Shop til you drop

So today was spent shopping until I dropped, preparing my apartment and making it home. Tomorrow will be more about me and my chefware.

Walking down Broadway in my area, there are lots of upscale strollers with fashionable moms and babies in the latest ware, however when I looked in one this afternoon, there were three small dogs, no different than the babies as they were dressed in the latest canine wraps and were being pushed by their fashionable moms. No one seemed to be wincing at this as it seems anything goes in NY. There are lots of dogs around this area. They seem to get as much or more attention than the babies. People take them to outdoor cafes to sit beside them while eating, just like in France and other countries. People stop to ohh and awe at dogs waiting for their owners outside of stores. There are large pet stores in the area. As the UWS is sandwiched between two large parks, I guess this is an ideal area for dogs.

Had to make a stop at Victoria Secrets for curiousity of course. No models but lots of sexy manequins and silk. So, after that encounter, stuck to my list of kitchenware and bedroomware and found some interesting places...

Zabars on 2245 Broadway at 80th Street calls itself a gourmet emporium and a family run business for over 70 years. It's an incredible store that's on two levels and almost takes up a block, filled with an olive bar with over 50 kinds of olives, the cheese area with over 600 varieities of cheeses they claim, fresh roasted coffee, which they are famous for, lots of smoked fish varieites, large take out area... I think you get the picture. The upstairs is filled with kitchenware that any foodie or person who likes to cook would enjoy roaming through. The interesting or annoying part is that someone, probably a family member, will get on the speaker system from time to time and try to entice foodies about something that they just have to have, try, can only get today, etc. Today, they were announcing a shipment they just picked up at the airport from Spain of fresh, white marinated anchovies that are not as salty as the normal kind and you just have to try.... and then another annoncement about lava cakes that are really popular now (according to the speakerphone guy) and they have a set just for making lava cakes at home... and one on a special bargain price on Swiss alps premium chocolate at x location in the store and it won't last long... and one on a discount on sandwiches and sushi... sushi?... now that perked up my ears and I had to follow the voice to the assigned location... must be something subliminal in that speakerguy's voice. So, I bought an iron (the owner of the apartment doesn't own one and is a typical UWS apartment dweller... sends his laundy out to the many places around offering fast service and cheap prices, and often delivery... perhaps when in Rome I should do as the Romans do but what will I do with my time without the love of washing, drying and ironing before me?) and several other essential items like a coffee plunger. For my purchases at the store, around $30, they gave me two free coffee mugs and a coupon for a pound of coffee, which they claim is the best around. Pretty good deal.

Next, I went shopping for bed and bath stuff at Laytner's Linen and Home, which they claim is a store for those who like high quality items at bargain prices... isn't that most of us? It's a good store at 2270 Broadway at 81st Street for bedding, bath sets, and accessories, at good prices, and a variety of items for people who live in tight spaces and need storage options, which sounds like most NYC apartment dwellers.

Then to one of the many discount stores such as Price Wise to pick up bathroom stuff.

After supper, walked to get a chai latte and bought some groceries at some of the many stores. One of them called Gourmet Garage on Broadway intrigued me as it was another large gourmet food store, highlighting the best in natural and organic food products. It seems like all the larger grocery stores around here are using the buzzwords... organic, natural, gourmet, locally produced, etc... in their promotions to bring in customers. At Gourmet Garage, it was interesting when I was looking at the cheese and saw "Canadian Cheddar" and a note that said it was a noteworthy product from our northern neighbours. Thought that was funny. What should our signs say about US products?... a noteworthy product from our southern neighbours despite the current leadership?

Tonight I'm hooked on NYCTV, the local channel on news and entertainment in the city, (my other favourite is the Food Network of course) and the Olympus fashion week in Bryant Park (42nd and 6th - Fashion District area) with top US designers. I've been following a great reality show called Project Runway, which combines designers and models and leads to the top winners showing their collection at this prestigious event. So, I'll try to head down there this week to see what the fuss is all about and get a glimpse of what is truly NY in the fall time... the models, fashion icons, aspiring designers, and people like me wondering what it's all about.

Night... Caroline