Knowing that I was soon to be in need of another book to read, I headed to my favorite bookstore in the world, The Strand.
The Strand is an independent bookseller – a rarity nowadays. It’s slogan is “18 Miles of Books.” I believe it. There are books everywhere, on every subject, on 3 floors. Some are new, many are gently used and the prices are great. I could spend all day in there.
This is just part of the gardening section. Excuse the dark photo – this section is in the basement.
I found some books and I found this:
The Strand has all sorts of wonderfully designed book bags, but when I saw this the deal was done.
The Strand isn’t far from Union Square so I walked north, stopping here and there and then I landed at The City Bakery, which is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary. Why did I stop there? Because they are known for their incredible hot chocolate (which I first had a few years back.)
Hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows.
I’d forgotten how rich it is! It was almost too much. But I finished it. While sitting there I had a conversation with two guys about cupcakes. We each offered our picks for the Top Cupcake in NYC.
Look what I saw in a store window on the same block:
Do you know how much I would love that turquoise stove? Let’s not even mention that it’s sitting right next to a pink Smeg refrigerator. Sigh.
More walking and more walking and I ended up here:
Yes, it’s magical magnetic powers drew me to this corner in the Village. See earlier conversation about cupcakes.
Yummy. By the way, Blogger is very troublesome at the moment, every time I try to load a photo it gets jumpy and annoying. I may have to go back to the old Editor. (I did, temporarily.)
Anyway, more walking – wearing a coat that was too heavy for the unseasonably warm weather, carrying a shoulder bag that was too heavy, so I ended up at Whole Foods and brought some food back to the hotel for dinner.
Along the way (in the Village) I passed this place:
I love the name and description of this establishment. Do you see the skeletons on the roof? Fabulous.
I hope you’re enjoying these little excursions. The number of comments seems to be down for the last few posts. Not sure why.
Anyway, I hope you like these peeks at NYC. I’ll be bringing you more during the week. Tomorrow, I have a day of rehearsal and and evening performance.
I love these photos, feels like we are all there with you. Hopeyou are having fun.
XO,
Mere
Hi Claudia, the bookstore looks wonderfil and I could get into real trouble there. You will love Hornet’s Nest and feel sad like me that he will not write any more. You absolutely need that stove! hugs♥O
p.s. I have been working in my yard/flower garden for days and barely blogging so that is my reason for few comments
Now that is a place (book store) I could get lost in, I love the smell of the books. The book stores here are dwindling fast.
OH STAND BACK~ What a cup of cocoa and homemade marshmallows, you can just get all your senses tickled with that one cup…… now I want some and making a cup here will not be the same.
The frig and stove, that takes me back… Did you see the bakery has them too? Look on the shelf behind the cashier, a pink frig and in the far right of the photo way in the corner on the top shelf, is that a blue stove? IN miniature of course…
Hope you had a good rest and got your feet up, thank you for taking us along with you, I had fun and cant wait for more.
Hope the rehearsals go smoothly.
ok, it’s official. the next time i go to nyc, YOU are my travel companion! wow, do you find great and interesting shops and restaurants! loving these posts :) ps–if you have any hull pieces you have always wanted, email me and i can see if my neighbor has it…could be a good buy…she has SO MANY!!!
Claudia, LOVING these posts! Sorry not to comment. I think I had assumed you would not have time to read them . . . or something like that. More please!
I will arm wrestle you for the stove and ‘fridge. Fabulous! And that bookstore! I could steal away in there for days, too.
Hello Claudia,
NYC I can’t wait to go back…soon…You were at Bleecker!
Love that location is so charming there.
~ Gabriela ~
Absolutely love your picture tour of the city! Please don’t stop! I live 4 hours north of the city. My brother lived there for years. My daughter has college friends that live there and visits often. We plan a trip sometime this spring. I’d love to tour the bead stores and fabric stores just to name a couple places. I hope to have enough time there to see as much as I can possibly see! Love to read your posts and look forward to them! Thank you! Carolyn
Thanks for walking tour- I bet you are tired. I love NYC and its especially fun to see street scenes….and cupcakes….and hot chocolate—and all those books at the Strand. Its been 10 years since I’ve been to the Strand, but your picture makes it look much lighter and brighter than I remember it.
…and I agree- the turquoise stove has Claudia written all over it.
