Manhattan Christmas Window Tour

Manhattan Christmas Window Tour 

Its that time of the year again ,when city stores deck out their windows in all the latest holiday splendor .A good place to start is on the  East Side of Manhattan with Bloomingdale's and then work your way slowly towards Fifth Avenue.

Bloomingdale's is on  59th Street and Lexington Avenue.. This years holiday windows feature : Vintage shopping bags — from 1981, 1983, 1990, 2001. Bllomingdale's even offers some  interactive displays . You can stand on a snowflake, and press a star-shaped button and your photo will be snapped and uploaded to Bloomingdale's Facebook page.By the way the  Celebrity-designed ornaments including ones by Heidi Klum and Al Roker are on sale and proceeds go to the Child Mind Institute, a children's mental health organization.

Barneys is located on 660 Madison Ave. near 61st Street.: Barneys is know for the Avant-garde window displays and is the perennial envelope pusher of the group when it comes to holiday window displays. This year Barney's features Lady Gaga and they convert their fifth floor into a Gaga workshop and the windows into a pop-art fun house. One window gives a glimpse into the pop star's boudoir, crafted entirely from hair. Items for sale include an $85 box of cookies shaped like her famous outfits and Gaga-inspired hair bows.Proceeds from sales of all Gaga-related items will go to her new nonprofit, the Born This Way Foundation, dedicated to empowering youth and fighting bullying.

Bergdorf Goodman located on  754 Fifth Avenue near 57th Street and offers crème de la crème of holiday window displays. Bergdorf's holiday windows, "Carnival of the Animals," are a study in good story-telling. These exquisite, finely detailed dioramas feature haunting creatures and scenes like a shimmery aquatic scene, a metallic tropical rain forest, and an arctic garden party. Go across the street to see the men's store windows, featuring a menagerie of animals dressed in Bergdorf frocks. My favorite was a confident lion with a beautiful mane seated in a pinstripe suit.

Henri Bendel located at  712 Fifth Ave. near 56th Street. Feature  windows that celebrtate the Radio City Rockettes and New York City. It's worth the stop just to see the Lady Liberty mannequin dressed in a robe made of 3,000 jelly beans. Bendel's was also the first Manhattan department store to unveil their windows, on Nov. 10.

The Cartier Building located on  651 Fifth Ave. near 52nd Street is one of the last remaining mansions on Fifth Avenue, this six- story marble and granite building is elegantly wrapped to look like a giant present, with a twinkling, lit-up red ribbon.In 1917 French jeweler Pierre Cartier bought this mansion from Morton Plant for $100 and a pearl necklace worth a million dollars.

Saks Fifth Avenue  611 Fifth Ave. at 50th Street.This year the facade of the building becomes a canvas for a 3-D bubble and snowflake show. The windows are based on the children's book "Who Makes the Snow," and will be its largest display in recent years.The retailer commissioned various fashion houses such as Alexander McQueen, Nina Ricci, Proenza Schouler and Stella McCartney to create one-of-a-kind holiday-themed dresses to be featured in the windows.

Lord & Taylor on: 424 Fifth Ave. near 38th Street. "What is Christmas made of?" is the question. This year Lord & Taylor asked kids from local schools and shelters to submit drawings answering the question.  The series of windows are inspired by these drawings and feature moving dolls that depict classic holiday scenes — ice skating in Central Park, baking at home and waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. At the unveiling on Nov. 15, the Young People's Chorus of NYC sang an original song, "What is Christmas Made Of." Their answer: "Everything you give and the love that's in you."

Macy's at 151 W. 34th St. near Sixth Avenue.Blending old with the new, these windows tell a story of what happens to our wishes. Our hopes and dreams board a rocket ship, get mixed and transformed in a steam-punk factory, and turn into unique ornaments.The display features  cutting-edge 3-D visuals that do not require glasses and at the end of the display, visitors can create their own virtual ornament and upload it to their Facebook page.Proceeds from their celebrity-designed ornament collection will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Triumph The Insult Comic @ Occupy Wall Street

Triumph The Insult Comic @ Occupy Wall Street

Boxing Legend Joe Frazier dies

Boxing Legend Joe Frazier dies

Joe Frazier spent most of his life living in the shadow of his sometime arch nemesis Muhammad Ali.The two waged three epic heavyweight battles between them which became the most memorable in boxing history.The 1975 “Thrilla in Manila,” in which Frazier was stopped by his corner from answering the bell for the 15th round is by many considered to be the greatest boxing match of all time.

Frazier never seemed to emerge from Ali’s imposing shadow, despite his own impressive run as a heavyweight champion.The two at times were more than foes , it was personal ,but later in life they grew to respect each other after Ali apologized  for ugly ,derogatory comments belittling Frazier unjustifiably as a racial sellout and a “stupid gorilla.”

Frazier, who died Monday at 67, is more known in large part for having lost two of the three Ali fights, as well as a devastating knockout defeat at the hands of George Foreman that cost him the title. Never truly receiving his well-earned respect due as a fighter, it is now conceded by many experts that Joe Frazier ranks among boxing’s best of the best. .

