Why Pop-ups Are Popular and What You Can Expect To Find At Each One

We’ve been to plenty of pop-ups primarily because I believe in celebrating the everyday and pop-ups spark so much creativity, fun and delight!  They whisk you out of the mundane and shake you up with the extraordinary.  Plus they make for a surplus of Instagram-able pictures!  I’ve collected so many great shots along the way and will share some recent ones today.  (That rhymed).  And I don’t know about you but I’ve discovered patterns along the way.  Here are the 8 elements that make for a popular pop-up!

  1. Mirrored/infinity room – Imagine walking into a spectacular, mirrored room, made to look like it goes on forever.  Then imagine you’re told you only have 60 seconds in there.  How would you spend your time?  That’s the challenge you’re given at many of these pop-ups.  And the pressure is ON to snap that Instagram-worthy shot within the short time given.  Here are a few examples.  Name of pop-up where the shot was taken is listed after each picture.
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    Happy Go Lucky pop-up

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    National Geographic Picasso pop-up

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    Sunday Riley pop-up

  2. Balloons.  Nothing screams celebration like a bunch of balloons so it’s no wonder so many pop-ups decorate with them in bunches.  It just feels like an instant party and who doesn’t love that?
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    Paypal pop-up

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    Happy Go Lucky pop-up

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    Happy Place pop-up

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    Geronimo’s pop-up

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    Geronimo’s pop-up on another week

  3. Floral art – another mood-enhancing pop-up trick is to add an abundance of flowers, the more creative the better.  Sometimes, they’re shaped to resemble something else for a wow effect, sometimes there’s just an endless supply to surround yourself with for your next selfie.
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    Paypal pop-up

    Happy Place pop-up

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    Happy Go Lucky pop-up

  4. Ball pit – Who doesn’t love jumping into a ball pit?  This activation turns everyone into a big kid.  Who can resist jumping in especially when the ball pit is a pot of gold, or at the end of a giant pink slide, or part of a snow globe??
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    Happy Place pop-up 

    Sunday Riley pop-up

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    Google Pop-up 

     

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    Lay’s pop-up

    Candytopia pop-up

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    Cat pop-up 

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    Egg House pop-up

  5. Supersized items– Super pop-ups always have a supersized surprise.  Whether it’s a giant clam shell you can sit in and hold a pearl larger than you head, or whether it’s a ginormous rubber ducky that couldn’t fit in anyone’s tub, they inspire playfulness and tons of posing.
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    Happy Go Lucky pop-up

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    Happy Place pop-up

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    Lay’s pop-up

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    The Egg House pop-up

    Happy Place pop-up

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    Candytopia pop-up

  6. Colorful bathtub – I know, I know, a bathtub?  So what, but when you see it in a photogenic setting in a vibrant, never-before seen color, something takes over you and you must get in!  Trust me, I’ve seen the lines…
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    Happy Place pop-up

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    Sunday Riley pop-up

  7. Millennial pink – the trendiest of all colors nowadays invokes such joy and comes in shades of blush, to rose quartz. In any case, everyone likes to be pretty in pink. It’s universally flattering and can nowadays be seen everywhere – including popups!
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    Happy go Lucky Pop-up

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    Sunday Riley pop-up

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    Egg House pop-up

    Happy Go Lucky pop-up 

  8. Psychedelic spaces – wanna get wild?  Check out the latest pop-up cuz there’s bound to be a crazy, graphic printed room where the floor, walls and/or ceiling endlessly scream a bold print that leave you with your jaw on the ground.
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    Happy Go Lucky pop-up

    Candytopia pop-up

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    Amaze pop-up

See what I mean?? Did I miss any other recurring themes and motifs?  And how about you?  How do you like pop-ups?

Click here to see more from Geronimo’s balloon explosion at Lincoln Center or here for Amaze’s black and white installation, or here for some 2017 pop-ups.

NYC’s Most Instagram-able Bucket LIst To Check Off Before the New Year

Wanna add some unique pics to your Instagram feed while traveling through NY but don’t want to limit your travel shots to the same, traditional stuff that everyone else expects from New York?  Or have you already seen all the classic Christmas hot spots and are now looking for something new and cool?  Well either way, you’ve come to the right place because here is a list of the top 5 spots in NY you won’t want to miss!  Plus I’ve packed in all the insider info. you’ll need!