Ooo! lovely shops! I can do bookstores and hot chocolate shops anytime, anyday!!
hot chocolate, cupcakes, whole foods, books, pink and turquoise appliances? omg it sounds like heaven rather than ny.
xo
janet
What an absolutely fabulous day you had. And it looks to be like the sun was even shining on you too. I so enjoyed each of our stops. But, did I miss something. What books are on the dockets next? I so am at a lost for what to read right now. You always pick the winners. By the way, I’ve already done the triology and couldn’t agree more, FAB.
Ok, now to the important stuff…. I just pee’ed my bloomers. You are telling me you meet Megan F. OH, MY, SWEET soul. You are one lucky girl. Not surprised on little bit that she was just as sweet in the real world.
Can’t wait to see where today takes you.
You know who…G.B., of course
Thanks for the tour! Rain or shine, I’d be happy to tag along with you to some of your favorites spots, and I must say mine too. I covet that fridge and stove!! Of course if I was tagging along, I’d still be looking at books.
Lots of love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
Hi Claudia,
What a fun day you had…I love the book shop it looks like a cool place to explore and that cup of coco..oh my it sure does look delish!
You have been such a busy girl…busy is good!
Have a sweet day and big hugs, Elizabeth
oh, that bookstore….I am sooooooo jealous! What heaven on earth!!! I didn’t even notice the skeletons on the roof at first- I’m glad you mentioned them because they are fantastic!! How funny! I love traveling through the city with you Claudia- you take such interesting photos- it’s almost as good as being there myself. Have a good day of rehearsals and a great performance! Oh yea….how could I forget—-I really, really want one of those homemade marshmallows!!!
Hi Claudia, I’m glad that you enjoyed seeing the pussy willows on my post – they are coming up in our garden, just planted as cuttings this past summer.
Your tour of the city took in all of our favorite spots – but that is a lot of walking!! Hope you did get that hot bath! Was the agreement that Magnolia had the best cupcakes, or is that your choice? Have you had the chance to try the banana pudding yet?
Ciao, bella! The sun is shining here and the sky is a beautiful blue!!
I am loving your tour of the city Claudia. And visiting a bakery without adding inches to my hips is a bonus, I looove cupcakes.
Yes that gorgeous stove NEEDS to live at Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Do you believe in the power of thought, or maybe a picture under your pillow???
Looking forward to more…
Hi sweet, Claudia
—
I enjoy ,the tours , with you- around places where I will never be able to visit, it is fantastic to see, all those places I have heard about- some from movies- some from books- and all your wonderfull, cake-and cafe places -uuhhmmm- and you know what ? I have never even heard about a 3 floor shop with books- how wild…
Hugs from, Dorthe
I do Love NY so very much. Keep the pics coming, they make me homesick for my favorite city in the world.
Thank you so much for this beautiful walk through this part of New York City. what an interesting place it is. You must have been so exhausted. I love the bag you picked. I don’t know what else they had, but it would have been my choice also. I like how the hot chocolate is presented in a little bowl with the big chunk of marshmallow. And, that book store is to die for. How I would love to browse in it. We had this huge second hand store in Ottawa called the Bookmarket but they recently closed it. I miss it so much. I just love that pink fridge and stove. What a beautiful, colourful walk you’ve had. You’re tired now but it’s a “good tired”. Right? Hope you have a wonderful, relaxing evening in your room and enjoy your food that you got. When I’m very, very tired, I always console myself with potato chips. LOL! Oh well, to each his own, I suppose. But, it does it for me.
My favorite stores to visit are bookstores since I read a LOT, honey. I buy 10-20 at a time.
Cupcakes??? I just tried making bread for the first time today. Read about it on tomorrow’s blog.
Love that pink fridge and turquoise stove also.
Hot chocolate? Hubs has a cup every single night. I sometimes follow him but way too fattening for this old lady, chick!!
xoxo,
Connie
wow! how fun, claudia! you are like “that girl!” :)
i am sooooooo behind on blog visits and hope to catch up more later tonight (if i can stay awake past the boys’ bedtime).
looks like you are having a fabulous time!!!
xo
elyse
I am really enjoying these posts, and oh, what I wouldn’t do for that cup of hot chocolate right now… especially with that luscious marshmallow –
Oh my It is probably a good thing I live on the west coast … any closer than that and I would be living in that book store …I love the stove and fridge especially the colors. I actually was thinking about you the other day as I stood in a second hand store staring at a table not unlike theone you painted so well, and wondering if I might could do as good a job …well maybe someday
cyn
Hi Claudia, Thank you for sharing, I love your photo’s, I feel like I am there. It is such a wonderful city. I want to go back again. Have a wonderful week. Hugs, Terri
Hello Claudia, I have been catching up on your posts after being away. You look like you are enjoying being back in the city. The book store looks fab as well as the bakery! Yum! I haven’t been there for ages.
