Well after a good time at the spa, I'm ready to shop!  We grab a bite at Sant Ambroeus.  The gelato, is my new boyfriend.  It's that good!

 

We walk down to 72 Street Madison Avenue Shopping district.  The Avenue where real shopping takes place.  There are no tourists, no wanna be's, no window shoppers, just straight up shopping!  Price means nothing.  I just want to have it!

 

The Madison Avenue, north of 59 is never really busy but the stores inside can be quite busy. Park Ave also isn't as busy.  Lexington is where you'll see a more dense street.

 

We start of at the Polo Mansion

 

 

Picked up some stuff for my niece.  For your JC girls, they have items at 70% off.  Get it while you can, this store was packed.

 

 

Off to Tommy Ford.  This place is disgustingly lovely.  It's the best mens boutique in New York.  The guys make it soooooooo hard to leave.

 

Next up, my favorite store!  Some items were 50% off, I've never experienced that.  I'm amazed at the prices.

 

 

 

 

I'm gay, but if I was a straight man or a lesbian, my woman would be required to wear La Perla undies.  OMG, they are so sexy, that this would be a requirement in the Pre-nup!

 

I wanted that coat so bad, but it looked like I was wearing a blonde chewbacca fur with a bad root job.  ugh.  The suits are lovely.

 

I was finally feeling better, then on the way to Armani I got a call that Mens Vogue will no longer be published as a stand alone publication.  Ugh!  The horror.

 

 

 

We made it into Hermes.  I wasn't really impressed with the resort or spring collections.

 

 

Everytime I pass this store, I just holla.  She is such a smart girl, but a store was not the best thing. 

 

Picked up some good bargains for the kids at DKNY.  70% off.  They are really hurting.

 

One of my top five stores.  Everything is so lush and luxurious.

 

We end our shopping at my favorite store

 

Everything in the store is on sale.  This is one of the best sales they have ever had.  AMEX is really happy with me today.  On and by the way, here are pictures of the barne's windows he he he he

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you MTS for keeping the economy going!

Ralph Lauren's house is off the chain. You can't tell me he's straight, with a house that God D@mn 'fabulous'.

Thank you MTS for keeping the economy going!

 

I did my part and will continue to do so today.

Just curious, what do you do for a living?

Awesome! Thanks for allowing me to experience, if only vicariously, livin' well in Manhattan!

Dear Lord, it was like watching...

 

Dear Lord, it was like watching...

 

 

Hopefully, you people will know how to properly dress yourselves moving forward!

Have you seen the economic news lately?  You'll likely be seeing me at 149th in the Bronx lately...

Have you seen the economic news lately?  You'll likely be seeing me at 149th in the Bronx lately...

 

Dear lord another casual corner debacle!

Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a yuppie douchebag :)

hahaha you got your own barney windows at last!

 

 

you know looking at that....i mean would it hurt them to put those yutzy chain shops in halfway decent looking buildings....you know like a real city like london does?  :evil:

 

Have you seen the economic news lately?  You'll likely be seeing me at 149th in the Bronx lately...

 

v.i.m !!! jimmy jazz !!! dr. jay's !!! now we're talking sensical. better selection up on fordham road tho.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Cleveland State, I'm too poor to afford anything in those windows!!! lol

Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a yuppie douchebag :)

 

Correction.  Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a well dressed yuppie douchebag  :-P

Well, it's no Prada, but you know it's bad when Macy's starts putting things like Dooney and Bourke handbags at 40% off.  I was shocked, but my wallet didn't hurt quite as badly!  Thanks for the tour :)

Haha wow.. only you MTS..

I was there and saw most of these stores just before Christmas and was a little disappointed in the decorations/windows. 

One definite exception was Bergdorf Goodman (the main store), it was gorgeous!

 

Im also always blown away at how friendly people can be in NYC.  From the excellent service to the people on the streets. 

I guess coming from DC its a given. 

I was there and saw most of these stores just before Christmas and was a little disappointed in the decorations/windows. 

One definite exception was Bergdorf Goodman (the main store), it was gorgeous!

 

Im also always blown away at how friendly people can be in NYC.  From the excellent service to the people on the streets. 

I guess coming from DC its a given. 

 

What stores did you go to?

 

Most of these retail "hoes" are mean & spiteful.  How nice they are to you depends on the amount of $$$ you spend. 

 

The more you spend, the nicer they get.

