Chelsea Market

Once we figured out how to use the Keurig coffee maker and enjoyed the individually brewed cups of coffee, took our turns at the huge showers with multi-showerheads, and got ourselves dressed, we reluctantly left our “condo” and drove to NYC to wander through Chelsea Market. Saturday was a crazy day—tourists, tour groups and New Yorkers—shopping and eating their way through this old market.

The Chelsea Market was built within the former Nabisco factory complex where the Oreo Cookie was invented and produced. The 22-building complex fills two entire blocks bounded by 9th and 11th Avenues and 15th to 16th Street.

In 1997, the building was re-purposed into a kind of “gourmet urban food court” with bakeries,

fish shops, a dairy store, produce market along with clothing stores, wholesale kitchen equipment and the Food Network’s headquarter upstairs.

Jean and Gordon found the most amazing little stall selling flavored salts, vinegars and sugars- complete with tastings. They walked out with blueberry balsamic vinegar that was good enough to drink.

We managed to find our way back to Jersey City and Jean and I took off for the Path station to take the World Trade Center line to Century 21.

Century 21

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

It was our last chance to shop at this 4 story mecca of discounted designer clothes, shoes, accessories, cosmetics and household goods. The narrow aisles are packed with people from every part of the world pulling wheeled carriers loaded with their treasures. Checkout alone can take 30 minutes.

It was our last night and our “graduation dinner” just had to be at Madame Claude’s. We had the same waitress and had a wonderful meal.

Madame Claude's