Tired of Santa Claus and Christmas trees during the Christmas season? In Glendale, Queens, The Shops at Atlas Park provide a unique and creative alternative, Mr. Bemberlinx. He is a 20-foot tall topiary bear that has been at the shopping center for the past four years.
Mr. Bemberlinx dressed for the winter
Located in the shopping center’s fountain area and surrounded by plastic gift boxes wrapped with gold bows, Mr. Bemberlinx is a great backdrop for holiday pictures. Elizabeth Kirpsza took a break from shopping and brought her 2-year old daughter over to the display to take pictures. “It was better when the fence wasn’t here,” Kirpsza said. The area was more than likely fenced off to avoid damage to the bear and the many lights that adorn him.
On a Sunday afternoon when the shopping center was full of people and their children, Mr. Bemberlinx was strangely left alone. Sounds of children exclaiming “Hey, a bear,” and their parents saying, “Come on let’s go,” or “Forget it, let’s just go home,” punctuated the peaceful afternoon. Maybe if it was Santa Claus in the fountain area, parents would have stopped.
But this is what makes Mr. Bemberlinx special, he’s a delightful undiscovered secret of Queens. Residents should take advantage of this unique backdrop for free pictures, take pictures and send it out as holiday greeting cards. Why pay to sit on Santa’s lap and have your child’s picture taken when you can have this unique bear?