Fun in NYC: Part Two

[lunabee34]

On our first full day in the city, I had a smoked salmon bagel sandwich for breakfast at Cafe Champignon. Following breakfast we took a leisurely stroll down Fifth Avenue, stopping in all the high end stores along the way. C told me she'd always been wary of going into those stores, worried the salespeople would be snooty because she clearly wasn't going to buy anything. I will admit that I occasionally feel that way in some of the more exclusive boutiques, but I didn't feel that way at all on this trip. All the salespeople were exceedingly kind to us, and we even scored a fair amount of freebies along the way from unexpected places. The most exclusive store we went into was Van Cleef and Arpels; all the merchandise in that store is locked away and out of sight except for six or seven museum quality display cases. One of the sales attendants went around with us to each display case and explained the jewelry and answered questions for us. She must have spent at least fifteen minutes talking to us, and she knew we weren't going to purchase anything. C was astonished, and I told her that a store like that probably makes very few sales in even a week's time. I imagine the sales attendant gets pretty bored and was glad to be able to demonstrate her expertise (a few days later when we were in Michael Kors in SoHo, a sales attendant we were talking to independently mentioned how bored the staff get in those super expensive boutiques and how they like when people come in to look around). She did try to convince us that Van Cleef and Arpels has something for all budgets, and that surely a $2000 tiny pendant could make its way home with us, bless her heart for trying. :)

We went into Tiffany, which is set up like a traditional jewelry store (all seven floors of it LOL) with jewelry in glass display cases at about hip level. Tiffany has also set up some museum type displays of vintage and other jewelry, and while we were looking at one of those, a sales attendant struck up a conversation with us. I was telling her about the Tiffany pieces I have and my collection of little blue bags (I don't think they do the boxes anymore unless you buy an engagement ring), and she off-handedly mentioned that the blue bag is also a polishing cloth. I didn't realize that, and when I said so, she went into the back and got each of us a blue bag plus a larger rectangular polishing cloth.

After that we went into Saks Fifth Avenue where I hit the perfume jackpot. We went to the Guerlain counter, and I was telling C all about my failed attempts to love this most noble and ancient house of scent when the sales attendant came over and started talking perfume with me. By the time we left, she had given each of us a decant of about 1.5-2 ml of Angelique Noire, which floored me. And I ended up actually liking it! I also skin tested Rose Barbare which I liked better. It wore very nicely, a soft muted rose.

At the Chanel counter, I finally got to smell Misia (too flowery; not interested) and then they pulled out an unreleased scent, Boy, that's coming out later this summer. Oh, my friends, it was divine. It's intended as a masculine scent, but whatever. It's green and citrusy, and I love it. I'm going to see how much decants are going for on Surrender to Chance once it's released.

Somewhere in here we went to lunch at Rue 57 where I ate a half dozen raw oysters (OMG, I could eat like three dozen raw oysters just by myself, but not at NYC prices LOL) and steak tartar. We had a snack at Magnolia Bakery, and ended the night with dinner at Second Ave Deli. The pickles were divine, both kinds, and I had the best corned beef sandwich ever. I actually think Josh's chicken broth is better than the deli's but the deli's matzoh balls are superior to Josh's.

Next up: I travel to New Jersey and eat the best couscous of my life at chez executrix

Comments

[archersangel]

She did try to convince us that Van Cleef and Arpels has something for all budgets,....

if by "all budgets" they mean for people who make $350,000 after taxes, then yeah.

[lunabee34]

LOL

Indeed.

Tiffany really does have a variety of products for all budgets, which is the only reason I have any Tiffany pieces. LOL

[chelseagirl]

Did you hit Murray's Bagels while you were there? My bagel place of choice, and imho much better than Champignon. (Well, now I live close to the wonderful Katz's Deli, but the tourist-lines are gigantic there so I rarely eat bagels anymore.)

[lunabee34]

No. We didn't do real bagels, and we didn't eat pizza. Or sushi.

Magnolia Bakery was like that with the lines.

[chelseagirl]

Duh. Of course it's obvious I used to live in the neighborhood. I've had this username for so long that . . .

I did think of changing it to EVill Woman when I moved, but nah.

For future stays in Chelsea, Billy's Bakery on 9th Ave between . . . 21st and 22nd? I think? . . . is as good as Magnolia but way less famous so shorter lines.

[lunabee34]

Oooooh, that's good to know. :)

I love your username. I wish mine had a little bit more thought beyond it than why don't I use my AOL handle.

[musyc]

The bit about the high-class shops appreciating people who come in regardless of purchase is a really interesting note to me. I'm one of those "somewhat intimidated" people in those small boutique places - I'm not much for small talk in general, so I want the staff to leave me alone. Though if I'm ever in a place like that again, I'll have to try it.

The one time I was in NYC, my friend and I strolled down 5th and while we didn't go in, we did have a lovely conversation outside a suit shop, dissecting the suits on display. It took us several minutes to realize there were a couple of men behind us listening very intently to our likes and dislikes. XDXD

[lunabee34]

*nods*

I'm sure there are a few pretentious people working in those kinds of stores, but we didn't meet any. :)

I love the image of those guys behind y'all taking notes. :)