A trip to NYC during the holidays wouldn’t be complete without a walking tour of the legendary department store holiday window displays. Everyone from Bloomingdales to Barney’s to Macys and Bergdorf’s create magical window displays each year. It’s a tradition that dates back to 1874 and is still going strong today. It’s been on my bucket list to see the holiday windows here in NYC and I’m excited to say, 2014 is my year! If you won’t find yourself in the city this winter, you can get a peek at the displays here.

I stumbled across Herbal Alchemy Apothecary’s website during some rabbit hole search for artisanal perfumes a few days ago. I was instantly drawn in by their committment to natural oils, small batch production and artisanal scent creation. And in case you didn’t know, I kind of have a “thing” for scent. The world being small as it is, after reading through the website I learned that the owner + herbalist, Julianne Zaleta, studied with Mandy Aftel (who we interviewed recently here on the site). I decided to email Julianne to see if I could check out her work in person and sure enough we met up on Thursday and had a delightful time talking all things scent. Definitely check out her site and Etsy shop if you’re a fan of custom blended scents (they’d make an incredible holiday gift)! They are hands down some of the best perfumes I’ve ever tried. Julianne is a true artist.

As you probably gathered from my holiday playlist post, I’m a fan of Christmas music. I will never pass up an opportunity to listen to carolers or sing-a-long to Jingle Bell Rock. I’m just that girl. Here in NYC, the mood is most certainly festive. I only wish I could stay long enough to catch the American Boychoir’s performance of Christmas favorites at The Met next week. Founded in 1937, this all boys choir is known as one of the best musical ensembles in the world. I hope to catch them in concert soon!

One of my favorite brands is hosting a holiday pop-up shop in NYC this week. Experience hands-on personal touches like custom monogramming, handwritten notes, impeccable gift wrapping and thoughtful little daily add-on’s like luscious recipes, travel guides and more! I can’t wait to stop by the shop and see Cuyana’s beautiful pieces in person for the first time.

Eric Ripert is a man after my heart (ok, truth be told he won it long ago). A few years ago I had the pleasure of dining at Le Bernardin and will be returning this trip to celebrate my love’s birthday. After one bite of their delectable fare, it immediately became my favorite restaurant in the world. That is a big statement and one that I’m not alone in (considering the restaurants 3-star Michelin rating for 10 years and counting, not to mention countless other prestigious accolades). If and when you find yourself in NYC and you fancy a meal that just might make you cry, make a reservation for lunch or dinner at Le Bernardin.

If you haven’t heard of the Astro Twins (a.k.a. sisters Ophira and Tali Edut), you may be living under a rock. These mega fun and talented ladies are everywhere from Elle Magazine to Refinery 29 to SIRIUS/XM Radio and beyond. The girls “bring the stars down to earth” with their uber practical approach to astrology. I’m such a fan. Their website is a treasure trove of information and celestial wisdom. You can even schedule a session with this NYC duo, even if you don’t live in the city — score!

I first heard of City Harvest’s good work from Chef Eric Ripert (see above). His ardent support of helping to feed the hungry is one thing I love about him so much. City Harvest is working to alleviate hunger in NYC by rescuing food and delivering it to those in need. Everything from leftovers to nutritious fruits and veggies are collected and distributed to more than 500 community food programs acrosss NYC. They help feed more than a million people that face hunger each year! There are many ways you can help City Harvest: donate food, donate funds, volunteer, among others. Doing good is where it’s at, not just during the holidays, or in your own ‘hood, but all year ‘round and to whatever organizations touch your heart. No matter what you do in life, always remember to give back.