Union Square and Thereabouts

I hosted family 'up from the South' as we New York residents say. It was a great day and reminded me that New Yorker's walk with a synchronous pace and adapting to that pace is very important for effective foot travel.

Family also understood I was not the one who'd join them for the typical tourist attactions, but could share a resident's experience, and, yes, that could include a museum.

So we 'hooked up' at the Rubin Museum of Art 150 West 17th Street. The museum was a winner- even two teenage boys were engaged. The artwork is amazing art, whether applique, photography or painting. I was thrilled because I had a chance to purchase a birthday gift for a friend at the museum's gift shop. (Residents often shop at museum gift shops rather than department store- and the savvy ones know you can enter the gift shop without paying a museum entrance fee.) Another museum 'thereabouts' is the New Museum of Contemporary Art.
Teenage boys is the metaword here, means' I'm hungry'. So off we went in search of food. That is until we found The Angels Thrift Store a fantastic place to purchase good clothes, jewelry, home decor and contribute to social good. For those of you younger than I-- rush there's a fantastic red suede jacket with a huge red feather collar to die for, especially in this red season.

Still heading East on 14th we weren't too thrilled with the ambience of our original choices and by then the out of towners decided they wanted a real New York pizza. At least 3-4 other residents provided us with recommendations for the 'best' pizza east of Fifth Avenue; sadly a Monday night-- all were closed. All except for Vinny's on First Avenue between 13-14th. Awesomely good pizza, with other supper items on a blackboard menu and yes, readers, Caramel Apple Pie baked nearby. Talk about slow food! So now Vinny's is on my latest good food for residents and out of towners!

Oh did I mention the Greemarket? The Union Square Greenmarket is a place to be. While writing this i learned the Greemarket is sponsoring textile recycling Mondays through December 2007. Well this site is about a resident's guide to NYC, but textile recycling is dear to my heart and one of the more creative, entrepreneurial and satisfying social good projects using recycled textiles is evidenced at Endless Possibilities in Manteo, North Carolina.

FOOD AND MORE IN NEW YORK CITY

While we are still below 14th Street I must tell you about Jacques Torres Chocolate okay so I lied it is about food. But that's what most residents of New York City o- not just eat, but know where and how to eat. So Jacques Torres is located at 350 Hudson at King Street (1 block South of Houston), New York, NY 10014. Store hours are Mon - Sat 9:00am - 7:00pm. Sunday 10:00am - 6:00pm. there's a new site uptown around 73rd and gotta tell you we'll repeat when we get there ....

(for the tourist who wants to be a New Yorker, go for the spicey hot chocolate)

Okay so my good downtown Saturday- get a facial from Winnie over on Hester Street, then Suki cuts my hair around the corner on Elizabeth Street, a walk over to Sullivan Street to pick up new yarn at PURL, then Jacques for a spicey hot chocolate then a walk back to the Chess Forum before heading East on Bleeker to get the #6 train uptown. (If I have a 'critter sitter' then I might elongate the day with a film at Angelika.)So there you go...a residents guide to this area of NYC. So now we'll head north a bit http://www.jacquestorres.com/