Brunch and Shopping - It's What Sundays Are For Apparently

It took years for England to offer Sunday shopping, most of it around Christmas, and in very limited ways at first. Now we think we are doing well if we can find Asda still open at 4pm - not so in New York. The shops open at 9.30am and remain open until 7pm. the streets are as busy, if not more so with tourists and locals all looking and shopping.

The day started with brunch at 'Nolita House', an unassuming bar come restaurant, in the 'Nolita', or North of Little Italy District' with my big sister. A complimentary Mimosa cocktail, followed by a steak sandwich and salad. Live bluegrass music in the bar kept the place buzzing, as patrons tucked into green eggs and ham, eggs Benedict, shrimps and grits, French toast etc etc. (By the way French toast here isn't French Toast here, it's bread and butter pudding.)

While waiting to be served my attention was drawn to a framed notice. 'In case of Choking' and detailed the correct procedure. I'm not sure I really want to see that on a restaurant wall, it doesn't really give me the right message, especially when I read on and it says. "If the person has stopped breathing, cannot talk or appears distressed, ask them if they are choking." Pardon me but if they have stopped breathing, can't talk and are generally distressed and going blue around the mouth they are hardly likely to answer. I ponder if an inadvertent or perhaps premature Heimlich manoeuvre has ever been used as a pick-up technique in New York? Then as I pondered that thought my eye was drawn to a notice chalked on another wall - "Bottled beers available", and there top of the list 'Newcastle Brown Ale'. Talk about six degrees of separation - spooky or what.

We leave and walk onto Broadway and work our way down to the tip of the island, calling at various shops on the way, 'bling emporiums' run by the brothers, who rap as they wrap. More jeans stores than branches of Mcdonalds, enough shoe shops to keep even Imelda Marcos happy, and some truly mad, bad and downright wacky ones to boot.

Did I purchase? Yes I did, my outfit for the pride parade next Saturday. My guess is that there are only two places on earth where I won't look out of place or different 1) New York Pride & 2) The Bigg Market in Newcastle on any Friday night. I won't spoil the surprise, just tune in next Saturday for photos, but make sure you have the Tena Ladies handy.

Off for a manicure now...................laters xx