When shopping in New York, always wear nice underwear

I’m baaaaaack!!  What’s up everybody? So already I am breaking another NY resolution (not blogging in class) but I’ve been away for so long it’s perfectly understandable, no?  Anyway; I returned from New York with twice as much clothing as I left, 600$ less money then I had before, and full of useful tips for any and all who are planning an improptu shopping trip to NYC. 

#1) Just because you are a student (or youth) doesn’t mean you have to stay in a hostel

•  So in the interest of saving money to shop live, Corporate and I decided to stay in a hostel 2 blocks away from Broadway.  On the website the rooms seemed comfortable enough, the location was stellar, and it had wi-fi access and no lock outs/curfew or chores.  And for 30$ a night?  You couldn’t find a better deal.  However not everything is as it seems.  This being NYC, slum lords can charge whatever amount they want and keep the place in whatever condition they want because they know that people will ALWAYS come and the rooms will ALWAYS be filled.  The bed was remenisent to those cheap psuedo-plastic bed you used to sleep on at summer camp, the piping that ran to the heater was plugged by a plastic shopping bag, and we had some unexpected roommates that liked to make holes in our food… Of course Corporate never told me about this per say although I did hear him talk out loud about the strange holes and placement of the food when we came back from a day of sight-seeing.  Needless to say we booked it out of there and stayed in a lodge in Chelsea, still on the subway line, but for 149$ each night and let me tell you: if you don’t have to slum accomidation wise, DON’T. 

 #2) “Cheap” tickets aren’t always worth the wait

•  Behind the Marriott in Times Square there is a box office that advertises 50% off shows on Broadway.  Great, we thought, because we wanted to see “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Wicked” but didn’t want to pay the exorbant prices that we researched on the internet.  But as soon as we got to the said line up it spiraled almost endlessly and was an estimated 4 hour wait.  Now, when you are in NYC for an estimated 64 hours, you don’t want to spare a moment – especially to stand in line when you may or may not get a ticket.  So may I advise just going to the box office of the theatre itself?  We got great seats for less than the internet price with no wait.

#3) When actors do 7 shows a week, 2 on Saturday, don’t expect anything less than OA

•  When I was telling my dad about “Phantom” I described it in one word: over-acted.  And that I can understand.  Although each actor is living his/her dream of performing on Broadway, sometimes the only way you can get through you X100 number of shows this month is to over-act, and even rush.  I remember seeing “Phantom” at the JKF centre and at the NAC and each time it was spectacular, so I expected no less from a Broadway performance.  Sadly, I understood the actors need to overact, but not so much the orchestras need to rush the performance. I’m still glad I went though, even though

#4) Just because you’re at a cultural event doesn’t mean the audience is cultured

•  the couple sitting to my immediate left spent the entire show speaking loudly in Spanish (so right in my ear) and ‘sniffing’, you know, when you have a cold or just sneezed and don’t have a tissue handy?  Yeah.  Try as I might to get lost in the Music of the Night, all I could hear was the sound of that woman’s snot being forced back into her head over and over and over.   I was thisclose to punching her in the face, but being in NYC she probably would have kicked my ass and there is no free health care.  

#5) When shopping in NYC, always wear nice underwear

•  There is a department store called Century 21 where one can get fabulous clothing (think Parasuco, 7 for all Mankind, Louis Vuitton, Rock & Republic) at cost or lower.  Their tag line is ‘fashion worth fighting for’ but I think it ought to be ‘fashion worth stripping in front of strangers for’.  I was immensely excited to find my 7s jeans (that I am wearing right now, actually) for 39.97$ – seriously- however I was a bit shocked to see the so called ‘change rooms’ that were available to shoppers.  I read in Corporates’ travel book that you may have to be changing in room full of strangers, but I thought that was just local-talk to scare the silly touri.   OH no.  The dressing rooms, true to the stores discount nature, weren’t exactly Neiman Marcus. I was absolutely half naked in front of at least 5 strangers trying to struggle on my Guess jeans that were most certainly NOT the size 26 it had advertised (at least in my mind they weren’t).  So… if you’re shy you might have to buy on faith, but let me tell you; my 40$ Parasuco jean jacket was worth the improptu strip tease.

#6) It may not look like you ate, but trust me; you ate

•  After not being in the states for almost 9 years, I forgot just how big their portion sizes are.  Every restaurant, even the local pizza places, are very very very generous with their food.  I couldn’t even finish a kiddie size cup of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream!  On our last night in NYC together, Corporate and I took a walk down Broadway and found a local Italian American pasta place and sat down for a meal.  Despite our best efforts, when we were full to the brim our plates were never ending; even the servers were confused.  No wonder the obesity epidemic is rampant – there is SO much to eat and SO much is given!

I don’t think I forgot anything else… Anyways- how is everybody? 

~ by Carrie on January 25, 2008.