Canal Street Purses

I think I need to add a new list to the blog of things I would like to do in NYC. I could have crossed one off today, as I am now the proud owner of a knock off chanel quilted purse. Top quality knock off mind you. I have always heard about these back room deals on Canal Street where the really good knock offs reside but my experience before today was with the stores only (and the so-so bags). As you walk down Canal Street you probably are approached by 20 different people offering to sell you designer purses, tiffany's jewelery and rolexes. If you show interest, as I did today, you are immediately escorted down one of the side streets where you are handed off to another person who shows you pictures of their goods. Once you have selected the purse you are interested in as well as the color the person you were talking to disappears and you realize another person has appeared by your side. You are asked to move across the street and then your purse materializes. You can check it out, but only inside a black garbage bag. It was then that I realized this purse trade is totally illegal and that pretty much everyone on the street was engaged in the operation. In fact, there were little clusters of people checking out some type of knock off good up and down the street. After you agree to the purchase and money exchanges hands you are again hustled back to Canal Street and back on your way. It was a truly enjoyable experience!