Shopping
We don't need to hear Liza Minelli or Frank Sinatra sing it to remember the famous line about New York City: "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere." A corollary of sorts might be, "If they'll make it anywhere, I can buy it there." From tasteful to tacky, classic to classless, delicious to dangerous, we've got it all: life-size stuffed animals, Ming vases, toys for, shall we say, adventurous adults, live eels, exotic spices, and even illegal fruits (but you didn't hear it here). It requires enormous self-restraint to take a walk, even just to the subway, and not buy something. And while we natives and traditionalists do occasionally lament the "mall-ification" of our fair city, we'll challenge anyone to find another place that combines convenience and quirkiness as well as this town does. You want Prada knock-offs? Chinatown. You want the real thing? Just walk north a few blocks. A real human skeleton? Cross the street. Homemade ricotta? It's practically next door. You can hunt for bargains or blow a year's salary in the blink of an eye. And even if you decide to leave your wallet at home in the interests of self-preservation, you can find endless entertainment in walking the streets and practicing the storied art of window-shopping.
Clothing and Accessories
Shopping for haute couture is no longer strictly an uptown affair, with a few high-end shops appearing in SoHo and the Meatpacking District, but the Upper East Side is still the ultimate destination for designer labels. Madison Avenue is the main artery, in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, rounded out by Fifth Avenue in the 50s and a few blocks east along 57th St. There you will find Chanel (Map 12), Burberry (Map 12), and all other names of that ilk. Take note, these stores still observe the age-old tradition, abandoned in most neighborhoods, of closing on Sundays. For department store shopping, try Macy's (Map 9) if you're on a budget and love the crush of tourists and Saks Fifth Avenue (Map 12) for the classics, Henri Bendel (Map 12) and Barneys (Map 15) for trendier lines, and Bergdorf Goodman (Map 12) if money is no object. If you have the patience to deal with the crowds and sift through the merchandise to find bargains, Century 21 (Map 1) can yield great rewards of name brand clothing, shoes, make-up, accessories, and home wares at significantly discounted prices. For cheap and trendy, H&M (Map 19) can't be beat. It’s disposable clothing for the fashionistas, but be prepared to change in the aisles on crowded shopping days.
SoHo is one of the neighborhoods that’s taken on features of an outdoor mall in recent years, with big chains stores taking the place of the smaller boutiques (and the few art galleries that survived the arrival of said boutiques). That said, if you can handle flocks of tourists, it’s still a great place to shop because of the wide range of stores in a concentrated area (and plenty of cafés when you need to refuel). You’ll find big names like Prada (Map 6), whose Rem Koolhaas design draws as many visitors as Miuccia’s clothes do. In addition to the standards, you’ll find many street vendors selling everything from handmade jewelry to floppy-eared children’s hats. Some of the quieter streets like Thompson, Sullivan, and Wooster appeal to the shopper who aims to avoid the chain stores. Take advantage of the fact that SoHo is densely packed and great for walking; just cruise the streets to discover hidden gems.
The West Village has its own enclave of hip clothing stores like Stella McCartney (Map 5). Head northwest to the Meatpacking District and you can see the results of an impressive urban magic trick that transformed racks of hanging beef into racks of hanging jeans that cost $800. Check out the punk rock–inspired styles of Alexander McQueen (Map 5), as well as the envelope-pushing and wallet-emptying department store Jeffrey (Map 5), the subject of a reoccurring Saturday Night Live skit that’s a send-up of the clerks’ reputed snobbery. The other destinations for fashions from up-and-coming designers and great independent boutiques are: NoHo (the area north of Houston and east of Broadway), NoLita (north of Little Italy), and the East Village.
The Upper East Side (particularly along Madison Avenue in the East 80s) has a notable amount of designer consignment stores. Bis Designer Resale (Map 15) and others like it sell gently worn items from top tier designers like Chanel and Armani at a fraction of their original cost. You can also meander along "Thrift Row," a string of Upper East Side thrift shops on and near Third Avenue in the East 70s and 80s. Many of these shops, such as the Housing Works Thrift Shop (Map 15), carry a nice selection of designer clothing--not to mention the added bonus that the proceeds from your purchases go toward a good cause, like AIDS-related charities, cancer research, and adoption programs.
