JAMES WARD: I LIKE BORING THINGS

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Like most people who go to New York, I took the opportunity to go shopping. Before I went, I looked online and found out all about the very best shops. I wrote down the addresses in my notebook. I marked the locations on my map. I planned my route. There was something specific I wanted to buy. Cadbury’s Twirls.

I found three shops I thought were likely to sell Twirls, but was only successful in two of them. You can insert your own Meat Loaf joke here if you wish.

CARRY ON TEA & SYMPATHY

Carry On Tea & Sympathy
108 Greenwich Avenue
New York, NY 10011

TWIRL AVAILABILITY: Excellent
TWIRL STORAGE: On shelf
TWIRL PRICE: $1.75
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This small store is next to a small cafe/restaurant which sells traditional English food. The store itself is in the style of those old fashioned grocery stores which probably don’t actually exist in England any more:

Quite expensive ($1.75 is about £1.15, which is the most I have ever spent on a Twirl) although it is the first time I have ever bought a Twirl overseas, so that’s quite exciting.

MYERS OF KESWICK

Myers of Keswick
634 Hudson Street
(between Horatio and Jane St.)
New York, NY 10014

TWIRL AVAILABILITY: Don’t sell
TWIRL STORAGE: N/A
TWIRL PRICE: N/A
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I had high hopes for this store. As I walked in I saw a big display of Walkers crisps and then on top of the counter, a row of glass jars containing Cadbury’s Buttons and Aeros. On another counter, they had Time Outs and Twixes.

I looked around, hopeful. I couldn’t see any Twirls. I asked the woman behind the counter if they sold Cadbury’s Twirls. She shook her head. I managed to hold back the tears until I was out of the shop and at least a block away.

ECONOMY CANDY

Economy Candy
108 Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002

TWIRL AVAILABILITY: Excellent
TWIRL STORAGE: On shelf
TWIRL PRICE: $1.49
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: A fantastic little shop selling all kinds of candy and sweets and chocolate and god knows what else. Long queues as it’s such a popular store. The woman in front of me complained to her friend that she wasn’t feeling well, although I don’t think this was anything to do with the shop itself.