Replies

1. 
   sewsassy | Mar 02, 2008 04:45am | #1

   Since you are close to Times Square the Best area to shop is 38th street between 7th and 8th avenue.  B & J Fabrics is a goldmine. Also check out Paron Fabrics.  There are others in the area, but those are the two I always go to. (BTY, I'm writing this because I used to live in NYC). Happy shopping!!!

1. 
   rodezzy | Mar 03, 2008 09:32pm | #2

   Thanks for your advice, I will print and take along.

1. 
   Suzyq | Mar 03, 2008 10:11pm | #3

   Paron West / Paron Annex206 West 40th Street, (7th Ave)New York, New York 10018Phone 212 768 3266

   Fax 212.768.3260Hours:Mon-Fri : 9:00AM-5:45PMThursday: 9:00AM-7:00PM

   Saturday: 9.00AM-5:00PMSunday: Closed

   Have fun;-)

1. 
   rodezzy | Mar 03, 2008 10:16pm | #4

   ooooh, thank you very much.

2. 
   zuwena | Mar 05, 2008 08:03am | #5

   I am going to attempt to attach a listing I got from a resource that someone else posted some time ago.  I believe most of the stuff is current enough to use.  Happy shopping.  Z

   
1. 
   rodezzy | Mar 05, 2008 06:32pm | #6

   Thanks for that awesome list of places to shop.  I'm really, extra excited now.  I may go again after I get my company bonus.

2. 
   scrubble4 | Mar 05, 2008 06:41pm | #7

   Zuwena and Rodezzy:

   Rodezzy:  Have a fabulous trip.  I envy you especially after reading Paula's notes published by Zuwena.

   Zuwena, thanks for publishing this really fun read.  I envy folks with such a gift for the gab in writing.  Paula's notes make me want to climb inside Rodezzy's suitcase so I can go to all the stores.  I am sure that would take weeks, but it would be such a wonderfully indulgent treat.

   Scrubble4

3. 
   VKStitcher | Mar 05, 2008 07:02pm | #8

   Rodezzy,

   Have a fabulous time in NYC!  I can't wait to hear about your adventures.  I've only been there once, and we did a whirlwind tour of all the tourist spots.  I'd love to go back to see a show and do some shopping!  :-)

4. 
   rodezzy | Mar 10, 2008 11:21pm | #9

   First of all, I want to thank everyone for the good information on shopping in the Big Apple.  Unfortunately I only rode through the garment district, on Fashion street, 5th Ave, 6th Ave., from 31st Street to 59th Street.  Five of the seven that went were only interested in finding knock off designer bags and I never set foot in downtown NYC. 

   Stood in the rain while others ran in and out of what I consider flea market shops on Canal Street.  Aweful place.

   Oh well, I traveled.  We stayed in the Hilton Garden Inn in Long Island.  A very nice hotel.  Good food there too.  Had a wonderful breakfast, the beds were comfy.  No one wanted to go to NYC the next day, including me.  Went to a beautiful in door mall, everyone split up and shopped.  I purchased shirts for my gd's and nodded in an oversized leather chair in front of Macy's until everyone came back. 

   We then went to Walmart's, they shopped I walked around, then we went to TGIF Fridays for dinner and back to the hotel to play video games. 

   Left 7:35 a.m. Sunday morning and had a smooth flight back to Chicago. 

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 3/10/2008 4:23 pm ET by rodezzy

1. 
   Palady | Mar 11, 2008 01:33am | #10

   It's unfortunate you were uanble to get to the 7th Ave area of NY.  The many can be a joy for a sewist.

   My mother traversed there when she visited me in Philadlephia, PA back when I was in school and later working in the city.  She'd take a bus into NY city. 

   Now my daughter duplicates her grandmother whenever she is in the city from Boston, MA.

   Your taking the high road >> ...  Oh well, I traveled ... << is admirable.

   Me

2. 
   scrubble4 | Mar 11, 2008 06:13pm | #11

   Rodezzy;  I want to go to NYC with you.  We would have a ball and I am sure we would loose weight as we wouldn't come up for air even.  One sewing store after another.  Oh well maybe in another life. 

   Very good of you to be so understanding about the needs of others when it sounds like yours were not a high priority for them. 

   I hope you enjoyed the company and the weather wasn't too awful while you were there.

   Scrubble4

1. 
   rodezzy | Mar 11, 2008 06:45pm | #12

   Thanks for the offer, I would love to go with people that like fabric and sewing.  But, I knew who I was with, and I just prepared myself for whatever.  All in all it was a good trip.  No airplane trouble, going or coming home was a blessing.  Just glad to travel actually.  I will get back there, if I have to go alone. giggle (seriously though, I will go alone if I have to)

1. 
   scrubble4 | Mar 11, 2008 07:41pm | #13

   rodezzy:  "if I have to go alone. giggle (seriously though, I will go alone if I have to)"

   I admit that when there is something I want to do, I often prefer doing it alone, even though I love the company of my family and friends.  Fabric shopping is something that I have only enjoyed with other fabric enthusiasts.  Soooo I can think of a lot worse fates than fabric shopping by myself in NYC. 

