the Thomas Walther Collection, 1909-1949
This collection captures the time period between the First and Second World Wars, where creative possibilities of photography were heightened. Through April 26th.

December 14  
The Forever Now: Contemporary Painting in an Atemporal World
The work of 17 artists with 17 different approaches to painting, the exhibit explores the timelessness of painting today explores the issues of originality and subjectivity. Through April 5th.


SEAN KELLY GALLERY (475 Tenth Avenue)
The Time Vivarium
Exhibit will be presented in two stages by Chinese artist, Sun Xun. Throughout the month, the artist and his assistants will create new works in both drawings and paintings that will transfer and extend the exhibition. Through January 24th.


CurtainCurtain Up...         
 
FILM:
 

Through January 16  The Contenders 2014

The Museum of Modern Art (11 West 53rd Street)

The Museum's selection of influential, innovative films made in the past 12 months that they believe will stand the test of time. Each is a contender for lasting historical significance; check the website for screening schedule.

  

MUSIC, PERFORMANCE, DANCE:  

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES: 
  

December 5  Jose Feliciano Holiday Feliz Navidad Show

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill 

A festive holiday concert at the famous jazz club.  

 

December 5  Subway Sets 

The Studio at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street)

Have you always wondered if the many talented subway performers have a chance to perform on stage? This is a wonderful venue for many of them. A collection of top underground musicians will entertain you throughout the evening

Peter and the Wolf


December 6  Peter & the Wolf with Isaac Mizrahi
Guggenheim Museum (1071 5th Avenue)

Order your tickets for the events on the 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, or 14th. I went last year and it was well worth it!

    
December 7  Teatro Regio Torino
Carnegie Hall (881 Seventh Avenue)
Rossini's rendition of the William Tell opera.  



December 9 
tears become... streams become
Park Avenue Armory (643 Park Avenue)
Art, music, and architecture converge... a site-specific installation featuring an immense field of water that harnesses light, reflection, music, and sound.

December 10 through 13  The Ambassador
Brooklyn Academy of Music
(30 Lafayette Avenue - Brooklyn) 
Tony award-winning director, John Tiffany, will direct the New York premier of singer/songwriter Gabriel Kahane's The Ambassador.

 

December 12  Holiday Brass
Lincoln Center (Avery Fisher Hall)  
Brass and percussion ensemble combine, producing joyful holiday favorites.  

ONGOING PERFORMANCES:
Alvin Ailey Dance Theater

 

 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 

Through January 3

NY City Center (130 West 56th Street)
Returning to the NY City Center just in time for the holidays.  

 

BAM 2014 Next Wave Festival 
Through December 20
Brooklyn Academy of Music (30 Lafayette Avenue - Brooklyn) 
Avant-garde music, theater, opera, and dance. 




Through March 7
The Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center Plaza)
Bizet's acclaimed opera has returned to the MET.
The Nutcracker

G. Balanchine's The Nutcracker

Through January 4

David H. Koch Theater (20 Lincoln Center) 

The yearly anticipated Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky opens. I see the New York City Ballet's performance each year and this one will be no exception.

 

The Illusionists

Through January 4 

The Marquis Theater (1535 Broadway)

Witness the impossible... former contestants on America's Got Talent, they will amaze you!

 

Jazzhaus at Klavierhaus
Through December 22
Le Parker Meridien Hotel (119 West 56th Street)
Showcases both amateur and professional pianists in their intimate space off the main lobby.

La Boh�me
Through January 24
The Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center Plaza)
Puccini's immortal tale of tragic young love set amidst the rooftops of bohemian Paris is at the MET.

Through December 20
The Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center Plaza)
A dazzling and light-hearted opera set to the music of Mozart.  

    

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

 

Radio City Christmas Spectacular 

Through December 31

Radio City Music Hall (1260 Avenue of the Americas)

Purchase your tickets to see the world famous Rockettes...a quintessential NYC holiday experience!

 

Steve Tyrell
Through December 31
Cafe Carlyle (35 East 76th Street)
One of my favorite entertainers is back at Cafe Carlyle.

 

Works and Process

Through December 15

Guggenheim Museum (1071 Fifth Avenue) 

Celebrating 30 years of performing arts, discussions, and world premieres.   




THEATER: 
 

UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS:

December 7  The Elephant Man 
Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street) 

Bradley Cooper and Patricia Clarkson star in the Tony Award-winning classic based on the life of Joseph Merrick, a 19th century British man who became a star of a traveling freak show. Now in previews, opens December 7th, through February 15th.


