Secret Number
Seven...
Take care
when paying for a cab When
paying a taxi fare, always "sing out" the denomination
of the bill you are handing over. The following scenario
only happened to me once but that was enough. After
a taxi ride, I am absolutely sure I paid with a $20
bill, but when I questioned the amount of change, the
cabbie held up a $10 and swore that is what I gave him.
After numerous protestations, I started to wonder myself
so I gave up and exited the taxi. It turns out this
is a scam perpetrated on tourists and non-tourists alike.
Be forewarned. Don't be fooled! (Cynthia E. Rubin, New
York) |
Secret Number
Eight...
F.I.T.
is fun and fashionable
My sister, daughter
and I visited New York City and wanted to tell other
women about a great female-friendly freebie -- The
Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
houses one of the world's most important collections
of costume and textiles (with a particular strength
in 20th-century fashion). We saw the Little Black
Dress Display, and the Barbie Exhibit. Last year F.I
T. also displayed a woman-centered exhibit called
"The Corset: Fashioning the Body" which included approximately
100 corsets and corset-inspired fashions. F.I.T. is
located on the Southwest corner of Seventh Avenue
at 27th Street. Closed Sunday, Monday and legal holidays.
Check their website http://www.ny.com/museums/FIT.html
for what's on when you plan to be in New York City.
(Elaine F., Manitoba, Canada) |
Secret Number
Nine...
Wonderfully
sinful munchies
I came across
this tiny magical spot as I made my way through the
building called Chelsea Market (75 Ninth Avenue at
15th Street). It was the aroma of pure intense chocolate
that pulled me to the door of this woman-owned bakery
shop. Called Fat Witch Bakery,
the shop features the absolute most deliciously decadent
assortment of Brownies. Of course, I couldn't resist
the samples that were purposely designed to break
down a female's resistance. I confess, one bite and
I surrendered gladly. This Journeywoman left the store
laden with a variety of charmingly packaged goodies
sporting names like Fat Witch Walnut, Java Witch and
Carmel Witch Brownies. Want to know more? You can
read all about these sinful munchies at the bakery's
website: www.fatwitch.com
(Evelyn Hannon, Journeywoman files) |
Secret Number
Ten...
Everything
and the kitchen sink
For all the Martha
Stewarts who love to travel, there's a store in New
York City that one could spend an entire day in and
not get tired of the goods. It's called MacKenzie-Childs,
located on 824 Madison Aveue at the corner of 69th
Street. This store is a small one but it goes up five
stories. It's loaded with unusual houseware items
(one of a kind), glasswear, dishes, lighting, tiles,
sinks, tassels, diningroom table and chairs, small
things, big things. All are hand painted, one of a
kind patterns and very, very different. They also
have a tea room open for tea and light lunch (I believe)
only in the afternoons. I doubt anyone can walk out
of this store without purchsing at least one item.
Telephone: 212-570-6050. (Jill Elliot, New York).
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Secret Number
Eleven...
Shop
on the street
Buy a handbag
on the street. Don't be afraid to try. What do you
really have to lose if you stop and examine the street
vendor's selection? I bought a Prada knockoff for
$US20 that everybody compliments me on and assumes
it's a "real" designer bag. I suggest that visitors
to New York scan Vogue Magazine before you go out
shopping so you will know at least a bit about designer
bags. With this knowledge you just might get a great
"look-alike" deal when visiting the Big Apple. (Kathryn
G., Washington)
Ed.note: For those
willing to spend more on an "almost" designer bag,
according to "The Complete Idiot's Travel Guide to
New York," there's a NY shop that specializes in quality
copies of famous designers' accessories. It's called
Saurez (450 Park
Avenue). Take a look! |
Secret Number
Twelve...
To
market, to market
Finally, a great
place for a Journeywoman to visit on Saturday is the
Union Square farmers market
which goes on all day long, packed with flowers, fruits,
vegetables, bread and prepared foods. For lunch, a
great salad bar nearby can be found at City
Bakery (3 West 18th Street) - the chef
uses lots of vegetables from the farmers market as
well as roasted salmon, marinated tofu and usually
a chicken dish. Great selection. Or you can splurge
and go to the Blue Water
Grill (31 Union Square West at 16th Street)
which is one of my favorite restaurants for fish and
seafood - outdoor cafe, great atmosphere. Or the other
splurge would be to go to the famous Union
Square Cafe at 21 East 16th Street (just
off Union Square West). There is also an outdoor restaurant
during the summer months right in the farmers market.
(Pam, New York) |
Too big to be
a secret...
The
new Toys 'R Us store in Times Square (1514 Broadway
at 44th St.) can hardly be considered just a New York
shop. This 110,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed building
is the absolute largest toy store in the world and
home to a 60-foot-tall Ferris wheel, a giant roaring
dinosaur, a life-size Barbie townhouse and three floors
of toys and games. If you're travelling with your
JourneyBabes, they'll love it. If not, it's still
great fun to pop in for a peek. |
Best time to
go...
New York City
is at its most enchanting three times during the year:
the middle of spring, much of autumn and early winter.
There is a period in April when the entire city seems
to breathe a sigh of relief. Cherry blossoms bloom
sweetly, kissing the brownstones with their delicate
flowers. Sunbathers haven't yet overrun Central Park.
Even the cabbies seem to smile. It's like something
out of a Woody Allen film. (Source: Simon Haupt,
Globe and Mail, June 16, 2001)
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