Thinking of moving to TriBeCa? Well, then, congratulations--you've clearly made your first 10 million dollars! And, if you already live there...well, you're not reading a guidebook anyway…but maybe your assistant is. And for the rest of us, we'll just have to be content with walking around the neighborhood and choosing which fabulous converted loft building we’d live in when WE make our first 10 million.
Such is life in one of New York's prime neighborhoods--minutes away from downtown, the West Village, SoHo, and Chinatown, decent subway access, killer housing, a few minutes' walk to either the Battery Park City promenade or Hudson River Park, excellent restaurants, a few killer bars--life is pretty grand here, if you can afford it, of course.
But even if you can't, there's no question that walking around TriBeCa--as opposed to spending money in it--was and still is our favorite pastime in this 'nabe. There are simply tons of gorgeous old factory buildings that have now been lovingly converted to insanely expensive lofts, but that still shouldn't stop you from appreciating both the architecture and the preservation of these buildings, which can be found on almost every street in the Triangle Below Canal Street (Canal Street being the north side of the triangle, Broadway being the east side of the triangle, and the West Side Highway being the west side of the triangle).
On your walk, you'll pass one of the city's oldest parks (Washington Market Park), some ancient row houses (the Harrison Street Row Houses) and, perhaps our favorite TriBeCa landmark, the Ghostbusters Firehouse (you'll know it when you see it, trust us). A great starting (or ending point) for seeing TriBeCa is perhaps its nexus, lovely little Duane Park. It's a quaint little triangle surrounded on all sides by loft buildings you'd give an arm and a leg to live in.
As for the buildings themselves, there are a several you should definitely check out, including Henry J. Hardenbergh's Textile Building, Carrere & Hastings' Powell Building, which now houses Nobu, Ralph Walker's massive New York Telephone Company Building, the rounded front of the American Thread Building, the Venetian mash-up of No. 8 Thomas Street, cast-iron gem the Cary Building, and, the piece de resistance, Stephen Decatur Smith's Fleming Smith Warehouse on Washington Street, which houses TriBeCa classic Capsouto Freres.
Although most of the new construction (especially along Broadway) fits into the boring/puerile category, one new building to check out is Enrique Norten's postmodern One York Street; his insertion of a glass tower in the middle of two 19th-century buildings is pretty cool. New York Law School's new building at 185 West Broadway shines brightly at night as its law students burn the candle at both ends. Herzog & de Meuron's eagerly-awaited 56 Leonard Street project, however, is stalled (What? Recession? What?).
Unfortunately, we just don't get to TriBeCa as much at night any more, as two of its most interesting cultural hotspots--the Knitting Factory and Roulette--have both moved away (the Knitting Factory to Brooklyn and Roulette to SoHo). However, one of the coolest long-running sound and light installations in all the world is still here, at 275 Church Street, just steps from the posh TriBeCa Grand Hotel. La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela's Dream House, open October thru June on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, is a special place to chill out, check your head, and get in touch with your inner being (before humping it on the subway back to Bushwick).
Nightlife
While live music is no longer a nightly option with the Knitting Factory's move to Brooklyn, drinks both posh (TriBeCa Grand, Bubble Lounge) and dirty (Nancy Whiskey, Puffy's) can still be had. Walker's is a New York classic and should not be missed; otherwise, check out the Flea Theatre's calendar or wait for the TriBeCa Film Festival.
Restaurants
If you've got the cash, this is the place--from Nobu’s top-shelf sushi to Odeon's unquestioned hipness to Landmarc's killer steaks to Il Giglio's white-tablecloth-Italian to Capsouto Freres' upscale-but-warm French to Bouley's top NYC dining experience. Otherwise, we go for the far-above-average pub grub at Walker's or cabbie favorite Pakistan Tea House.
Shopping
Two words here, folks: baked goods. TriBeCa's got 'em, with Bouley Bakery, Grandaisy Bakery, Duane Park Patisserie, and a Le Pain Quotidien. Then window shop at Issey Miyake, Korin Japanese Trading, Jack Spade, Tent & Trails, and Steven Alan. Top it off with a visit to Bazzini, Vinovino, or MarieBelle's.
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This Neighborhood Featured in...
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On the Hunt for NY's Avant-Garde
By
Sarah Enelow
New York is a world-class performing arts mecca, especially when it
comes to experimental work, but where exactly does one find it? NFT
Editor Sarah Enelow takes us on a tour of avant-garde performance
venues in the city, cutting through the Broadway fluff to find the
best, most affordable offbeat events.
Read More...
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Breaking into Non-Profit Arts
By
Liz Pink
Young, talented, poor and striving. Artists are a mysterious lot. