Canal Street and a Long Lost Cousin

My 2nd cousin, Teresa, came down from her home upstate to visit the city.

We haven’t seen each other in about 15 years (or so. we aren’t actually sure).  We met at Bryant Park which has a really awesome Christmas market and an ice skating rink.  It really wasn’t that crowded either.

 The shops are really nice and they are semi permanent.

 I can never resist a skyline shot.

 More shops

Then we headed to Canal Street.  It was such a shit show down there I didn’t get any pics. It reminded me of Mexico.  People are yelling at you to come into the shops, ladies are selling jewelry off their bodies, guys are selling watches out of their coats.  It was nuts! I succumbed to temptation and bought a really cute bag and a knit ear warmer thingy.

Then we ventured to Little Italy and ate our faces off.  It was amazing.  There is a guy that sells nougut off of a cart.  He just cuts a chunk off and hands it to you.  Amazing.

Then we stumbled on an indoor park.  It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen!  There was turf on the ground and fake trees an flowers.  They piped in bird sounds and wind.  There were also farmers market type vendors in there too.  People were lounging just like they would in a regular park.  One of the vendors informed me its open from October through mid February.  What a cool idea for winter!

Next, we went to Union Square and walked around their Christmas market.  It was crazy busy but they had a lot of cool stuff, including evergreen boughs! (I’ve been searching high and low for those and now I know where to find them.)

Finally, we went to Harold Square for some discount shopping.  I was more interested in taking pictures of the legendary 34th street Macys.

Here we are in front of Macys.  Thats my little ear warmer thingy I got on Canal Street.  My plan is to take it to my knitting class today and ask them how I can make some for myself.  It doesn’t look like it should be too difficult.  But what do I know, I’m just a knitting newb.

**pics of my evergreen boughs and my awesome knock off purse to come**