Totally Unauthorized

Not a bad starting point

Tuesday is usually a day for bridge with Gail at Redwood, but yesterday we went off on an expedition: our friend Harry was in need of some retail therapy, otherwise known as shopping in the big city.

We met in Union Square, and decided to try someplace we hadn’t been for lunch–the Grand View room at the Grand Hyatt hotel.  First, though, we had to negotiate our way into the building, which had a large group of very loud labor protesters in front, walking in a circle, waving signs and making an astounding amount of noise on their bullhorns.   The Grand Hyatt has a large number of very polite, well dressed security people who will walk with you through the lines or lead you to another entrance.   The Hyatt has even erected scaffolding around the front entrance to shield all this from public view.

Once inside, we took the elevator to the 36th floor for lunch.   The view is splendid, the food mediocre.  My pannini was cold in the center, the supposed ‘burrata’ seemed like ordinary mozzarella, Gail’s cobb salad was ordinary at best.  Go up there for a drink in the bar and the view, don’t think you’re going to get a great meal.

Time to go shopping.  First stop: Sak’s Mens store.  Harry headed straight up to the fifth floor for the designer sportswear.  This is easy for me–not a chance of finding anything my size. Things on sale might have been reasonable, otherwise prices were absurd–a hooded t-shirt was $195.

Down the block and around the corner, we found Hermes, that French monument to conspicuous consumption.  These people think $100 handkerchiefs and $560 beach towels are normal.

High class outpost for "cheese eating surrender monkeys"

So your baby will be born with both a silver spoon and a silver fork.

Doesn't everyone go into San Francisco for new horse tack?

Although Hermes is best known for its beautiful silk scarves, it has a history as a leathermaker.  You might not think of it as the place to buy your next saddle, but they sure have some beautiful tack.

Well, I don’t have a horse and don’t want a $100 handkerchief, so off we went.

It was time for Neiman Marcus.  Although NM is a standard stop for us in the city, yesterday was the quietest we have ever it.  We were outnumbered by sales staff.  And there was nothing on sale, and it looks like they have taken out the Issey Miyake boutique.  I’ve always wanted an Issey Miyake shirt, but the only Japanese my size are sumo wrestlers and they aren’t much of a market for designer clothes, so he doesn’t make anything I can wear.  The visit to NM was sort of a low point, although Gail did get a new bathrobe.

Retail therapy should feed the mind as well as the wardrobe, so we hit a gallery.

Can't shop just for the body, have to treat the mind as well

Horse made from old auto parts and other scrap metal

This is table top sized. I'm still thinking about it.

We stopped in at Caldwell Snyder gallery to see their newest works.  The extraordinarily affable Roger Azevedo assisted us, happily having a painting sent down from the attic so we could enjoy the work of Doug Schneider, an artist Harry went to school with.

Where were you? by Doug Schneider

Next, Gumps.

Having 4 front door shows confidence that you'll have a lot of customers.

Gail is a big fan of Gumps.  I think that he shopping algebra is that Gumps is to Cost Plus as Neiman Marcus is to Target.

Not many people need an enormous copper snail, but Gumps is there for those who do.

I chose not to buy the $45,000 rolling prime rib cart.  I passed on the $440 marrow spoons. Maybe I’m just not a Gumps kind of guy.

Harry headed for home, and Gail and I had one more stop to make.

Can't pass up our favorite designer.

Gail’s favorite designer is Albert Goldman, the brains and heart of Façonnable.  We’ve been in his boutiques in SF, Beverly Hills, New York and Nice.  Didn’t get anything today, but that doesn’t mean we’ll stop looking.

And it was time to hit the trail back over the bridge and through the hills.  Energy replenished, wallet diminished, retails therapy had worked its magic once again.