new york city update: day 5

We've been busy, busy, busy. Yesterday we went to B&H Photo and Video, a huge store filled with electronic equipment – hubby was in heaven. We then went to the flagship Apple store on 5th Avenue. The huge glass box lets in all the natural light which pours down the staircase into the store... very cool. The one thing we've noticed in this city is that it's very dog friendly. Dogs are allowed in most stores (even Bloomingdales) and hotels, which is seriously cool. At the Apple store we met a gorgeous fluffy white dog (not sure of its breed) called Wolfgang.

In the afternoon we stopped in at an Italian restaurant across the road from the Apple store called Bottega del Vino. We drank coffee and ate chocolate croissants while Bailey slept for almost two hours... New York is tiring! When she woke up, we walked across to Central Park to take a look at the frozen lake and the magnificent Plaza hotel, which looked so magical and beautiful as it was getting late in the afternoon so all the lights were twinkling. Later that night we met our good friends at a fabulous, buzzing restaurant in Greenwich Village called Commerce (sans baby, thank God for friends of friends who offer to babysit!). Loved Greenwich Village, it's full of quiet little lanes, trendy bars and restaurants and loads of young people. We met a super cute French bulldog called Gizmo who was taking a walk with his owner. 

Today we took it a bit easier. We only ventured out at about midday. It snowed again so everything was beautiful and white and it was nice to stomp into the soft white snow as opposed to the frozen grey icy slush – especially in my new wellies. We browsed around H&M and I must admit, none of the clothes blew me away. I still haven't had a chance to get to Zara, so I'm hoping to find some nice stuff there. Am desperately looking for flat lace-up ankle boots, or maybe with a bit of a heel. But most of the winter stuff is out of stores already, and all the spring stock is in. 

The highlight of the day was cocktails with one of my bestest friends in the world in the lobby lounge of the Mandarin Oriental hotel on Columbus Circle. The lounge is on the 35th floor so the view of the city is breathtaking. We haven't downloaded any of our photos yet, but here's a few pics of the view in the summertime...

When we walked back outside, it was snowing again! And I learnt how to hail a cab... fun I tell you!