F.A.O. Schwarz remains one of the most venerable retail brands in New York, having survived other iconic brands, like Altman, Bonwitt Teller and Best & Company. The business started with the name of Schwarz Brothers Importers shortly after the Civil War: it was the outpost in New York of a family business operating in Baltimore, but the other brothers were deleted from the brand a few years later. The only one who managed the brand was Frederick August Otto Schwarz, who made the bussines for himself
Our advice:
Closed until an official reopened, and we hope to have it back, to remain part of all generations. F.A.O. Schwarz will still be present in local and online company store, but the fact is that F.A.O. Schwarz went away from Fifth Avenue with no clear destination.
Schedule: 9:30 am to 8:30pm average time
With the Christmas arrival, it's time to enjoy the showcase of the most elegant stores that are on 5th Avenue. Start walking from 57th Street, discover a stunning snowflake made by Swarosky, at this corner you can find also stores like Tiffany, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton and Bergdorf Goodman where the decoration of their Christmas showcases its a different theme each year with extravagant designs.
The Saks stores comes alive with a spectacular light show projected on the building, all passers crossing by 5th Avenue are attracted to it. Bloomingdale's, the Christmas decoration at the store on Lexington Avenue always catches the eye of the people, Barney's stores, where in Christmas they have spectacular lights, animation and innovation for people crossing around, Lord & Taylor showcases offer scenes inspired by favorite memories of their clients.
Christmas in New York City has much to do from the Rockefeller Center, with its eternal Angeles Herald, the famous Christmas tree, the ice rink, and showcases decorated with love.
Location of some stores:
Bergdorf Goodman: 754 Fifth Avenue and 58th Street
Henri Bendel: 712 Fifth Avenue, and 56th Street
Tiffany & Co: 727 Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th streets
Cartier: 653 Fifth Avenue at 52nd Street
Saks: 611 Fifth Avenue and 50th Street
Lord & Taylor: 424 Fifth Avenue and 38 Street
Our advice:
Schedule: 24 hours - 365 days a year
The glass cube with a side of 9.75 meters and the Apple symbol inside, was designed by Steve Jobs, the main part of the store is underground, the first thing you will find, are the famous stairs glass that all Apple Stores have all leading to an area of over 3,000 square meters, divided into two areas: the area of products and bar room. The room product is much larger than the other, and you can find all the Apple products and accessories of other brands, fully available for visitors to touch them and play as much as they want, on the other hand is the bar room, which is divided into 3 sections:
iPod Bar, Genius Bar and Studio. In the Genius Bar, Apple users can discuss technical details of the products and take them to repair. The iPod Bar is exactly like the Genius Bar, but oriented to iPods, and finally the Studio, where there are staff that provide help with the software management, ranging from organizing photos and songs to editing music and videos.
In the store you can find several workshops throughout the day, both oriented to current users and professionals, although in this shop you can only find it between 2 and 4 per day.
The store is located on the south-east corner of Central Park, under the General Motors building square that occupies the space between Fifth Avenue, the 58th and 59th streets. The exact address is 767 Fifth Avenue. All tourists want the picture of the most famous brand shop, we don’t know if it’s because is a huge crystal cube or simply because it's Apple, but now it’s a very touristic place. Apple has received numerous architectural awards for its store designs, in particular, this shop on 5th Avenue.
Our advice:
If you are there you can use their computers for free to look for quick information, they also have free internet for an unlimited time. There are areas in the store where you can sit with your Mac or use one of the computers in the store; it is an important detail to know if you ever have to connect to the Internet while traveling.
Many people take advantage of their trip to New York to buy Apple products because they are a little cheaper. If you are visiting the shop and you are an Apple-fan, don't go without the latest iPad or iPhone.
The store is open 24 hours a day for every day of the year and on Fridays from midnight, they have some of the best DJs in town playing live music for about two hours, and that’s completely free.