Today is the day that one of my favourite people arrives to join the journey, she is a lovely lady and my favourite cousin - Mrs Chrisso Dobson.
We had both made up a list of all the funky groovy shops we wanted to have a look at around Manhattan and then plotted them on a map which turned out to be a super idea cause there were hundreds of them!
Most of the shops were in Soho, an area so named because it is south of Houston Street. I think this was the start of shortening people's names like J Lo, Li Lo, A Jo, etc..... Even the NoCoSoCo (Northcote Social Club)
From now on I would like to be known as 'S Bro'
Anyhoo.... We worked out the subway system and headed downtown.
In a previous post I talked to you about George Town Cupcakes, well I thought it important that Chris should taste these delectable delights as well, just in case I was wrong about their superb deliciousness.
I again went to the Red Velvet because I'm a sucker for them.
Soho is a mixed bag of shops from funky vintage to surf brands to mega expensive jewellery by Ivanka Trump! And like that elusive box of chocolates, you just never know what you're gonna get around the next corner.
The mixed bag also goes for the people as well. Yep, that's a home made nappy on that dog. The bloke waited until the dog was about to 'make' and he removed the cloth, then wrapped it back up again and they went on their way. We stood and stared - a little dumbfounded and we thought oh no we can't take a picture of that....... but it appears we could!
Chris is an avid follower of a vintage shabby chic founder and interior designer, Rachel Ashwell. She has a shop on Wooster Street and we made a beeline for it and we weren't sorry. It was such a beautiful store - full of furniture and chandeliers and cushions and materials and gorgeous bits and lovely pieces.
Chris was like a kid in a candy store!
And even though they assured us that they would be able to ship anything back to Australia, only a couple of small purchases were made.
This shop was a specialty cooking school of some sort and they had a window full of fabulous cakes in the shape of handbags. They didn't look too appetising if I'm honest with you.
Some of you (my mum) will know of my fascination with knowing the states. I even have the app 'Stack the States', a game that teaches you via the fun and frivolity of a game all the states, their location, the capitals cities, the flags and some of the landmarks. It's a hoot! Anyway, because of this fascination, you'll understand why I fell in love with this denim wall decoration I found in a shop. I mean, it's a map of the country made out of bits of denim..... even the mountain ranges have been added with stuffing!
One of the kookier shops we nearly went into was a place called Kiosk. It was on the 2nd floor of this salubrious looking building. She didn't open until midday, so we missed out, but after googling it when we got home, Chris said "oh wow, it's a shop that sources things from a different country every 3 months. What a great idea... and this month it's Finland"..... she then looked at their stock and said, "yeah, we didn't miss much!"
However, the other shops we went to were beautifully decorated and had lovely stock - so you take the weird and grungy with the good I guess.
Soho must have been having a "bring out your dead" as in front of most buildings were these dead, broken Christmas trees amongst the rubbish bags. It was a little sad really. Oh well, out with the old!
I'll have what she's having!
On our journey between shops in Soho and shops in the East Village we popped by Katz Deli. The one made famous in "When Harry Met Sally" and it's the home of the enormous pastrami on rye sandwich. We took out ticket from the man at the door (which was his sole job) and pursued the counter. Our friend, Shelley Wilton had recently been to NYC and indeed to Katz Deli and she told us of the exact rules you needed to follow if we were to blend in with the locals, however, it was all too overwhelming and the sandwiches too big, so we handed back out tickets to the man, who took them back and gave me a look of "yeah, I could tell you weren't going to be able to hack it" and we left. Whatever!
After a massive day of shopping, we headed back uptown in time to make it to our Broadway show of Matilda
The Roald Dahl story of a little girl who is a genius born to moronic parents who treat her terribly and found by a kind and gentle teacher, who herself is struggling with a bully of an aunt who is also the head mistress called Miss Trunchball (who is played brilliantly by a man).
The music and lyrics were written by Australia's own Tim Minchin and you could tell. You could hear him in every lyric.
The role of Matilda was played by 6 different little girls who were around the age of 10. The one we saw was the 2nd from the left, a little girl called Milly. She was simply amazing!
We happened to be sitting behind her mother and look alike sister (who incidentally played a major part in "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" last year. A very talented family with a small, but perhaps pushy mother? Anyway, the whole cast, including the little girl all acted with perfect English accents.
Just another fabulous day/night in New York City!
Noooo!!!!! You didn't have a sandwich!!!!!!!!!!
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