One last installment of our NYC adventure - the official beginning of the holiday season for me!
Our day began with an always delicious breakfast at Balthazar. Can you believe I managed to snag reservations for the whole group? It was a fun surprise to run into my friend Peggy there who was in town on business (and pleasure.)
While I was sitting and talking to her, we had another celebrity sighting - look who sat down across from us with his family -
In his orange crocks and shorts and ponytail - Mario Batali! I took a picture as we were talking so I wouldn't look like a "tourist."
After my favorite sourcream hazelnut waffles with warm berries breakfast, we were ready to shop! Our first stop was the new Paper Source across the street and then on to Baked by Melissa for mini cupcakes.
Of course we had to stop and scrub our hands at Sabon - their scrubs and creams are heavenly!
A new location of Georgetown Cupcakes opened nearby...
Maybe I should be calling this a "cupcake tour" since two of our next stops was Molly's Cupcakes and Magnolia cupcakes!
It was another gorgeous day, so we set off walking - a good thing with all these cupcakes stops!
The Ink Pad welcomed us - more shopping and then the Garage for some flea market finds!
We had to stop at Macy's to see the windows and decorations...
The crowds were crazy! When we left, we wanted to get a taxi to the hotel - we were not ready to walk another 12 blocks to our hotel but wouldn't you know that the length of the street to the hotel was closed for a street festival! We ended up walking, and somehow it didn't seem so bad since we could walk in the middle of the street. We saw some interesting characters and some fashion don'ts though!
It gave us the opportunity to stop at Bryant Park and browse through the holiday market there.
Some of the group sadly left for home and the rest of us went to Joe Allen for dinner and to rest and catch up on our day.
It was a great trip - and I'm ready to do it again next year! If you'd like to be put on the list to receive information about it - just shoot me an email (memorybee@msn.com) and I'll add you to my list of interested people. I usually send the information and start sign ups in June. I start with those who have gone before and then open it up to those on the "interest" list. It sells out so fast that I usually don't announce it or open it up to the public. It will be the weekend before Thanksgiving again. (I don't do it after Thanksgiving because the price of the airfare and the hotel goes up dramatically, the crowds multiply, making walking difficult and finding a cab nearly impossible, and Tinsel Trading enters their super-busy season and would have a hard time accomodating us for our class.)
Gifts so far today ~
a great breakfast and catch up time with the girls from my Bible study group.
the furnace that is whirring away on this damp and yucky day.
6 straight days at home to get things done.
answered prayer.
good health and strength.
Have a gift-filled day!
Oh how I wish I could go with you. But! I can't. I'm just so glad you give a picture tour so I can go in my mind. What fun. Looks like it was another successful trip.
Posted by: Deb J | December 10, 2012 at 08:57 AM
Don't know if I can miss another trip...Just might have to make the next one!!
Posted by: Heather | December 11, 2012 at 06:12 AM
To go on a NYC with you at Christmas-time would be a dream! So many great stops! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Posted by: Angela | December 15, 2012 at 09:54 AM