Through December 13  This Wonderful Life
Corner Office Theater (300 West 43rd Street)
An adaptation of Frank Capra's legendary classic, It's A Wonderful Life.
Through December 14  I See You
The Flea Theater (41 White Street)
A performance about the psychic and emotional stress of living in the cusp of the apocalypse.

ONGOING PRODUCTIONS: 
A Christmas Memory

A Christmas Carol, The Musical
Through December 30
The Players Theatre (115 MacDougal Street)
Sixth year celebration of Dickens' classic.
Through January 4
The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street)
A heartwarming musical based on the short story by Truman Capote, reflecting on a traditional southern Christmas holiday.
 
Through February 22
John Golden Theater (252 West 45th Street)
Glenn Close returns to Broadway with John Lithgow in Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance. A moving play about a married couple struggling to maintain equilibrium when they open up their home to friends and family.
 
Allegro

Through December 14 

Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street) 

Music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein... a musical masterpiece by two of theater's masters.
 
Through May 24
Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street)
I enjoyed this musical following the legendary songwriter from her early days as a Brooklyn teenager to those well-known hits as a top recording artist. The show took home two Tonys including Jessie Mueller for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.



Through March 29 

Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street)    

I experienced the most amazing NYC evening with Cabaret. Emma Stone has taken on the role of Sally Bowles to replace Michelle Williams.  Emma, as well as the incomparable Alan Cumming are show-stoppers; the Kit Kat Band is superb.  

     

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Through April 26
Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) 

The show brought everyone to a standing ovation. The lead actor, a recent graduate of Julliard, is brilliant. The story unfolds with a mathematical precocious adolescent with behavioral problems uncovering truths and hidden secrets.  

Through March 15
Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street)

Critically acclaimed play starring Gretchen Mol. The cast shares the stories, secrets, and lies we tell our friends, family, and ourselves in finding the American Dream.  

 
Father Comes Home from the Wars
Through December 7
The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street)
Dramatic work set during the Civil War. An epic tale that holds onto who we are and what we love in a country that brings us together and rips us apart. 

If/Then The Musical 
Through March 1
Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street)  
A favorite performer of mine, Idina Menzel of Wicked, stars in this musical about a woman that returns to life in NYC discovering endless possibilities where chance and choice collide. 
 

Inspecting Romeo & Juliet

Through December 6
The Gene Frankel Theatre (24 Bond Street)
Before each show, audience members are asked questions that will determine the direction and interpretation of the evening's performance.

The Invisible Hand
Through January 4
New York Theatre Workshop (79 East 4th Street)
Pulitzer playwright, Ayad Akhtar, makes his NYC debut with a suspenseful play about the abduction of an American banker held for ransom in Pakistan, shedding light on the impact of individual actions on global politics.

Through March 29
Neil Simon Theater (250 West 52nd Street)
Directed by Joe Mantilla, the play portrays the hope and heartache of a working class Englishman who leaves his life behind to travel the world. 

Through February 22 

Union Square Theater (100 East 17th Street)

A remarkable celebration of a unique and timeless talent. The American premiere honors one of the famed Beatles with music and lyrics by Lennon and McCartney.     

 

Love Letters
Through February 15
Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street)
No one forgets their first love!  A.G. Gurney creates a funny, emotional play about the powerful connection of love. 
Through May 31
Lyric Theatre (213 West 42nd Street)
The feel good play that everyone should see. Broadway's largest orchestra and cast make us fall in love with New York again.  It is a story of three sailors on a whirlwind tour in the city that doesn't sleep
Through January 4
American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street) 
Starring Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Cynthia Nixon... what more do I have to say? 

The River 

Through February 8   

Circle In The Square Theatre (1633 Broadway)

Starring Hugh Jackman, this is the story about a man and woman in a remote cliff side cabin on a moonless night.

Side Show
Through April 26 

St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street)

The flash and velocity of a motion picture. Based on the legendary Hilton twins...a story about love and acceptance in the glamorous 1920s setting.  


Through December 14
The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square
Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street)
First major New York revival of this off-Broadway play starring Richard Chamberlain, Holly Hunter, and Bill Pullman.  A Vietnam-era tale about parents struggling with challenges when their son returns from the war. 

Tail! Spin!
Through February 1
Lynn Redgrave Theater (45 Bleecker Street)
Rachel Dratch of SNL fame stars in this political comedy.

Tristan & Yseult
Through December 14
St. Ann's Warehouse (29 Jay Street)
The original tale of forbidden desire, broken hearts, and the agony of choosing one human being over another.    


