Travel to the Thirties
(Streets, that is.)
Ten hats completed for now. Time to focus on finishing the beads. Time to make a run to the garment district on Manhattan's west side in the 30s. And while I am at it, let's stop at Lord & Taylor, 5th Avenue between 39th and 38th, and pick up a few things that I need.
I leave our apartment complex through the
Hester Street Park, a private
park owned by our coop.
I walk down Essex Street and see this
mangled bike tied to a Seward Park fence.
Across from the F line entrance, I see this
cute tree house in the shape of Texas.
It's by the French street artist, "Invader."
Je l'adore.
Maybe Monsieur Écureuil lives there?
Invader has been running all over
the Lower East Side putting up
his color-tile pieces on buildings.
He was arrested for a piece he did on Orchard Street,
but is back at it.
A woman attempts to unlock a Citi Bike.
I'm ready to descend in to the hell hole
known as the East Broadway stop
on the F train.
Citi Bike girl has moved on to try another bike.
Cool coat walks by.
Our escalator has been out of commission for over a year.
And believe me, there are a ton of stairs at East Broadway.
Note that Completion date: Like NOW.
Zombie holiday movie.
Subway art.
First stop, after alighting at 42nd Street, Bryant Park:
Lord & Taylor.
They have installed fantastic Christmas windows
on the theme of ladies dressed in vintage attire.
A paper doll idea.
Various outfits roll over the mannequin.
Joyeuse.
Love the little girl, and maman's "New Look" Dior.
Inside L&T's brightly lit main floor,
I am after a new Clinique compact.
I dropped mine in the toilet this a.m.
And I am out of my Dramatically Different
Moisturizing Lotion that I've been using for
decades. They just added something to it to
make it better. Je sais pas quoi.
Now I'm on 38th Street on my way to
the ribbon store, Mokuba.
Pass Hyman Hendler, a real-old ribbon store.
See hats by Leah C. in the window.
She was in my millinery class at FIT.
Hyman Hendler was an original
in the Garment District.
They had dusty boxes piled high
to the ceiling. No more.
It was sold and "cleaned up."
I prefer a thick layer of dust on my ribbon stores.
"Just beautiful ribbons," tra la.
A great name in buildings.
Wholesale bling.
Everyone (like J. Crew) is showing these statement necklaces
à la Miriam Haskell.
Enough already.
Another reminder of the district's roots.
My destination.
Mokuba has the most beautiful ribbons.
I am buying 2 yards of double face
black velvet ribbon for my beads.
On to Toho Shoji for the hooks
for my beads.
I love their pink boxes.
They are like a
bakery box.
Their selection of jewelry components is vast.
F train at Herald Square, 34th Street,
brings me back to Essex and Delancey and the
Essex Street Market.
I buy chicken tacos for lunch at
Brooklyn Taco.
Next, Boubouki for chocolate
chip cookies made by owner,
Rona Economou.
Cookies are lovingly wrapped by Rona.
Lunch is ready.
My beads await completion with
velvet ribbons and hooks.
À Bientôt!
