This Week's Fast Five is All About Shopping in Manhattan for Christmas!

 As we all can guess, there's some great shopping and some great shopping places in New York City!  Especially at Christmas, so here we go!

1.    Bloomingdale's!  This icon is at 59th Street and Lexington and 3rd Avenues in upper Manhattan.  It's reachable by the N, R, W, 4, 5, and 6 subways.  This store has been around since the 1800's.  Not joking.  While it's not owned by direct family anymore, it is now a national chain and this is it's flagship store.

I know, it's expensive.  To be honest, I like to look around.  The whole place is so beautiful at the holidays, and the windows outside on the street are worth a look.  They decorate in that grand old department store fashion.  By the way, they were one of the first department stores in the country.  They started a lot of trends that the top of the line department stores still follow today.  Don't count this one out just because it's ridiculously priced.  It's an experience even if you don't buy a single thing!

https://www.bloomingdales.com/stores/ny/newyork/59-street_1.html

https://www.bloomingdales.com/buy/59th-street

https://www.iloveny.com/listing/bloomingdales-59th-street/25302/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/bloomingdales-flagship-store-shopping-guide-1613464

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60763-d208898-Reviews-Bloomingdale_s-New_York_City_New_York.html   

2.    Macy's.  This is the heart and soul of Christmas in New York.  The windows are amazing, the Holiday Square is a great place to have a snack, enjoy the season and find some great stocking stuffers.  Macy's has the parade at Thanksgiving and then is ground zero for Santa Clause and shopping until Christmas.  It is reachable via Herald Square Subway Station on the orange B, D, F, and M lines and the yellow R, W, Q, and N lines. 

Is it crowded?  Yes.  I truly advise going before Thanksgiving.  Most of the sections are up and running early in November, so you can have the experience without the massive crowds.  Once again; even if you're not buying, you can have a great experience.

This event spills out into Herald Square.  There are shops and even a carousel outside in the square.  That carousel is a double decker too.  It's a must see even if you aren't looking to shop a lot.  Remember, it's the biggest store in the world.

https://www.macys.com/s/holiday-celebrations/nyc-santaland/

https://www.macys.com/stores/ny/newyork/herald-square_3.html   

 https://secretnyc.co/macys-santaland-announced-opening-date-happening-sooner-think/   

https://34thstreet.org/activities/macys-herald-square   

https://www.iloveny.com/blog/post/history-of-the-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/   

3.    Brookfield Place, Battery Park Place, Financial District.  This is a Phoenix arisen from the ashes.  It used to be the World Financial Center before 9/11, but it was irreparably damaged.  Now, the multiple building place is a community.

It's got great shopping.  Of course, it's a bit high end, so I was just enjoying the experience, but they have a lot going on.  They have wellness spas, math schools, preschools, restaurants, a marina outside, the walk along the river, office space and on and on.  They also have an ice skating rink.  They even have a concierge to help you find where you're going.

This spot is on the 1 line.  There are 8 other subways that get you close to the area, but the 1 will get you to the Oculus.  That's right.  1 WTC is right across the street.  The whole memorial site is right there.  You can have an experience on top of an experience while visiting this spot.  And they have an arts foundation too, so you might get to see a play or something while you're there as well.

They're signature event is Holidays under the Palms.  This refers to the trees in the main atrium.  Check those out.  They're real.

https://www.bfplny.com/

https://www.nyctourism.com/restaurants/brookfield-place-shops-restaurants/  

https://pcparch.com/work/brookfield-place   

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/shopping/brookfield-place-manhattan-ny   

https://www.explorewtc.com/en/local.html   

4.    Bryant Park, Midtown Manhattan.  This one is only a few blocks from Grand Central, so you can walk if you come in on the train.  If you're taking the subway, it's on the orange subways; B, D, F, M.   You can also walk over underground from any subway that comes to the Times Square/42nd Street mega station. This is a great place to spend some time.  They have ice skating and food.  All Winter long.  This starts just after Halloween and doesn't end until March.  The view is great around you, there's the NYC Library right next door which is a beautiful building to walk through.

