Girls Trip to NYC

I spent this last week back in NYC with a couple of friends. I went with Melinda and Stephanie. I worked with both of them at Community. This was the first time to NYC for both of them. Todd found us super cheap tickets ($108 round trip), and we stayed with my friend Susan. She is such a fabulous hostess!!! Thanks again so much Susan for letting us stay. We had a blast!!



We flew in on Wednesday morning (way early), and hit the ground running. We dropped our stuff off at Susan's, and did a lot of touristy stuff since neither of them had been before. We spent most of Wednesday doing things around her place (Times Square, Letterman, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center - they had just opened up the ice rink for winter, and then a little shopping down 5th Ave). Melinda was very excited about the shopping. That night we met Susan and went down to Chinatown for yummy, yummy dumplings:)) We also had our first experience with the black market purse shopping. As we walked up and down the street we were approached by, "you want Gucci, Prada, handbag???" We finally said yes and ended up following this lady up these back stairs to a room full of knock offs(and very good ones at that). Still not sure that Melinda's Chanel is not a real one. if it isn't, it is a really, really good knock off all they way down to the card.



Melinda bought two and Steph bought one. They were ready to close up shop and told Melinda, "No more think, you buy now". We were looking forward to spending more time there on Thursday.



Thursday, we started out taking the Staton Island Ferry for a free view of the Statue of Liberty. We started working our way back up towards Susan's and visited Wall Street, NYSE, World Trade Center Museum, Up to SOHO and back to Chinatown. Once we got to SOHO it started pouring!!!!! We spent a lot of time in the Payless there. They had some really cute stuff that we don't have here. Plus it was a very nice store. We went in and out of a few shops trying to avoid the rain. We realized that if we wanted to get back down to Chinatown before everything closed up, we should get moving. The rain looked like it was letting up, but once we started walking, it was getting worse. We got soaked!!!! I love my rain jacket , but it just couldn't keep up. I was literally soaked to the skin. I did not have a dry stitch on my body. Melinda's shirt was dry, but her hair and pants were soaked. Stpeh's pants were soaked but her hair was completely dry. it was so strange.

Just to help avoid some of the rain, we went into so many back room shops. You would be walking along and they would push a button and open a spot on the wall, shove you in. The rooms were small and so hot!!!! We hit the jackpot and everyone was Happy. I wanted to go back in the shop we had been in the night before. Once we found it and got our goods, they wouldn't let us leave. It was so crazy. They were telling us to be quite and then took us to the back. she moved a bunch of bags around, did a little knocking and looking through the peep hole. I was laughing while everyone else was kind of freaked. We kept hearing police sirens. They finally opened the door and put us in a very ancient, fatal attraction type, service elevator, and a little Chinese man took us down and dropped us in an alley. Craziness. We decided that was enough black market for us, and went to diner at Angelo's in Little Italy. Susan recommended the place. the food was excellent, but they did not appreciate our wetness. Melinda and I got up to go to the restroom and looked at the floor around our table. There was so much water. It was literally pooling on the floor. Steph said some old man came out of the back yelling in Italian about all the water. Fortunately we were done eating and decided it was best to leave. The rain had stopped for now, but we were still soaked and now the sun was down and it was quite cold. Steph decided that she needed to get one more purse for her sister. We were headed back to the subway when a lady stopped us. We said sure and started following her, and followed her FOREVER!!! We finally walked into what looked like a little mall. As soon as we walked in, she started running. The 2 men started chasing her and caught her. She was crying "no, no, no". They turned around flashed their badges and told us no more purses today ladies. Once again I was laughing, a little freaked, but thought it was SOOOO COOL!!! Melinda decided this was God's way of telling her enough. As we headed back down Canal there were tons of police. They were having a big raid. Steph decided her sister would not be getting a purse. We didn't want to end up in the pokie:) All in all we ended upi with quite a stash!!! Some of them were gifts, but motsly four ourselves.

I took them to Greenwich Village to the Milk and Cookies place and then Melinda wanted to stop at the Magnolia bakery for cupcakes.



Friday, we went out to Brooklyn to the superhero supply company. Melinda and Steph got some fun items for their boys. (a voice changer and some laser fingers) Then we made what seemed like an 8 mile hike through Brooklyn, but I think it was really only 2 or 3. We ate lunch at Grimaldi's Pizza and then walked some more across the Brooklyn Bridge. I talked to my sister and she really wanted a purse. i know I am a crazy lady!! Yes, I went back. It was so difficult to find anyone asking. I finally found a lady. They were obviously a little on edge after the previous nights raid. I guess I would be too:). I found her a purse and we moved on. Susan recommended going the the Sarah Jessica Parker Store. She has some really cute stuff and very cheap!! Melinda got a cute coat for $20. She also join the puma club with her new pink and brown pumas. We stopped in the ginormous Macy's and then headed back uptown to meet Susan. She got us tickets for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. We met her for dinner at a little Tapas/Wine and Cheese bar - Kaskaval. It was Awesome!! We got a sampler plate with hummus, artichoke spread, Spicy red pepper and walnut dip and Tzatziki. Then we split a Swiss and a Kashkaval fondue, Greek salad and for the finishing touch - Chocolate Fondue!!!!!

The Spelling Bee was great fun. We tried to get there early to try out, but were over some by the chocolate fondue and did not make it in time. I would definitely recommend seeing it if you have the chance. We were leaving at the butt crack of dawn on Saturday morning. On our way home from the play, we stopped by the side door of Hairspray and caught a glimpse of Lance Bass leaving. Silly I know, but hey it was someone famous!!!

Susan got us a car service to JFK Sat morning. Interesting experience, but at least we did not have to drag our luggage trough the subway at 3 AM.



It was a great trip, and nice to get away with the girls. We were all ready to come home. Melinda and Steph to their kids and me to my wonderful, sweet hubby!!!!