We Came, We Saw, We Shopped

Saturday 9 May 2009:
After a good night's sleep we headed for Fifth Avenue, home to all the big name stores for some serious credit card damage. First stop, the flagship Saks Fifth Avenue store. This huge high end department store is over 8 floors, the shoe store on the 8th floor has it's own postcode! (10022-SHOE). Danielle, you'd cry (or pee your pants.....both probably!) if you saw the shoes here!!

We managed to find a few t-shirts (some even on sale) within our budget before exploring the 3 floors of the Diesel store. A few more purchases here (would have been more if they'd had my shoe size!) and we continued along Fifth Avenue towards Central Park.

Next stop, Tiffany & Co where Ben and I (Brad!) bought matching rings (everyone say Awwww!!).

After somehow managing to spend $50 at the Disney Store (don't ask!), it was time for a refreshment. Trump Tower conveniently appeared before us and inside we found the Trump Bar (of course!). As our motto is "1 at 11 or 11 at 1", we had a beverage, well two, before hitting the next store.

Our quest next took us to FAO Schwarz, an amazing toy store and our perennial favourite Abercrombie & Fitch. Unfortunately the shirtless buff male model at the door was not for sale so we decided jump on the subway and head downtown to Chelsea, one of New York's gayer areas, for drinks and dinner. After dragging Mel around Chelsea, down into the West Village and back into Chelsea trying to remember where all the good places were (sorry Mel!), we stumbled upon a great restaurant/bar named Elmo. A good crowd, pumping dance music and great food were the highlights here. Armed with directions from our helpful waitress, our a next discovery was Vynl, a cafe/bar with great atmosphere, great food (well it looks great) and a live DJ who knows who Kylie Minogue is and isn't afraid to play her songs!

Vynl's bathroom is a shrine to Justin Timberlake featuring a floor to ceiling JT mosaic, a JT worship box and JT music playing through speakers. Unfortunately there is no JT target in the toilet bowl.

After many hours and many more drinks at Vynl, it was time for some new scenery and we made a quick stop at another cafe/bar Ate Ave before catching a (really cheap) cab back to the hotel. Somehow it was 2.30am (!). Feeling peckish, we devoured Oreos and caramel corn before retiring for the night after a great day in New York. Can we stay please!