   Other Taunton Press forums have fests.  I think a Gathering's fest would be a shopping trip or at least a drooling trip to a major city's fabric area.  Then when we got back to the hotel rooms we could relive it all by showing and comparing our fabric stashes, buttons, as well as weird and wonderful notion finds.  Yes that would definitely be fun.  I hope that is an option in the next life, as I would really look forward to it. I don't see how we can arrange it in this one.  Bringing Cherrypops over from Aussieland would just be a bit pricey.  On the other hand, maybe we should all just go to Hong Kong or China or Milan.  Those are suppose to be pretty good fabric spots as well.

   Okay enough dreaming.  I am glad you did enjoy your trip despite the lack of fabric viewing opportunities.  Scrubble4

1. 
   rodezzy | Mar 11, 2008 07:47pm | #14

   Thanks sweetem's I'm dreaming right along with you on those overseas trips.  MMMMMm silks, brocades, lucious fabrics.  POP! I woke up. giggle

2. 
   SAAM | Mar 13, 2008 08:43am | #20

   Gosh Rodezzy, I understand your pain. A friend of mine and I go to New York once or twice a year and I have yet to get to the fabric district. Before each trip, my friend talks about how she knows how much I would love it and how we should go, and each time, something comes up that she just has to see, a museum exhibit, a talk by a famous poet, etc. I like these things too, so I go along, plus I know she'd probably be bored to death looking at fabric. Last year, my husband, my daughter, and I took a trip up to see a show and I thought that would be my chance. We walked past some of the wonderful shops near the theatre district, but I could see the looks on my family members' faces (dread that I would want to spend much time there :() so I couldn't bring myself to go in. Boy did I drool, though, looking in the windows.So my vote is yes, go alone, so you can take all the time you want to search through all that lovely fabric to find the perfect lengths for you. That is my goal, to go from fabric store to fabric store and see it all (and buy some of it! :) ) without some disapproving face looking over my shoulder wondering why I'm not done already.Sherry

1. 
   rodezzy | Mar 13, 2008 05:30pm | #21

   If wishes could come true, we could plan to meet up in New York and then we could frolic together down the streets of the garment district, dancing and singing like an old Zigfield Musical.  In and out of the stores with bags of fabulous fabric whirling in the wind.  And ACTION!.........giggle. 

2. 
   SAAM | Mar 14, 2008 08:04am | #22

   Sounds wonderful! I'll put on my dancing shoes!!!Sherry

3. 
   Gloriasews | Mar 11, 2008 09:56pm | #15

   Aw, poor Rodezzy - no fabrics this time - you'll just have to go back, eh?  At least you had a nice weekend away with friends - that always counts for something.  I know how hard it is shopping with friends when none of them is interested in sewing.  It does limit the places you go - &, unfortunately, they don't understand sometimes how important it is to you so that they'll compromise a bit.  O well, that's life, eh?  At least you enjoyed your weekend away.

   Gloria

1. 
   rodezzy | Mar 11, 2008 10:24pm | #16

   Yea, and what's so funny as we drove around Long Island on Satuday, they saw a sign hawking discount fabric and kept telling me about it, I ignored them basically. 

   Later that night as they were rehashing the days roamings, they commented and questioned me about not jumping up for the fabric. 

   I told them "That was crap fabric I could buy anywhere, I wanted to go to the fashion capital of the world in the garment district of NYC and see, feel, touch and buy fabric that would or has graced the runways of the world."  then they understood.  It was to me the same as to them about designer purses.  A hush fell over the room and nothing else was said about me and the "fabric."

   Edited 3/11/2008 3:24 pm ET by rodezzy

   Edited 3/11/2008 3:25 pm ET by rodezzy

1. 
   Gloriasews | Mar 11, 2008 11:00pm | #17

   So now they know how important it was to you - & they were embarrassed about it (the hush in the room) & they probably felt really selfish in their quest for bags, etc.  I think you taught them a lesson & it probably won't happen again.  The next trip you take with them will probably be much better for you.

   Gloria

1. 
   rodezzy | Mar 11, 2008 11:26pm | #18

   Yea, they are looking into booking in NYC in May of next year so everybody can do what they want in the city itself next time. 

2. 
   Gloriasews | Mar 12, 2008 08:33pm | #19

   Good for you!  Something now to really look forward to & save your $ for all the fabrics & yarn :).

   Gloria