Hugh Jackman, 'Back On Broadway'

Hugh Jackman, 'Back On Broadway'

Jackman is back on Broadway, with his newly-announced limited-run NYC one-man show, which started previews on Oct. 25 and opened officially November 10.

It’s been a long seven years since Hugh Jackman appeared on Broadway in The Boy From Oz.Jackman is more than just another Hollywood A-Lister looking to cut his teeth on a Broadway stage this man can really dance and sing. No he not dressed like Wolverine and the show is devoid of his super hero status.

Like Jackman's sold-out Toronto and San Francisco concerts, the New York production will include “a personal selection of his favorite musical numbers.” In past performances , the 18-song set all by the way backed by a full orchestra included “Over the Rainbow,” “As Time Goes By,” and “Lady Marmalade.”

According to the Broadway show’s press rep, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway has been altered for New York. what ever that means and you'll have to see the show for yourself , I wont spoil it here . The Broadway League says the Tony Award-winning performer's one-man show pulled in over $1.2 million at the box office during eight preview performances.Jackman's pull even broke The Broadhurst Theatre's box office record, beating "700 Sundays" starring Billy Crystal, "Hamlet" with Jude Law and "The Merchant of Venice" starring Al Pacino.

So what do you want to hear Hugh sing? These are some tunes from the earlier staged concerts including “A Little Less Conversation,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” or Richard Marx’s “I’ll Be Right Here Waiting for You.” .

Indy Champion Dan Wheldon dies in tragic crash

Indy Champion Dan Wheldon dies in tragic crash 

Dan Wheldon 33 ,died from injuries shortly after a collision at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 16 October 2011, . Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon born 22 June 1978 was from England. Weldon was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2005 and 2011

Wheldon was as they say born to race and moved to the United States in 1999, where he spent several years in lower open-wheeled circuits like the U.S. F2000 Championship Series, the Toyota Atlantic series and the Indy Lights series.

For Wheldon Indy racing started In 2002, when Wheldon moved up to the IRL IndyCar Series for two events, with Panther Racing . The following year Wheldon joined Andretti Green Racing, taking the spot of Michael Andretti following Michael's  retirement. Weldon collected Rookie of the Year honors and in 2004, he won his first IRL race at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, ultimately finishing as runner-up to teammate Tony Kanaan in the championship with three wins.

Wheldon met his untimely death this week at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The tragic 15-car pile up came during lap 11. The multi-car pile-up resulted in a race stopping red flag. Wheldon had to be extricated from his car and airlifted to a local hospital with what were described as "serious injuries."Weldon subsequently died .

The IndyCar officials and drivers decided that the race should be abandoned, and held a five-lap salute in Wheldon's honour, with his number 77 being displayed alone at the top of the scoring pylon.Michael Andretti later revealed that Wheldon had just signed with Andretti Autosport for a multi-year deal to replace driver Danica Patrick.

Lady Gaga Shoots ‘Marry The Night’ in Harlem

Lady Gaga Shoots ‘Marry The Night’ in Harlem

Back in September it was announced that Lady Gaga’s fifth single off of Born This Way would be “Marry The Night,”. This week Lady Gaga was spotted Uptown in Harlem shooting the music video for the single.

After shooting "You and I," in Nebraska Lady Gaga returned to her home town the big apple for her fifth single off "Born This Way". The weather was not so kind and greeted her with gloomy weather and raindrops as she shot an epic dance number uptown.

Earlier in the week, Gaga filmed at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island, where extras donned ballerina attire, hospital gowns and of coarse leopard print. While Gaga keep her costume under wraps by reportedly hiding behind a sheet, she did appeared happy to show off her oversized headgear and icy blue lipstick to photographers.

The Annual Columbus Day Parade

The Annual Columbus Day Parade 

The Annual Columbus Day Parade features 35,000 marchers and over 100 groups, including bands, floats and contingents. Nearly one million spectators.

On October 10, 2011, Fifth Avenue will be transformed by the Columbus Day Parade, into the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture. The parade was led by Grand Marshal Joseph Plumeri, philanthropist, and Chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings. The Annual Columbus Day Parade features 35,000 marchers and over 100 groups, including bands, floats and contingents. Nearly one million spectators.The Columbus Day Parade has been organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation in New York since 1929.

The Columbus Day Parade is a fun filled Parade that gets bigger and better every year.The Parade Committee has spent countless hours reviewing many talented Bands and entertaining acts in an effort to make this year’s Columbus Day Parade the most exciting event yet! This year, the Parade will be marching up Fifth Avenue from 44th to 72nd Street and the grandstands are located on Fifth Avenue between 67th and 69th Streets.

This year features many talented performers like Pia Toscano from American Idol as well as the Italian Musical, “The Italian Fairy” .The Sacred Heart University Marching Band as well as Stony Brook University Marching Band will be just a few of the dozen high school bands, as well as virtuosi professional groups from the United States and Italy, marched up Fifth Avenue and filled the canyons of midtown with joyous, heart-pounding music.Traditional folk groups will perform centuries-old dances, and cutting-edge designs were brought to the parade route in displays of the vibrant culture that is Italy today.

The Annual Columbus Day Parade celebrates the spirit of exploration and courage that inspired Christopher Columbus’s 1492 expedition and the important contributions Italian-Americans have made to the United States.