Veneto: A Bridge Between Venice and New York (2009 Columbus Day Celebration at Grand Central Terminal)

Entrance to the exhibit at Vanderbilt Hall

Golden winged lion, symbol of St. Mark, patron saint of Venice

Murano glass

Small Steps (miniature shoes collection of Piccoli Passi) entirely made by hand by Pietro Martello

Harlequin Secret (Commedia dell'Arte Performance)

Veneto: A Bridge Between Venice and New York (Part of 2009 Columbus Celebration)

is an ongoing exhibit at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall that runs through October 17, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Daily. The exhibit highlights the Veneto region’s timeless beauty and its vibrant culture (www.veneto.to). From the opulence of the architecture of the Doge’s Palace and canals of Venice to the Region of Veneto’s unsurpassed artisans, the exhibition will inform and delight visitors hungry for a sampling of this land of natural beauty, historic sites, and thriving culture.

The exhibits feature displays of Murano glass, exquisite hand-crafted miniature shoes replicating contemporary and historic styles, Harlequin Secret (Commedia dell'Arte Performance) and free jazz performances. Among the highlights of Veneto: A Bridge Between Venice and New York will be an imposing replica of the façade of the Doge’s Palace, instantly recognizable for its Gothic arches. Two golden winged lions – symbols of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice – will welcome the visitors recreating the glamourous atmosphere of the enchanted city and its internationally reknown film festival. A brilliantly lit 14-foot tall steel tree high will be blanketed with hundreds of unique examples of Murano glass creations that illuminate Venice’s long tradition of exceptional glass blowing. The tree will be donated to the City of New York by Region Veneto and the Promovetro Consortium, an association of Venetian glass artisans and craftsmen.

The outstanding workmanship of Veneto artisans will be evident in a small exhibit, Piccoli Passi (Small Steps), a unique collection of miniature shoes, entirely made by hand by Pietro Martello, a skilled artisan from the Riviera del Brenta. The collection illustrates fashions in footwear over the span of several centuries recreated in two- to four-inch miniature.

A giant screen will continually display images of the fascinating cities, mountains, lakes, beaches, castles, churches, rivers, vineyards and of Veneto, in a breathtaking kaleidoscope of images, accompanied by Italian classical and popular music. (information from the Columbus Citizens Foundation)

10022-SHOE

I took this photo of a portion of the new 8,500-square-foot (790 square meters) shoe department of the quintessential Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store. The new designer shoe floor (8th floor) is so big it has its own zip code. Customers can send mail to 10022-SHOE. The space will hold a place in marketing history as the first floor to brand its location as a literal shopping destination. The newly designed floor, with 150% more shoes, offers customers luxury amenities–including a VIP room for private shopping complete with spacious seating, refreshments and an adjacent fitting room. Also available: an expert shoe repair and refurbishing service, instant inventory checks on state-of-the-art computer terminals, two charming cafés and direct access to 10022-SHOE via an express elevator. 10022-SHOE also features 50% more selling space, clear sightlines and a truly dazzling centerpiece: a 70-foot-long curving wall of enchanting hand-blown Murano glass bubbles. At the floor’s perimeter, tall, undulating walls will create a flow of brands, designed to encourage browsing and ensure flexibility for Saks as collections expand.

Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s pre-eminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, expertly edited assortments and exemplary customer service. Today, Saks operates 54 full-line stores in 25 states, two in the Middle East in Dubai and Riyadh, 50 Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5TH stores and saks.com.