On a sunny but cool afternoon Sibyl has a craving for dumplings on a park bench. She’s not positive but she’s pretty sure that only in Chinatown can you get eight for $2.  The lady behind the counter takes the bills with one hand and shoves the styrofoam box at Sibyl with the other, and that’s the entirety of the interaction. It’s wordless, efficient, and beautiful.

Sibyl samples dried squid at Aji Ichiban, and considers but decides against sampling the dried crabs.

It’s a perfect day to wander, and there’s always plenty to see in Chinatown.

You can buy cardboard replicas of mansions and luxury cars.

Sibyl covets these beautiful chopsticks, made from fine wood and set with silver. Unfortunately she doesn’t really have any use for them.

Chinatown in not just about shopping, however. Sibyl would not go so far as to say these temples are peaceful oases: there’s music playing inside, and some raucous conversation.

Still, these are spiritual places. Sibyl buys herself a fortune for $1 which seems pretty reasonable to her.

Out of curiosity, Sibyl stops in a store that does aura picture readings. First, you sit for your aura photo (no other photography is permitted in the store). Sibyl is handed a photograph that shows an aura that is primarily green and blue, but the woman interpreting it says it’s still bright enough to be good. The woman tells Sibyl she has had some digestive troubles, that she has been happy in the recent past, but lately she’s been more troubled. She is advised not to think so hard about things, that she might benefit from exercise, and that a yellow crystal would help dispel negative thoughts. And also aid with digestion.

She decides to buy one.

Before leaving the area, Sibyl swings by the Mmuseumm on Cortlandt Alley. The Mmuseumm is housed in an elevator shaft. It is only open at select times during the week. There’s a bright little world inside there, but most of the time you can only stand outside and peer at it through the windows.

Sibyl is made from a tiny pair of khaki pants that my son used to wear to school when he was five. Her paws and ears are from a scrap of fabric from Elizabeth V. Her top is cut from a lovely soft sock that someone gave me but I cannot remember who. Please tell me if it was you. Her polka-dot skirt was the lining of a Gap tote bag, and her boots are cut from a travel kit. Her necklace is an earring that lost its mate, from Ellen.

Probability of Success: Excellent
Wherever in the world you may travel,
Some mystery you sure will unravel.
A simple mallet dug out from gravel
May turn to be a president’s gavel.

—Sibyl’s fortune