Visitors to the Mall can now enjoy a new kind of shopping experience with the latest in recreational activities. With over 50 kiosks and 20 different activities, there is something for everyone.
Here is a list of the four most popular activities:
1. Art & Sculpture – The National Gallery has put together a variety of public art pieces that add a new element to your shopping experience. These works include: “The Power of Art” on the north side of Macy’s, “American Idle” by Nordstroms, “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Banana Republic, and the famous “Jeff Koons Dog” at the Apple Store.
2. Dance – The dancing statues at Dillard’s are always a crowd pleaser. But with so many more opportunities for free dancing, it is no wonder that this activity draws in all sorts of people from all walks of life. From traditional ballroom dancing at Bloomingdales to Irish step dancing at Victoria’s Secret to hip hop dancing at Nike Town, there is no shortage of ways to shake your money maker.
3. Music – Whether you prefer your music live or on the radio, you will find something to listen to during your visit. In addition to several music stores offering live performances from local
The Mall is the perfect place to spend a day. With over 300 stores and services, there is no limit to what you can accomplish. The Mall has something for everyone.
The following are some of the most requested activities at the Mall:
1) Window Shopping – There is no charge to window shop at the Mall and you don’t need to make a purchase to do it. Window shopping allows you to look into all of the stores, see what they have on sale, and find out about new products before you buy. One of the most popular aspects of window shopping is that there are no time limits or other restrictions on how long you can take to finish your shopping trip.
2) Outdoor Art – Located in front of the main entrance is an area where local artists display original pieces. The art varies from season to season, but always includes some great examples of local talent and creativity.
3) Food Court – The Food Court provides a wide variety of fast food options including pizza, burgers, hot dogs, Chinese food, Thai food, ice cream, smoothies and more!
4) Special Events – The Mall hosts special events which include live music performances, movie showings and holiday celebrations like Santa Claus visiting during the Christmas Holidays. These events can
The Mall of America offers some of the best shopping opportunities in the state, and with a little creativity you can turn it into a fun day or weekend trip.
The Mall is great for those who are looking to do some serious shopping. The Mall has over 520 stores and restaurants; everything from Abercrombie and Fitch to Forever 21 and Sephora. The Mall also houses several departments stores including Macy’s, Sears, and JC Penney as well as many local boutiques. There are even a few “big box” stores including Target, Best Buy and Sports Authority.
You can experience the benefits of the mall without spending any money at all. Here are a few favorite activities:
1. Sitting in a comfortable chair and watching people
2. Playing on one of the many sports fields and courts
3. Strolling through the many garden areas
4. Walking around the upper floors and looking down on the shoppers below
5. Using the state-of-the-art fitness center
6. Eating in one of the many restaurants and food courts
7. Enjoying a drink at one of the bars or coffee shops
Art at the Mall is an ongoing program that brings a variety of visual art experiences to Gallery Place. This season’s featured artists are: Stephen Powers, Shepard Fairey, Vanya Nastanlieva and Richard Andrew.
This program was initiated in 2007 with a different theme each year. The Mural Arts Program has been working with the Washington DC Convention and Tourism Corporation to create this annual event. Each artist creates four large scale outdoor murals as part of their exhibit. The artists for this exhibit were selected because they work in a variety of mediums including photography, painting, drawing and sculpture.
The first year the theme was Landmarks & Legends: Washington DC. In 2008 it was Folk Heroes & Fantasies (Comic Books). This year the theme is Portraits & Places: Washington DC Photographs by Stephen Powers; Sculpture by Richard Andrew; Drawings by Vanya Nastanlieva; and paintings by Shepard Fairey.*
Unfortunately, there are not very many places to see art in the city that you would actually visit if you weren’t going shopping or eating. As far as I know, only one museum offers free admission – the Phillips Collection on 1600 21st Street NW (202-387-2151). But
The mall has traditionally been the place to shop for everyone from bargain hunters to trendsetters. Today, with many more stores and services than ever before, the mall is also a place to eat, relax, work out and play.
The Mall at Millenia has emerged as one of Orlando’s top shopping destinations with over 200 retail shops and restaurants and an additional 100 coming in the next year. The Millenia features Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bloomingdales as its main anchors with Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co. as future additions.
The mall also offers a wide variety of stores such as: Gloria Vanderbilt, Anne Fontaine, Nine West, Williams-Sonoma Home, Burberrys London, Fendi Bottega Veneta, Giorgio Armani, Kenneth Cole Reaction and much more.
To accompany all of these stores there are several eateries offering snacks ranging from a hot dog for $1.50 to a plate of sushi for $20.00 or more. There are also several sit-down restaurants like P.F. Changs China Bistro and Ruth Chris Steak House that offer everything from appetizers to desserts for reasonable prices that are sure to please any palate.
I. Outdoor Art
The Smithsonian Malls are home to many outdoor art projects, but the most famous is Christo’s The Gates. The piece consists of 7,503 white vinyl vertical blinds hung from a fence along the National Mall.
Tiffany & Co., in collaboration with Christo, sells a line of jewelry inspired by The Gates.
II. The Film Festival
In 2006, the Smithsonian Malls hosted its first film festival, celebrating the work of independent filmmakers. Films included a documentary of an elephant’s trek to freedom and a performance art piece that explored human sexuality through dance and music.
The festival was so well received that it will be returning in 2007, bigger and better than before.
III. Annual Events
Throughout the year there are many events happening at the Smithsonian Malls, from concerts to fashion shows to art exhibits. One of the most popular events is Fashion Week, attracting thousands of attendees to view runway shows featuring new fashions for men and women from nearly thirty different designers.*