The best part of this village is during the holidays, however.  That's when the shops are open.  They open early in November and close the first week of January.  There's food to try, drinks to try and all kinds of gifts for that someone that you don't know what to buy for.  The prices aren't Walmart, but they also aren't Bloomingdale's, so I do some of my shopping there.  Great atmosphere, great food, and ice skating.  Beat that.

https://bryantpark.org/activities/bank-of-america-winter-village-at-bryant-park   

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/shopping/bryant-park-winter-village   

https://www.nyctourism.com/shopping/winter-village-at-bryant-park/   

https://secretnyc.co/bryant-park-winter-village-opening/    

https://www.instagram.com/bryantparknyc/?hl=en    

5.    The Holiday Market at Union Square.  This is a great spot.  There's always something going on at Union Square.  It's one of the busiest subway stations in the city and the neighborhood is a 10 minute walk from NYU.  The 4, 5, 6, R, W, N, Q, and L go there with a lot of other subways stopping close by on 14th Street where all that is located.

Most of the year, the Green Market is there with farm fresh produce and all you need to get you through the week.  During the holidays, it goes wild with the extra gigantic market.  Once again, food, drink, groceries, shopping.  You can find about anything there.  I always get a little something for someone at this market.  The prices aren't bad and the experience is fantastic.

This is one of my favorites and I love going there.  Also, if you're afraid you won't be able to find it from the subway; no worries.  There's an entrance to the subway station in the middle of the market.  Hard to miss.

https://www.nyctourism.com/shopping/union-square-holiday-market/   

https://urbanspacemarkets.com/pages/union-square   

https://www.amny.com/lifestyle/holidays/union-square-holiday-market-returns-for-2025/   

https://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/places-to-go/holiday-markets-in-new-york-city-parks   

https://secretnyc.co/definitive-guide-every-holiday-market-nyc/   

There you go, some of my favorite picks to visit during the holidays whether you intend to spend all your money or just soak up some atmosphere.  

If none of those strike your fancy, there's always the market at Grand Central, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Everything around Central Park.  So, soak up the atmosphere that New York City has going and enjoy!

If you'd like to see what I'm up to in real life, check out my YouTube Channel; Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon

https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2025/shorts   

Happy Holidays!

What Exactly Does Freedom Mean to You?

 I live in the United States.  I've heard about freedom my whole life.  Ironically, I've heard a lot of different definitions of the term.  Here's some thoughts.

I've lived in the USA my entire life, and I'm a traveler.  I've been to the Statue of Liberty, the Old North Church, Gettysburg, Independence Hall, and so many more places that symbolize freedom in my country.  I've spent plenty of time in Washington DC and the area.  I've seen a lot and I appreciate my freedoms.

Lately, freedom has become quite the topic and everything from a rally to a point of contention.  Sometimes I wonder if any of us really know what it means to be free anymore.  I've taken to watching some YouTubers from other countries to get a fresh perspective on my own, and I feel like I've learned a lot; both good and not so good.  

I know that in a polarized society, I feel more uncertain than I used to.  I know I love my country, but I don't necessarily like what I hear and see.  I wonder if I'm alone in that.  I'm a researcher, and I love to learn.  That can be both good and bad as well.  I see and hear the tone of news and wonder what happened to the objectivity that was rigorously trained into me as a young journalism student.  I wonder why there are so many conflicts, wars, crises and other things around the world that we don't talk about.

Are we free?  What symbolizes freedom?  Is it the 9/11 memorial site?  In some ways; yes.  It reminds me of a time when; albeit horrible; it united us as a people.  Is it the Arizona Memorial?  Same thing; different generation.  There are a lot of symbols of freedom in a country along with polarized politics where we're fighting amongst ourselves almost all the time.  

I think that with the holidays upon us, maybe we should consider what means freedom to us.  Is there a place in the United States that says freedom to you?

