Getting it all done

Today was all about checking off the last things on the list, revisiting favourite places and generally tieing up loose ends. Chicos and Eileen Fisher had featured on my list from the beginning, but due to their location were amongst the last calls - no less successful for that. It gave us an opportunity to go via Grand Central Station, one of the truly magnificent buildings in the city and one which always bears a repeat visit.

 

Eileen Fisher had quite a few things to tempt us. As always it's the luscious fabrics and clear, clean colours which make all the difference.

 

 

Finally, we simply had to have the last supper of our trip at our favourite Bright Foods - having begun our gastronomic tour of New York there on Friday night, it seemed appropriate to end our journey there too.

It was completely empty when we arrived - we have a very early start in the morning (4am call) so we felt we should begin to get our bodies back on track by eating early. No matter that we were the only ones in the place, for the welcome was as warm as ever and the menu had plenty to tempt. Mark and Jordi went for burgers, but in this bread-free place, they came wrapped in tortillas. Bettine chose trout, served with a tortilla crumb and sweet Thai basil and I had the quesadillas...yummy!!

Having oooohed and aaaaahed our way through a few margaritas as well, we struggled to manage dessert...but manage, we did and the clean plates were testimony to a terrific meal.

 

All the better, then, to have the opportunity to tell the owners of Bright Foods how very much we love their restaurant! Yes please, open a branch of this best of all NYC restaurants in England - preferably somewhere accessible to us - and we'll be there!!

Oh, and having revealed the contents of my friend's shopping bag, I felt I should reveal my own stash. Some Nashua Yarns Ecologie cotton, the Habu paper yarn, some Koigu (because I can never resist it when I see it up close) and some Blue Sky Alpaca. Yes, you can see an Addi Lace circular needle and a FiberTrends felted clog pattern. Finally, there's a little bundle of neat braids, bought at one of the 6th Avenue stores. That's not really the complete bag, but it'll do for now. Will reveal all when we're home, I promise.

Buy yarn! Buy Fabric!

Those little voices just had to be obeyed...
 

We were drawn into fabric shops and succumbed to the bargains which were waiting. From such humble beginnings are masterpieces created... (not by me...)

Habu was a little disorganised today but the yarn for the paper bag on knitty.com was in stock and is now in my stash. Not only that, but it's wound and ready to go because the offer of Jordi's swift was too good to turn down....it's a rather wild yarn! Got handles too, so no excuses.

Purl Patchwork window always looks so attractive, especially today in the spring sunshine.

And of course, we had someone else's money to spend...hope she approves of the choices we made for her!

Terracotta: O-wool (50% organic cotton, 50% organic wool blend), Purple: Blue Sky Alpaca Melange, Stripy: Cascade Fixation elastic sock yarn, Pale Grey: Natural Focus cotton (Ecologie cotton)

Easter in New York

We are having fun in New York even though it's freezing cold!

Yesterday, we saw the Judy Chicago Dinner Party exhibition in Brooklyn Museum. Amazing.

Whilst there, we also paid a visit to see the Last Supper made from more than 20000 reels of cotton. Hmmm.

The Brooklyn General Store was great. A lovely old shop with original fittings, full of yummy yarns and other interesting things.

Waiting for the bus to take us to the next yarn store, Jordi spotted some street art across the road in Red Hook. 

These little chaps appear to be working on a subway pillar at the 14th St/8th Ave station - the work of artist Tom Otterness , there are many little gangs here and there in a series called "Life Underground". Each is about 10" tall and I think they are great!

 Today, Easter Sunday, we strolled along Fifth Avenue feeling rather under dressed for the occasion. Yes, there is someone wearing that hat and astroturf coat!

There were some pretty hats (the one above had a music box underneath the flowers!) and some silly ones, too...

After warming ourselves up with coffee and panini, we walked back, past the ice skaters in the Rockefeller Center, stepping inside a shop or two from time to time.

We decided that we don't get "the apron thing". This rack of assorted colours and frilled fancies were on sale in Antropologie, one of the trendiest of trendy stores.

Finally, we spent a happy hour in Barnes and Noble bookstore, where Sienna, Jordi's famously friendly four legged friend held court on the floor of the craft book department.

As evidenced in the photograph, she attracted the attention of the busiest of people on this Easter Day!