The honking of horns, yellow taxis, those weird red and white stripy funnels, billowing with steam, at seemingly random junctures in roads (what are they?*)…I do love this iconic city.

I also love the way Americans talk, probably because I am never here long enough to get completely used to it. Check not bill, sidewalk rather than pavement, ‘how are you?’ is a greeting not a question. The little differences are so noticeable.

Here’s a round up of some of the places I’ve been to, things I’ve seen, done and loved during this December trip.

Ignoring the fact that my stance in the main shot, above, makes me look like a female version of Keyser Söze, the picture does at least show off my favorite jacket which was perfect for New York’s blustery-but-not-properly-cold-yet weather (fur and tweed jacket from Brooks Brothers; so old now it’s almost vintage).

Tory Burch bought Stateside make her pumps seem like excellent value. If you are unsure, just try buying a pair in Singapore (above).

Stopping and shopping at SoHo street stalls – one of my favourite things to do. I love buying street jewellery and have a new armful to prove it.

Meeting Ingrid and Barb in a ‘New York Moment’ – we were sitting next to each other at The Mercer Kitchen on Prince Street and got talking. They have just created a beautiful handmade jewellery collection and asked me to help sell their wares in Singapore – stay tuned, it’s work in progress.

An unhurried lunch at the really quite perfect Cafe Lalo. Made famous in You’ve Got Mail, (secretly my most favorite film…a secret because, yes, I do know that it’s really quite lame) it was the venue for the first date between Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox.  Food here is unfussy and brasserie-style and the cakes are delicious.

No trip to New York is truly complete without popping in to the Frick Collection, which is one of my favorite art galleries. It’s also the perfect size, so you can whip around it yet still be blown away by what you find inside. It majors in old masters, housed within Frick’s former Upper East Side mansion, with many of the paintings still arranged according to his immaculate and expensive taste.  I’ve been to New York a total of five times and, sadly, this trip was the only time I didn’t manage to make it here.

Alicia Keys says it a lot better than I do in her song ‘New York’. Watch this creative dance interpretation of the song to be blown away by the seriously talented Pilobolus Dance Theatre. Bravo!

*Someone once told me that the clouds of steam are, in fact, clouds of flour dust, being released from hundreds of underground bagel factories….I still love the idea of a baking workforce below ground, working in secret to keep the city well stocked with bread.

Image of the entrance to the Frick Collection, courtesy of Great Archaeology