My spot is an unlikely one in Washington, D. C.  The Library of Congress.  Historically, before Amazon Publishing, every published book in the country had at least one copy in that library.  Did you find it offensive?  It's there.  Did it sound like jibberish?  It's there.  Does it mean something personal to you?  It's there.  If it was published, it was there.  If you wanted to look something up, and you couldn't find it anywhere else; it was there.  That's the first amendment at work.

https://www.loc.gov/

https://www.congress.gov/

https://read.gov/

https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/library-of-congress

https://washington.org/

Now, let's look at some other freedom sites.

Have you ever heard of the John Lennon Wall in Prague, Czech Republic?  I like this one.  I've been to Prague.  I've been to many monuments and museums that celebrate freedom.  This one has always been special to me.

Czechoslovakia was communist back in 1980 when John Lennon was tragically killed.  Someone, an artist in Prague, saw a connection between his death and the thwarted freedoms that had been taken away by the USSR.  What started as an unknown painting, turned into a place where people could protest in a truly unique way.  The wall stands today as a monument to the will of the Czechs that finally led to them winning their freedom along with others when the Soviet Union Fell.

Statues, monuments, museums are great, but sometimes it's the will of the people that leads to freedom, and the will of those people who continue to honor this perpetual monument.

https://prague.eu/en/objevujte/john-lennon-wall-zed-johna-lennona/

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/czech-republic/prague/mala-strana/attractions/john-lennon-wall/a/poi-sig/401339/1323268

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274707-d27977908-Reviews-The_John_Lennon_Wall-Prague_Bohemia.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lennon-wall

https://prague.eu/en/

There's a lot of history in France, and a lot of history in Paris.  France is one of the staunchest free societies I've ever seen.  They still protest against policies and rally in the streets when necessary.  But, while you're seeing the history, the romance, the art, and the majesty; sometimes it's what's missing that really says it all.

The French Revolution.  The Bastille, a notorious prison, made it's appearance as a sign to the people.  We've all heard of the storming of the Bastille. The French celebration of freedom is Bastille Day.  It's very important to them.

There's a monument where the prison once stood.  It was destroyed during the revolution, but the French never wanted to forget.  Forgetting is letting yourself open for a repeat.  Never forget.  So, the July Column topped by the Genie de la Liberte is a constant reminder of how important freedom is.

https://parisjetaime.com/eng/transport/place-de-la-bastille-p1985                               

https://hotel-bedford.com/2/explore-bastille-paris/                    

https://frenchmoments.eu/place-de-la-bastille-paris/                  

https://www.parisinsidersguide.com/bastille-paris-france.html                

https://www.visitparisregion.com/en                  

 

Germany has one of the rockiest pasts on Earth, and following the WWII disaster, came Communist occupation and eventually the Wall.  This lead to 28 years of misery and a historic and epic city divided into pieces.  What was once a sign of no freedom at all, has become one of the most amazing monuments to freedom in the world.

You might notice me sitting on top of it.  When the wall opened in 1989, it really spoke to me.  I was at the height of my college educational frenzy, and it was the first place I visited when I left the country for my first international trip.  Parts of the Wall can be found in various locations around the world.  I've seen a few when traveling.

This was something horrid turned hopeful, and if it's not a monument to freedom; I don't know what is.

https://berlin-freedom-week.com/en              

https://www.berlin.de/en/events/9796393-2842498-berlin-freedom-week.en.html                

https://glasstire.com/2022/09/09/in-and-around-berlin-freedom-identity-and-place/                 

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-wall                

https://www.berlin.de/en/tourism/               

The Great Wall of China is one of those locations.  It's reportedly visible from space.  This marvel is almost 3,000 years old and in its entirety it is around 13,000 miles long.  It's so fascinating that it falls on most people's bucket lists.

In the modern era, most Americans don't really think of freedom when they think of China.  And why with all the monuments, museums, palaces, forbidden cities, and famous squares would the wall be a symbol of freedom?  Isn't it mainly a tourist attraction these days?