  1. Yankee Candle Pop-Up yankee candle, soho pop up, nyc pop up, instragmable nyc

    WHAT:  It’s a fragrant pop-up that allows you to personalize a candle with your own photo, shop their entire collection and take selfies at 4 photogenic areas.  WHERE:  503 Broadway between Broome and Spring across from Zara.  WHEN:  until January 3, 2018 from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.  TIP:  Study other people’s poses for the upside down room so you can best plan out your shot by researching the hashtag.  It’s a bit of a mind warp when you arrive and have just minutes to take the perfect shot and you’ll want to use your limited time wisely.  Click here for more info.  And make sure to have a high-res photo that you love and want to personalize your candle with on your phone.  They’ll ask you to email it to them and staffers on-site will walk you through the fun process of creating this cute gift idea for yourself or a loved one.  HASHTAG:  #candlepowernyc

  2. Google Pop – Up made by google, nyc most instagramable, nyc photo opps, ball pit

    What: a branded pop -up where you can play, shop and explore all things Google.  Highlights include a psychedelic photo station, virtual reality experience and an all-white ball pit pitched as a snowglobe that you get to play in!  WHERE: 110 5th Ave, (between 16th and 17th streets)   WHEN:  10am-8pm everyday  HASHTAG: #googlepopup  TIP:go after 6:30pm on a weekday to avoid the lines.  And if you have a furry friend, go this Saturday from 1-3pm for a photo of your special pet turned into custom gift wrap!  Click here for more details!

  3. Gingerbread House and Flatiron Art iconic nyc, iconic new york, flatiron building

    Within close walking distance to the Google Pop-up are two must-see stops in the neighborhood.  Take a picture with “Flatiron Reflection,” the shimmering, artsy tubes in front of the iconic FlatIron Building,  WHERE: North Flatiron Public Plaza at the intersection of Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street.  Nearby at Madison Square Park across the street, go find the Gingerbread House. WHAT:  a life sized, super-sweet gingerbread house featuring a real gummy bear wreath, a marshmallow snowman, and a gingerbread man (found on videotape (inside) all created by magazine, “Taste of Home.”  Being that it is set against the backdrop of a gorgeously lit Christmas tree and New York’s skyline, it makes for a stunning photo opp in the city.  WHEN:  Flatiron Reflection will be open to the public everyday through Jan 1 and the gingerbread house will be around through December 20.  If you want to go inside, the house is open 2-8 p.m. during the week and noon-8 p.m. on weekends through Dec. 20. HASHTAG:  #gingerbreadBLVD  TIP:  if it’s cold and there is a line, just opt to take pictures towards the back of the house and you won’t be missing much!gingerbread house, gingerbread house nyc, life sized gingerbread house, Bucket list to check off, nyc instagramable, nyc popup

  4. Festival of Life david zwirner gallery, david zwirner, yayoi, japanese artist, instagramable ny

    WHAT:  Modern artist Yayoi Kusama from Japan has brought her famously colorful modern art to Chelsea and has been received with 2-4 hour long lines it is so popular! People are even creating custom clothes to match her art to optimize the Instagram-able opportunity! You’ll see sixty-six paintings from her iconic My Eternal Soul series, new large-scale flower sculptures, a polka-dotted environment, and two Infinity Mirror Rooms.  WHEN: only open until the 16th until 6pm everyday.  WHERE:  525 AND 533 W 19th st. (2 gallery spaces at David Zwirner Galleries)  HASHTAG:  #festivaloflife  TIP: expect to wait  2 – 4 hours to enter into the exhibition. If the wait time exceeds 2 hours, they will post an update with the estimated wait time on @davidzwirner Twitter and Instagram Stories.  When wait times are 4 hours or longer, the line closures may occur as early as 2PM.  Flash photography, video cameras, tripods, and selfie sticks are strictly prohibited. Visitors may take photographs without flash.  Note that the gallery does not have public restrooms!  For more info click here.

  5. Louis Vuitton’s Volez, Voguez, Voyagez louis vuitton exhibit, bucket list to check off

    WHAT: If you like fashion, or enjoy history, this Monogrammed exhibit is not to be missed!  It retraces the brand’s heritage and follows its founders giving you a deeper appreciation of the iconic luxury brand while sending you down a fashionable path prompting endless poses.   WHERE:   86 Trinity Pl, in the Financial District  WHEN:  until January 7th, 10am-8pm Mon-Sat. 11am-7pm Sundays, limited hours on Christmas Eve, NYE and New Year’s day (check website for details).   TIP:  Book Reservations to minimize entry wait time.  Check website for guided tour times.  Audio tours are also available in English,s most Spanish and Chinese. Visitors with tickets will be given priority over ‘Walk-ins’

So which one of these Instagram-able options most interests YOU?  And if you’ve already been to one of these, what is YOUR best tip? I’d love to know – leave a comment below!

 

Read On for my top tips for getting that Instagram-able photo HERE!

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