Thank you so much for sharing pics of your time there. I love seeing them.
Hugs,
Terri
Claudia it looks like you are having so much fun finding all these interesting jaunts!!! Love the Jekyll and Hyde restaurant- what a clever name!
Fabulous blog post today.
I sure would have loved being with you as you walked around going to those great places. Hot chocolate and cupcakes…oh my.
Enjoy each day.
Hugs, Cory/Dogwood
Love all your NY pics, especially the hot chocolate with homemade marshmallow…mmmmmm. I may have to take a day trip there soon, I’m near enough in NJ:)
Have a great week!
Abby
Oh thank you Claudia for this trip through Manhattan. I just caught up with your last post also as I was without power for four days and nights. Most inconvenient I say! Everything you show and do is such a treat. Hot chocolate and a cupcake would be most welcome now. Enjoy your rehearsals and time exploring…
Claudia,
I’m loving the pictures. I too could spend all day in a book store and the cupcakes and hot chocolate, we won’t even go there.
The house we moved to when I was a junior in high school had the pink appliances in the kitchen. The counter tops were white with pink and turquoise accents and the walls were painted turquoise. I always liked that cheery kitchen.
Keep exploring!
Oh my gooodness…. CLAUDIA!!! You MUST have that aqua stove… Isn’t it just the yummiest? I wish they’d make those colors again…. In about 1970 My cousin bought an older home and all the appliances were PINK!….. It was so happy. She hated it.
Huggies!
Spencer
PS… I’m soooo enjoying the tour. I’ve never been to New York so it’s fun peeking around.
Claudia,
Great tour and wonderful pictures.
All this talk about cupcakes is really making me want to bake. maybe this weekend.
Haven’t been in the city in years but I always loved it.
I have never seen a turquoise stove before – just perfect.
Have a great week.
Carol
Hi Claudia
I love to live vicariously through you and my friends daughter who goes to NYU. The place that you’ve been taking us look and sound soo fab!
Enjoy your time there!
Leann
Hey Girlfriend,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share NY with us. The first and last time I was there was in 1980, so I’m sure lot’s has changed, and my fading memory doesn’t help. Your beautiful images bring it all to life. Hope all is well with you, I’m going through a bit of a rough time right now, but hopefully all will get better with time.
Love ya’
Meri
i’ve been a bad blog hopper lately, so i’m taking a minute to see what some of my buddies are up to.
what a fun book store – called you blogged about it. it’s nice to know of an independent store like that still exists!
I really enjoyed the Hornet Nest trilogy. i hated to see them end!
kecia
Oh I love travelling with you thru NYC!!! You find the coolest stuff to show us, loving Dr Jeckel & Mr Hyde, what a riot!
take care of those tired legs Claudia!
xo
paula:)
It does look like you find the coolest places to visit! Wanted to let you know I picked up my copy of studio’s today from a fabric store and I will be sitting down later this evening looking for you article and pictures! Keep having fun! Love the pictures
Sherry
If your Comments have been low
this post is the one that’ll have us all Commenting.
What a day you had!
Books
Chocolate
Bakeries
Heaven ! ! !
Hugs,
Gerry
What wonderful pictures! Baby boy and his bride have been living in NY since August and I’m seeing more pics on your blog than I get from them!
That bookstore looks fab and that hot chocolate – oh my! I’ll have to ask the kiddos have found those spots yet.
Thanks for the tour.
I’m lovin’ these NYC posts!!! I don’t even know where to start… I could live in that bookstore… drink that yummy hot chocolate… oh! That stove and fridge…to.die.for. swoooon! I love vintage and reproduction appliances from that era. I’ll be posting soon about a stove I came across a couple of weekends ago. Sigh…
Hugs,
Jill
Claudia, I have gone back in time on your blog as I am finally catching up on the sights and sounds (and delicious tastes!) you have found while in NYC. I hope the play was a huge success!
It struck me yesterday how strange this blogland can be…. I was in a movie (something I love to do) “The Adjustment Bureau” and thought of your stay in the city while watching this movie. You have highlighted so much of the beautiful architecture to be found throughout the city and this movie did it justice as well.
It’s been 4 years since our last visit to NYC, but it’s a place that you never forget. Your posts have brought back so many happy memories of our family trips there.
All the best. Ann
loving all of your NYC shots…those Smeg appliances, to die for!!!