GO ON A STYLISH HOLIDAY SHOPPING SPREE IN NYC

As the Christmas shopping deadline nears, why not hit Lex and allay your fears? With shopping list in hand, and deadline to meet, buy all your gifts and find something neat. Here is your roadmap for a stroll of Upper East Side stores where you are sure to come up with creative and special gifts for everyone on your list.

Begin your day getting a blowout at the Varin Salon at 762 Madison Avenue.

Yann Varin will give you a glam updo for the big holiday shindig or polished coif for shopping Madison.

Your chair awaits.

For serious big deal antiques, visit Louis Bofferding and hear him tell great tales of each piece and its provenance.

Swing by to see Connie at Plaza Flowers at 944 Lexington Avenue and order a red and green arrangement to be delivered.

Choose from festive red berry branches...

Adorable miniature trees are great for apartment living.

Flats of Paperwhites on their way out the door.

How can you not think of the warm days of summer when looking at this arrangement?

Stroll down the block to Mecox Gardens
at 962 Lexington Avenue where the windows don their best swags of greenery.
The shop is filled with well-edited home accessories including candles, lamps and books that would all make nice presents.

Up the street at 1011, Lexington Gardens does it up-- from ornaments to arrangements to garden statuary-- their holiday mood is infectious.

A white winter wonderland scene.

Treillage, the Bunny Williams home emporium for tabletop, decorative accessories and entertaining elements, usually sets the table near the window to enthrall passersby. The table is always beautifully arranged, it is as if guests were about to be seated.

Golden wire wreathes hang above a marble-topped console.

Another round table is filled with goodies-- Bunny's new book, Scrapbook for Living, a Spitzmiller Gourd Centerpiece and trees with tiny glass beads that look even nicer by candlelight.

A pair of gold trees flank a classical sculpture and Bee Line Lamps.

A small, shimmering decorative accent tree sits next to a great new book, Private Gardens of Connecticut.

Sit down for a ladies lunch at Swifty's. With a peach decorating scheme, the soft palette is ever-flattering and designed by a ladies who lunch favorite, Mario Buatta. Their curried chicken salad is always good.

Archivia Books at 993 Lexington Avenue, is Cynthia Conigliaro's top notch bookshop is filled to the brim with design and fashion books. You just want it all!

The counter at Archivia in a rare lull. The walls are lined with every title you covet- from rare Billy Baldwin tomes to Monacelli Press's latest intro in the home, garden, art and fashion arena.

A long table anchors the layout. Well lit with reading lamps, the tables are filled with titles you can peruse.

Pretty architectural notecards from Bernd Dams and Andrew Zega, the authors of Chinoiseries. Love these.

The window of Cove Landing, right next to Archivia, is great for peeking inside-- a clear view of some the best edited pieces in the city.

Angus Wilkie and Len Morgan have hung a beautiful cluster of silver ornaments in the window that catch the sunlight beautifully.

Make your way downtown to Ankasa's flagship store at 135 E 65th Street. Known for their elaborate Indian embroidery, the shop is arranged in vignettes by color, and the stage is set in winter white. Filled with decorative throw pillows, their upholstery collection, cashmere throws and gifty items, the assortment is lush and cozy.

Photo courtesy of Via Quadronno
End the day with a seriously good cappuccino at Via Quadronno at 25 East 73rd, where Milano meets New York.