Trip report - September 15-23 - Day 3

Day 3 Sunday September 17

My third day in New York was the reason for the timing of the trip – the Columbus Avenue Street Festival. We came upon it by accident the first year that I went to New York, and have timed my trip around it each year after. It’s unlike anything in San Diego, and I go for my holiday shopping. They have great deals on scarves, socks, t-shirts, sheets, and all kinds of other stuff that you might not need, but such a deal you can’t refuse – and everyone loves the gifts that I got for such good prices.

As another beautiful day dawned in New York, we headed out to the street festival, and split up with the intent to meet back up at about 1:00, and went on our merry way shopping. I stayed with Karen and Nikki, as Nikki was still a bit apprehensive. Since it was their first visit, I took the Houston girls on a short detour over to the Dakota so that they could see that building, and they got their first glimpse of Central Park. We all shopped for a while, dumped several shopping bags full at Jacks, and then met up and decided on lunch at La Grolla on Amsterdam. I don’t remember much about the meal; but do remember it was good, and of course too much food! What could be better than sitting outside on a beautiful day sharing a meal with good friends (and relatives)

Karen and Nikki were there such a short time that we had to cram every free minute with sight-seeing, so we took a nice walk through Central Park on our way down to Ground Zero. We walked all around the area – it’s amazing how much work has been done as far as cleaning out, and getting the area ready to re-build - things have changed quite a bit since last year. They have already re-built building 7 of the World Financial Center, so progress seems to be going well. We also walked through the Wintergarden, which always impresses and awes me, such a beautiful building, and I suspect it is even more awesome in the middle of winter.

I wanted to go down to Battery Park, but there just wasn’t enough time, as we wanted to see St. Paul’s Chapel, Trinity Church, and walk the Brooklyn Bridge Unfortunately, since it was after 5 on a Sunday, both churches and the surrounding graveyards were locked up, so we just walked by both churches and wandered around Wall Street so the Texans could see the NYSE. We couldn’t find any open subway stations that would take us to Brooklyn, they all seemed to be closed for repairs, or just closed. No problem, instead of walking from the Brooklyn side, we decided to walk the bridge in the Brooklyn direction from City Hall Park right downtown. City Hall Park is beautiful, and I was the only one of the group who had been there before, so we all enjoyed the lovely fountain, and by that time, the beautiful gaslights.

We started out over the bridge just as the sun was setting behind the buildings, and the weather and the views were spectacular. We found a subway station close to the end of the bridge, and decided that we would take the opportunity to have dinner in SoHo (explaining the pronunciation of “Houston” to two Texas girls was impossible by the way) We wandered around SoHo for a while and window shopped, then came upon a restaurant that looked interesting – Boom. The waiters were very friendly, the atmosphere was fun (even though we had to try to read the menus by dim candlelight) and we enjoyed the meal. The place really started to come to life with all kinds of beautiful people about when we left.

After dinner, after arguing about which subway was closest and easiest, and receiving several conflicting recommendations, so we wandered over to Greenwich Village, and caught an uptown train from there. I loved that day, as we got to do a lot of walking, which I love - Nikki told Karen she thought it was 17 miles – but it was probably 6 or 7 – but we got some good exercise and lots of fresh air, so that was great. We talked for a short while, then all tumbled into our respective beds in our respective rooms, and I for one slept like a log.

Trip report - September 15-23 - Day 3

Great travelogue! Thanks for the reviews and insights.

BTW, if you want to come to NYC even MORE ferequently, here%26#39;s a secret:

These street fairs you enjoy happen EVERY MONTH from April to November in all kinds of neighborhoods. In the summer, they happen EVERY WEEKEND!!!

All of them have a bulk of the same types of vendors: socks, discontinued designer clothing (DKNY, GAP, banana republic, Abercrombie, etc), sheets, towels, vegetable peelers, ';miracle shammies';, dental tools, cosmetics, Guatemalan sweaters, magnets shaped like fruit, etc.

You%26#39;ll also get your fill or gyros, crepes, fruit smoothies, sausage and peppers, mozzarepas, falafel, and roasted corn.

http://www.nycstreetfairs.com/sched.html

Click on each month. Say, there%26#39;s a few coming up in November.

;o)

Here%26#39;s a nice article about our famous street fairs, and some great strategies for getting hte most out of them.

http://www.theinsider.com/nyc/fun/3street.htm

Looking forward to your next chapters!

Trip report - September 15-23 - Day 3

Believe me, if I could get afford to leave work and visit every month, I sure would.... Except maybe winter, because I grew up in Montana and am not so fond of snow and cold - but if I win the lottery, I%26#39;ve already got my brownstone picked out on the UWS....... I%26#39;m actually planning two trips for next year - May and September, so will definitely check out the street fairs - Thanks for the links, QB!!

Thanks for sharing your trip with us chissis. I%26#39;m such a sucker for a street fair! Thanks for the links queensboulevard - they will go into my ';next time'; file.

I%26#39;m off to read day 1 %26amp;2...

Kind regards,

Angie

Loving your reports and also liked your review of Jacks with pictures. Makes me want the balcony room even more now! Thanks.

I was just in the mood for a street fair yesterday, and couldn%26#39;t find one on any of the usual web listings. I walked over to the west side, and by chance found the wonderful Crafts on Columbus fair. Then found the huge street fair on Amsterdam! Now I%26#39;m wondering why neither was listed.