A site for global citizens interested in life, style and the nexus of the two from the POV of a six continent chickStrolling along, singing a song, side by side
For months Calvin has been eyeing (and borrowing) other mini-strollers. Finally he has one to call his own. That's thanks to an extended Sunday stroll through my ex-ex-neighbourhood on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
State News, a toy shop on E86th Street that I remember as being uninspiring, is more on the other end of the spectrum. I suspect that las less to do with a merchandising change than it does a significant change of perspective on my part. Having unsuccessfully sought a minature pram that was not a lurid shade of pink, we happily happened upon this one. The result, I think, speak for themselves.
One of the best parts of birthday week is having Grammy come to stay. That means a week of treats from getting to celebrate a birthday together to shopping for new duds for spring. 
Calvin may not be able to tell you what goes on in men's rooms, but he's had an all access pass equivalent into the ladies fitting rooms. 
As part of our planning for our trip home to South Africa, we're looking at how to deal with ensuring Calvin has the right toys to keep up his learning. Our quandry is that his favourite -- his playgym -- isn't compact enough to be easily portable. But he spends a significant amount of time batting, kicking, grabbing and gooing on it.
It's 8:30am Saturday morning. My husband and six-and-a-half-week-old baby are blissfully asleep. I could be too. But instead, I am in our livingroom, coaxing the spoils of a number of Fashion District outings into a wearable egg-stravaganza.
The colourful box is tastefully put together. The playmat carry bag uses good design principles and applies white space to balance the alternate monochrome and technicolour explosions barely contained in its plastic boundaries. The contents are anything but usual. Welcome to the world of "ZQ."
One of the things you learn, hopefully sonner than later, is that of the universe of things that you could possibly buy for your baby, you actually need very little of it. Retailers will try all kinds of ploys to encourage you to open your wallet -- the safety and 'what if' angle; the 'essential for the development of your child' aspect; the stye never mind the money sell and the ridiculously cute and possibly of practical use items. This would be one of the latter.
Glide through the red-canopied doors into the zen-calm of Japanese emporium, Takashimaya, on New York's Fifth Avenue, and one of the first of many delights to thrill your senses will be its florist. I've always found it enchanting, often stopping in to stroll, smell and admire, if not buy.
While I witnessed flurries, drizzle, rain, massive snow flakes and various changes betwen all four in the span of minutes today, there's no doubt that Spring is marching forward and before it gets too hot, I'd better publish this post. (It being one of those 
What is it about that spot in Times Square? The intersection of Seventh, Broadway and 42nd street. Last year it housed the DEA, and now it's JCP. If not drug addiction, then compulsive shopping, it's bad karma on a corner.
Deliciously superficial, fashion has cemented its foothold in New York's stereotype as the perfect counterpoint to the stressful, strenuous seriousness of the 60-hour work week.