A fire broke out at Macy's flagship store in Herald Square just after 3 p.m. today. The FDNY Tweeted that it was a 1 alarm fire in the sub cellar and that it was under control. However, the fire prompted a big evacuation from the department store. Luckily it was a beautiful day!
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![[UPDATED] Tiny Justin Bieber Has Been Attacked By A Grown Man Fan At Macy's](http://gothamist.com/assets_c/2011/06/biebstoday0611-thumb-640xauto-635948.jpg)
Results tagged “macys”
Macy's Evacuated After Sub-Basement Fire
Macy's Confirms 4th Fireworks Will Be On The Hudson Again
When we reported in February that Macy's would be bringing the fireworks to the Hudson River again, screwing over much of New York, they told us that (despite having created and posted an entire graphic stating they would be on the Hudson River again) that nothing, in fact, had been confirmed yet. This gave false hope to those with an East River view, but today they ripped that hope away, announcing they'd be back on the Hudson this year. A Macy's spokesman released this statement:
UPDATE: Dreams Of East River Macy's Fireworks Kept Alive!
[UPDATE BELOW] For the fourth year in a row, all Macy's is giving to most of New York City on July 4th is a giant middle finger. The company has quietly announced that they've chosen to bring their fireworks spectacular back to the Hudson River this year, meaning residents of Brooklyn, Queens, and the east side of Manhattan will be screwed on the holiday, while the west side and NEW JERSEY get to gaze up at the beautiful fireworks show.
Seven Photos Of The Holiday Shopping Rush, 1948-Style
Before online shopping and Black Friday, New Yorkers flocked to department stores like Macy's for their holiday shopping. These photos from the LIFE image archive show what December 1948 looked like at the department store—including the aftermath of a holiday shopping rush.
Photos: Who Has The Best Holiday Window Display This Year?
The holiday windows are back, and we dropped by last week to see what department store has the best display this year. With Barneys going Gaga for the holiday season, and Bergdorf Goodman getting wild with a “Carnival of the Animals” theme—those two were tops in our book. Meanwhile, over at Bloomingdale's, a penguin in shades was the high point—try harder next year, Bloomie's.
Photos: Old Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons Included Baton-Wielding NYPD Officer
Since we last looked back at the Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons of yesteryear, some new images have popped up online. Click through for an assortment of balloons from the black & white days, along with some (in color) video footage from the 1940 parade below. Today, Ephemeral NY focused on some of the stranger balloon choices of the past, including an NYPD officer holding a baton, saying, "in 1937, a cop appeared in balloon form at the parade... I wonder how that would go over today."
Sneak Peek At Next Week's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons
We've got it on good authority that next Thursday giant, massive, balloon creatures will be descending upon Manhattan. But don't worry, though our source was uncertain, it's probably got something to do with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Speaking of which, NBC, the network that airs the parade, got the scoop recently with a backstage look at some of the balloons and floats you'll be seeing next week, and this year features a disembodied Lady Liberty (just her arm)!
July 4th Fireworks Could Maybe Come Back To East River
Tomorrow's Macy's July 4th Fireworks Spectacular will be held on the Hudson River for the third year in a row, which has upset Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan residents with East River views/access. But know this: Macy's tried to move the fireworks to the New York Harbor—this year's display will celebrate the Statue of Liberty's 125th birthday—but NYC officials doused that idea.
Where To See The 2011 Macy's July 4th Fireworks
As we all know, the Macy's July 4th Fireworks will be held over the Hudson River again, disappointing a good chunk of New Yorkers, but thrilling West Siders and New Jersey. So here's where to check out the pyrotechnics, which start at 9:20 p.m. on July 4th (Monday):
Thanks, Obama: Justin Bieber Meets With 9/11 Victims' Daughters
Not only does President Obama manage to kill Osama bin Laden, he also keeps his promises to 9/11 teens who want to meet Justin Bieber. Payton Wall and Madison Robertson, whose fathers died on September 11, 2001 while working at Cantor Fitzgerald, met the pop star on Thursday during his Macy's appearance. Payton told the Post, "It was so cool. I couldn't even believe it," and before the visit, Madison had Tweeted, "@ppaayyttaann obama kept his promise, off to see @justinbieber."
