Lilly learns to (really) shop!

So, the highlight of NYC for me, of course, is the SHOPPING! From the knock-offs offered from huge suitcases on Canal Street to first class shopping at Bloomingdale's, I found it necessary as a mother to introduce LG to the many glorious shopping retreats that NYC has to offer!

FIRST STOP: CANAL STREET

Tom loves shopping on Canal Street; but with having a new motorcycle made him especially excited to hunt for leather bargains along the many city blocks of Chinatown. I enjoy looking for cute accessories to spruce up my work outfits - refusing, however, to buy any Tiffany knock-offs. This is one designer that I cannot stand to adorn a counterfeit.

We bundled Lilly up and hit the streets. Keep in mind that many of the store fronts are just that...fronts. If you act interested in, say, a particular handbag when accosted on the street by a cute Asian woman who whispers "Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel PUSS" (they cannot pronounce the r's very well), you will be led to a store front that opens into basements, back alleys and convoluted stairways that lead you to the ultimate bizarre of counterfeit purses, luggage, jewelry, etc. It's almost like entering Batman's secret bat cave in order to find the perfect Burberry purse or fake Rolex. When you enter, others get on walkie-talkie's to signal to street look-outs that there is a potential buyer and to be on the look-out! It's strange, but not scary. We were actually there when there was a raid on a particular street corner. Guess the look-out wasn't doing such a great job because we saw a man in handcuffs being escorted by a cop; HUGE suitcase in tow. BTW, it is not illegal to BUY the knock-off, but it is illegal to SELL them. Not everything is of the underground nature; there are cool pashminas, jewelry, feng shui, tourist stuff, etc. lining the streets.

Here is LG bundled for a day of excitement. You can tell by her cheeks that it was a little chilly!



She stayed warm all cuddled up to her dad!



Here I am in HEAVEN! Can you imagine? 20 city blocks of displays just like this?



Of course since we were in Chinatown, we stopped for a lunch at an authentic Chinese restaurant. We found a gem a couple of blocks out from the hustle and bustle of Canal Street. We were the only non-Asians there. They actually cut the meat for your meals right in front of you (see behind LG). It was yummy! But I'd prefer to believe that the chicken/pork/beef that I eat does not look like this at any point in time before consumption!



We wore her out. So much fashion and fun in one day.



We then introduced LG to the extreme sport of a NYC taxi ride! I would like to live there and be a taxi-driver just so I can be exempt from any traffic laws! There are no lights, lanes - one of our drivers actually hit a pedestrian!