New era

New era
www.neweracap.com
9 E 4th St
New York,
NY 10003-6902,
United States
+1 212-533-2277


If you want a cap this is where it’s at… A beautiful space, loads of product, we spent aaaages in here… Unfortunately the staff didn’t seem like they wanted to be there, and the caps that my husband wanted weren’t available in his size… However the one I wanted was in my size… Smooth transaction and off we went, a couple meters down the road the store clerk came out and gave me my credit card which I had forgotten in the store! Silly me, but much respect to the store clerk…

Cap came boxed, nice touch... Other NE caps pictured were from other spots...

Forbidden planet

Forbidden planet
www.fpnyc.com
840 Broadway
New York,
NY 10003,
United States
+1 212-473-1576

Great selection of comics, toys, t-shirts and graphic novels… It’s very easy to spend money here! Which I did... Unfortunately it is not pram friendly at all in here, so Mark and I had to tag team Marley while the other shopped... We will continue to come back here, I love it!

Chat n Chew

Chat n chew
www.chatnchewny.com
10 E 16th St
New York,
NY 10003,
United States
+1 212-243-1616

We love this place! So back we came, but this time we both ordered the Mac and Cheese, it just looked so good when Mark had it last year! And indeed it was soooo good, even Marley loved it! Staff were awesome and although its stairs to get in it was really pram and baby friendly once we got in...

Filenes basement

Filenes basement
www.filenesbasement.com
47 E 14th St,
New York -
+1 212-358-0169

Not much here this year, in the past this place has provided some great shopping, but all we got this year was some designer kids wear for Marley… Still, a very orderly discount store and no queues...

Babies r us

Babies r us
www.babiesrus.com
24 Union Sq E # 30,
New York -
+1 212-798-9905

This store is great, but the stand outs for us were the awesome Sesame Street NYC T-shirts, so we bought a bunch for Marley and as gifts… The gifts were loved by all of the kids that received them, not too expensive either! Also stocked up on some basics for Marley…

Saturday 12 September

Saturday 12 September

This morning we went to Union Square, there was a farmers market on which we walked through… It was nice to see fresh local produce in the city! Bought loads at Babies R Us, checked Filenes basement which was a bit random this time and the other stores around, then off to Chat N Chew for lunch, we love it here… Chat N Chew was awesome as expected, we both ordered the Mac and Cheese and it was yum! Marley was eating the Mac with us she loved it too! This place is a must visit!
Headed up Broadway shopping as we went, some great stuff in Forbidden Planet, though its not really pram friendly so we tag teamed Marley… Went east to the New Era store which was awesome! Bought a cap and it came boxed and bagged, on to Alife, Classic Kicks etc… Not much to buy so we went back to footlocker in Times Square in hope of getting a pair of Blazers for Mark, they didn’t have his size…
Back to our room and we realise that we need to get some laundry done ASAP, the staff at RCA tell us where to go 8th and 48/49th so we get our laundry done over night… Back to our room and we order Johns Pizza, massive yummy pizzas!!!

Juniors Cheesecake

Juniors Cheesecake
http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/
West 45th St. between
Broadway and 8th Ave.
Phone: (212) 302-2000

I had my first ever cheesecake experience at Juniors on our first trip, I fell in love! I make my way back there on each trip for this creamy tangy New York Cheesecake, I highly recommend trying it... The pic shows a damaged piece of cake because I was holding it as Marley and I explored the city in the pouring rain...

Century 21

Century 21
22 Cortlandt St
http://www.c21stores.com/

This is the third time we have hit this store... Every time it has been in the morning, so I haven't experienced the crazy behaviour that many reviews hold... This time the staff were pretty grumpy, but I wouldn't be in the best mood on the anniversary of 9/11...

We bought a fair amount of stuff for Marley, very cute Small Paul things and Nike tracksuits, as well as a few bits for ourselves...

Daisy Mays BBQ

Daisy Mays BBQ
www.daisymaysbbq.com
623 W 46th St & 11th Ave
Manhattan,
New York,
NY 10036,
United States
+1 212-977-1500

I had Daisy Mays on my list from our first trip, but we just never made it there… My pre printed menu came with us on every trip and it was good to finally use it! With Mark being a vegetarian we ordered lots of fixins and for around 40 we ate for 2 nights! The food was absolutely divine, so we ordered from them twice during our stay... If only I could get their recipes, unfortunately the fixins arent in the Daisy Mays BBQ book...

