So Hip in SoHo

For a budding fashionista like me (well, not quite) SoHo is the place to be. I never realized how many fashion flagship stores were located in that area, not just brand names like Chanel and Armani Exchange but Kirna Zabete and the Diesel Gallery store among many, many others. I found this out this weekend when a bunch of friends invited me out to the Village to walk around.

You'd be surprised how much fashion you can find on the streets. I saw big rimmed sunglasses, chunky beads, and dangly earrings sold by vendors for $10 to $15 a pop. Other friends noticed rock star t-shirt and finger puppets.

As we walked along, I noticed the cultural hustle and bustle of the big city. Friends schmoozed, planting themselves outside of cheeky coffeeshops and local one-of-a-kind eateries as we passed, following the crowd toward our unknown destination. It made me feel like I wanted to be a part of it, joining in the Village's avant garde air.

I will definitely go back, purely for shopping reasons and perhaps to try a new bistro or outdoor cafe, both city staples in SoHo. The six of us had dinner at Zoe on Prince St and feasted on contemporary American cuisine as we watched chefs cook on the exposed wood-burning oven nearby. Mark ordered a white wine bottle for the table and we munched on calamari. I ordred sea bass for myself (trying to cut out meat for the Nine days and Tisha B'av, though perhaps sea bass isn't the most kosher choice as a replacement) and it came drenched in a sweet cream sauce. Ironically, the more expensive the item, the smaller the portion. Gordie and I both ordered fish (he had the cod) and we both received square miniatures in response. Nevertheless, both were prepared exquisitely and were surprisingly filling.

I was satisfied with the way the night turned out.

I truly love SoHo's laid-back shroud of urban sophistication.