New York: Day One!

For Christmas, I was given a trip to New York City!
How very lovely.
This was our weekend!
I flew in on a red-eye, just to milk the most out of the time-on-the-ground during the weekend.

It was a harsh choice, but certainly the right one.
We made our way into the city just after dawn (at 4 am west coast time, after about 3 hours of sleep sitting up.) We greeted the lovely ladies, brushed our teeth, and took to the streets!
Our first destination was the SoHo neighborhood. The goal was generally to see Purl SoHo, of fame and lore!

In SoHo there are still some streets paved with brick. I find them charming.
We found our way along the streets stopping at possibly the biggest Starbucks in the world, and then went to Purl.

Only to find that it was closed, and didn't open until noon!


We were there at 11:30. There were 6 of us standing outside, pressing our noses against the window. The rolling gate inside was 1/3 of the way up, and 3 or 4 people were inside working already. But they didn't come open the door. While we were standing there, 3-4 other shoppers came by, tried the door, but nothing happened.
Let me just say, with the utmost respect for the savvy of Joelle and her management and marketing skills... if I had customers peeking in the window, I would open the store (and take their money.)

We cooled our heels outside. (and by 'cooled our heals' I mean tried not to melt into sticky balls of goo in the heat.)


Once inside, we were faced with a barrage of loveliness.

I was shopping for the yarn for one specific sweater, and I really only found one option, and it would have had to be from the on-line store, and it was about $230 total.

We all had lunch together


And then carried on walking. We were headed generally in the direction of Lady Mendl's Tea House.
We passed a tiny, well cared for set of planters that counted as a 'garden'.


And a beautiful tree lined street.


The actual High Tea was a wonderful, air conditioned luxury. The service was lovely. And the scones with clotted cream were exceptional.


That evening, we went out to the Bowery to a hidden restaurant. This place was SO great. It is on the end of an alley, and is not marked.

We had a local who helped us to pick out that place. What a treat!
By the time we made it back to our penthouse - I passed out.
That was day one.
Stay tuned for day two.