Through February 22
Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street)
James Earl Jones and Rose Byrne star - a touching comedy portraying the relationship between two families when their children become engaged.  
 

Visit previous snapshots for more theater favorites.       

 

 

ON THE RADAR IN CURTAIN UP: 

Chris Botti
 
December 13, 14, 18, 19  Christmas Stories
Stage Left Studio (214 West 30th Street)
All characters played by Dirkran Tulaine in this brilliant adaption of the Dickens classic.

December 15 through January 4  Chris Botti
Blue Note (131 West 3rd Street)
Annual festive performance at the Blue Note.

December 16  Constellations
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street)
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, a mysterious and witty play about the potential of a first encounter and friendship. Previews begin December 16th, opening night January 13th, through March 15th.  

December 16 through 20  Handel's Messiah  
Lincoln Center (Avery Fisher Hall)
NY Philharmonic's annual choral concert at Lincoln Center.  

December 18  Into the Woods  
The Laura Pels Theatre (111 West 46th Street) 
This witty show, a Sondheim masterpiece, invites us back into the world created by the iconic storytellers, the Grimm brothers. Previews begin December 18th, opening night January 22nd, closes March 22nd.

December 18  Hansel and Gretel  

The Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center Plaza)  

Englebert Humperdinck's rendition of a holiday classic for both young and old. Through January 8th. 
 
December 18, 19, 23  MET Museum Holiday Performances
Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue)
December 18:  Vivaldi's Four Seasons, featuring talented musicians from around the world.
December 19:  Songs of the Season, Choristers of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.
December 23:  All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, premier men's vocal ensemble; the heartwarming true story of a truce held during World War I on Christmas night in 1914, exactly one hundred years ago.

December 18 through 20  Paul Winter's Winter Solstice Concert
The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Avenue)
New York's favorite holiday alternative to the Nutcracker and Radio City's Christmas Spectacular. This event is a contemporary take on ancient solstice rituals. 
 
December 18 through 20  Big Band Holiday
Jazz at Lincoln Center (Rose Theater)
"It's the most wonderful time of the year"... a Big Band Holiday celebration at Rose Hall.

December 19  The Long Christmas Dinner
Lincoln Center (Alice Tulley Hall)
A holiday opera... a rare performance by the American Symphony Orchestra of Thornton Wilder's One Act play.


December 19 through 21  The New York Pops
Carnegie Hall (881 Seventh Avenue)
I've already purchased my tickets.  Kelli O'Hara will star on the 19th & 20th (Kelli and Matthew: Home for the Holidays) and on the 21st, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, great for young and old!

For the Foodie... 
Food
Starting in 2015, I'll feature weekly top picks for new on the scene and notable spots. And stay tuned next week for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining spots. You can reserve your table now for Christmas Eve at Eataly...with special menus at 5 of their restaurants, you're sure to find something for everyone.   
Armani/Ristorante (717 Fifth Avenue)
Located inside Giorgio Armani's Fifth Avenue flagship store, visit on Thursdays for a complimentary glass of Franciacorta Sparkling Wine and Italian small bites.  
 
December 6, 13, 20, 25  Holiday Carolers Brunch 
The Lambs Club (132 West 44th Street)
Make reservations for this special brunch with holiday entertainment.

December 7  Bellezza Eataliana
Eataly (200 Fifth Avenue)
A night of food, wine, and music in support of Italian culture! The event also seeks to raise awareness for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. 
 
featureSpecial Feature... Holiday Gift Guide 
ABC Carpet & Home

   

Following is my annual gift guide to holiday shopping for the traveler, the foodie, the fashionista, and everyone in between at my most treasured shops in the city. 

  

You can also visit my recent Weekly Snapshot for my top holiday markets.

  

FOR CLIENTS AND THE HOST/HOSTESS:

ABC Carpet & Home
888 Broadway
One of the most expansive and impressive home d�cor destinations in all of the city.
Alex & Lorenzo


Alex & Lorenzo Home
1048 Lexington Avenue

Eclectic assortment of gifts and accessories that are both unusual and eye-appealing.    

 

Atelier Courbet
175 Mott Street
Handcrafted French masterpieces for the home.



Bleulili Home
Diptyque
1407 Third Avenue
Colorful, whimsical, hand-picked home products and gifts.

971 Madison Avenue 
Personal and home fragrances and candles from Paris.

Eataly 
200 Fifth Avenue
Customized baskets of Italian specialties with Mario Batali's stamp of approval. 

Flat 128 
15 Christopher Street
Luxury lifestyle gifts from the UK.

