(all photos can be clicked on to enlarge)I visited Le Parker Meridien Hotel located at 119 West 56 Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues, in Manhattan this weekend to see their Gingerbread Extravaganza that will be on display through January. All the gingerbread masterpieces were created by local NYC bakeries.
A view of Le Parker Meridien Hotel.
The hotel's location near Times Square and within close walking distance to Central Park and Fifth Avenue shopping, makes it a popular hotel for many tourists.
The hotel lobby Christmas tree.
A view of the Knave coffee/sandwich bar in Le Parker Meridien. It's a nice place to take a break if you have been busy shopping or sightseeing in the area, The hotel also has a popular breakfast restaurant called Norma's, and one of the best burgers in NYC can be purchased in their Burger Joint --just be prepared to wait on a line as this once best kept secret has been out of the bag for quite a while.
The gingerbread exhibit was in the 56th Street lobby atrium.
Visitors could purchase a ticket for $1 through the concierge desk to vote on their favorite gingerbread design, and also be entered in a chance to win a 5 night stay at the Parker Palm Springs, along with 2 round trip air tickets. All money benefits City Harvest, the world's first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city's hungry men, women and children.
I found it hard to chose a favorite gingerbread creation as they were all well done and fanciful. I liked this one entitled " The Three Little Pigs Manhattan Holiday" created by Billy's Bakery. It reminded me of a Brooklyn brownstone. Notice the NY Times newspaper on the front steps, and what I hope were supposed to be the children's rhyme's"Three Blind Mice" passing by?
It also offered a side view of the Three Little Pigs inside the rooms!
I also liked "Sweet Ride' by the Buttercup Bake Shop.
Just look at all the detail inside the train car!
"Grand Central Terminal" by Magnolia Bakery was giant sized!
So was " Happy Holidays" by Le Parker Meridien and the Norma's Team. I liked the use of pretzels as the fence around the house.
I also loved the "Chrysler Building" by the Soutine Bakery. Making gingerbread stand so high must have been quite a feat!
How could I resist these charmers on top of "Marco's Toy Box" by Rolling Pin Productions?All the gingerbread creations on display can be viewed in the mosaic at the top. All were wonderful, and certainly a sweet treat for the eyes. Come back for a visit soon as I'll be showing more photos of Christmas in Manhattan!
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51 comments:
Hi Pat!
Sorry I haven't been around in a while, but as usual, I couldn't stop reading through your posts once I started! It's always like having a mini vacation when here!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
jenny
What an extraordinary thing to se! Thanks for sharing your pics.
Gracie @ http://mylittleplace.blog.com
Pat, these are amazing! Do you know if they assembled them on site, or did they have to move them to the hotel? The detail on these is incredible, what a fun exhibit. Thanks for sharing these. Kathy
These are absolutely adorable!! What a lot of work!! My fav??? The Chrysler building!!
Have a Wonderful Day!!
Love,
Marilyn
xxoo
How cool, the gingerbread houses and decorations are all so pretty. I love the last Marcos toy box. I hope you put in an entry to win the trip. Good Luck.
What a lovely tour of Le Meridien. Nice gingerbread houses too. Feels so much like Christmas. I know it must have smelled incredible too.
Sam
Hi Pat
I have been to le Parker Meridien...I love how it is such a swank hotel, there really is no sign for it, except the small one you took the pphoto of on the right hand column by the entrance...guess no advertising needs to be done here! When I drop my son back at FIT, think I'll take my little one up to see the G bread competition! What a great idea and I thank you for showing us! And you are right--the "Rasta" burger joint is the best hamburger in NYC...even on the Parker website the word burger is in a very small font leading you to the Joint--trying to keep it underwraps, I guess!
:0)
Tara
Nice post to start my day. The gingerbread houses are so much fun!
Wonderful gingerbread creations! I made one once years ago trying to impress my new step-daughter and that I did! Now with a new granddaughter I look forward to making another gingerbread house with her when she's old enough. Thanks for sharing!
There is something very magical about gingerbread...it smells divine, and look at those sweet creations. Like wedding cakes, they have risen to a form of art. These are fascinating and fabulous.
♥, Susan
Totally absolutely amazingly neat! Sweet and not to eat. Just my kind of post! I chuckled over yours! When do you win the trip? (positive thought process - ha)
I adore these gingerbread works of art. Of course, I'm crazy about the Food Networks Cake Boss and their Cake Offs. So much creative talent out there. I did a Gingerbread post for my raviolis at (raviolisforlunch.blogspot.comhttp://raviolisforlunch.blogspot.com/2009/12/cant-catch-me-im-gingerbread-boy.html). Blessings, Sea Witch
Oh, wow! The gingerbread houses look terrific!
Paz
Great tour of the Gingerbread houses, they are really fantastic! The details amazing!
The city is so fabulous during the holidays! It is all the time, but especially during the holidays!
Ok so at lunch I have to walk down the block to go see this! lol Thanks for sharing
Oh My GOSSSSSSSHHHHHH, Those gingerbread houses/hotels, etc. are incredible. I have NEVER seen anything like it. How creative. As I've said many times, you are the one who is blessed--because you can go and see these things, not too far from you. WOW!!!!!
Thanks for sharing... They are unbelievable....
Hugs,
Betsy
Pat - thanks for letting us know about these gingerbread houses. I will make a point of going to see them.
I like the Chrysler Building. I'm sad that it looks like some of the details had been damaged. It's not hard to construct tall gingerbread buildings if you start with a good foundation. I built a 6' tall gingerbread empire state building a few years ago. I used puffed rice treats as the core. It took quite some time to make a 4' column of rice crispy treats at home, but once I had the foundation built, the building was rock solid. You also have to consider transportation when constructing such a tall piece. My piece came apart into 3 sections and fit with 1/2" clearance into a minivan.
