5th Avenue at 8am

It doesn't take Holly Golightly to tell you that there is something so glamorous about 5th avenue at 8 o'clock in the morning. The stores may be shut down, but slowly, you can watch as their windows awaken. Everybody knows each other, like the close knit society that is the fashion industry. With so many high-end stores catering to the same demographic, in a single avenue, the competition is fierce. Chanel although having a small boutique off of 57th and 5th, has always impressed women for decades. The black on black windows showcase this season's tademark with a twist of a coffee colored tweed jacket paired with a set of fox fur boots. Whereas Chanel's neighbor, Louis Vuitton lets its large frosted glass building with the illuminated LV do the talking. Ferragamo has done their best to wrangle all the spotlight with their large chandeliers and mirrored floors, but in this weather who wants to wear seven inch heels with a harem pant? And of course Tiffany's the trademark of 5th avenue has two employees per window one placing the expensive pieces of jewelry in the display as the other meticulously cleans the outside window. It's peaceful watching the manager thoroughly look over their store front with not only confidence, but pride. The streets and roads are empty and like Ms. Golightly you can casually walk up to each and every window nod to the SA and watch them work.

However once noon hits, the beauty that Holly described is gone. How quickly a quiet place can be transformed into a hideous monster. The sidewalks become a congested mess, when the stores unlock their doors, it is almost hard to breathe. Tourists begin to clog the streets, all managing to walk as slow as possible making sure their suit cases and shopping bags hit you as you pass by. 5th avenue turns into a free-for-all in a matter of seconds! Children running into the streets, tour buses blaring their horns. Women smear their fingers against the Tiffany's window, ruining the hard work of the Tiffany employees. Venders begin arguing with the police about permits, it is total chaos. Blindsided by the noise I found myself retreating to Central Park. At least there you are able to find a spot which will provide you with the illusive peace and quiet.