Allright July. But the sentiment is there.
My favorite moment of my New York day is when I step out of the building with my ten year old and we walk to his camp which takes place on Washington Square park. It isn't warm yet, the air has the quality of a spring morning. It's a 30 minute brisk walk and we take a different set of streets and avenues each time. Oh I shudder to show you such mediocre images of such a glorious city, but what am I going to do? Send you to better photographers flikr pages? maybe I should.
Walking under the arch at Washington Square park means I have dropped off my kid and I'm free to roam. The building to the right is One Fifth Avenue where I stayed once in a lavish apartment 15 years ago.
Our apartment this time is cool but nothing fancy. I met two on my neighbors doing laundry in the basement; Roaches the size of cocktail franks. The laundry has ben piling up ever since.
Yesterday, there was a casting call for models on the second floor of our building. There were models buzzing about the buildings, models at the reception, models in the elevators. The concierge who spends his days staring mournfully at his Match.com page sure perked up. So did my boys judging from the gratuitous elevator rides all day long.
This is the famous Magnolia bakery on Bleeker street. The cupcakes taste exactly like the recipe on their book, so if you can't travel, you can still have the cupcakes. There is a long line most of the time and they limit your purchase to ten cupcakes per person I'm told. Ten only, what an outrage. I have a minimum 20 cupcake intake so for me baking them is the way to go. I love the vibe of that place. The smell of sugar alone is enough to give you diabetes. It's cramped and messy, and not all that hygienic looking, but it feels real and so New York.
This--whatever it is--also on Bleeker street.
I look up a lot in NYC.
I can because New Yorkers adore their dog but not as much as they love to gather their poops in professional looking blue plastic baggies. It's a particular ballet in the morning: glamorous pooches at the end of designer leashes crapping everywhere, and their owners; fancy people with a fifth Avenue or Park Avenue or Grammercy Park address, the rich, powerful kind that bows to no man fretting about the turd, careful not to leave a morsel behind.
It reminded me that nothing puts a smile of French lips more than paparazzi photographs of stars (they call them pipole, as in 'people') holding their dog's poop bags. Note to self: when you arrive in Paris, remember to always look down.
Speaking of Grammercy Park. It looks so tantalizing in there, full of statues, and shade,and rare plants but it's a private park. Private! That's like limiting people to ten cupcakes, what's with THAT?
I wanted to take pictures so I pulled madly at every door. For the life of me I could not find the entrance, that's how clueless I am. So I took pictures of the surrounding buildings.
I better go, because you know what happens when I'm blogging: I'm not in the streets being a tourist.
By the way, I have not read your blogs in days --sorry-- due to the call of the wild.
FAB photos! I just read the book ONE FIFTH AVENUE recently... FUN book!
I love strolling through NYC with you! Soooo... are you completely GONE from So Cal? How long will you be in NYC?
Posted by: Fifi Flowers | July 14, 2009 at 08:57 AM
Strolling thru the streets of the city on a different daily adventure sounds lovely---oh, and cupcakes, really, I was doing so well too :)
Posted by: jana | July 14, 2009 at 09:38 AM
C'est drôle mais j'ai justement lu il y a quelques semaines le roman One Fifth Avenue de Candace Bushnell.
Apparemment, ça a l'air de valoir le détour !
Posted by: Fressine | July 14, 2009 at 10:53 AM
How gorgeous is it! Your pictures are lovely, don't fret.
I am enchanted by your descriptions and walking commentary. It's almost as good as being there, almost!, xx
Posted by: Clarity | July 14, 2009 at 01:00 PM
xoxoxo to the wild thing in nyc.
i like that you're out touristing...if you write back to this, i shall smite thee. or something similar.
Posted by: Susan | July 14, 2009 at 01:03 PM
Who cares..you don't need to be reading my blog...just keep posting lust-inducing posts like this..I NEEEED to go to New York!
Posted by: muralimanohar | July 14, 2009 at 10:05 PM
ditto for me. i'm vicariously day tripping with you! one day the last time i was in nyc, i walked from Ground Zero to East 61st and York Ave. heaven. tata
Posted by: susan | July 15, 2009 at 07:56 AM
Ah, so lovely! I love your pics. They're making me want to go to NYC so bad! And, yes, bonus points for the poop pickup. Luckily, we made it through 2 weeks in Paris without stepping in any, although there were some VERY close calls!
Posted by: crafty fanny | July 15, 2009 at 08:51 AM
i am so jealous! love it! the walking especially!
Posted by: nadia | July 15, 2009 at 09:17 AM
I feel as though I am there with you. You go be a tourist girl never mind reading our blogs. Have fun
Posted by: Di Overton | July 15, 2009 at 10:09 AM
I love stories of the rich picking up crap! Just keep the posts commin and dont bother with my blog.
Posted by: shelly beson | July 15, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Enjoyed reading your boutifull descriptions of your daily life in New York City and the city itself. It's sounds like all is
well with everyone and everyone is
doing well-
Posted by: Dayna | July 15, 2009 at 01:13 PM
Oh, Magnolia bakery! I was in NY for a day a couple of years back and was looking looking looking for the place but could not find it. I was so sad. You used to live in One Fifth? OMG. I just read the book (candace bushnell) and that makes you so glamourous! :)
Posted by: Trishie Koh | July 15, 2009 at 05:06 PM
That is pretty disgusting that they will only allow you to buy 10 cupcakes....plus, you 'should' read my blog today...
Posted by: Liberty Post Editor | July 16, 2009 at 10:24 AM
hi corine,
i should probably leave my recommendation for your anniversary lunch here in your comments section. summer brain has set in i am afraid. i wanted to recommend gascogne. it really is one of my all time favorite restaurants in nyc, so romantic, so sexy and charming, and the garden is secret and gorgeous. food awfully good. it is not a perfect experience, but lovely. i think you'll love it, right in the heart of chelsea too, 18th and 8th. so close. enjoy. xo, g
Posted by: gretchen | July 16, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Hello Corine !
this series of your blogposts is turning out to be my virtual tour of NYC ! with lovely pictures of places all over and a perfect narration from your end !
thank you so much !!
xx
Posted by: Sarthak | July 16, 2009 at 08:39 PM
I also just read Cancace Bushnell's "One Fifth Avenue" and now I have an idea what the big deal about this building is. Keep taking pictures and tell us more! :)
Posted by: Nikella | July 16, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Loving this post. As I read how you look up in NY, I laughed to myself as my the looking down in Paris...oh, so true. When studying there for the summer, there were lots of bombs in the trash cans, so you looked down for poop and trash, for there was no where to put either of them. :) Wish I were there to roam the streets and eat cupcakes with you. Thanks for your sweet thoughts, luv, trina
Posted by: trina | July 17, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Love the blue door - how beautiful. Were the cupcakes fancy looking?
Posted by: Kelly | July 19, 2009 at 03:21 AM
perfect weather for nyc these days - sounds like you are having fun - don't forget the hi-line and the fire escape cabaret - read ann leary's recent blog post about it - my last nyc apt was close to the blue tiles - on charles st.
Posted by: marnie | July 19, 2009 at 05:40 PM
What?! The soup nazi is now a cupcake nazi?! Next thing you know they'll be limiting hot dog intake on Coney Island...
Posted by: Katy | July 29, 2009 at 08:29 AM
i was recently in ny and going back in a couple of weeks and i love this city so much. it really has a special place in my heart. enjoy!
Posted by: Aran | July 31, 2009 at 03:24 PM