 

I've watched service folks "slice and dice" folks.  I watched man at Bergdorf have a heart attack and the sales associate step over him and say, "I'll be with you in a moment Sir" while she completed her sale.

 

I know my guy at Barney's lets me have it left, right & center when I'm not around.  We should up at the store without an appointment and he pulled like 75/80 pieces, I know that b!tch was pissed, until we checked out.  When they deliver the goods, I'm sure they'll be a nice note included.  However, I know he called me and my BFF all kinds a MFs.

This is one of the uplifting threads I've seen in a long time :)

This is one of the uplifting threads I've seen in a long time :)

 

Thanks, coming from you thats a big compliment!

Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a yuppie douchebag :)

 

Correction. Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a well dressed yuppie douchebag :-P

 

That must be why they keep you 'behind the scenes'.

Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a yuppie douchebag :)

 

Correction.  Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a well dressed yuppie douchebag  :-P

 

That must be why they keep you 'behind the scenes'.

 

Just a hater!  You hate so much.  Lay off the hater-ade!  lol

Lawd! :-)

Lawd! :)

 

Thats what I'm going to say when I get my AMEX statement.  :|

Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a yuppie douchebag :)

 

Correction. Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a well dressed yuppie douchebag :-P

 

That must be why they keep you 'behind the scenes'.

 

Just a hater! You hate so much. Lay off the hater-ade! lol

 

I'm all out of kool aid :(

Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a yuppie douchebag :)

 

Correction.  Flaunting your wealth during a recession makes you look like a well dressed yuppie douchebag  :P

 

That must be why they keep you 'behind the scenes'.

 

Just a hater!  You hate so much.  Lay off the hater-ade!  lol

 

I'm all out of kool aid :(

 

We'll get a new drink!  Ya hater!  :P

I want to go in Tommy Ford.

I want to go in Tommy Ford.

 

Its really Tom Ford, but I call him Tommy.  Once you walk thru the door and they hand you a beverage and a smoked salmon nibbly thing, you won't want to leave.

Ahaha, the next time I go shopping, I'll take pictures. You'll get pictures of a motorcycle shop, Jeg's, Shake-It Records, that Rasta store in on Short Vine, and Game Swap. You'll also get at least a couple dead mall threads.

Ahaha, the next time I go shopping, I'll take pictures. You'll get pictures of a motorcycle shop, Jeg's, Shake-It Records, that Rasta store in on Short Vine, and Game Swap. You'll also get at least a couple dead mall threads.

 

LMAO!!  No dead malls, we want to help our economy.

Ahaha, the next time I go shopping, I'll take pictures. You'll get pictures of a motorcycle shop, Jeg's, Shake-It Records, that Rasta store in on Short Vine, and Game Swap. You'll also get at least a couple dead mall threads.

 

I've seen that Rasta shop a million times while going to Bogarts, but I still have no idea what they sell.  Is it just a head shop like the smoke shop on Jefferson?  It seems like everyone in Clifton smokes, so it would definitely make sense lol.

Ahaha, the next time I go shopping, I'll take pictures. You'll get pictures of a motorcycle shop, Jeg's, Shake-It Records, that Rasta store in on Short Vine, and Game Swap. You'll also get at least a couple dead mall threads.

 

I've seen that Rasta shop a million times while going to Bogarts, but I still have no idea what they sell. Is it just a head shop like the smoke shop on Jefferson? It seems like everyone in Clifton smokes, so it would definitely make sense lol.

 

A lot of college neighborhoods/towns are like that.

Ahaha, the next time I go shopping, I'll take pictures. You'll get pictures of a motorcycle shop, Jeg's, Shake-It Records, that Rasta store in on Short Vine, and Game Swap. You'll also get at least a couple dead mall threads.

 

I've seen that Rasta shop a million times while going to Bogarts, but I still have no idea what they sell. Is it just a head shop like the smoke shop on Jefferson? It seems like everyone in Clifton smokes, so it would definitely make sense lol.

 

A lot of college neighborhoods/towns are like that.

 

Of course they are, college campuses have always been weed hubs.  Is the rasta shop a head shop then, David?

I don't even know what a rasta shop is. I know there's a store that sells fake urine, tobacco that your snort, hookahs, etc. among other goodies. It's like half head shop, half convenience store. The guy who works there sounds Armenian. I don't know if that's what you're talking about or not. It's 1 or 2 stores down from Steak and Lemonade.

