Sunday, December 26, 2010

Sak's "The Snowflake and the Bubble" Light Show


I hope everyone who celebrates the holiday had a wonderful Christmas! New York City is now in the midst of a snowstorm which is turning quickly into a blizzard, so it is ironic that the first set of holiday department store displays that I'll be showing are the iconic snowflake themed ones of the light show on Saks Fifth Avenue department store, located at 611 Fifth Avenue (at 49th Street) in Manhattan. (All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them once, and then again when they reopen on a new page.)

As you can see in my short video below, the snowflakes this year are projected onto the building in the evening hours from 5PM until 10:30 PM during the Christmas season. They twist and turn in 3D:


Every fifteen minutes in the evening there is a spectacular holiday light show that brings the building to life with music, bubbles and snowflakes!



Called "The Snowflake and the Bubble," the 3D light projection show on the outside of the department store is absolutely amazing!  The show tells a festive tale of how Snowflakes and Bubbles struggle to live in harmony, before eventually coming together in the spirit of the holiday season.

You can watch the entire two minute show on this high quality video -- don't miss it!



Wasn't that beautiful? The light show and original music will run for six weeks, until January 6th, 2010.

As you can see in the photo above, Saks front windows are also specially decorated for the holidays, and crowds of New Yorkers and tourists line up to walk by them and enjoy their displays. Saks estimates nearly a million people a day will walk by the holiday windows this season, versus the 400,000 to 500,000 that walk by on a regular day.


I visited them both day (photo above) and in the evening, but the evening windows were easier to see as there were less reflections from the street.  The theme this year is that of a little girl named Annabelle, who is seen above blowing bubbles, who has a dream inspired by the objects that are in the cabinet behind her. Her dream magically comes to life!


The photo mosaics above and below show the progression of the dream in each of the store windows. There is something in motion in almost every window -- you can watch some of the animation and learn more about the dispaly on this link.


As you can see, many of Annabelle's magical dream sequences contain both the objects that were in the cabinet behind her in the first photo, and also bubbles, and one of a kind fashions by Proenza Schouler, Oscar de la Renta and Alexander McQueen.


A equally spectacular sight is directly across the street from Saks, as there in the distance was the Rockefeller Christmas tree!  If you haven't seen my blog post about this beautiful tree as yet, click here to read more.

My next post will show the very colorful Macy's of Herald Square's holiday store windows and some more sights of Christmas in New York so please come back soon!




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39 comments:

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Pat - I always loved those snowflakes on the Saks building, but I never knew about the 3-D show. The video was terrific. thanks for sharing.

myletterstoemily said...

the saks windows are always spectacular
but they outdid themselves this year!

thank you for sharing with us and happy
new year!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Thanks Pat, I was wondering about the windows this year. Usually there are a few TV shows about them, but I didn't see any this year.The bubbles and snowflakes are so high tech and clever...very magical.
♥, Susan

~Cheryl said...

This is all so magical - creative - just wonderful! Thank you for sharing it all, and I look forward to seeing more. Stay warm!

Anonymous said...

The Snowflake and The Bubble was delightful and sooooo imaginative! Your pictures and the YouTube video were perfect for feeling like I was right there watching. Thank you again so much for sharing your NYC! And a Happy New Year to you and family!

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas, Pat! Sorry I'm a bit late.....my head is still spinning from the hectic pace of last week and this weekend! It was all wonderful.....but so tiring! I think that I REALLY enjoyed your videos tonight because I had time to relax and watch them! They were magical!
Thank you for sharing them.

I also have to say that I so enjoyed the card sentiment you shared on your previous post. It certainly put things into perspective!

Have a wonderful week....ending with a terrific New Year's Eve and Day! L, Dana

Claudia said...

Nobody dresses up better for the Christmas Ball than NYC. I loved seeing Saks (altho partial to Lord & Taylor). Hope the blizzard is a distant memory soon! Christmas love from my home to yours.

Gypsea Nurse said...

Alright...whats the trick? Was just there..and for the life of me couldn't get a good pick of the snowflakes this year! Ugh!! It was also a madhouse on Christmas Eve..so I gave up on just about everything!
Smiles~
Great post!
Cat

Ginny Hartzler said...

This is amazing, Pat! I've never seen anything like it! You are making one lady who cannot travel anymore very happy!! My husband is watching it now on his computer. You just spread so much joy with your blog, it is like a public service. And especially for those of us who will never get to New York. I imagine there are so many neat things there that you could not post them in a lifetime!

Abramyan Avenue said...

I LOVE the snowflakes on Saks...sooo pretty!!! I wish I was there to see it. My goodness I miss NY!!! I will probably come back over and over to watch your videos! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
-April

Catherine said...

Thank you for sharing the beautiful display. Happy New year Pat!

Gracie said...

That's really amazing Pat! Thanks for posting the video, it's like being actually there......well, almost! LOL

Old Kitty said...

Blimey!! What an extravaganza!! I love the snowflake and bubble 3D light show!!! How amazing!!! I'm watching the clip asking myself "how did they do that??!?!" My goodness - that's so magical!!! Yay!!

Awww and the window display - wow!!! It's like the little girl discovering her own Narnia except that it's full of gorgeous stuff!!! Wow. I really like how Saks have pulled out all the stops to have these very unique and fun and festive displays!!

