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!

Plan a Shopkins Swapkins They Will Never Forget!

As mentioned in my prior Shopkins posh playdate post, Shopkins are all the rage!  And I can see why with their cute, colorful look and collectible nature.  Tiny toys for tiny hands that beg to be bought, Shopkins scream fun!  And for that reason, we hosted not 1 but 2 posh playdates with this Shopkins theme!  This 2nd play date was for bloggers only and included fab moms Mary (and Brinkley) from Downtown Chic Moms and Melissa (and Misa) from JustaBXmom.  Together, we enjoyed perfect weather on our rooftop and giddily watched as the girls got together and celebrated their super fandom.

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(As the Shopkins theme song goes,)”We got a plan, the perfect party / There’s so much to celebrate / It’s a surprise, so let’s get started! / How are we gonna make this party great? / Got to make it extra special / No one’s ever seen before /Streamers, sparkles, party dresses / Check out what we got in store! / We’re thinking of fashion fiesta / A party to sweep me right off my feet! / Got to make it extra pretty / No one’s ever seen before / Flowers, glitter, and confetti / Check out what we got in store!”

I basically took our prior decor from Shopkins play date #1 and moved it outside!  Here are some quick notes about how I stayed within budget:

  • The paper fans were from Target’s dollar bin.  I creatively customized by adding Shopkins stickers to the center.
  • The cake pops are stuck into styrofoam that I wrapped in gift paper and washi tape.
  • The Shopkins plushies and costumes which were sent by PR companies were re-purposed as decor.
  • I added miniature Shopkins plushies and dolls to silk florals from TJMaxx that I already had at the house.

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The tiered snack tray included funtastic fruit that Juliet helped skewer, crunchy snacks and Shopkins branded M&Ms. Each tier was sprinkled with actual Shopkins toys and the top of the display was stickered with Shopkins stickers.  Matching washi tape was used as a decorative border.

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Thanks to Moose Toys, each of us bloggers got to keep a Shopkins costume which had the girls smiling from ear to ear. “This is how we party! / Dressing up, throw some flinging / This is how we party! Decorating while we’re singing This is how we party!

Speaking of decorating, that is exactly what the girls did!  They decorated themselves with Shopkins tattoos,  and decorated a Shopkins coloring page with crayons & Shopkins stamps.  Apple Blossom took home a picture of herself, Cheeky Chocolate designed a cheeky chocolate coloring page and Strawberry Kiss loved coloring her own profile pic.

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And of course, we had the first trade these girls have ever experienced!  A Shopkins Swapkins!  The girls (at age 4 and 6) were unbelievably nice about giving up items their friends wanted in exchange for new Shopkins they might have had their eyes on.

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I barely had to intervene! kids party ideas, girls party ideas, shopkins party ideas

Each girl was given an organizer box which Juliet decorated with Shopkins stickers to stay within theme before all the guests arrived (if you follow along with our IG stories, you got to see all our fun, pre-party planning details!).  I found the teal boxes and Shopkins stickers on sale at Michaels.  As the Shopkins song goes, “what really makes the party is being with all my friends!  Good times, everybody, this party never ends!”  Well OK so after a couple hours, the party did finally end but it lives on in our hearts and minds!

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“Good times, everybody This party never ends!”

Shopkins Season 8 is out on the shelves now and features a super chic world vacation theme.  Paris, anyone?

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THANKS to our posh play date sponsors without whom our party would not be so fabulous!

RenBeanie PR – Shopkins Kinstruct and Shopkins Plushies

MWW PR  / (Moose Toys) Shopkins toys, tattoos, M&Ms, goody bags, stamps, pens, erasers, costumes and plushies

Baked By Tal – cake pops

Heart N Soul by US- Shopkins surprise rainbow bath bombs

Calming Intentions – Shopkins filled glycerin soap

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You know what else is worth celebrating?? Shopkins is launching its first-ever live, theatrical show for Shopkins!  And with our media preview at Shopkins’s 1st-ever pop-up cafe in NYC, we were able to witness the live action with front row access!

shopkins pop up, shopkins pop up cafe, shopkins live

Shopkins Live will kick off Sept. 14, with tickets going on sale now.  You heard it here first!  How about planning your Shopkins Swapkins around the show??  Click through our previous (indoors) Shopkins play date for more ideas and inspiration!  And don’t forget to turn it up as you dance to “this is how we party!”

© 2024 Stylishly Stella