I visited my friend Tet in Brooklyn yesterday and she suggested that we have our “afternoon tea” at The Chocolate Room, which was just within walking distance from their place…

Rated as the #1 Dessert Cafe in New York by Zagat’s 2008 Survey, we knew that we were in for a treat. And what a treat it was! We had a slice of rich chocolate cake…

and chocolate fondue to share…

The chocolate was definitely scrumptious! Not too sweet, not too bitter and very very delectable! We literally wiped off the fondue pot to the last chocolatey drop! With a cup of brewed coffee and a dear old friend to split the yummy treats with, it was a perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon .

Thank you Tet! I think I’ll be visiting you in Brooklyn at least once a week now! Heehee!

The Chocolate Room is located at 86 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217

(Photo of The Chocolate Room storefront from thechocolateroombrooklyn.com)

We were on our way to our favorite Shanghai cuisine restaurant on Bayard Street in Chinatown and we were welcomed by the beat of of drums and confetti!

Not because we are VIPs, hehehe! But because there was a dragon dance going on!!! Check it out!!!

I enjoyed it so much, it was just like being back home! The streets, though as dirty still had that festive ambiance!

I can’t wait to see how Chinese New Year is celebrated in New York City’s Chinatown!

Yes! You can find it here! The Garden of Eden Gourmet Market that is!

From imported hams and salamis, pates, foie gras, and caviar to cheese selections and chocolates - this is the place to see! They also have homemade soups, sauces, salads and pastas together with fresh meat, seafood, and poultry. A one stop shop for the food connoisseur!

Headquartered in Brooklyn, the Garden of Eden is all over Manhattan (Chelsea, Union Square, Upper West Side) and can even be found across the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey.

While doing my grocery shopping at Han Ah Reum, I saw these drinks!!!

So cute!!! At $1.99 a bottle, it is quite pricey for a drink! But you get to choose from mango, strawberry, lychee and the original flavor (whatever that is!)

While strolling through Green Market, Dear Hubby and I saw this dog manning a stall with her owner…

She was HUGE though! Like up to my waist! But for some reason, she was as cute as a teeny tiny doggie! And so nice, that she let me take her picture!

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The place where millions were made, lost and made again!

The NYSE is the largest stock exchange in the world by dollar volume and has the second most securities of all stock exchanges (such as the NASDAQ, Tokyo Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange and of course Philippine Stock Exchange among others).

But apart from being an important fixture in the economic landscape of the country and the world, the NYSE as a building has a historical significance as well.

According to Wikipedia, “The main façade of the building features marble sculpture by John Quincy Adams Ward (the sixth president of the United States and a sculptor too - MFO) in the pediment, above six tall Corinthian capitals, called ‘Integrity Protecting the Works of Man’. The building was listed as a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 2, 1978.”

Truly, a visit to New York’s Financial District won’t be complete without seeing the New York Stock Exchange on Broad Street!

The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.

The early immigrants who came to the US thought of her as a welcoming presence, as if promising them a safe haven away from hunger, persecution or whatever reason it was that caused them to leave their homeland and settle in the US. Today, it is a popular tourist spot and a target of conspiracy theories - think of the movie “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”. Hehehe!

When we went here though, the security was so tight, that a tourist who took too many pictures of Lady Liberty for comfort, got accosted by the police manning the island. He was questioned and each and every photo in his camera was scrutinized by the authorities, in full view of all the tourists who made the trek to see the Statue. Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates will find it a challenge checking “her” out, that’s for sure!

If you’ve seen Top Chef, one of the challenges for the contestants was to do their shopping in Green Market and come up with a meal from the produce they’ve picked from the market. Which really, isn’t that tough considering that they were making a meal out of the finest ingredients available in the city!

Think whole-grain baked goods from upstate New York, exotic cheeses and farm-fresh greens, organically grown fruits and vegetables, plants, herbs and cut flowers…

Truly an outdoor haven for both chefs and ordinary folks who want the freshest farm produce in New York.

The Union Square Green Market is found from 17th Street, Union Square West to 14th Street and Union Square East.

The upscale shops here are all about resort wear. Apparently, Target is not too far behind when it comes to their Hello Kitty line! Check out these resort worthy looks from our favorite cat!!!

Here are close shots for further appreciation!

I especially love the fact that you can mix and match these pieces and come up with different looks!