Thank you for sharing these here!!! Now please take care as even the weather over there in the east coast of america has made headlines here!!

Keep warm and stay safe! x

Frances said...

Pat ... I truly appreciate the time and love you put into each of your posts. For those of us who love NYC yet can't visit very often, your photos and your words help to fill a large gap. Look at that crunch of people in front of those windows! I don't know how they can move. I hope you had a wondrous Christmas and that the coming new year will bring amazingly beautiful moments to your life.

Anonymous said...

What a treasure! So nice not to have to look over the heads of those million people walking by! Thank you! I looked forward to checking out your blog this morning, since you'd told us what it would be.

(Gee, not an inflatable decoration in sight! :) )

Sheila said...

My memories the magical front corner windows of The Hudson's Bay Company and Eaton's in my hometown come flooding back as I look at Saks window through your eyes this year. The designers must start a year ahead to start with such creative ideas and bring them to fruition in time for the next Christmas season. Looking forward to seeing all the department store themes. Thanks so much Pat! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

Michelle said...

I did not know about these snowflakes until I read about them here. Thank you for sharing these! Lovely!!

Donnie said...

That was so great. They have always done decorations on a grand scale. Stay safe and warm.

La said...

Thank you for sharing this beautiful city with those of us who can't visit during the holidays.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas. La

Jenny said...

Wouldn't it be fun to be the person thinking those things up? This was really a wonderful post, Pat. I loved the video!

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

Hope the storm is not too bad at you place. Loved the NYC light shows!

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

I just loved looking at the windows! A real treat.

steviewren said...

What a beautiful display! Growing up, we would go downtown to see the window displays. Shopping malls killed that eventually. Too bad. There was so much wonder and fantasy attached to it. You are lucky to still be able to see such things.

Love your Christmas tree. You decorate the way I like to. All of my ornaments have memories attached to them.

Anonymous said...

oh so pretty. I like when they add lights to buildings. It gets really pretty especially at night.

Lovella ♥ said...

Oh Pat. .only in New York. Wow ..those snowflakes projected onto the buildings are just beautiful.
I'm watching the today show. . seeing that tomorrow you might. .just might be talking about the big blizzard that finished off your Christmas gatherings. If you have guests trying to take flights today . .they may be staying a few more days.

Unknown said...

Oh Pat that was beautiful. I have never seen or heard about that tradition. Thanks for sharing that with us to enjoy. Happy New Year dear blog sista.
QMM

Blooming Rose Musings said...

Saks is always spectacular at Christmas. I didn't know about the 3D show, so this is new to me.
New York is so very magical at Christmas! I love the creche at St. Patrick's Cathedral. It is truly a gorgeous silent beauty.
Thank you so much for taking us around the most wonderful places for the season. I feel so blessed to see your wonderful photos and experience the city again.

Kathleen said...

Hi Pat!
I think you got more than we did from the looks of it on TV. The city looks empty.
Beautiful pics, Pat. I sent it to my son to show the kids. They have probably seen it in person, but just in case!
Hope you are safe and warm! We are staying put till it starts to melt!!

Yvette said...

So gorgeous! NYC at Christmas is such a fabulous experience. Thanks for sharing it with us, Pat!

My name is Riet said...

HOw amazing that is. Never seen any decorations like that before. Only New York must have something so special.Beautiful.
Have a wonderful week Pat.

GailO said...

I'm finally getting a chance to visit my blogging friends and wish them a very belated Merriest of Christmas times...and happiest of New years! I have enjoyed getting to know NYC and Brooklyn so well through your posts this year...Thanks Pat!

Carol said...

I hope you had a fantastic Christmas, Pat! Have to say, New York certainly is most festive during the holidays! Love the windows, they are always so creative!

Stay safe and warm!

Mary said...

Pat~ I SO enjoyed your video of The Snowflake & Bubble! What a treat, although I imagine by now you have seen all the snowflakes you care too! Hope you are tucked in cozy & safe! Sending you warm wishes for a Happy New Year :-)

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Ahhhhhhhhhh, the magic and delight of it all! Thanks for sharing it, Pat!

Tracy said...

Hi, Pat! I was wonderful about those snowflakes, how they did that... just love the snowflakes! Can't wait to come back for more at Macy's! ;o) Hope you & yours have been having a sweet holiday. We're just emerging from some very festive days just now. Later in the week is my birthday, then we ring in New Year--it's a great time just now! Happy Days, my friend ((HUGS))

Pondside said...

How beautiful!
I remember my first visits to Saks in the 70's - so glamorous!
I've enjoyed all your wonderful posts about Christmas in NYC - I'll have to chat with The Great Dane about the possibility of a few days there at this time next year - or perhaps in mid-December. As much as I dislike snow (after years of living in it!) I'd brave it to see some of these delights!

Sarah said...

Pat, I'm late arriving to see the sights. ;-)
Thanks for sharing again. I want you to know how special it is for me to see photos of NY through your camera lens. Thank you for taking me along. ~ sarah

Cheryl D. said...

Beautiful pictures, as always! I hope you did okay during the blizzard!

Annesphamily said...

You posted the best video! I really enjoyed watching it. Thank you Anne