Times Square
Heading back towards Penn Station, I wandered through an insanely crowded Times Square, where every shopper in the city seemed to have gathered.
November 25, 2005
Fifth Avenue Windows
Strolling down Fifth Avenue, the brightly lit windows beckon like sirens to the weary pedestrians. And this is only between 57th and 52nd! Whatever your taste, there's something on Fifth Avenue to grab your attention...
Fendi:
Disney:
(Why don't they ever have Cinderella's pre-princess dresses? Shouldn't she remember her roots?)
church
I left ebar once again in search of a hotspot. I spy a Borders across the street. “Yes!!!” I thought. As I headed over I approached a church on one side
and a mini/mega mall on the other.
The God we worship today can only be found on one side of the street I’m afraid. No matter your religious faith or lack thereof, there is no room for God in our pointless celebration of all things material.
ebar
Atlanta is seriously lacking for wireless hotspots. As I left Nordstrom I saw what appeared to be an oasis in the desert of no connections. An establishment called ‘ebar’. Complete with comfortable tables, coffee drinks, and atmosphere, this surely must be a spot. I sat down, took out the ol’ laptop n’ prepared to post my most recent observations.
“No connection found”.
Fuck ebar!!!
make up
As I left Nordstom, I stopped by the make-up counter to see a friend.
“Have you been busy today?” I asked.
“Not really, everyone is just walking around”, she replied.
She showed me the lipstick artwork she’d been working on for the past few minutes; A grotesque collage of pinks, hot pinks, browns, and hooker reds.
I said my goodbyes n’ headed for the door.
Nordstrom
Nordstrom in Phipps Plaza. Surrounded by million dollar homes and cookie cutter condos that say “I’ve made it to the top by doing what I’m told”, this is the preferred mall of the privileged class. The sweat pants, flip flops, and the “I could care less if anybody sees me today” attitude of rural Wal-Mart has been replaced with Gucci, Prada, and “Look at me everyone, I still look skinny the day after Thanksgiving”.
back to work
I jumped in the car n’ headed for the upscale Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead, home of the oh so trendy, Lenox Mall & Phipps Plaza. So, I’m back at it. The afternoon mood of Black Friday is night and day (pun intended) from this morning. The stores are still packed, but the sense of urgency is gone. I asked the first woman I saw walking into Nordstrom, “what brings you out this fine Atlanta afternoon?”
“I was watching the news and wanted to see it for myself” she said.
“Are you crazy” I thought, “Cool, enjoy” I said.
New York photos
Baby it’s cold outside…
Good thing it is warm in the stores.
Temperatures in the Boston area have dropped to some of the lowest we have seen since winter began but that is no stopping shoppers from venturing out. Last reading I saw was the one above, and it was only reading at 29 degrees, and still the stores still appear to be doing pretty well.
Teeth are chattering, hands are freezing but those die hard shoppers still continue on.
Khol’s was Krazy!
From the parking lot to the check out counter Kohl’s was bustling. Boasting their early bird sales, people flocked to the place to try and steal the deals.
The other early morning spot open for business
As I packed up n’ headed home to regroup and reflect on my Black Friday experience thus far, I was struck by how calm the rest of the city streets were. Aside from the shopping malls and mega-stores, the city seemed at rest. Today is a day off for most, unless of course you work in retail.
As I drove home, I did however find one exception.
Wal-Mart isn't the only show in town making big profits through expoitation.
Continue reading "The other early morning spot open for business" »
Sunrise over macys...A surrealist observation
I emerged from Macys just as the sun was coming up. Can you say “surreal shopping experience”. The sky was a dull grey with pink, wispy clouds scattered about. Standing there in the parking lot I felt as I imagine Whitman may have felt if he were a modern day materialist. I stroked my chin and admired industry’s creation the way I think he would have.
Continue reading "Sunrise over macys...A surrealist observation" »
Barnes and Noble
Readers gather around a table of Sudoku game books at a Princeton Barnes and Noble.
Don't leave empty handed!
Nearly everyone leaving a store was carrying some kind of purchase. Whether it was a pack of gum or oversized shopping bad, these shoppers were out to buy!
Macys...civil gluttony
After the best Buy incident, I was a bit shaken headed for my next stop, Macys. Again, the lot was full. So many full lots; How does one decide which store to go to? More on that question in later posts.
I entered the famous department store through the furniture showroom doors (seemed like a safe entry point). My nerves were almost immediately put at ease. There were plenty of shoppers, no visible security, and numerous places to hide. I grabbed my camera n’ got to work.
Come back another day...
Seems like some stores are saving their sales for a rainy day.
Crowded
This makes online shopping much more appealing.
Radio Shack is where it's at!
Are they giving this stuff away for free?
After strolling through what seemed like a fairly empty mall, I finally stumbled across where all the drivers of the cars in the parking lot must have been, Best Buy.
Before even coming to the entrance of the electronics supplier you could see swarms of people headed for the narrow hallway that leads down to the store. And, once you ventured down the hall, there was no turning back.
Continue reading "Are they giving this stuff away for free?" »
time to go
check out
to the rescue
rent-a-cops to the rescue
more fight
fight escaltes
FIGHT!!!
This is when the fight broke out
Action
here's where it gets interesting...electronics
toys
they didn't have all this when I was a kid
more shoppers
where's my stuff?
shoppers
the hunt
lead the way
lead the way
Pulling up to Wal-Mart @ 5am
wal-mart 5am
Closed
Black Friday even starts too early for some businesses to open.
Empty Mall
Looks like Black Friday starts too early for some people.
MACYS
Some scenes from the New York Macy's.