Gracious Home  
1992 Broadway
Everything you can imagine for the home, under one roof.
Il Buco Vita

Il Buco Vita
51 Bond Street
Home furnishings inspired by travels in Italy and the Mediterranean.

Jane Packer Flowers
328 East 59th Street
Spectacular floral arrangements and classes. 
 
Jung Lee
25 West 29th Street 

Beautiful home accents.

    

  

  

Laduree
864 Madison Avenue and 398 West Broadway
Delectable French macarons.
Monograms off Madison

Monograms off Madison
29 East 93rd Street
Personalized gifts for everyone on your list.
 
Norma Kamali Wellness Cafe

11 West 56th Street
Find something special for those who follow an organic lifestyle.

  

Rain 

59 West 49th Street 

Handmade bath & body products and hand crafted home ware using natural ingredients from Africa.      

The Story

Sherry Lehmann 
505 Park Avenue 
Gifts for the wine lover. 
 
The Story
144 Tenth Avenue
Personal and home products with a rotating theme.

Tiffany & Co.
727 Fifth Avenue
I love to purchase the Apple Paperweight for the out-of-NYC client.

 

The White Cabinet
Purchase online - Hilda Glasgow was a top fashion illustrator... fashionable treasures from placemats to prints and notecards. 

   

  

FOR HER:
Five Story

Unique Clothing Shops: 

13 West 38th Street

  

COS 
129 Spring Street

  
18 East 69th Street

  
465 Greenwich Street

Le Civette
1242 Madison Avenue 
 
Jennifer Fisher Jewelry


Be-Dazzled Jewels:
103 Fifth Avenue
Order online or check out what shops carry Gilded Lace products.

Mignonne Gavigan
Order online.


Rouge Makeup Salon 
 

 
Personal Touches: 
Joanna Vargas Skincare
501 Fifth Avenue

130 Thompson Street

Accessories:
1242 Madison Avenue

  

Mia Borsetta
Order online.  

FOR HIM:  

Bene Rialto

  

The Armoury 

168 Duane Street 

Advanced menswear.

  

Atelier New York

210 Eleventh Avenue

High-end men's clothes, shoes, and accessories. 

  

Bene Rialto  

13 West 38th Street

Shop features emerging designers.       

   

 

Carson Street Clothiers

63 Crosby Street

An impressive collection of menswear. 

68 Jay Street - Brooklyn

Half studio, half retail shop, all of their items are treasures.


Shinola 

Carter Kustera

177 Franklin Street  

Items from watches to journals for the stylish men on your list.   

 

FOR KIDS:

 

10 West 25th Street   
With 3 locations in the city, you'll find anything you want. Not only do they have unique gifts and books, but also offer classes, birthday parties, and hair cuts.   

  

57 Wolcott Street - Brooklyn

Featuring personal silhouette portraits of your child or the family.
Order online; custom-made book collections to foster the avid reader.

Multiple Locations

Great educational toys and clothing.

 
Marisa Erin Photography

  

Marisa Erin Photography 

Book Norma Knows NYC's very own photographer... her photos of children are some of my favorites!

  

Mary Arnold Toys 

1010 Lexington Avenue

NYC's only continuously-operating toy store, great toys that stand the test of time! 

   

  

  

  

  

FOR FIDO:

Fetch Club

Fetch Club

85 South Street 

A members-only club for dogs; the boutique has treats, apparel, bedding, and customized items. Or treat him to a quarterly membership so you can get a taste of an urban doggie club.

  

The New York Dog Shop   

46 West 73rd Street

Clothing and accessories for dogs of many sizes. How about an I love NY T-shirt or a pet parka?

Trixie + Peanut

23 East 20th Street

Dress, entertain, feed your pooch in style... be good to the environment in the process with eco-friendly items. 
 
Zoomies

434 Hudson Street 

The ultimate in canine and feline chic, great selections, unique gifts, and friendly service.  

  

STOCKING STUFFERS:

C Wonder

C Wonder 

72 Spring Street

Items are affordable, most under $100. Colors are vibrant, vast assortment of bespoke, yet moderately priced gifts.

   

Flight 001 

96 Greenwich Avenue

Perfect gifts for the traveler on the go.

  

 
Santa Maria Novella
 

Maxiga 

2233 Broadway 

Imaginative options.

  

81 Spring Street   
Modern gifts inspired by the art in the museum.

Santa Maria Novella
285 Lafayette Street 
Italian soaps and fragrances.    
Norma Knows New York City/ East 76th Street / New York, New York 10021