Macy's State Street Windows: Chicago In Manhattan?
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The 2015 edition of the holiday windows at Macy's--a delightful journey through our solar system--takes an unusual turn on Planet Earth.
"Santa's Journey To The Stars" tells the story of Alex, who uses a magic telescope to experience Christmas on other planets. (Visitors on Friday morning were especially enchanted by the winter scene on Neptune, the coldest planet and farthest from the Sun.)
Once he lands back on Earth, he arrives in time for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
But Manhattan looks different.
Right there on the lower west side, is the Willis (Sears) Tower. And, overlooking the East River, is the diamond-shaped Stone Container Building.
Chicago has become New York, which is risky concept in Chicago.
Because, when it comes to Macy's, Chicagoans are a sensitive lot.
Many have never forgiven the retailer for jettisoning the Marshall Field's name from the flagship State Street store. Some grudges just never go away.
And then there was the matter of the store maps a few years ago, which mislabeled the streets bordering the store (Washington and Randolph AVENUES, and Wabash STREET!!)
A Macy's representative says the window is not a slight on Chicago's pride (nor a poke at the rivalry with New York City), but rather an artistic interpretation of a fantasy journey of a young child.
"The display was a collaborative and imaginative effort, created by the visual team here in Chicago," said spokeswoman Andrea Schwartz.