NYC and why I love Bleecker Street

Take my advice, when booking hostels make sure that they have an elevator, or that your room is on the first floor. We had to huff it up 3 long flights and when you’re drunk and wearing 3 inch heals and it is 4am, that’s a long way to the top. But that’s not what you want to read so I’ll cut to the chase.




FRIDAY
We didn’t waste anytime after dropping our bags off and we got right down to business. Shopping at Century 21 (which felt kind of bargain basement, like a classier version of Honest Ed's maybe) wasn’t as good as I had been told. Not to be discouraged we walked up Broadway for what seemed like an eternity in search of the Forever 21 that was "just a few blocks away" according the girl at Bloomingdales. Along the way we had lunch in a yummy deli and I ran into a buddy from high school who I haven't seen since 1999. Forever 21 was much better than the Toronto version; Strawberry was much more prosperous than expected and we did some damage at both. Then there was the stop over at Broadway and Canal for some (not so) authentic purses. The key is to ask the little Asian women "do you have any other purses?" They nod ever so discreetly, then motion for you to follow them to the back (or 3 blocks over) where a secret door leads up a hidden staircase to knock off heaven. The rain was a bit of a deterrent but we did pretty well for such a short amount of time. Night time was all about live music and Terminal 5 is my new favourite venue. The Donna's opened for The Hives and both blew me away. Pelle Almqvist has this oddly sexy speaking voice – it’s the Swedish accent – and he won himself a place in my heart that night.




SATURDAY
Shopping today was of a different variety – I was in search of some good records and Alexandra had never been to Bleecker Street or Greenwich Village so I made it my mission to show her the ropes. We didn't waste any time and went right to 115 MacDougal Street (AKA, Cafe Wha?) to take some pictures and check out the line up for that night. Bob's on Bleecker and Bleecker Street Records were both a great success and you are all invited over to give my purchases a listen. The next stop was Magnolia Cupcakes for an historical event. I give up sweets for Lent ever year but I decided that this weekend was going to be the exception...it's the butter cream icing, it's just too irresistible. So good, but my teeth hurt afterwards. The rain had not let up and we got soaked trekking though the city but it was worth every second of it. Somehow we ended up in Appleby's in Time Square and I found myself drinking a goblet of Sangria to warm up. Dinner at Employees Only was delicious and so was the bottle of Champagne. That, coupled with espresso I had gave me the boost I needed for the long night ahead (I've given up coffee too so I haven't had caffeine in over a month). We headed back to Cafe Wha? and got seats right in front of the best house band ever, kind of like Joe Mama’s but bigger and better. They did all the funky classics (James Brown, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Gloria Gaynor, The Beatles...) and Alex got heckled a bit (well deserved though, I mean who doesn’t know the words to “I Just Called To Say I Love You?). Those who know me know I am obsessed with live music and this night was a perfect example of why. Down the street, the Clarence Spady Band at Terra Blues killed every song the played. I was a bit apprehensive that the lack of any singer would take away from the show but they proved me wrong. The electric violinist and guest trumpet player who sauntered in from the kitchen didn’t hurt either. At the intermission, we got talking to the man himself and when he found out we were from Toronto he promised to play a song for us. I felt like the bee’s knees when he played Come Together and dedicated it to “the girls from Toronto and the Silver Dollar”. I think we left the bar at 4am when they shut down.




SUNDAY
Massive hangover or not, you simply cannot go to New York and not walk around Time Square taking pictures like a tourist. The day flew by and I barely had time for the strongest Long Island Ice Tea ever before we had to head back and get ready for dinner. The food at da Silvano’s was just as delicious as I remembered and the chocolate soufflé and double espresso were worth the eternal damnation. Round 2 at Café Wha? was just as good as the first and the band recognized us so we got a little wave hello and everyone starred wondering who we were and if we were important. Oh, and they make a killer Rye and Ginger.




And now I’m back, missing the city and coming down from my sugar high. But I would do it all again in a second. Any one up for a road trip?