Justin Bieber Wasn't Really Attacked (But The Beliebers Aren't Buyin' It)
Yesterday afternoon Justin Bieber dropped by Macy's to visit with fans and sell them on his new scent, Someday, but things turned ugly once the pop star decided to divert from his plan. The Biebs took an unplanned trip outside of the Herald Square store to wave to around 500 fans who couldn't get in. (Great idea!) The NYPD had set up barricades, but the fans broke through them once they caught a glimpse of the little guy. When that happened the NYPD ordered him back inside, but one of his own security—47-year-old Moshe Benabou—either ignored the order, or got in the way. He was later cited for disorderly conduct.
Beliebers Respond: Top 10 Tweets About Justin Bieber's Herald Square "Attack"
Fans are outraged, upset, hurt, and scared by what happened to the young Justin Bieber just hours ago. The pop star was "attacked" by a man outside of Macy's, where he was promoting his perfume. You can check it out here on video, from eight floors up. At press time, Bieber hasn't Tweeted, but his fans have, and they're serving up some ALL CAPS lexical gold. Check some out some of the top Tweets below, and hopefully the crazed bloodthirsty fans have now heard it's all been one big misunderstanding.
[UPDATED] Tiny Justin Bieber Has Been Attacked By A Grown Man Fan At Macy's
[UPDATE BELOW] Justin Bieber's Macy's appearance got off to a rough start today when the pop star was attacked by a man who jumped over the barricades! According to ABC Local, the Biebs was knocked to the ground while greeting fans outside of the Herald Square store. The unidentified man knocked Bieber to the ground after jumping over a barrier. But don't worry, he's going to be okay, while Fox reports he has "minor" injuries, other outlets are saying he's just a little shaken up.
Justin Bieber's Minions Already Taking Over Macy's Herald Square
Honestly, Barack Obama's popularity has sort of waned, so to make Midtown Manhattan a real epic clusterf*ck tomorrow, a little Justin Bieber needed to be thrown in. The boy wonder announced his Macy's Herald Square appearance yesterday, and ever since fans have been flocking to the store for his arrival. With Obama also arriving tomorrow, the area is on full "Obama-Bieber Gridlock" watch, with a 100% chance of traffic and screaming girls.
Warning: Bieber And His Feverish Fans Will Be In Herald Square THURSDAY
Fresh off of filming a PSA for the riot he caused in a Long Island mall back in 2009, Justin Bieber has just announced to his 10,488,546 million followers that he'll be at Macy's Herald Square this Thursday, meaning that those not infected with Bieber Fever should stay away from Macy's Herald Square this Thursday.
Suck It, Brooklyn: 4th Of July Fireworks Over The Hudson Again
A few years back, Macy's pissed off pretty much all of Brooklyn and Queens by moving their annual fireworks display to the Hudson River, so Hoboken basically got the best view. Those to the east retaliated with firework parties of their own, only occasionally blowing off their own arms. A few days ago, we got a tip indicating that the show might be relocating, but today comes the official word that yet again, the fireworks will be held over the Hudson.
City Bungled Moving Macy's Parade, But Is Still Moving It
Why are the Boxing Day Blizzard and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade move similar? Because the city has admitted to screwing up its response to both. Last month the city announced that, per Macy's request, starting in 2012 the parade would skip Times Square altogether in favor of the "safer, wider" Sixth Avenue. Which quickly led to a number of businesses in the Square flipped their lid. And the city is really sorry about that!
Thanksgiving Day Parade To Really Skip Times Square This Time
Those looking to find fault with the DOT's pedestrian plazas in Times Square have another reason to be angry. The city has decided that this year the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is going to skip Times Square entirely because of "construction in Times Square,” according to the the Mayor's spokesman Jason Post (for the last two years it has skimmed the Square going from Seventh to Sixth Avenues at 42nd Street). What construction? Those pesky pedestrian plazas are to be reconstructed to “improve the curb lines and other features of the plazas.”
Herald Square's "Hidden" Building
Did you think there were gifts in that giant shopping bag off the side of the Macy's in Herald Square? Well, there are not oversized gifts, not for you, not for anybody. There is, however, a nice five-story building, and Ephemeral NY has the details.
Comedian Mike Birbiglia Sleeping In Macy's Window
If you stop by the Macy's Herald Square flagship store this week, you may notice something odd in the window: comedian Mike Birbiglia, author of the best-seller, "Sleepwalk With Me." He's currently putting up residency in the store window until February 1st as part of the Ultra Downy April Fresh "Clean Sheet Week" Challenge, which sounds like just the sort of synergistic exercise to get our chakras aligned.
