Falcon Flyer Winter 2024-2025 | Page 6

SHOPPING IN MANHATTAN

📍CHELSEA MARKET

75 9th Avenue (Chelsea)

Chelsea Market is a unique and rustic indoor shopping center packed with food from all cuisines and clothing from local businesses. Multiple smaller stores sell trinkets, home decor, and souvenirs. Chelsea Market was built in the 1890s, originally a Nabisco Factory, and the old style, industrial vibe is still felt throughout the building. As far as shopping goes, there is everything from cheap knick knacks to expensive, high quality furniture. When you get hungry, there is a wide array of full service restaurants as well as a food court to grab a bite from one of the many vendors. Chelsea Market is perfect for an indoor shopping trip, but if weather permits, the beautiful Pier 57 is walking distance from the market and is a perfect add on to finish off the day.

📍STRAND BOOKSTORE

828 Broadway (East Village)

The Strand Bookstore offers all genres and authors of books across their two main floors as well as their outdoor clearance racks, and they also have a rare book room open on weekends.  But Strand offers much more than just books, their first floor has a secluded section with unique greeting cards lining floor to ceiling. Keychains, pins, Jellycats, magnets, journals, and New York City themed gifts are sold throughout the store. Strand Bookstore is the largest independently owned bookstore in New York City and is definitely worth a visit for booklovers and anyone looking to check out cute gifts and stationery.

📍5TH AVENUE & ROCKEFELLER CENTER

One of the most popular centers for shopping and tourism in all of New York City is 5th Avenue, specifically around Rockefeller Center. Along 5th Avenue, from 45th to 59th street, high end, flagship, and popular department stores line the block. If you are looking for high end items, the Saks Fifth Avenue department store is known for its wide variety of luxury goods, plus, this location is its headquarters. 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center is the hub of flagship stores. Here, the flagships for Apple, Burberry, Gucci, H & M, Lego, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co. can be found, among many others. Not only can you find all the clothing, bags, toys, beauty, and decor items you can think of, the flagship stores make the shopping experience even better due to the beauty and size of the building. In October of 2024, Louis Vuitton unveiled a reconstruction of their store and it was transformed into a gigantic suitcase. Instantly people flocked to see the huge stack of luggage that was the Louis Vuitton store. The suitcase facade is actually there to cover the construction going on inside, and the Louis Vuitton store itself is temporarily moved across the street. The instantly iconic suitcase building can be found at 1 East 57th street. 

During the holiday season, every store boasts sparkling lights and wintery decorations both inside and outside, and of course, the Rockefeller Center tree is lit up. Though this is one of the most beautiful times to see the area, it is also the peak season for tourists, so blocks can get very congested. Nevertheless, 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center provide a great selection of shopping and dining options, as well as great photo opportunities.

By: Mia Koshefsky

Discover the best shopping destinations in Manhattan, from luxury boutiques on Fifth Avenue to hidden gems in SoHo, with this ultimate guide to the city's vibrant retail scene.