Vintage Shopping
The abundance of vintage shops--over 60 at last count--will impress any shopper, whether you’re someone who’s just looking for a unique piece for a special occasion or a professional stylist purchasing wardrobe for a period film. Check out What Comes Around Goes Around (Map 2) in SoHo, for instance, though you can still troll what's left of Broadway's former vintage greatness. In Brooklyn, check out either one of Beacon’s Closet's two locations in Williamsburg (Map 29) or Park Slope (Map 33), as well as Amarcord Vintage Fashion (Map 29). On the Upper West Side, longtime vintage purveyor Allan & Suzi (Map 14) still holds court at the corner of Amsterdam and 80th Street. For you die-hards, be sure to attend the thrice-yearly Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show at the Metropolitan Pavilion, where over 75 dealers sell their vintage finery during two-day stints. And finally, there’s always the Triple Pier Antiques Show on the far West Side of Manhattan. It should go without saying that at all of the above-mentioned shops and venues, you must be prepared to pay the usual New York City premium.
Flea Markets, Street Vendors,
Street Fairs & Bazaars
New Yorkers who once spent weekends perusing the eclectic finds in the asphalt lot at 26th Street and Sixth Avenue are still mourning the loss of the internationally known Annex Antique Fair & Flea Market. The good news is that many of the same vendors from Annex sell their wares at the Annex/Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (Map 11) on 39th Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues. There are, of course, many other (albeit smaller) flea markets throughout the city, as well as numerous street fairs in various neighborhoods during warmer months. The best way to find them tends to be to accidentally stumble upon them on an exploratory walk around town. A fantastic indoor flea market to add to your must-see list is The Market NYC (268 Mulberry St; Sat & Sun; 11 am-7 pm), a refreshingly offbeat collection from young, local designers who aren't afraid to be truly creative. These places provide a cure for chain shopping boredom and the inevitable annoyance at seeing every third person wearing the same H&M shirt as you. Another fun option (particularly during the warmer months) is shopping street side from designers who sell their one-of-a-kind designs al fresco. You can't always identify them by name, but you can't miss their stands along Prince and Spring Streets in SoHo. Look for made-while-you-wait purses and belts, the scrap metal jewelry pieces, handmade leather-bound journals, and other singular and quirky items.
Sports
Paragon Sporting Goods (Map 9) in Union Square is hard to beat as a one-stop shop for all sports gear and accessories. They also take care of your recreational needs, with services like all-inclusive ski packages for Hunter Mountain and permitting for the NYC Parks Department tennis courts. Sports Authority (Map 13), Foot Locker (Map 21, 24), and Modell’s (Map 23) provide a broad range of affordable sports clothing, shoes, and athletic equipment. For the best cold weather and mountain gear, head to Tents & Trails (Map 2) or Patagonia (Map 14) (you can expect competitive prices at the former, but definitely not at the latter).
Housewares and Home Design
You can lose hours in ABC Carpet & Home (Map 9) just off of Union Square. Design fanatics can appreciate their exotic array of furnishings (much of it antique and imported from Asia and Europe) even if they can’t afford the steep prices. For even more amazing and unaffordable housewares, Fifth Avenue's Takashimaya (Map 12) will blow your mind with its brilliant Asian aesthetic. For the rest of us, however, much more basic but affordable housewares can be found at the Upper West Side's Gracious Home (Map 14), Chelsea's The Container Store (Map 9), and any one of Muji's three Manhattan locations (Maps 3, 9, 12). For paint, window dressings, and other home decorating supplies, try Janovic (Maps 11, 16). Prepare for sensory overload if you take on the over 200,000 square feet of commercial and residential furnishings at the A&D Building (Map 13).