I don't even know what a rasta shop is. I know there's a store that sells fake urine, tobacco that your snort, hookahs, etc. among other goodies. It's like half head shop, half convenience store. The guy who works there sounds Armenian. I don't know if that's what you're talking about or not. It's 1 or 2 stores down from Steak and Lemonade.

 

you can actually identify an Armenian accent? That's pretty good. Re: fake urine and Steak and Lemonade. A joint business venture?

lol!

I love Steak 'n Lemonade. Their slushies are amazing.

lol!

I love Steak 'n Lemonade. Their slushies are amazing.

 

I never heard of it. Is that a chain, like Steak 'n Shake?

It's a small place. It's in Over-the-Rhine and Corryville. There might be one in Walnut Hills. It's a chain but there's only a couple locations. They give you a lot of food and it's really cheap. If you're ever in Cincinnati I recommend the gyros or the cheese steak.

I don't even know what a rasta shop is. I know there's a store that sells fake urine, tobacco that your snort, hookahs, etc. among other goodies. It's like half head shop, half convenience store. The guy who works there sounds Armenian. I don't know if that's what you're talking about or not. It's 1 or 2 stores down from Steak and Lemonade.

 

There is a Rastafarian shop on Short Vine across the street from Bogarts. And I think what you're referring to is the Smoke Shop.

Barneys May Be Sold By Retailer’s Dubai-Based Owner

 

By Sara Gay Forden and Haris Anwar

 

Jan. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Barneys New York’s owner, Dubai’s Istithmar World PJSC, may sell the retailer less than two years after buying it as the fund struggles with losses and the luxury market slows, two people familiar with the situation said.

 

Istithmar doesn’t want to sell the business for less than the $942.3 million it paid in 2007, said one of the people, who declined to be identified because the talks were private. The state-owned fund has had calls from potential buyers and would sell its entire stake, one of the people said. Istithmar Chief Executive Officer David Jackson declined to comment.

 

The Dubai investment fund has struggled to expand Barneys outside the U.S. after Howard Socol resigned as chief executive in May and the luxury market withered. Istithmar was one of seven Gulf funds that lost a cumulative 15 percent in 2008, according to Saudi bank Samba Financial Group.

 

“If they’re in a hurry and need the cash right now, they will have to pay the price,” said Armando Branchini, vice president of Intercorporate, a Milan-based consulting firm specialized in luxury. “If Istithmar can be patient, they’ll get the pay-off.”

 

Dubai borrowed $80 billion to finance its transformation into the Persian Gulf’s finance and tourism hub and is being stung by a drop in oil and real-estate prices. Debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service has said Dubai may need help from the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi to fund those borrowings.

 

Istithmar suspended its vice chairman and chief financial officer in September after Dubai police detained them for alleged embezzlement at their previous jobs.

 

Istithmar Investments

 

Barneys sells fashions by designers ranging from Balenciaga to Manolo Blahnik. Founded by Barney Pressman as a cut-rate men’s suit store in 1923, the company began building up women’s lines in the 1970s. The Pressman family lost control in 1998 and the company exited bankruptcy protection in 1999. It was bought by Jones Apparel Group Inc. for $294.3 million in 2004. Istithmar acquired Barneys from Jones in September, 2007.

 

Istithmar was talking with Prada SpA about a partnership to expand in the Middle East as recently as last summer. Since then, the luxury market has worsened. Cie. Financiere Richemont AG, the world’s second-biggest luxury-goods company, this week said conditions are the worst in 20 years.

 

It’s unlikely anyone would pay “full price” for Barneys after the downturn in the U.S. economy and departure of Socol, said Branchini, the Intercorporate consultant. Socol added “edgy” brands to the Madison Avenue store, Branchini said, and distinguished it from rivals such as Saks Fifth Avenue.

 

Dubai Boom

 

Istithmar, which as of last year managed more than $10 billion, also owns 20 percent of Canadian circus troupe Cirque du Soleil and a majority of Gulf Stream Asset Management LLC.

 

Dubai is the second-largest sheikhdom in the United Arab Emirates, and said in November that it was seeking help from the federation’s government and pulling back supply of new real- estate projects. The emirate built the world’s tallest building and palm tree-shaped islands during its boom this decade.

 

Surging economic growth in Dubai, helped by record oil prices and new laws allowing foreigners to own property, sparked a real-estate boom that saw residential property prices increase fourfold in the last five years. Oil prices have since collapsed, while the collapse of global credit markets cut Dubai and its state-owned entities’ access to new borrowings.

Man if I had $942.4 million.

 

A brotha can dream!