There's a distinct kind of magic that unfurls in December.  The holidays unleash a bustle and disco ball shimmer and our world spins faster.   Lucky (or crazy) me took two days off last week for a girl twirl with two friends around NYC - arguably our country's own Capital of Christmas.   

I felt the magic the moment I stepped off the train.   

Tuesday's 34 degree temps and steady rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of our merry band of travelers.   We started with a late lunch at BG, (high praise for the roasted chicken salad and the truffle chicken pot pie), and while the rain carried on outside, seven floors of Bergdorf's beckoned.  Fourth floor shoes murmured, "Come hither";  the seventh floor Christmas shop dazzled and flickered.   The first floor was dressed to the nines as a full-on white snowy forest (more on that below).  As has become our tradition, the three of us had our picture taken with Bergdorf's Santa.  (It was good of Santa, not so good of us.)   READ MORE

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In our house, Christmas doesn't truly begin until after Thanksgiving.  There's something lovely about giving each holiday its moment.   Last week, over dinner at the Temptation in Boca Grande, my son admired the little Santa hat perched on the giant taxidermied tarpon on the wall, then paused to add, "Why'd they have to bring that out this week?  Couldn't they wait until next?"   While his brother heartily agreed, I was quietly delighted that they'd embraced my linear holiday philosophy.  READ MORE

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I've decided that the early weeks of November leading up to Thanksgiving are for thinking.  Borrowing from Linus in the Charlie Brown Christmas special, I’ve been pondering, "What is this Thanksgiving season really all about?"  (This secular epistle will set aside religion, although I've been thinking about faith a lot lately too).   

Perhaps Thanksgiving is about connectedness - between family, friends and community.  And pilgrims and native Americans.   Who did a pretty darn good job setting the standard for neighborliness.  

I imagine you’ve got family and friends and giving thanks pretty well covered for this week, so I’m going to turn our little Love Note monocle on community.    READ MORE

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