Showrooms are open to the public, unlike at some of the smaller design
shops nearby, which require business cards upon entry.
Kitchenware/Tableware
Fishs Eddy (Map 9) is a "used plateware" alternative to mega-chains like Pottery Barn and Bed, Bath & Beyond, and is easily one of our favorite shops in all of New York. Zabar's (Map 14) often-ignored second floor is a favorite among the city's cooks, along with Brooklyn's fabulous A Cook's Companion (Map 32). Downtown, small but sublime Global Table (Map 6) has excellent mid-range taste in housewares, and Lancelotti's (Map 7) collection of cool kitchenware and tableware is always fun to check out. Our favorite downtown shop, however, is probably coolly unpronouncable Mxyplyzyk (Map 5) in the West Village.
Furniture
No cash at all? Easy. Troll the Upper East Side on Sunday nights to see what people are throwing out. Chances are, you'll find something better than what you'd buy new at Brooklyn's Ikea (Map 32), which is indubitably the next step up in the food chain of furniture. Up from there, West Elm (Map 30) and Design Within Reach (not really within reach) (Map 30) will gleefully take your hard-earned dollars if you're ready to graduate from "Aksuldnje" and "Fjosell." Have even more money to spend? Easily done, at places such as Scott Jordan Furniture (Map 5), Ligne Rosset (Map 10), and the Meatpacking's brilliant Vitra (Map 5) store. If vintage is your bag, head straight to Williamsburg's Two Jakes (Map 29) or check out some of the smaller shops around town such as Fort Greene's Yu Interiors (Map 31). Any way you slice it, you can spend entire paychecks in the blink of an eye. Or not.
Electronics
J&R (Map 1) provides most things electronic, including computers and accessories, iPods, games, cameras, music equipment, CDs, DVDs, and household appliances. B&H (Map 8) is the top destination for professionals and amateurs when it comes to photographic, audio, and video equipment. It’s worth a visit just to witness the pure spectacle of this well-coordinated operation, as well as the outstanding selection of gear. Note that the megastore is run by Orthodox Jews who strictly observe the Sabbath and holidays, and thus you should always check the hours and days of operation posted on their website before heading over. Audiophiles are wonderfully served by Stereo Exchange (Map 6) and the jaw-dropping, price-busting Sound by Singer (Map 9). Other places to shop for electronics include the Apple Store (Map 12) and Tekserve (Map 9), the (other) Apple specialists.
Food
With residents from every corner of the globe who collectively speak over 170 languages, New York couldn’t help but be an exciting destination for food shopping. The offerings are as diverse as the population, whether you’re looking for the best of the basics or exotic spices and other imported specialties. Two revered emporia make the Upper West Side a culinary destination—Fairway (Maps 14, 18, 32) and Zabar’s (Map 14)—and the Zabar’s offshoot, Vinegar Factory (Map 17), graces the Upper East. The national chain Whole Foods (Maps 9, 12, 16) is multiplying, and now there’s even two Trader Joe’s (Maps 6, 9), though only devotees can brave the crowds there. The Essex Street Market (Map 4) on the Lower East Side is a beloved neighborhood institution filled to the brim with amazing cheese (like Saxleby Cheesemongers (Map 4)), meat, produce, and fish options. Another great public market filled with gourmet goodies can be found in the heart of Grand Central Terminal—the Grand Central Market (Map 13). But the city’s real gems come in the form of the increasing number of Greenmarkets (the largest is in Union Square (Map 9) four days a week), and the ethnic food purveyors stocked with imported goods from around the world. When it comes to Italian, Arthur Ave in the Bronx is famed for its bakeries, butcher shops, grocers, and sundry shops. The more centrally located Di Palo Fine Foods (Map 3) offers some of the best imported delicacies as well as their own celebrated fresh ricotta. For Middle Eastern specialties, Sahadi’s (Map 32) provides the most impressive range of top quality products at prices that cannot be beat (and many of its neighbors on Atlantic Ave deserve a visit while you’re in the area). Friendly Despana (Map 3) in SoHo will satisfy all your Spanish desires, including three different types of Spanish sparkling water and $100-a-pound Spanish Serrano ham. Eataly (Map 9) is all things fancy Italian food with everything from hard-to-find cheeses to unique beers to special pastas. Chinatown’s options will overwhelm and exhaust you before they disappoint even the pickiest of shoppers, and there’s even a destination for people in the market for British treats, Myers of Keswick (Map 5) in the West Village.
