Friends

This has been a wonderful week so far. Our dear friends from Israel are here on a visit to NYC and David and I spent the entire day with them yesterday. We drove down to NYC Monday night, took a room at the same hotel, had a delicious dinner at a wonderful steak house in Midtown, and started catching up with each other. Tuesday morning, Tami and I walked all over Manhattan visiting various stores, chatting, laughing and having a good time . We met our hubbies for lunch at Eataly on 5th Ave at 23rd Street. More on Eataly another time, what an experience! (Go to Eataly.com). Then boys and girls split again, shopped some more, and with aching but happy feet, met back at the hotel. David and I left the City about 6pm and arrived home at 9pm after a quick stop to pick up a sandwich. Our cats were very happy to see us, we were just in time to hear the President's speech, and our bed felt wonderful. Even though the bed at the hotel was pretty good. I think it's always just good to be home.

One of the stores Tami and I made a stop at was The Ink Pad on 7th Ave and 13th St. (theinkpadnyc.com) Rubber stamp heaven! Small but crammed to the rafters, literally, with stamps, inks, pens, pencils, papers, cards, magazines, ribbons, trims, goodness I can't even think what else. The staff were knowledgeable, nice and friendly, and Tami and I each made a purchase (who could resist), and I even received a free jar of embossing powder (Tim Holtz Distress embossing powder in Milled Lavender) with the coupon I had printed off their website. Terrific!

We also stopped at the NY Cake and Baking Shop on W 22nd Street just off 6th Ave. (nycake.com) We loaded up on baking goodies such as cupcake wrappers, candy molds, a cupcake tree, and a few other odds and ends. Another store packed to the rafters with all sorts of goodies relating to baking, candy making, even jewelry making. They sell the Cricut Cake and all it accouterments here.

As I said, we met our hubbies for lunch at Eataly, and all I can say about this place is "WOW!" There are several eateries here to choose from. We chose Manzo and had a really delicious lunch, Sweetbreads, Mozzarella, Gnocchi, and Spaghetti with lobster sauce. Everything was spectacular; meticulous in presentation, preparation and taste. As for the rest of the 'store', WOW. You can get anything and everything relating to Italian food and cooking there. I have to go back and spend a day shopping just at Eataly. Delicioso! Try going to eataly.com; I think you can order foodstuff online but haven't checked it out just yet. I will!

Tomorrow, David and I leave for Los Angeles and the CHA show which starts Saturday. That is always a fun show to attend, and LA has got to be much warmer and sunnier than Chatham just now. Can't wait!