New York City Vol. II: Midtown Manhattan + Upper West Side

Hello readers! My blog has recently turned one year old. Thank you for your support over these past 12 months! And now for the long awaited second NYC post. Flashback to November 18th of 2017.

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Our bus arrived in Times Square around 10 in the morning and would be leaving the city at 6 in the evening. After a five hour bus ride of sleep, naturally our first stop was the closest Starbucks. 'Twas the season for PSLs and Peppermint Mochas. Pumped on a caffeine and ready to go, we decided our first stop would be Central Park. Before this trip, I had been to New York four times, and had not had the chance to visit Central Park.

Rowboats were up for rent for $35 a person. Like the carriages of Williamsburg, they are better to observe than actually partake in riding. 

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain overlooking The Lake. Over on the right is the dock for the rowboats, as well as a lakeside bistro that was a tempting lunch option (for me anyways).

After exiting the park, our group was spat out into the Upper West Side. While in my last New York post, I mentioned going to the Upper East Side on my next trip, we did not get to. However, the Upper West Side has become nearly as nice (according to my cousin, who goes to school in the city). It was a contrast to lower Manhattan, as it was much more upscale residential. 

On our last trip, my friend Megan had been wanting to eat at a Shake Shack, but we had run out of time. Luckily, we found one on the Upper West Side, complete with apartments above it.

After lunch, our group then made its way back to Times Square, as two of my friends wanted to break off and see a Broadway play. The remaining members of my group and I then made our way over to Rockefeller Center, and checked out the stores. While at Rock Center, Allen Edmonds was at the top of my list. For those who don't know, Allen Edmonds is an upscale shoe company that continues to make the majority of their products in the US. Alden still reigns supreme as my choice shoemaker, I couldn't help venturing into AE and checking out their selection.

Of the many shelves of shoes at AE, I felt this one best summarized the Trad basics of loafers and oxfords. I will probably be upgrading my dress shoes from my Bostonian captoes to AE's Park Avenues (3rd rack down, center).

Allen Edmonds also offers a selection of clothing and accessories in addition to footwear. While normally I would be skeptical of buying clothing from a shoe company, the majority of AE's is made in countries of good reputation, so I will not advise against it in this case.

We then made our way over to Fifth Avenue, where we decided to split up to shop at our respective stores. While several of my friends were in Topshop and H&M, I made my way into Saks, which was packed with Christmas shopppers.

I had been into a Saks once before in Chicago, and was impressed. The New York flagship store was also impressive. In addition to offering a plethora of fine Italian and British lines, it also offered a wide selection of Ralph Lauren's Purple Label. I am pretty sure I didn't see a single piece of clothing that was Chinese made.

After leaving Saks, I met up with my friends and told them of my plan to let them shop on 5th for a while and meet them later at Grand Central Station. I would now be making a Trad hajj of sorts. My next stop was Madison Avenue. 346 Madison Avenue to be exact. 

Brooks Brothers had already decorated for Christmas by the time I made my visit. Unlike Rockefeller Center, its tree had already been trimmed, and with Golden Fleece ornaments at that. In a few weeks, the store would host its famous yearly Christmas party, featuring famous jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.

I explored each level of the flagship store I had for years longed to visit. While my budget was constricted by upcoming Christmas shopping, I did not leave Brooks empty handed. I purchased a single pair of US made cream colored socks. My next stop was only a few blocks away, and that was J.Press's new Yale Club location.

Observe the sacred Shaggy Dog sweaters on the top shelf. They were 50% off from $245 that day. If it hadn't been Christmas, I would have likely bought one.

At J. Press, I spoke with a salesman about my Barbour jacket situation (which I was wearing that day). He, like the one at R.W. Bryant in Williamsburg, recommended I send it back to New England for a rewaxing. We continued our conversation into Maryland, where he told me he was related to the Calverts, who founded the colony during the 1600s. As we spoke, I found something familiar about him, that I couldn't put my finger on. He gave me his business card before leaving, and I was back in Salisbury before I looked at the card and discovered he was Daniel Greenwood, a blogger for Ivy Style, one of the largest and most well known Trad blogs in existence. After leaving J. Press, I made my way over to Grand Central, which was not far at all from the Yale Club. Being an hour from my set meeting time with my friends, I decided to go for an early dinner at one of the city's most iconic restaurants, and that was the station's oyster bar. There is a famous scene from Mad Men set here, with Don Draper and Roger Sterling going out for a boozy lunch of oysters and cheesecake before an unforgettable meeting with men from the 1960 Nixon campaign.

Costing $1.25 per mollusk at happy hour, I chose the option of Chesapeake oysters. As Don said, "It's like eating a mermaid".

After I finished my dinner at the bar, I regrouped with my friends and we met up with my cousin and her friend in Times Square. They both go to school in NYC at Baruch College. After a few hours of shopping of them, it was time for us to leave the city. Finally, I have fulfilled my goals of visiting the flagship Brooks Brothers store, as well as one of J. Press's locations.

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