Cheese shops in New York are starting to create their own footprint, neighborhood-by-neighborhood. Your first stop should be brilliant Murray’s (Map 5) in the West Village, classic Lamarca Cheese Shop (Map 10) on the East Side, small but powerful Stinky (Map 32) in Carroll Gardens, Bedford Cheese Shop (Map 29) in Williamsburg, and, of course, the cheese counter at Dean & Deluca (Map 15). If you’re always low on cash (i.e. you work for NFT), East Village Cheese (Map 6) is your go-to shop. They don’t give out free samples and the line is always long, but it’s the cheapest option in Manhattan by far.
You need three other items to go with your cheese, though—bread, meat, and wine. Of course, many neighborhoods have all these things covered as well. For bread, our top favorites are of course the-now-splitsville-duo of Sullivan Street Bakery (Map 11) and Grandaisy Bakery (Maps 2, 5, 14). For meats, hit Faicco’s Pork Store (Map 5), Despana (Map 3), G Esposito & Sons (Map 32), or Choice Greene (Map 31).
Art Supplies
Running low on Cadmium Red? Use your last stick of charcoal drawing a nude? The best art stores in NYC are scattered loosely around the SoHo area, with Pearl Paint (Map 3) being the most well known. Located at the corner of Mercer and Canal Streets, the store occupies a full six-story building with every type of art supply you can imagine, including a great separate frame shop out back on Lispenard. Closer to NYU and Cooper Union, you can find the best selection of paper at New York Central Art Supply (Map 6) on Third Avenue. SoHo Art Materials (Map 2) on Wooster Street is a small, traditional shop that sells super premium paints and brushes for fine artists. Don’t forget to check out both Sam Flax (Map 13) and A.I. Friedman (Map 9) in the Flatiron area for graphic design supplies, portfolios, and gifts. Lee’s Art Shop (Map 12) is a great store on 57th Street; how it’s survived Midtown rents is anyone’s guess. Should you find yourself on the Upper East Side needing art supplies in a pinch, the fairly decent selection at Blacker & Kooby (Map 17) will do just fine.
As the art scene has made its way to Williamsburg, having a supply store close by is as important as a good supermarket (something folks in the ‘burg are still waiting for). Artist & Craftsman (Map 29) on North 8th is a good bet for supplies. In Fort Greene, the Pratt Store (Map 31) is a combined art supply store/college bookstore.
For photographic equipment, the holy trinity of B&H Photo (Map 8), Adorama (Map 9), and K & M Camera (Map 3) will satisfy every possible photographic (digital or darkroom-based) need that you might have. B & H is of course the mothership, Adorama is great if you’re nearby, and K & M is in the trinity because it’s the only one of the three that’s open on f*%&ing Saturdays.
*Remember to flash that student ID card if you've got it, as most art stores offer a decent discount...
Music Equipment &
Instruments
New York’s large and vibrant music scene supports a thriving instrument trade. To buy a new tuba or get that banjo tuned, head over to 48th Street. You’ll find the largest, most well known stores, from generalist shops such as Manny's (Map 12) and Sam Ash (Map 12), to more specialized shops like Roberto's Woodwind Repair (Map 12). Just two blocks away, on 46th, drummers can make themselves at home in a store dedicated solely to their craft—Drummer's World (Map 12).
If you can’t take the bustle of the Times Square area and are looking for used, vintage, or just plain cool, then you’ll want to shop elsewhere. Some of our favorites include: First Flight (Map 7), 30th Street Guitars (Map 9), Rogue Music (Map 9), and Ludlow Guitars (Map 4).
