a day based around food!

I know it may be hard to believe, but I've been having a hard time finding something to do everyday since all of my roommates are gone during the day. While I was laying in bed this morning trying to figure out what to do for the day, I decided I was hungry and wanted some really good food. Mom kept on sending me all of these Rachel Ray links yesterday so I decided to go to Chelsea Market.

While at the market, I was amazed. Not only because the Food Network is based out of there, but because there was an amazing smell, look, texture, and taste for everything. I sampled the best cheese. It was a mixture of Brie and Blue that cost around $28 per pound. I could have sat there all day and tasted cheese. Unfortunately my budget doesn't allow that expensive of food items.

I then walked around the market in search of lunch. According to Rachel Ray, the best sandwiches are at Amy's Bread. I definitely knew this was true when I walked in....it smelled amazing! The selection of breads, desserts, coffee, etc was awesome. Although I could have gotten my sandwich and dessert from this place, I wanted to spread it out and try multiple areas throughout the market. Therefore, I ordered the barista's favorite sandwhich...the Geona Salami and Fresh Mozzarella with tomatoes. This was truly the best sandwich i have ever tasted. It is amazing how the simplest sandwich could be so tasty. I also had the fresh lemonade. It was good, but kind of tart. I would recommend Amy's Bread to anyone in the Chelsea area.

I then continued to walk around the market to find my dessert. While I found many cupcakes and cakes throughout the market, I had my heart set on Gelato. The lady at the counter was awesome and let me taste whatever I wanted. I ended up getting mixed berry and hazelnut. It was a great deal. A small cone with two flavors! My absolute favorite dessert is cupcakes...while they all looked great, i'm waiting to go to Magnolias on Bleecker Street.

Chelsea Market is definitely a must see place on my list. You can walk around and taste pretty much whatever you want. It was also fun to see the Food Network...my favorite station. I was hoping to see Bobby Flay or Emril...but it didn't work out. Maybe next time!

After leaving the market, i consulted my 1001 NY ideas book for somewhere else in Chelsea. The book listed a cheap designer outlet, but unfortunately when i arrived, i realized the closed shop for an unknown reason. Consulting the book once again, one of the best bathrooms in NYC was located on the street I was at....of course I had to stop by. Luckily, the bathroom was located in a fun gourmet grocery store called Banducci's. While the bathrooms were clean, they were nothing spectacular. Oh well, it was one more place I can say I visited.

Coming back to the apartment, I found Alexis wanting to go to the gym. We attended a Total Body Sculpt class. This class was so hard. The instructor was intense, but well worth it. I can already feel the soreness!

After the class I met up with Cait Kannal (originally from Breese/MD, but now attending NYU) for dinner and drinks. I love meeting up with people who know where they are going in the city! Her and her friend took me to a fun restaurant called the Cloister Cafe in the Upper East Side. It was a very pretty restaurant located inside an old church. They still had the stain glass windows and everything! I would recommend sitting outside though. The food was decent. I enjoyed the atmosphere more than the food. The service was kind of slow, but it was great catching up with Cait! We both commented that who would have thought when we were in 2nd grade that we would end up getting drinks and dinner in NYC at the age of 21! Funny how life works out.

I met Cait in Union Square tonight. While waiting I officially became a sucker for street marketing. A random guy came up to me and asked where I got my haircut because they are doing a survey. It turned out to be a marketing scheme for Aveda Salons on 5th. This guy had to sell haircuts and spa treatments to people in the streets. Supposedly the entire package usually costs around $300...he was trying to sell it to me for 60. I kindly told him I did not have a lot of extra cash..therefore he gave me two certificates for 40 dollars. I feel like I was sucked into something wrong, but I think it is completely legit. He showed me the website, the paper work they had to complete to be able sell this product in Union Square, and overall seemed very convincing. I think Alexis and I are going to share the package, so it will really only be 20 dollars for a decent haircut, massage, waxing, and consultation. I'll be sure to update you later. If it all works out it should be a great day on 5th Ave....especially since they do not allow just anyone in...according to the sales guy. You must look put together...I'm so glad I made the "cut"! ;-)

All in all I had a great day exploring the city by myself and with old friends. I learned that the field I am studying (marketing) can be annoying but effective in many different ways. While I think the one I fell for will really work out, I hope I do not fall for anymore! =]


-Sam