Yesterday my husband Tom and I took the little ones downtown Chicago for their semi-annual dental appointments. I’d read about Bloomingdale’s limited edition Year of the Snake bags, so after the appointment we walked the block and a half to the luxe department store.
At first I thought all customers would receive a Year of the Snake disposable bag with any purchase, but once we walked through the make-up counters, my eyes darted to this cool display.
Not only that, people hovered around a little table (you can see a sliver of the salesman on the far right side of the photo above) pulling out red laisee envelopes from a bowl.
“Laisee,” I shouted to no one in particular. I rushed the kids over to the little table and asked if I could have one, too. I just wanted the souvenir envelope to post on this blog.
The salesman motioned for me to take one. When my soon-to-be six-year-old daughter Rachel asked for one, the salesman apologized and said it was just for adults. So I called Tom over and asked him to pick one. We were then told that the laisee contained Bloomingdale’s coupons. Many for $8, but some for $88 or even $888. There were also coupons for Lunar New Year candy and canvas bags.
Tom and I each received the $8 coupons. Hey, $16 off is better than nothing. So I picked out this cute tote bag for sale.
The price after the discount: $8.
There were also cute t-shirts for sale, as well as a pair of very expensive reptilian-looking leggings, iPhone covers, and Chinese zodiac jewelry. The tote bag is perfect for a few books (or Kindle) or the 41 laisee I’ll bring to Rachel’s school tomorrow. Most of all, it’s a fun and not too expensive reminder of how an American department store–for the first time in its 141-year history–celebrated this huge and important holiday.
If you’re in Chicago and near Bloomingdale’s at 900 North Michigan Avenue today, they’ll also have lion dancing and other Chinese cultural activities. Down the street, the Peninsula Hotel will have lion dancers and special CNY meals. Stay tuned!
Happy Year of the Snake!
Nice bag – hope you get given lots of Hong Bao to fill it with!
I wish! I gave out 41 hongbao to kindergartners at Rachel’s school, plus the three (which were gold) to the teachers. I did keep them in the snake bag, though, before handing them out. Hope you had a great New Year!