Saturdays in the City

One thing we will greatly miss about the living in New York City is that every weekend there is always TONS of stuff to do. There is no excuse for staying home when you have a city full of exciting and new things to do.


This Saturday we explored SoHo. SoHo is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is more south on the island. Originally associated with the arts, it has since become famous for both destination shopping and its downtown scene. The name is a blend of "South" and "Houston" from "south of Houston Street."



Destination #1: Chelsea Market
This Market is an enclosed, urban food court and shopping mall. It was built within the former Nabisco factory complex where the Oreo cookie was invented and produced. It also provides standard office space for tenants, including media and broadcasting companies such as Oxygen Network, Food Network and many others.

The architecture of the whole building was quite remarkable.

The market was full of "high-class" bakeries and eateries. Scattered throughout were various samples that we could test out.



Among some of these samples was a bakery call "Fat Witch Bakery." There specialty is making brownies. However, the claim to fame is that they make OPRAH's favorite brownies! I tested it out and it seemed a little too "high-class" for me. I am more of a boxed Betty Crocker fan.



Destination #2: Washington Square Park
After we explored the clean streets of SoHo we started walking up the island and came across more cool stuff, such as Washington Square Park. New York City Parks throughout the weekend are ALWAYS packed, especially if it is good weather. We believe this is due to the small living environments of the city. No one has backyards or space to relax in their small studios.



In 1889, to celebrate the centennial of George Washington's inauguration as president of the United States, a large plaster and wood Memorial Arch was erected over Fifth Avenue just north of the park.


The inscription on the arch reads:

Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God. - Washington

Destination #3: New York Pizza, Times Square
After all the walking we did that day we were hungry for New York's famous pizza.

Pat found this place when he came for his interview in March. It was near his hotel, tastey and inexpensive. Surprisingly enough, it also is rated as one of the top 10 pizza restaurants in the city.

New York pizza is famous for it huge pizza slices.

So big are the slices that you have to fold them. This is me being all "New Yorker."

Destination #4: Movie in Times Square
After that long day walking half way up the island we were excited to relax and see the new Star Trek movie. It was good but there was too much hype.