Shopping Manhattan

A combination of luxe digs (InterContinental New York Barclay) and blustery weather tempted me to ditch my ambitious shopping plans but second thoughts prevailed and I hit the streets running… for a taxi! Since I only had one day to shop Manhattan, I moved from neighborhood to neighborhood with lightning speed.

SHOPPING STOPS

·         Limelight Marketplace – A former Episcopal church, turned disco nightclub (NOT a good choice) and now shopping venue, Limelight Marketplace hosts about sixty stalls selling a variety of mid-priced goods including Hunter Boots, bespoke men’s clothing (Alexander West), and toys (Zakka Conceptual). Corner of Sixth Avenue and 20^th Street, www.limelightmarketplace.com

·       Joe Fresh – Since Uniqlo opened in San Francisco (also three stores in NYC on Fifth Avenue at 53^rd, West 34^th Street between Fifth and Sixth Aves and in Soho at 546 Broadway between Spring and Prince) I’ve become a big fan of big box shopping for on-trend seasonal clothing. And need I mention inexpensive? This Canadian retailer outfits the whole family in chic cheap colorful basics. 510 Fifth Avenue, between 42^nd and 43^rd Streets. www.joefresh.com

·      Clyde’s Pharmacy – This is a fancy drugstore serving well-to-do Upper East Side residents, yet the staff is warm, welcoming and oh so helpful. Clyde’s has been around for decades and I shop there for hard-to-find travel size creams and shampoos from European and American manufacturers. Their hair clips will make you swooooon… 926 Madison Ave, near 74^th Street. www.clydesonmadison.com

·       Museum of Modern Art – Okay, we all know this isn’t a shopping destination, but their gift shop is one of the best museum shops in the world. I breezed thru the exhibits and then had a wonderful lunch at Café 2. West 53^rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. www.moma.org

SWEET TALK

Check out French import Laduree at 864 Madison between 70^th and 71^st Streets, www.laduree.fr for the best macarons in the world. Expensive, but worth every penny. Award-winning cookbook author Dorie Greenspan has opened a cookie company, Buerre & Sel, in the Essex St. Market on the Lower East Side. Decadent cookies made with local butter and French sea salt. www.beurreandsel.com. You can satisfy your sweet tooth while shopping for $1000 handbags at CuRious, a candy store on the second floor of Cynthia Rowley’s new Upper East Side boutique.  Candy bars, toffee crisps, chocolate….. 43 East 78^th Street, between Madison and Park. www.cynthiarowley.com

Tomorrow… Off to Woodbury Common Outlets!