For an exquisite purchase where money is no object, find the perfect grand piano at Steinway Pianos (Map 12), where the salespeople pride themselves on matching even beginners with the perfect instrument for their skills and character. Also keep an eye (and an ear) out for special musical evenings at the former, and spontaneous performances at the latter.
Music for Listening
Oops! No record stores left in NYC—or at least that’s the way it seems, with Tower, Virgin, and Kim’s all now faint memories in our minds (how do you spell "Amoeba" again?). So now it’s down to the small "boutique" record shops, and (thank God!) the slightly-larger selection of none other than J&R Music World (Map 1) near City Hall. As for the small shops—we still do love hip Other Music (Map 6) (look out for occasional in-store performances) and avant-garde Downtown Music (Map 3) (now at its postage-stamp-sized new digs in Chinatown). In Brooklyn, Earwax (Map 29) in Williamsburg—run by WFMU djs—is our favorite destination. If you’re in to trolling through used bins, head to Bleecker Street to check out Rebel Rebel (Map 5) and Bleecker Street Records (Map 5). Finally, Academy Records (Maps 9, 29) should be able to quench any remaining thirst, especially for the (resurgent) LP.
Weird, Odd, Bizarre, and/or
Just Plain Fun
Every once in a while, you walk into a shop in NYC and say, "what is this place?" And while we don’t have anything quite as odd as, say, the taxidermy shops that still dot London, for instance, there are a few places that still make us smile. First on the list is the quirky Brooklyn Superhero Supply (Map 33), for all your needs in that department. Next up: SoHo’s Moss (Map 6), which sells insanely-priced housewares, watches, furniture, and—our favorite—small sculptures of famous murders/terrorist acts. Our favorite downtown destination (just for the name, even) is City Hall’s Fountain Pen Hospital (Map 3). Right underneath the Municipal Building sits the brilliant New York City Store (Map 3), where you can buy old taxi medallions and other NYC ephemera.
Shopping “Districts”
If you’re fixated on a specific item, like a sausage maker or a few yards of leopard print fabric, you can shop in specialty districts around Manhattan. Brave the overwhelming selection throughout the Garment District (25th to 40th Sts, Fifth to Ninth Aves) for fabrics, buttons, zippers, ribbons, and anything else you’d need to design your own clothes. Men looking for the perfect romantic gift might want to check out the Diamond and Jewelry District (W 47th between Fifth and Sixth Aves), the world’s largest market for diamonds, the Flower District (26th to 29th Sts, along and off Sixth Ave), and the Perfume District (along and off Broadway in the West 20s and 30s). Music Row (48th St between Sixth & Seventh Aves) leaves you with no excuses if you’ve been meaning to learn to play an instrument. The Bowery around Houston is another well-known strip where you’ll find the Kitchenware District for all your culinary endeavors, the Lighting District (past Delancey St) for all your illuminating needs, and the Downtown Jewelry District (turn the corner of Bowery to Canal St) for the more unusual baubles you can’t get uptown. High-end home design stores are concentrated on and around Designers Way and Decorators Way (58th and 59th Sts, between Second and Third Aves). The Flatiron District (from 14th to 34th Sts, between Sixth & Park Aves) is another home furnishing mecca. You can also take care of your photography needs where the pros do, with the city’s highest concentration of stores and labs (between 5th and 6th Aves, from 18th to 22nd Sts). Sadly, Book Row (between 9th and 14th Sts) is no more. What was once an assemblage of over 25 bookstores now houses only the famous Strand Bookstore and Alabaster Bookshop, but avid readers could happily spend days browsing and purchasing in either one of them...
