Yesterday's urban hiking took us up 5th Avenue to Takashimaya and for a bit of a stroll in Central Park. Today, the galleries of Chelsea beckoned. Trudy and I primed ourselves with a stop at Joe the Art of Coffee, and then headed across town around noon. Once we got over to the Meatpacking District, we happened upon Stella McCartney's shop, and deemed her not just a famous name but truly a talented designer, though unfortunately way out of our price range.
Many of the galleries, in fact most, were closed to install new shows but there were still enough open to satisfy our looking needs. The prices were high and the weather was great, so just being outside and walking by the windows was really all we needed for enjoyment. As we came back down along 9th Avenue, we stopped for a late lunch at Le Grainne. It was Paris 2001 all over again, with many très chic people, an authentic menu and woven chairs, just without the French being spoken.
Our final stop on the way back home was to look at some beautifully decorated cupcakes in the cases at Cupcake Café on 18th Street. We really did only look, since we'd already had our tarte tatin treat for lunch dessert. Just like Starbuck's is often found inside Border's, this cupcake place was connected to a children's bookstore, full of lovely book displays opposite the cupcakes. Trudy spotted a new book by Caroline Kennedy called 'A Family of Poems', but didn't plan on buying it. At least not until we saw the sign for an author signing and today's date. Sure enough, in an alcove at the back of the store, there was Caroline herself, signing books and chatting with some very cute young schoolgirls. The line was surprisingly short and now Trudy's got two autographed copies to give for Christmas presents.