Anahata Katkin: There & Back: A week in NYC

Just back from a trip to New York for pleasure and some work. Eli (my co worker, brother) organized

a cool pop up store at Jingle, a holiday artisans event at the Chelsea Market. (Photobooth w Eli at the Tippler.)

A delicious and wondrous place overflowing with gourmet eateries, bakeries and markets. I hadn't left town in 6 months and I had a real case of small town fever. I found myself overwhelmed and excited by all sorts of ammenities that we just don't have in Ashland.

Things like gourmet grocery stores had me standing in my tracks (and fondling good packaging and rare vegetables!!).

Kind of a spaced out haze of inspiration kept coming over me while people had to widdle their way around me in crowded places.

My lifelong friend, Tyrone (in this awesome picture from the Standard) met up with us and said moving around all the people properly is a sixth sense in NY. Something he knows well after 12 years there. I however have the ability to play dancing chicken with people in a crowded walkway!

I had a lot of free time this trip. A first for me in NY. I always work so much when I'm there that I don't play enough. So

this time I had a chance to seek out fun. Like this indoor garage flea market in Chelsea! Still bumbed I didn't buy these giant 80's rhinestone earrings! (Damn it!) But I did nabb a vintage, Venician leather clutch with gold embossing.

I marveled at some holiday windows...and scratched my head at others.

We revelled in good customer service and scoffed at $22.00 drinks (like always), saw some performance art (entertaining?), and did our best to stray off the path . It was a lovely getaway with good company and lots of laughs.