I found out from Hopstop that to get from the Garment District to Chinatown I’d just need to take the A train down to Canal. The A train entrance closest to my hotel was located at 40th Street and 8th Avenue, which is where this building is located:

Pretty!

I met Jessica at the A line Canal stop. Our old office, where she still works, is located just up the street on Hudson. From there we began walking into Chinatown. Our destination was Grand Sichuan, where we were going to have hot pot for dinner.

When you’re walking over on Canal you’ll see this building and know you’re heading the right way:

And then when you see this, look across the street and you’ll see Grand Sichuan:

If you’re still not sure, there’s this:

Aha! Now I know where to get hot pot.

Jeannette and Tien had arrived just before us and were waiting at a table. We ordered half the pot spicy and half mild. And then we ordered an assortment of meats and vegetables – broccoli, chicken, dumplings, beef, Chinese cabbage, wheat noodles, clear noodles. Noodles aren’t meat or vegetables, but that’s what we ordered.

Jeannette: “Are they ever going to bring the meat!?”

Jeannette: “I neeeeed MEEEeeeeaaaAATTT!! Also, is that a rat I hear up there?”

Jeannette: “Fine, I’ll make-do with broccoli.”

Jessica: “I’ll take my own meat out, thank you very much. You keep splashing the boiling liquid on everyone!”

Tien: “I know you’re taking my photo and I will let you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t hide my face in my hair and look at you creepily while you do so.”

The hot pot was fun and tasty. I hadn’t been to hot pot since 2004, so it was fun to go again. And I don’t mean to imply that the service was slow and our wait for meat was long. The service was pretty great. And the rat thing is an inside joke. There are no rats at Grand Sichuan. That I know of.

The check. How do I submit a receipt for my portion of this?

Outside walking on Canal Street again. We need to hit up the ATM so someone can pay someone and so we can all get ice cream.

At Chinatown Ice Cream Factory the girl behind the counter seemed really aggrevated that we were there. She kept reminding us that we could only get two tastes per person (even when we only just asked for one) and was annoyed by our presence. We decided on our ice cream and brought it outside. I held up my camera to take a photo of the neon Chinatown Ice Cream Factory sign and the sign immediately flicked off. I guess it was closing time and that’s why the shop girl was so annoyed. Here is a photo of my red velvet cake ice cream cone anyway:

On the way back up to Midtown. Got off the A train at 42nd and navigated the underground tunnels to make sure I got back out on 40th and 8th and not in the middle of Times Square madness.

Walking back to my hotel, just what I was looking for!