Oh Pat,
What a gorgeous display, and thank you so much for sharing this. I didn't get into the city like I wanted to this Christmas. Your beautiful blog helps me walk through all the wonderful places in New York.
Wishing you a Beautiful New Year.
Karen
Hi Pat,
That was great! I loved the one with the mice in front, but all of them were wonderful!
I haven't been to the city since my son moved out...which is almost 8 yrs now!
Hope your Cmas was wonderful and you have some time this week to sit and enjoy your decorations!
What a privilege for you to be able to see this amazing display of gingerbread houses. Each one of these beautiful creations shows me just how creative people can be. My favorite...the Chrysler Building. I am so impressed with all the detail that went into them. Thank you for sharing this tour with us. I found it quite interesting.
All for a buck in NYcity is a real bargain and for a good cause too. Thanks for sharing.
Joyce
Hi pat!
First thanks for stopping by my spot! Love the visits of course.
I am sooo jealous of you-- I would die to live near or in NYC-- its my passion and have always said if i won the lottery (guess i should buy a ticket now and then) i would have a spot in NYC --
Great shots of the darlin gingerbreads.
Have the best end of the year!
TTFN ~~ Claudia
Those creations sure put our little graham cracker confections to shame! My fave was the Chrysler Building. It seems like moving these onto the site at the hotel would have been difficult.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas!
Wow what a post! I have to say the Chrysler Building was extraordinary. What a grand idea! Did you go to Lord & Taylor's this year? ne of my fave stops over the holidays.
Amazing gingerbread creations...all of them! It seems there is no end of fun things to see and do in NYC.
That hotel is fabulous and so are those gingerbread creations. Thanks for sharing with us Pat, you are so close to so many awesome things!
Amazing gingerbread creations...not sure what to think about the scale of those mice...frightening! Ha!
Love to see the Gingerbread houses - when we lived in Tennessee - we went down to Ashville to the Grove Park Inn to see their display of houses. It was awesome!
Adorable~and so creative! My kiddos will enjoy looking at these:)
What a delightful post! I felt like a child, looking at all those beautiful gingerbread creations but, all I could think about, was eating them!!! Shame on me!
Hello Pat, your post on the gingerbread buildings is precious. What fun to see these marvelous creations. I have made several gingerbread houses in the past and it is very hard and tedious. It is also lots of fun to be creative. Mine of course, are small. The mosaic captured them all so well. Thanks for sharing your fun day.
The photo of you and your grandson is darling. You look so pretty and I know you are loving him beyond words!!!
Have a wonderful and happy New Year.
Love, Jeanne
Hi Kathy
I'm not sure where those gingerbread creations were built? My guess is that they were made at each bakery and then transported. They all had a base of some sort.
Beautiful mosaic.
Awesome captures!
A blessed Holidays.
Cheers for the New Year!
Regina
What a wonderful post--I love each and every one of them but the 3 blind mice are a special touch in addition to the 3 little pigs (lol). We are so lucky to be able to see the highlights of the city through your eyes--thanks!
Hi Pat! Lovely post; I stayed some times at Le Meridein; remember a nice view of Central Park from the top floors' rooms...
Blogtrotter has reached the January 2009 trips! Not bad; just one year delay... ;)
Enjoy and enter 2010 in great shape! Wish you all the best for the New Year!!!
These are all fabulous, I would have a hard time deciding, but I love that the money goes to such a wonderful charity. I'm going to try and remember this for next year. Such a fun way to do good in your community.
Merry (late) Christmas! Just now catching up on my reading.
Those gingerbread creations are amazing. I used to make one every year, but now it seems I never have time.
Happy New Year Pat. Love your photos, I really need to get to NY soon!
PS~ I did see the PBS special on Louisa May Alcott last night. She was so amazing and tragic at the same time.
~WOW! Pat the gingerbread houses are so unique and creative. It must take so long to make them. Beautiful tour!
Many Blessings & Happy New Year!
~Melissa :)
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Pat.
Ooo the Chrysler is my fav building in NY -how special to see it in gingerbread too. I gave some gingerbread houses, sleighs and trees as part presents this year as they were irresistably cute!
Oh my the size of the pink chandelier too!
Hi Pat!
I haven't had one second to get into the city this year - a first! So I am especially enjoying your blog. Thank you for such wonderful posts and photos all year. Esp love the gingerbread!!
Happy New Year!
This is amazing! You're right -- I need to get myself over there to check it out (maybe I can actualoly finally see the Rockefeller Center tree while I'm out and about, lol! For someone who's in NYC almost every day...I'm pathetic!!). The DB Challenge this month (which I passed on) was gingerbread houses...wish I had seen these for some inspiration and I may have actually participated! (No I wouldn't have...'cause I would've eaten the whole thing. :-)
I just left the gingerbread comment - don't know why my typepad name comes up as a bunch of numbers- it's just Loretta from Pomegranatesandpaper!
Thanks for sharing! Those houses look so pretty!
Best wishes for the New Year!
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh, how fabulous, Pat! It's just absolutely stunning! I can't believe all of that wonder in one spot. How blessed you are to live in NYC!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Pat, I am so glad you shared this. I will be showing my husband as soon as he comes back in the house.
They have a big gingerbread competition at Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina.
Happy Holidays, dear Pat.
It amazes me what people can create out of gingerbread. The hotel looks fabulous too.
Happy New Year to you!
They are all fabulous but I think my fav is Chrysler bldg.....
Love your blog!!!
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