Stop in at Toraya on 71st for a spot of tea and wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets. Confectionery colors and silky-light fabrics are the news at Prada, where the staff wears black and so do most of the customers. Makes you wonder if anyone is buying the clothes. Walk down to the corner of 61st and Fifth and buy a New York hot dog from Mohammad, the chatty Egyptian who's parked his cart here five days a week for the past two years. The all-beef frank is kosher and can be topped with ketchup, mustard, onions, relish, sauerkraut or chili.
Some people choose all of the above.
The dog is tasty and the bun is soft and sweet. At a dollar a pop, you just might want two. Last stop of the day is Barney's, nine floors of shopping heaven at the corner of Madison and 61st. This is the new Barney's, not to be confused with the original on 17th Street. Newer is definitely nicer here, since this store is an artful compilation of the latest styles to help you look as good as you should.