Through the Shopping Glass: A Century of New York Christmas Windows [Hardcover]

Sheryll Bellman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 2000

Anyone fortunate enough to have spent time in New York during the holiday seasonhas warm memories of being mesmerized by the spectacular window displays throughout the city. Even the most jaded New Yorker, wearied by work and the holiday crush, cannot help but slow their frenzied pace to gaze at the sights and sounds of these wondrous displays.

Now, for the first time, displays from the early 1900s to today are gathered in one keepsake volume. Organized by decade, brimming with archival black-and-white and color photography, this book commemorates the unique art of window design, from the traditional Victorian windows to the avant-garde. Displays from classic New York City stores, like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Lord & Taylor, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Henri Bendel, and Barneys, are all included-as well as displays from stores no longer in operation but fondly remembered by many, like Ohrbach's, Gimbel's, B.Altman, and Arnold Constable.

This unique book features a die-cut, cloth case and four die-cut "windows" inside to recreate the experience of gazing at a display window.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sheryll Bellman is an author and designer.

Simon Doonan is the creative director at Barneys. A columnist for Talk magazine and the New York Observer, he is the author of Confessions of a Window Dresser.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (October 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847822885
• ISBN-13: 978-0847822881
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,920,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BIOGRAPHY

Sheryll Bellman is the author of three books on cultural history. Through the Shopping Glass-A Century of New York Christmas Windows (Rizzoli, 2000), America's Great Delis-Recipes and Traditions from Coast to Coast (Collector's Press, 2005 and revised by Seller's Publications 2010) and America's Little Italys--Recipes and Traditions From Coast to Coast (Seller's Publications 2011).
Ms. Bellman has been a guest on NPR, WOR, WHYY, WNYC, The Chef's Table, The Phil Blazer Show, Cooking with Jackie and the Gary Butler Show on XM radio. Ms. Bellman was featured for 2 years on The Jane Hansen Holiday Windows Show on NBC in New York City, Good Morning Baltimore, the ABC Early Morning Show and just recently was a guest on Good Day NY on Fox 5 in New York. She was featured in Cindy Adams' column in the NY Post and articles about her books have been featured in the NY Times, NY Daily News, Time Magazine, World Jewish Digest, Jewish Women's Magazine, The Foreword, The Jewish Star, Hadassah Magazine, Jewish World, Dance Review Magazine, The El Paso Times, The Baltimore Sun, and San Diego Jewish Magazine where her first book was chosen as one of the best books of 2001. She has written articles for USA Today, The Hadassah Magazine, Jewish World Magazine, The Detroit Jewish News and Natural Health Magazine as well as having many over the phone interviews for small publications and web sites. America's Great Delis was nominated for the James Beard Foundation Award for 2006. She also had numerous book signings for both books around the country and was the guest author in 2001 on the Christmas sailing on the QE11. She was a guest lecturer at the Princeton Club for Through the Shopping Glass and spent two seasons on the Jewish Book Council tour circuit having lectured at Jewish Book Fairs in Hartford, New Haven, Columbus, Sarasota, Pasadena, West Hampton Beach, NY, The American Jewish University in Los Angeles and The Ocean County Library in New Jersey. Her book was featured on the Food Network show, The Secret Life of Delis.
She was a finalist for The Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award in the 2010 cookbook division for her book America's Little Italys.
In 1994, she conceived of and published a children's educational video with the premise of constructing a play house-from a dream to reality, winning the prestigious Dove Award for excellence.
Ms. Bellman holds a BS in Microbiology from the University of Arizona and has done graduate work towards a PhD in Immunology from Wayne State University. History, food and design have always been of interest to her, and writing about cultural history and food was a perfect niche.
Ms. Bellman has three children and five grandsons and lives with her husband of 44 years in New York City and Newtown, Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW-zers, November 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Through the Shopping Glass: A Century of New York Christmas Windows (Hardcover)

I must admit, I was "WOW-ed" by this book, Through the Shopping Glass!! I have never been to New York City before to see these wonderful windows...but always wanted to go. After reading this book, I booked a flight to NYC just to see if they were as beautiful as the book portrayed. Sure enough, they were even better...but to see them, armed with the history of the windows that this book provided me with, was even more enjoyable. I even met the author during her book signing on 5th Ave. This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone with a holiday spirit!!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime!, December 3, 2000

By 

Lauren Gayle (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through the Shopping Glass: A Century of New York Christmas Windows (Hardcover)

This is the PERFECT book which incorporates all that is New York, Christmas and wonderful! Finally with this book out on the market there is no need to travel to see the windows, it's all in one precious bound beauty! This must be part of everyone's gift giving repertoire!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas in New York, September 4, 2007

By 

Billy Wannyn "Billy" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through the Shopping Glass: A Century of New York Christmas Windows (Hardcover)

My wife loves this book - she says it would put anyone in the Christmas Spirit. My wife and daughter love to walk the streets of New York at Chrismas time and check out all the intricately decorated window displays!! Great History on the tradition of all the window displays!!! Give it a try its not what we see its what we bring back with our memories.

Billy Wannyn