It was the start of our second last day in NYC and we were on a mission. Shop, shop, shop. Now we had moved hotels, we could start accumulating things we wanted to take home in readiness for packing a second suitcase. We decided to start downtown and work our way back up. First stop – Century 21, the warehouse of designer clothes and shoes at bargain basement prices. First up shoes – and there was a disturbing lack of boots for a city just emerging from a snowy winter, especially when you consider Century 21 is a discount store. There were loads of strappy sandals, including Manolos and Jimmy Choos for less than I would pay for boots at home. I was tempted but then thought about it – there was no way I was ever going to wear a pair of strappy sandals no matter who designed them. Better to leave the space for some boots or sneakers. Then we ventured in Century 21 proper. Considering how fussy I am about the handbags I am happy with, I fund the perfect one within minutes and at less than $20. TC purchased some CK underthings and then got bored when I started getting excited about sox. We parted ways and I continued on my quest through several glorious floors of Century 21. As expected, the plus size clothing wasn’t particularly plentiful but I did succeed in finding a CK suit – the skirt was a bit on the snug side but that didn’t deter me. Some more rummaging and I made my way to the checkout counter. In the UK and Ireland), many of the Department stores (and indeed the souvenir places will let you charge your credit card in your own currency, enabling you to duck the currency changes. Century 21 is the only place in the US that appeared to offer this service. They also asked if I would fill out a survey, which I did and which will, presumably, result in me getting lots of emails for things I am unable to buy online. Like shoes. (Spoon Man – Soundgarden – Soundgarden always reminds me of the end of a long day and night at The Big Day Out – I think I had a different mondogreen for this one – and yes it was well before spooning became a part of everyday language in a snuggling context).

From Century 21, I made a desperate attempt to find Feliene’s Basement. Alas it seemed that Feliene’s would elude me – it was closed down in Boston, I had only 10  mins to check out the Baltimore store and now the NYC store didn’t appear to exist. I gave up my search and headed over to meet another friend on a street corner near the United Nations. He had taken a lunch break from work and had decided on a Japanese restaurant for us to enjoy. With a more convoluted entryway than the Burger Joint, It was clearly the sort of place only locals would be able to find. We walked through the foyer of what appeared to be an office building and arrived at what looked like a hotel or apartment building, itself near impossible to find. We then went around a corner down some stairs to the basement, through another door into a very large and funky Japanese restaurant. Let me be clear, at no point did I see a sign suggesting there was a Japanese Restaurant until we were actually in it. It had a fantastic menu and I opted (as I often do when such things are available) for a kind of sushi and all things Japanese tasting plate – probably similar to what we might call a Bento Box. There was Milo, there was Sushi, there were things with noodles and seaweed. It was scrumptious and enjoyed with more than one cup of green tea. My friend, who had consumed his favourite noodle soup concoction, left it to me as to whether we had dessert and of course I didn’t take much convincing. The only thing remotely Japanese on the menu was Green tyea ice cream. We opted for a chocolate pudding instead. In contrast to my other NYC-based friend, my lunch companion was well acquainted with  many of the places we had been so far – he often rides his bike to Coney Island as is rather well acquainted with the lower east and west sides and villages. He shared my disappointment at the closure of the CBGB closing store and gave me some West village tips, an area I still intended to visit more thoroughly when I went to rediscover the op shop. (Spastic – Henry’s Anger – back when nu-metal was actually new, Canberra’s Henry’s Anger were one of the best – hey they even made it to the ARIAs – they didn’t win but they were there. It’s a musical taste my lunch companion and I share.)

I bade farewell to my launch companion and headed across town to Times Square in the pouring rain to meet TC for our Toys R Us adventure. We wandered around until I found my fave part of any toy store… the Lego. Yes they did have the Architecture kits but it turned out they were actually cheaper at the Guggenheim. TC assured me we would be able to purchase them for less online from Australia. This turned out not to be the case band the kits aren’t actually available in Australia yet. Travel lesson 137: Never get dissuaded by buying anything you really want when you travel. Like tours of bands, they are something you may never get the chance to see again.

After Toys R Us, we headed to Macy’s where TC rested (until it was time to pay the cashier) and I was in plus -sized heaven. Loaded up with as many garments as the change rooms would allow, I got started. Half an hour later, the end result was a pretty summer print Jones of New York dress, a really nice grey and blue top for work and two pairs of CK jeans. And then my pretty woman moment (my first ever) my purchases were paid by a boy (sure I decided the dress was my birthday present and the other items covered hotel expenses TC owed but it made me feel a bit special, even if it wasn’t quite the “She has my card” “And we’ll help her use it Sir” moment, it was lots of fun. (

Where I failed, TC had not and took me on a direct route to Fieline’s basement. First stop the shoe floor. After much searching I had found the perfect pair of boots – flat, laced at the back and wide fit. Alas they were only available in Size 6 or 11. The clothing level proved similarly disappointing with lots of great clothes but nothing quite the right size. There is, though, one very good reason to visit Fieline’s Basement – the spectacular view of Manhattan from the front window. (Rockefeller Skank – Fat Boy Slim – More than 10 years on and I have never got sick of this track, despite the fact I was sure I would.)

From Feiline’s it was onward on a shoe quest – I tried on two or three pairs in the store next door and actually purchased a pair of comfy heeled Danskor Mary Janes (for less than $50 – the Scandinavian faves are usually in the $200 range at home). Then we found the Ecco store, where also for about $60, I scored a pair of leather, Goretex lined, incredibly warm and waterproof boots. Shoes in hand, we went looking for a pair of 501s for TC. We managed to find a slightly distressed pair he was happy with. Eventually there were more shops closed than open as we headed deeper into the lower west side. We decided it was time to head back with quite a few large bags in tow. It was also time to buy a new suitcase to take everything home. To add to the theme of mass consumerism that surrounds the US, most airlines allow you two 25 kilo bags. So unlike Europe, you don’t need to throw your undies overboard to get your souvenirs under the weight limit. After an unsuccessful search for a bag downtown, we dumped our shopping and jumped a subway to Times Square, where we found what we were after in the first shop we tried.

Our last night in Manhattan and all we felt like doing is finding food and chilling in our room. We found a nice little Indian joint just around the corner from our hotel and had the works – most of the dishes were different to the favourites we’re used to but it was delicious, the service was great and the bill was much less than a trip to Taj Agra. We settled in for our last night at the Chelsea Hotel and dreamed (well I did) of what it must have been like here in the 70s and 80s. (Walk This Way – Run DMC – these guys joined the Beastie Boys as the soundtrack to my uni days. The tape with Run’s House was ‘borrowed’ so many times that I gave up buying it in the end.)