Spring Trip to New York City
May 14, 2011 We went to New York City last weekend. We were surprised to find 6th Avenue from 42nd Street to Central Park on 59th blocked to traffic and converted into a street fair. Although it was hard to resist the smell of souvlakis, shish-kebabs, and gyros as we strolled past the food stalls, we went to a food-by-the-pound place instead on 45th Street. We wanted climate-controlled seating and, also, the food place was close to two of our favorite stores -- Jack’s World, the cheapest department store (really an “odd lot” store) in Manhattan and Book Off, a Japanese bookstore that sells used books (English as well as Japanese with many titles current), CDs, movies, and games at very low prices. Our son, Cody, was big into anime, the Japanese cartoons.

Next we went to Rockefeller Center. We inquired about the hop-on-hop-off red double-decker bus tour there but found the fare steep. So we went up the stairs to msnbc.com’s Digital Café for a view of the flag-bedecked Rockefeller plaza while having coffee and yogurt. We considered going up the Top of the Rock for an unobstructed view of Manhattan 70 stories high but decided Ripley’s Believe It or Not on 42nd Street was more fun so we went there instead.

After Ripley’s it was already dark so we hit a Chinese restaurant for dinner. We then strolled into Times Square and headed back to where we parked our car on 43rd Street.

People are generally right in saying everything’s expensive in NYC. But since I work there I am not blinded by the glitter and actually know some of the cheap places there. Still, multiplying every expense by four which was the number in our party could take its toll on one’s wallet so you better have an idea on how much cash to stash before venturing off to NYC.

Despite that, earlier at home before leaving for NYC, I told Vi and Via, our daughter, that they can go shopping at whatever store they liked in NYC -- Saks, Bloomingdales, Macy's. “I’ll pay for it”, I said. “Sky’s the limit,” I added. This drew laughter from both of them knowing that with the signature stores and exorbitantly priced merchandise there I was just kidding.

But I wasn’t. Having known my family’s spending habits all these years I knew they wouldn’t spend someone else’s money hard-earned at that on clothes at inflated prices. It was a safe bet and a cheap stunt which fortuitously for me made me, the man of the house, feel like Donald Trump.

So when we didn’t get to do much shopping in NYC for lack of time, I repeated my dare and told them they can go mall-shopping the following day. On me, I said.

“What’s going on with dad? Where’s this coming from?” our daughter wondered aloud in mock disbelief.

I knew where but I didn’t answer. The kids were growing up and soon will be off on their own. On days like this when the family’s together I try not to hold back even when I’m running on near-empty because you never know when it’s going to be the last.

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