Just A Little Sex in the City

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Greenwich Village is another one of NYC’s great neighborhoods. Mostly residential with a bohemian feel, the streets are lined with cool shops and coffeehouses (“Friends” was set in the Village!). Like SoHo, the Village is an area meant for aimless meandering; there are countless “treasures” to be found.

We didn’t have a lot of time in the Village on the day we visited (unfortunately), so we didn’t get to see one of the most famous parks in New York City other than Central Park. I have to say, Jim wasn’t heartbroken about that, because this park was the setting for the movie “I Am Legend”, which, as you may recall, totally freaked us out.

Fortunately, Julesie and I stayed at a hotel there on our last visit, and so here are two photos from that visit of Washington Square Park:

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Also situated in the Village is/was one of the greatest restaurants of all time, the Miracle Bar and Grill. Julesie and I loved it. It was sad to see it shuttered. Boo hoo.

Before: (the sign just *looked* happier when it was open, don’t you think?)

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After: SADNESS.

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One of the things I love about NYC but especially the Village is the plethora of flowers you can stop and buy if you feel like it. They are always displayed outside en masse, and I love to look at them.

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As we walked the length of Bleecker Street we passed by the upscale shops. I did hit the aromatherapy shop that I usually do, but since we were in a bit of a time crunch we skipped most other shops. Until we were rewarded with the Magnolia Bakery–WITH NO LINE–at the end.

The Magnolia Bakery is famous for its cupcakes; you may have heard of it before. My kids know it from (and have talked about going there because of) this SNL Digital Short.

The fact that there was virtually no line down the block as there normally is was a great thing. On past visits, Julesie and I couldn’t get in because we were always finishing dinner at the Miracle Grill and then didn’t have time to stand in line all night long. I think, when I saw that it would actually be possible to finally try these cupcakes, I squealed.

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The Bakery is T-I-N-Y. When you walk in, the cupcakes are actually to your left and in the corner window. YUMMY!

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And don’t worry, there’s no need to panic: there are enough cupcakes for EVERYBODY! (I love this sign!)

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When I saw them frosting more cupcakes I had to snap a photo. I was considering ways I could either A) go offer to help them or B) climb into a bowl of frosting.

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The cupcake boxes have little inserts in them so your cupcakes don’t get all smooshed together. Nice touch! (Fancy!)

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Here’s where the afternoon became a bit surreal. We got our cupcakes and walked across the street to Bleecker Playground, getting comfy on a bench so we could chow down.

As soon as we sat down, a tour guide led a group of about 30-35 people over to our benches. She nicely said to us, “I use this bench to stand on while I talk to my group. Do you mind?”

I said, “Sure, you’re fine.”

She said, “Thanks! You can stay…and maybe you’ll even learn something!”

We got back to taking our cupcakes out of the box as she began talking. “We’re now in Debbie-Miranda Park, from the episode where Miranda and Debbie were talking about *insert whatever it was that she said that I can’t remember*…”

I looked up at the group and noticed what it was. It was a group from the “Sex and the City Tour”. All of the participants had a tour book in hand, and were hanging on every word the tour guide said. The four of us looked at each other, suddenly feeling a little awkward.

The tour guide continued, “Across the street is the bookstore where Samantha and *so-and-so (again, can’t remember)* had their first…er, LOVE CONNECTION, if you know what I mean. And the Magnolia Bakery? You all know about that. As a matter of fact, if you’ll look at these people sitting here and what they’re eating, you’ll notice they’re enjoying cupcakes from Magnolia right now.”

You know how teenagers LOVE to be stared at by throngs of people? That’s about the point when the boys gave me these looks:

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I had to laugh. It was the most bizarre thing. We sat there, trying to calmly eat our cupcakes while she finished her spiel and sent her group shopping on Bleecker Street for the next 20 minutes while she went to Magnolia to pick up cupcakes for everybody (not us, though we deserved seconds).

As we finished our treats, we watched as many of the people in the group just hung out and posed for photos in Debbie-Miranda Park, happily swinging from lightposts, putting on their best “Sex and the City” smiles. Before anyone had time to reenact Samantha and *insert random name here*’s first LOVE CONNECTION, if you know what I mean, we walked on.

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19 Comments

  • Oh My GOFF!

    I love greenwich but you hit the nail on the head when it comes to space available! most restaurants and shops are “tiny”. Eating out means almost communal dining! Man that blue cc is purdy! xx

  • Kat

    You’re either the worst or the best friend for posting pictures of the cupcakes 😉 I know it’s the latter but man I want one of those…

    Funny story…I want to see and hear more of the Debbie-Miranda park. LOL

  • NukeDad

    Again; would LOVE to be a New Yorker, but then, I’d have these daily battles like; “College tuition, or a cupcake?” Maybe if I hit the lotto.

  • Sue

    OK, do you ever wonder why only yummy cupcake bakeries have those handy cupcake inserts? How many cupcakes have I messed up by carrying them to school in a big box? I need to buy some of those (cupcake holders that is!) It is a good thing I am eating a chocolate croissant right now, or I would have to go make cupcakes.
    The SNL short was very funny!

  • Mom24

    I can’t believe all the wonderful things you did. You really know how to travel. The Magnolia Bakery has been on my ‘someday’ list for a long time. It’s fun reading through your trip.

  • i am the diva

    there must have been enough hotties in the tour to make it worth while for your boys, though, right?

  • Isabella

    So, I know you said you enjoyed your cupcakes, but is it one of those things where you would say, “wow…I would SO wait in line for these!” In any case, they look absolutely delicious!

  • Mags

    So…how were the cupcakes? I’ve heard mixed reviews though I have to admit, most of them were bad. That makes me sad! I’m hoping you’ll tell me that they were divine and not at all dry (the main complaint I’ve heard.)

    They are pretty though-always pretty.

    I have 2 cookbooks from that bakery-I’ve only baked 1 thing from them though.

    I have a super secret “fancy” way to SHIP cupcakes so they don’t get messed up…but I can’t tell what it is. 😉

  • Oscar

    I am so behind reading… if I’d have known I’d have bought you all drink! I live 30 minutes by train to NYC.

  • Michelle

    Ok seriously, you and I need to go hit NYC. Truly. My stomach is now growling.

    And the cupcakes? I so would have demanded cupcake payment for her standing on the bench and blathering on about Sex and the City. Seriously there’s a tour? I would be so embarrassed to tell people that’s what I did 😉

  • Anissa Mayhew

    come hell or high water I’m coming to NY and you are taking me for cupcake, woman!! Promise me! SAY IT. *no, really, trying to work out a trip up there in Nov*

  • Sheri

    I am loving your posts about your trip, thank you for sharing. Now I want to go on vacation! And I want some cupcakes.

  • Andie

    ha classic. LOL that is awesome. and I soooo would have been like the boys, annoyed that people were watching me eat my cupcakes. LOL

  • The Microblogologist

    I have decided that you are currently my official NYC navigator if I ever go there. Your job would be to to come with and make sure I didn’t get horribly lost and possibly killed and to make sure we get yummy cupcakes and such. Oh and I’d probably try to drag you if I needed to visit the city back home as well.

  • Katie

    Mmm… Magnolia cupcakes! Ate those too! 😉 I’ve always wondered what they talk about on those TV-type tours. I was never a big fan of SATC, but thought about doing the Soprano’s one. I think I’ll probably pass 😉

  • Magpie

    Debbie-Miranda park cracks me up.

    I like the Magnolia cupcakes, but they're kind of small and kind of spendy. I wish they were bigger and cheaper!