Friday 11 September

Friday 11 September

It was a rainy day today, we grabbed a bagel from a street vendor and jumped on the subway downtown to Century 21, I knew it was probably going to be really sad downtown on this day, and while I expected an influx of people I didn’t expect closed roads, big crowds and some sort of parade... We ducked and weaved through loads of people to get to century 21, I didn’t want to go to ground zero this time, the last two times we have been I found it really distressing and didn’t want to be that way in front of my baby... Century 21 sucked hours of our time, we bought loads of stuff for Marley and a few bits and pieces for ourselves, if you go in the morning early enough it really isn’t very busy or crazy, that said I have never been any time but the morning...
Mark went from here record shopping for the afternoon, Marley and I went back to the apartment and chilled... The rain outside was intense! After I watched a film, Marley woke and I decided to venture out to Juniors to get some cheesecake... The minute we stepped onto the street I knew it was a mistake! Pulled our hoods up and walked to Juniors, stopping under cover every now and again, with everyone else! Got the cheesecake – staff there are always so lovely and engaging... and then the rain came down even worse – if that was even possible... I dropped into footlocker Times Square to buy a big golfing umbrella which made it all much easier, holding it up high so we didn’t attack anyone we walked around a bit, showing Marley the lights and billboards then back to our room to eat it, gee it was goooood!
Mark got home later and once Marley was in bed we ordered Daisy Mays BBQ, it was sooooooo good, you have to go here or order in from here, the fixins are amazing!

Giorgio’s country grill

Giorgio’s country grill
http://www.georgioscountrygrill.com/
801 9th Ave
Cnr 53rd St
New York
212 977-1150

We had one of their menus from the foyer of RCA and we thought it would be best and easiest with Marleys routine if we just ordered in every night... Not even close to our typical NYC food experience, but things are different with a 6 month old...

Food was well priced, tasty and delivered hot... We ate here more then once, but these are the pics from our first order, much more then enough food!

Nike Town

Nike Town
Fifth Ave
www.nike.com
There wasn’t a great deal to see here, unlike past years… On our second look I bought some tops, but didn’t get around to photographing them… I hope that should we ever make it back, that it has picked up again…

FAO Schwartz

FAO Schwartz
www.fao.com
So much to see here, we liked it even before we had a baby, but now its even better! Bought Marley her Whatnot and another puppet, a good long time spent here! FAO Schwartz is the only place you can get your own Whatnot ('extra' type of muppet from the on site Jim Henson Factory) which you design yourself, they are pricey at $141.45, but worth every penny!

Macys

Macys Flagship Store
Herald Square
www.macys.com/
A MASSIVE department store with lots of your basic labels... Lots of half price sales, awesome when shopping for Marley! Don’t forget to get your 10% off card from the visitors centre if you are a tourist…

Thursday 10 September

Thursday 10 September

The shopping begins, we strapped Marley into her pram and walked to Herald Square, shopped up and down 33rd St starting with Macys... Macys provided some beautiful children’s clothes for Marley, and we spent so long there that her lunchtime came, we bolted to McDonalds as it was a convenient spot to feed her and refuel ourselves... Back to shopping, H&M, GAP, Footlocker, keeping on all the way to Fifth Ave and up that street... The highlight was FAO Schwartz where we spent a long time checking out toys for Marley, we ordered her ‘whatnot’ then shopped around, finding a few bits ad pieces for her, picking up our ‘whatnot’ and continuing on... The other shops didn’t hold much for us, and we were holding out for Nike Town, but alas there wasn’t much there either... Walked around Trump Towers, back out onto Fifth and eventually home... To start a trend for our trip in NYC we ordered in, once Marley was in bed, it was pretty good, and clear that you really get bang for your buck when ordering in!

Radio city apartments

Radio city apartments
http://www.radiocityapts.com/
142 West 49th Street
New York, NY 10019
212-730-0728 or1-(877)921-9321
Fax# 212-921-0572
mailto:212-921-0572res@radiocityapartments.com

We booked radio city apartments based on the glowing reviews on trip advisor... we didn’t go back to either of our previous accommodation as it wasn’t child friendly, and at the price of radio city we couldn’t say no! It is an old building, and it looks it... fairly run down, but clean, staff were really friendly and very helpful all of the time, day and night, from the first night when we got in late and they helped us find our way to get diapers, to helping me with the pram when I was on my own, every experience we had with them was positive!
The room was bigger then I expected, a kitchenette, and bed, big cot, small bathroom... Honestly for the price we couldn’t have asked for more! The location was prime, right around the corner from times square, the subway, diners, delis, drug stores, everything was close... On previous trips we haven’t looked for that, preferring to try out different neighbourhoods, but with a baby we thought the loser we are to everything the better, it was the right choice, so close to most of the things on our list and of course Central Park which was imperative with a baby...
Should we ever take Marley back there we would definitely go back to this hotel, if it was just us we might afford a little more extravagance...

Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus
www.aerlingus.com

Check in was great, staff very friendly, until we tried to confirm our bassinette and that’s when the truth of the flight came forth, no bassinette for us, we were put in a two seater for the three of us... thank fully there was a woman who took the two seater with her son and let us have her three seats, lifesaver... after we were all settled into our new seats they said that we could have the bassinette, too late, all of our hand luggage – loads – was already stowed... Problems with the vegetarian meal, awful stop over in Dublin, bad food, just wanted to get to NYC... Never flying with this airline again, not matter how cheap it is, you really get what you pay for...

Wednesday 9th September

Wednesday 9th September

Early morning check out, aside from the drama with the fridge billing it was easy... Cab to the air port and straight to check in...
Crap flight, big cab from JFK and check in at Radio City Apartments we went for a stroll to find some nappies (diapers) and food for Marley, we discovered that we were literally on the doorstep of times square so we walked around a little and back to our apartment to bed...

Upper Playground London

Upper Playground London
http://upperplayground.com/wordpress/?p=634
31 Kingley St.
London, UK
W1B 5BQ
[44] 0207 7348705
Everyday 10:00am – 7:00pm

A lovely space filled with a large range of beautiful t shirts... Although not loads in womens sizes, still more then most stores... Great service...

JD Sports

JD Sports
http://www.jdsports.co.uk/home

JD Sports Stores are everywhere... Always worth checking as they always have exclusive kicks, and a large range of hoodys etc...

Greggs Bakery

Greggs Bakery
http://www.greggs.co.uk/

Greggs can be found all over London... I have always been a fan and their roast chicken pastries are always on my list of things to eat when I visit... A good selection of food on the run, or for a picnic... Mmmmmm...

Garfunkles London

Garfunkles London
http://www.garfunkels.co.uk/

This is a chain restaurant in London... In the almost 2 years I lived here I never ate at one of these spots, but in a rush to feed Marley and ourselves and needing somewhere pram friendly we dropped in here... Cheap lunch deals, good fast friendly service and an average meal... We didn't order anything special and had low expectations so we were perfect;y happy with the choice...

Ben & Jerrys London

www.benjerry.co.uk/
4 Leicester Square
London

We are massive fans of Ben and Jerrys, and only recently it has come to Australia... On holiday we always make sure to get some Phish food and whatever else takes our fancy... The Leicester Square spot is always nice to sit down and have a bite, otherwise you can get it just about everywhere else, including in machines at the airport!

Nike Covent Garden

Nike
http://nikeid.nike.com/m/studio/uk/uk.html
14-16 Neal St
Covent Garden

Awesome new (since our last visit) Nike store, some great product that wasn’t available (sizes or otherwise) in Nike town... Very friendly and helpful staff – it didn’t fee like we were in London! Pram friendly too!

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace
http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/BuckinghamPalace/BuckinghamPalace.aspx
I hadn’t been to Buckingham Palace since I was 19, and it wasn’t our plan to begin with, but once at St James’ park, we saw the royal marching band and it was such lovely weather we thought why not? So off we went... It was extremely busy with lots of tourists but a grand sight... Would like to go back when its open to the public...

Day 14 Tuesday St James park

Day 14 Tuesday St James park
Our last full day in London Starting with a picnic in St James Park and a lovely walk to Buckingham Palace, busy as ever Back through Covent Garden, seven dials and eventually back to our room to pack...

Thai square - The Strand

Thai square
http://www.thaisquare.net/
Thai Square the Strand
148 The Strand, London, WC2R 1JA
Tel027497 0904
Fax027497 0905
thaisqstrand@btconnect.com

Yummy Thai food Good Pad Thai

Waldorf Hilton London

Waldorf Hilton
http://www.hilton.co.uk/waldorf
Aldwych London WC2B 4DD,
United Kingdom
Telephone027836 240

A big room with modern furnishings, lovely to look at The staff were lovely, I did have to call down to turn the auto charge on the fridge off so we could fill the fridge with our own things, but as we checked out they tried to charge us for every item, which they quickly fixed The bathroom was massive with a towel warmer, very hot water in the shower, lovely amenities The hotel has a pool that you can access through LA Fitness for free, you do have to give them all of your information and sign paperwork to access the pool, then walk through a maze like change room When you get there its quite small and the water was too cool for Marley so we stayed for a few minutes and left The other downside was that there was a swimming lesson on so we had to stay in the far corner so the pool was free for the lesson (one person, one teacher)
The cot for Marley was smaller then usual, and the stairs to and from the room were a bit tricky with the pram alone, but overall I loved the hotel,..