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Thursday, March 10, 2011
Posted By:
Sonia Weiser
Photo:
Sonia Weiser
16 Handles
While you may end up with two love handles if you keep going back for more (or take advantage of their larger sized cups), 16 handles is the best fro-yo location around. A frequent study-break spot for NYU kids, the joint offers sixteen flavors of frozen yogurt (it's healthier than ice cream!...just keep telling yourself that...and some are sugar free and/or kosher) and toppings ranging from the fruity (strawberries) to the slightly bad for you (butterfingers) to the WTF (lychee?) and tons of others in between. They charge by the weight, so you can keep adding goodies to your heart's content. And guys heads up: if you want to buy your girlfriend dessert and she won't eat something of the real dessert genre (it's always bathing suit season somewhere) this is the place to go; and no one will judge you if you indulge as well ("it [won't] devastate [your] reputation as a dude.") That’s from Sixteen Candles...now do you understand the name? There are only a few seats inside and the line can be long, but it moves quickly and gives you time to mentally plan. Plus, it's totally worth it.
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Friday, January 28, 2011
Posted By:
Layne Mosler
Photo:
Layne Mosler
Agata & Valentina
Eataly has landed in the Flatiron District with huge fanfare, but the good Italians at Agata & Valentina have been showing off the best of the mother country for over 18 years. House-made pastas and soups, top-quality meat and seafood, olive oils from all over Italy and aged balsamic vinegars are just a few of the treasures you'll find here. Shop to cook or bring home a pre-made feast, you can't go wrong at this gourmet temple. Prepare to rub elbows with homesick Italians and Upper East Siders who know where to find the good stuff in their neighborhood.
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Posted By:
Jessica Colley
Photo:
Jessica Colley
Joanne Hendricks Cookbooks
Is it the piles of antiquarian cookbooks in the window, the ancient looking wooden door, or just simply curiosity that lures book lovers off Greenwich Street and into Joanne Hendricks Bookstore? No matter what tempts you through the door, you will be greeted by knowledgable and friendly Joanne herself, who can help you find the perfect gift for the food-lover in your life.
She opened this store in the front room of her 1850's townhouse in 1995, and has been stocking the shelves ever since. Her selection of unique, out of print, and antiquarian books already attracts big names on the New York culinary scene--she has chefs such as Andrew Carmellini stopping by for unusual books about food and wine.
Shelves are organized by type of cuisine, so it's a great place to learn about your culinary heritage as well. There aren't many places in New York that can be called truly one of a kind, but this antiquarian cookbook store is one of them.
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Monday, December 13, 2010
Posted By:
Layne Mosler
Photo:
Layne Mosler
Bespoke Chocolates
There's a reason salted caramel has created a taste craze: it's one of the best ways to wake up the sweet and salty zones on your palate. Or, to put it pornographically, it's a combination so good it will make you moan. The chocolatiers at Bespoke (tucked away on Extra Place below some fancy new lofts off of East 1st Street) understand the power of salted caramel, and they've created a truffle that encases it in dark chocolate and pretzels. They've got other truffles, too (infused with delicacies like single origin Colombian cocoa and black tea), but the salted caramel pretty much steals the show.
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Monday, November 22, 2010
Posted By:
Georgia Lawson
Photo:
Georgia Lawson
Bloomingdale's
While in New York, I had to try the shopping institutions of Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Macy's was an utter chaotic mess, people pushing you about, a Starbucks lowering the fancy factor, and to top it off, the staff were very unhelpful. When asking for simple direction to the Mac stand, the Macy's employee looked at me like I was the devil. Needless to say I left empty handed. So I decided to try again, and Bloomingdale's was my next stop. The moment you walk in to the newly renovated store, you feel classy and special. Channel, Louis V, and the rest greet you. But we headed straight for the cosmetics. The man at the Laura Mercier counter made our faces dazzle, so we proceeded to stock up on every product he used which resulted in a free gift bag with little samples of makeup. They even humored us when we requested a few extra of the signature little brown bags. This wasn't even the highlight. At Jo Malone we were talked through solutions to making the scents say on your skin and given the 411 on what was good to do in New York--from Governors Island off the south of Manhattan to The Palisades in the north. Bloomingdale's, victory is yours!
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