We started in the East Village. First step was to buy a bagel (our first). We both got Cream Cheese Bagels for $2. They were very filling and very heavy but actually quite tastey (I didn't finish mine). I washed the bagel down with a Lge Dr Pepper from McDonals. And, oh my, was it large!
We walked around looking for some particular stores that suze wanted to see, but found many others on the way. Second hand clothes, retro furniture and a store called Economy Candy!!
This photo doesn't really capture the magnitude of the store. It was so packed full of candy if you swung around too quickly there'd be a candy avalanche. My mind was opened to this:
Incase you can't see, that's 21 different colors of M&Ms (+ 1 mixed). I was a little bit overwhelmed and couldn't stay in that area very long. I bought a packet each of 'Lego Candy' 'Smarties Pops'. Smarties is the same brand as Rocket Candy in Australia.We also came across a most stylish looking hobo:
Unforunately a front shot wasn't possible. He even had some swt thick-framed glasses.After an extensive look around East Village we decided to cross Broadway and Fifth Avenue to some Thift Stores in West Village. These stores were really great. They looked like expensive second hand stores, without being very expensive. I don't have a lot of luck clothes shopping though. I picked up simple shirt for $4 because I liked the material and colour. And I bought a snow dome; a present for a friend.
This, however, was the best part about our short stint in West Village:
A Lemonade stall. One quarter for a cup of lemonade. I paid a dollar and asked to take a photo too. The Lemonade was really tastey.Then we scooted back to East Village to meet up with Paula. Paula was our first apartment contact. A friend of mine had stayed there a few years ago while Paula was on vacation (she vacates a lot) and we were hoping to too. The plan didn't fall into place but we got to see the apartment anyway. It was a real eye-opener. It was a tenement building, built for immigrants. It was really small. A lounge room, kitchen with shower (yes, the shower was in the kitchen, beside the fridge) and the bedroom (with toilet down the back). It was oh so dark and cosy. I really liked it but think it would be difficult to live in with someone else, unless you were very close. I guess this was our first look at how a lot of Manhatters live. It's too expensive otherwise.
Then we moved down to a bar passing a jazz band playing on the sidewalk, while people watched from an unblocked road:
The bar was nice. It was happy our (half price appetizers). We had calamari ($4) and some pita n chips with dip ($3) with vodka cranberries ($3). Chatted to Paula and her friends for an hour an a half. They gave us some great advice on what to do while we're here. And Paula is taking us to MoMA for free. That saves US$40 + gives us our own tour guide.On the way home we walked past the jazz band (they'd been playing for over two hours!) and caught the sub back to Williamsburg. As we left the sub there was a crowd of people on the road and another band playing in the middle of the road. This one a little more avant-garde. We decided to duck home to the toilet (while passing another two bands playing on the street), reserach what the hell was going on and then head back.
(plz note shoes hanging from power lines, these are everywhere in Williamsburg)
It turns out that the event was part of Make Music New York (which is, part of a series of 'Make Music' events across the U.S.). Hundreds of bands were playing for free that day across NYC and about 50+ just in Williamsburg. We went back to the action but within minutes we were in a torrential downpoor, ran home, got soaked, and went to bed.
I'm about to head off to Egg again for pancakes. Susan is still asleep.
