We drove up on Friday and checked into the Courtyard in Edison, NJ and rode the New Jersey Transit Train into Penn Station. Daughter and son-in-law left me at the bead show at the hotel Pennsylvania, and they went to visit their friend who, surprisingly, works in the building (not with the hotel). The beads were dazzling and overwhelming, and I bought several strands. It was so neat to see others in their beaded creations. It really made me see what a beginner I am! Anyway...I met up with my daughter for dinner. I was pooped from the bead show, so we just walked around and ended up having soup and sandwich in a sandwich shop, and then returned to Penn Station to catch our train. Penn Station is so nasty. I just feel like the whole place is throbbing with bacteria. Not much seating, either, and I can't believe the people who sit on the floor! *gag* Anyway, we managed to snag two seats against the wall while we waited 20 mins for the train. A homeless-appearing man carrying a paper bag, sat down beside me and fell asleep in his chair. He reeked of beer and urine and sweat. Daughter and I moved, and darned if he didn't wake up and follow us! Another guy, just as smelly, but more alert sat down beside her and began to chat. Being the kind, mannerly person she is, she chatted back. He asked where she lived, why she didn't have any children yet, was there any work available in Baltimore he might be able to do, etc. I poked her and whispered "stop talking to him!" She mouthed "why?"

Finally our train came and off we went to New Jersey. It took 40 mins to get to our stop, then another 10 minute drive from the train station. The hotel sits right off the interstate highway, and you can hear trucks and traffic whizzing by (well...I couldn't hear once I took my hearing aids out). There were alot of "little" things that weren't quite right...the kinds of things you don't even notice until you don't have them. (ONE bar of soap....THREE bath towels...Aren't FOUR towels the standard for a double room?) The breakfast buffet was PITIFUL, and I mean pitiful. The freshly-made omelet were made with the liquid pasturized eggs and not fresh eggs. I've never seen this done before. Anyway...this isn't important info.

We rode into Penn Station and went back to the bead show for an hour, then took a cab to SoHo. Daughter talked me into NOT taking the subway (I still have not ridden the subway!). She and her husband and friend had ridden it the night before, and apparently she rode in one of the original subway cars (??could this be right??), and she said it was very rickety and not good for someone who is prone to motion sickness, as we both are. So, we waved down a cab, and I got to say " 268 Mulberry Street and step on it" just like they did in the movies. The driver didn't respond to the joke. Daughter and I sometimes forget that New York is like another world and act a bit silly. Off we flew to 268 Mulberry, which is where the Nolita Market is located. I got this tip from McLaurie! It was too cool, but we didn't buy anything, although we were tempted by some purses with NYC scenes.

We spent the afternoon walking in the area, browsing the shops. We were basically clueless as to where we were as I had left my NYC maps in the car at the train station! Daughter was so excited when we saw the Puck Building -- she said "OMG! This is where Grace Adler's office is!" (Does everyone know who Grace Adler is?). We realized at 3:30 we hadn't eaten lunch and that we were starving. We turned a corner, and I gasped --- there was BALTHAZAR! I wondered if there was any possibility that we could eat a late lunch there!? In we went, and was absolutely dazzled by the inside. There were people waiting for a table, and I asked the hostess if there was any chance for a table for two. She said "wait just a minute" and left. Five minutes passed and we stood there. Daughter said "I think she went on her break." Then she came hurrying back and said "follow me." She had wedged a little table for us between two banquettes. Brunch was over at 4:00p.m, so we quickly ordered and sat, soaking up the atmosphere. Wow!! The people next to us were having the triple-tiered seafood on ice, and then had a full lunch! A couple on the other side were very nice and chatty to us. (can't imagine why...we looked so clueless). I had what was basically a ham and cheese sandwich, my daughter had smoked salmon, and we also ordered mac&cheese with bacon "for the table". Everything was quite good. We didn't even go into the shop which was located next door and sells their baked goods. (didn't know about it until we left).

When we tried to make our way back to Penn Station, we had some difficulty. Do you have to stand on a street that is headed in the direction you want to go? One driver pulled over, and said "sorry, I am off duty and pointed to the sign on top of his cab (which I had never noticed)". We told him we were trying to get to Penn Station, and he said "you have to find a cab that is going uptown" and drove away. Daughter and I just looked at each other. How do you know what direction a cab is going? We wandered some more and found ourselves around NYU. Finally a cab stopped, and we got back to Penn Station, where our train was boarding, and we RAN like thieves through the train station (I'm not a runner) and down to the train. We started to get on a car, where everyone was standing, and an employee yelled "go to the front! The front cars are empty!" Daughter took off running alongside the train. Lots of other people were also running. I was gasping and trying to keep up and trying to make my daughter stop. A woman in a NJT uniform touched my shoulder and said "HONEY -- You get on the train RIGHT HERE and WALK THROUGH!", which I did. After I reached daughter I gasped out "WHY IN THE WORLD DID YOU THINK I COULD RUN LIKE THAT??? " She said "I just thought adrenalin would carry you." I responded "after you turn 50, your body doesn't make much adrenaline."

Vicki

ttt since it took me 30 mins to write this, and it's #23 immediately after posting.

Vicki, almost a million people a day go through Penn Station so there will be some dirt. I've sat on the floor there waiting for trains many times and I'm no worse for the germs!

Glad you liked the bead show and Balthazar!

Since the NYC Subway has been operating since around 1900, I hope there aren't still using some of the original cars LOL!

Great report!

Fun report - thanks for posting!

<Do you have to stand on a street that is headed in the direction you want to go?> Yes. Or the side of the street where traffic is going the direction you want to go if it's a two-way street.

Glad you had a good time at the bead show, and that you lucked out at Balthazar!