The Holiday Windows Are Here
The department stores recently unveiled their holiday windows, and our photographer Katie Sokoler dropped by the big ones, including the Saks unveiling (which was a whole big production that Patti LaBelle performed at—video below); click through to check them all out. A few notes on the displays: Bloomingdale's also had a performance to celebrate theirs, but they put John Legend in the window—so perhaps trapping celebrity performers in confined glass areas is the future look of Christmas. But it looks like despite that forward-thinking design tactic, Barneys outdid everyone once again. This year they created visually stunning, dark world with inspiration courtesy of the foodie culture. For more, check out WNYC's analysis of the windows, here.
Panda, Spidey: Thanksgiving Parade Balloon Inflation 2010!
It's just hours until Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (it starts at 9 a.m. tomorrow), which means the blocks around the American Museum of Natural History have been beckoning people to witness the balloon inflation. This year's new balloons include Kung Fu Panda's Po and Diary of a Wimpy Kid kid Greg, while favorites like Pikachu, Super Cute Hello Kitty, and Kermit are also getting ready for their flight. And for the nerds, there are the Geometric balloons ("Icosahedrons rule!").
Map: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Route
Tomorrow is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and this is the second year for its new route—the procession of balloons, floats, marching bands and performers will head down Central Park West, swing a left at Central Park South and then head down Seventh and Sixth Avenues (partially due to those pedestrian plazas in Times Square), hitting 42nd Street along the way and ending on 34th Street by the department store. The festivities begin at 9 a.m., mere hours after today's balloon inflation fun (by the way, it may rain so be prepared.)
Map: Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloon Inflation
Want to catch of glimpse of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons as they are being inflated? Well, tomorrow night (Wednesday, November 24) is the annual balloon inflation frenzy around the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. Inflation begins at 3 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m., with the entrance at West 79th Street and Columbus Avenue. It does get very crowded, so be patient!
Bedbugs Strike Department Stores, Schools, EVERYWHERE!
In time for the fall season, bedbugs are at New York City's department stores (checking out the new fashions) and schools (hitting the books, natch)!! Apparently Bloomingdale's had at least one bedbug on premises—the store says it was removed, it's not widespread and bedbug dogs have been checking out the store—and we just received a memo (see picture above) that Macy's sent to its employees!
Pinky Reattachment Failed After Macy's Escalator Accident
Despite doctors' attempts to reattach the severed pinky of a 3-year-old boy following an accident on a Macy's escalator last Friday, his finger was eventually amputated. Maxlee Gell-Tejada, of Washington Heights, had been reaching for a dropped water bottle when he caught his finger in the third floor wooden escalator at the Macy's flagship store in Herald Square.
Macy's Wooden Escalator Severs Child's Finger
Macy's wooden escalators at the flagship Herald Square location have claimed another phalange: A four-year-old's finger was "sliced off by one of the store's famous old wooden escalators," according to the Post.
Behind the Scenes At The Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks
This morning we took a trip out to the secret, secure location* where Macy's is loading 40,000 fireworks shells on to six enormous barges ahead of this Sunday July 4th fireworks show. We weren't allowed on to the actual barges: Apparently handling explosives involves a license from the FDNY. But we were able to snap some pictures of the pyro-techs from SoUSA loading and wiring the display, and we also got to play with a bunch of dummy shells—specially prepared to prevent bloggers from blowing themselves up!
Burning T-Shirt Gets Man $300K Settlement with Macy's
It was just another day in the life of Staten Island's Joel Lederman on May 10, 2004—that is, until he bent over his kitchen stove to light a smoke and his T-shirt went up in flames. He sustained severe burns to his body and hands, and spent three and a half weeks in a hospital Burn Center, undergoing surgery twice. Then came Lederman's lawsuit against Macy's, where he bought the "light-blue, 100-percent cotton Club Room by Charter Club T-shirt." Now, some might say that's what ya' get for wearing Club Room, but Lederman's lawyers demanded monetary satisfaction, and they have prevailed.
Four Shot During Easter Night Violence In Midtown
Dozens of people have been arrested after melees in Times Square and near Penn Station that left at least four people shot by guns or a BB gun. According to WABC 7, "The violence broke out after a yearly Easter Night ritual of a roving band of rowdy youths walking to Times Square after attending the auto show at the Javits Center." And a security guard in Times Square told the Post, "This kind of nonsense [on Easter night] has been going on for the five years I've been here."
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