Around 200 BC, when the wall was built, it was to fortify and protect the Chinese people from outsiders.  Don't forget, Attila the Hun was in the area at one point ahead of the wall, and after the wall was built, Genghis Khan was around.  There were many invaders; and in ancient times, the Chinese were united and wanted to govern themselves.  An impenetrable wall went a long way to keep from being conquered.

Historically, this wall stands as a testament to time and unity.  Because of its longevity and the very reasons for its construction; it is a symbol of freedom.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/438/               

https://medium.com/@mysteriousfence/the-great-wall-of-china-symbol-of-imperial-power-9fe17ce66142                

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-wall-china/                 

https://www.chinahighlights.com/greatwall/great-wall-importance.htm               

https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china               

So, when you turn on the news, and wonder what freedom means these days; think about it carefully.  It's meant a lot of different things to millions of different peoples over the centuries.  I advise taking a look at other perspectives; and instead of fighting against them; learn something from them.  I'm not saying that you should change how you feel about anything, but learning is always a means of opening minds and making us more tolerant of one another.  At the holidays, I like to reflect on my views and opinions and learn something that broadens my mind about the rest of the world.

This is what I'm pondering.  If you'd like to see what I'm doing; check out my Adventures for Anyone YouTube Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2025/              

Always keep learning.  Always keep questioning.  Always keep adventuring and enjoy!

Give Me An F! Give Me An M! Now Switch!

 

Here we go!  December 8th; or in less than two weeks, there's gonna be a big change in New York City.  I'm going to try and explain it here.  We'll see how it goes.

The F Line and the M Line are part of the orange subways.  There's also a B and a D that's orange, but this doesn't have anything to do with them.

There are subway tunnels at 53rd Street; used by the M.  It routes it to stop at certain stations back and forth across the East River from Queens to Manhattan and back.  Soon, it will run the route that the F train runs between 6 am and 9:30 pm on weekdays and go through the route set up with the 63rd street tunnel.  That route is currently used by the F line.  The F line will switch the the 53rd Street tunnel during those hours and run the M line route.

Why would anyone do this?  What point could it make?

Here's the thing.  Some routes are busier than others during peak times.  This is when everyone is going to and from work and school all week long.  It's long since been a simple fact that a lot of people work in Manhattan, but live in Queens.  It's an economic thing.  This puts a lot of traffic on certain routes.

This simple switch is designed to ease traffic going between the boroughs.  That's all I know.  M will stop at Roosevelt Island and F won't.  That's a big part of the change.  Stations like Queens Plaza need a break and this supposedly will help.

Some stations will be different during those times.  My advice is to learn the times if you're a regular rider.  That way you only need to consult the map during the switch hours.  Always watch the maps.

Now, how does this affect the rest of those subway lines?  It doesn't.  This switch is very local.  There are a lot of stops that both subways stop at.  There will be no changes in the routes in Brooklyn and most of Manhattan.  It's the area around the East River around that Queensboro Bridge.  That's where the bottle neck in traffic is.  If you've ever been to Queen's Plaza, you'll understand the traffic backup.

There are limited tracks at Queens Plaza and too many lines coming through.  The M is just busier than the F, and this is the place that they're trying to alleviate the backups.  Most people aren't going to that station.  They're going further.  The lesser used F stops on Roosevelt Island, and by making this switch; the traffic should mellow out.  A little more for the F.  A little less for the M.  It could make a huge difference in crowds and delays.

So, remember the switch.  Just wanted to make a note of it for all of you New Yorkers reading.  December 8th.  Watch the station and online maps.  Check the times.  Make that adjustment.

Don't let the switch intimidate you.  It's really not that bad.  Enjoy!

https://www.mta.info/article/f-m-swap

https://secretnyc.co/f-m-trains-route-swap-december/

https://gothamist.com/news/mta-to-swap-f-m-subway-routes-between-manhattan-and-queens                             

https://www.amny.com/nyc-transit/f-and-m-subway-swap-in-manhattan-and-queens/                     

Check out the articles and learn it the way it makes sense to you and Check out my YouTube Channel, Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon for more about New York and getting around!

https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2025               

Thanks for reading!  Enjoy!  Happy Thanksgiving!