Downtown City Beat
NYC
At the old Ohrbach's Department Store
I bought a sweater and a dress I'd grown to adore
That Christmas sweater was purchased for Dad
A lace white graduation dress was what I had.
Nedick's was the eatery on 34th Street.
A Frank with kraut and hot mustard was a treat.
Those warm rectangular toasted rolls
were served with orange drinks for the hungry souls.
Gimbel's was that other 34th Street miracle
a competitor of Macy's. What a thrill.
a valid choice without parades of floats
when all I wanted was a few winter coats.
Chock Full O' Nuts was that Heavenly Coffee.
with the best Reuben sandwiches one could see.
The taste of that coffee would never touch my tongue
Because Mom said that I was just too young.
Coward's Shoe Store had Dad's expensive shoes.
As a sharp dresser he would never lose.
Alexander's was next to Bloomingdale's.
On East 59th I could find those sales.
The automat had windowed selections of great food
Toffinetti's and Schraff's put us in a New York mood.
Near Christmas time you could smell those chestnuts roast
Just in time for New Year's with a Guy Lombardo toast.
The public library right on 42nd Street
had those statued lions for book lovers to greet.
The Guggenheim was a circular museum
Van Gogh was there for all of us to see him.
So many landmarks have come and gone,
but New York memories will always live on.
Barbara Lois Fullard © 2005
