Is Monkey Bar good for a Sunday night dinner-or just drinks-have seen mixed reviews on the food??
Can you really get designer handbags on Canal street for a bargain-have heard you have to talk them into bringing you the good stuff from the back -any favorite shops?? Is Century 21 worth a stop-is it comparable to a Nordstrom??

I can only answer one of your questions. Century 21 is a discount store. It is much like a multi-story Ross or Marshall's, but with a lot more merchandise and a section of very high-end designer clothing, marked down a lot, but still pricey.

If you are willing to pay $250 for a jacket or skirt that was originally $500, this is the store for you.

Century 21 is nothing like Nordstrom, and nowhere near as nice as the Nordie's Racks that I have been in.

You're not getting the real designer bags at discount prices on Canal Street. You're get knockoffs. Or,shall we call them "fakes"?

Oh, Howard, let's not go there again, please! I am of the opinion that identity/brand theft is T-H-E-F-T and I think it's disgraceful, but people will do what they do.

I've not been to the Monkey Bar recently, so can't tell you how the food is lately. They don't serve dinner on Sunday night. Only the bar is open. Most of their clientele work in the area.

If you want a really good handbag and don't need a label on it, go to Suarez on Park Ave. & 56th (not far from the Monkey Bar). They use many of the same factories in Italy that the designers use. Prices are not cheap but not the dizzying designer prices either.

Century 21 is not a fancy place and you need to sift through racks. It gets very crowded. If you go, go early in the morning before it fills up.

If you are serious about discount designer shopping, you might be interested in going to one of the outlet malls outside Manhattan. There's a mall in Secaucus, NJ which is not too far that has a Gucci, Yves St Laurent and Jil Sander store. I've not been so can't say how good it is. Here's the URL
http://www.harmonmeadow.com/pages/secaucusmap.html

There's also a very popular outlet mall called Woodbury Commons which is further, about and hour or more. Both can be reached with a bus from the Port Authority bus terminal.

Marilyn, honestly, my comments were not intended to start the usual debate about knockoffs. I was merely responding to the original poster's comment about getting designer handbags "for a bargain" on Canal Street.

Howard, I think my post came across more annoyed/critical than I really meant. Sorry -- I should have thrown a smiley face in there somewhere. I was just concerned because you know how this forum can get!