Being a Tourist is Exhausting

Today was my dad’s 3rd/final day of his visit to New York City so we packed a lot in. We started the day at Chelsea Market, where we grabbed some breakfast to take up to the High Line. I love mornings on the High Line; they always feel so luxurious, almost like you have a private garden above the city.  

After breakfast, we headed down to the Museum at Eldridge Street for a walking tour called The Jewish Lower East Side.

I’m a big fan of walking tours, especially the historical/cultural/architectural kind.  The educator who led the tour invited participants to share their own stories as we walked around the neighborhood which I think always enriches the whole experience.

One of the stops on the tour was The Pickle Guys on Essex Street.  While everyone was munching on their kosher dill pickles, our guide told us about some of the businesses that used to exist in the area. It  was fascinating to hear about the changes this neighborhood has undergone, and the speed at which these changes have come. P.S. The Pickle Guys have pickled pineapple and melon for the summer…I’ll be back!

The building above, on Canal Street, was once home to the Loew’s Theater. What a beautiful facade! I’m sure the theater was a welcome addition to the neighborhood in the 1920s, especially during the summer when people wanted a break from the heat in the tenements. It has been closed for four decades but it may be refurbished in the future and hopefully given special historic designation.

After our tour, we walked over to Little Italy for lunch.  Little Italy always has a holiday atmosphere, a riot of color, people, and the smells of home cooking. Gelato carts and cappuccino stands dot the street; banners in the colors of Italy flicker in the breeze. Sidewalk cafes are perfect for people watching or just lounging in the sun, while private garden patios invite people to linger. 

 We wandered around SoHo after lunch, alternatively popping into shops that caught our attention or beckoned us with a blast of air conditioning. 

Every time I’m in SoHo something different catches my eye. Sometimes it’s a shop I hadn’t noticed before but often it’s an architectural detail on one of the buildings.

We walked back to Midtown along West Broadway, checking out the art lining the sidewalk as we chatted about all the sights we’d seen.  Being a tourist sure is exhausting.

 

Outfit Details:

Dress (old) - Ruched Martins Dress by Moulinette Soeurs, Anthropologie

Bag - The Stone Flower at South Street Seaport