God Bless Saks, Jesus and Pizza

This weekend I tried to take advantage of the break from the rainy weather and spend as much time outdoors as possible. Saturday marked the last weekend the City celebrated Summer Streets, which happens for three weekends during August. Each Saturday officials close Park Avenue from Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, setting up a series of "rest stops" where they have food vendors, kid-friendly activities and free bike repairs. I leaned about the event from coworkers who suggested I go. Of course when I think of a street festival I think of food AND retail vendors. I arrived to 68th and Park, dressed in my cute sundress, ballerina flats and iced White Chocolate Mocha in hand only to discover that the event isn't for the weekend stroller, but rather a mad house of runners and bicylists taking advantage of the few hours they don't fear for their lives thanks to the lunatics we call taxi drivers.

I walked along Park Avenue for about half a mile (I mean hey, I was there so why not take advantage of a closed street), and quickly decided I looked like a moron next to the exercise fanatics. On top of that, I started to feel very sad seeing the bicyclists and remembering my adventures on my beach cruiser back in Charleston. Well I suppose there was no better way for me to cure the lonely heart, but to suppress it with a little retail therapy. I got on my Blackberry and searched shopping destinations on Foursquare (which if you haven't uploaded the new version, do it. Immediately!) and what would you know...Saks Fifth Avenue was just around the corner!

While I may have been overdressed for Summer Streets, I'm sure I looked like a hobo in Saks. I walked around the ground floor for probably 20 minutes trying to figure out where all the clothes and shoes were. Thankfully I discovered a directory that informed me there were seven floors of shopping....Lord, save me! I took a deep breath and decided to only choose one floor (shoes and handbags) so it appeared I was there for something in particular and not some tourist going as part of a destination location with no intent to puchase. The feeling I got walking around must be similar to Andy in Devil Wears Prada, ovewhelmed and drooling at the masterpieces in Vogue's clothing department. I've been wanting to get a new bag, and they have lots of smaller bags that I'm sure I could afford...$2,000 for a clutch? Just kidding! Instead I settle on a pair of light brown Tory Burch ballerina flats, because afterall I've been thinking about it for awhile, excluding them from the "impulse buy" category.

I topped off my day with a late lunch at Rockefeller Center and last minute sale at Anthropologie. I was extremely successful at this store, and I reaffirmed why I believe you should NEVER pay full price for something (except my Tory Burch flats, that is) because I got an amazing summer dress for $20 marked down from $188...insane!

As I'm walking back to the subway, and dreading the sauna that awaits me, I walk past an enormous cathedral. Hmm, there were a lot of people in front and crosses at the top of the steeples...it must be Catholic. I look closer at the sign, and discover it is St. Patrick's Cathedral. I've literally been scoring left and right because this was on my list of places to see! Winning! Although I felt sacreligious with my shopping bags, I went inside and realized why this is rated with five stars in my tour of NYC book. The cathedral began construction in 1858 and was modeled in a Neo-Gothic style. After a brief halt in construction during the Civil War, the Cathedral opened its doors in 1882. Each side of the Cathedral is lined with chapels dedicated to saints and each housing offertory candles. I sat in a pew taking in the grandeur of everything all while watching a wedding take place at the main alter (I am later told the bride and groom must be politicians' children). I recommend Saint Jude's Chapel located on the left side of the Cathedral and the prayer card table at the back right of the Cathedral.

I wrapped up my weekend with a Sunday gathering for my amazing co-worker's 33rd birthday. She hosted it at Adrianne's Pizzabar in the heart of the Financial District (literally, blocks off from Wall Street). Adrianne's can be found on Stone Street, a hidden teasure in this concrete jungle. The street is lined with fabulous restaurants and pubs and is closed to vehicles. Guests can sit at tables on the cobblestone street, and it is perfect for hosting large groups. It was such a treat to meet a lot of new faces in the city and to see a gem I would have likely ovelooked.

This weekend is certainly one for the books, finding sweet surprises around every corner...literally. God bless Saks, Jesus and pizza.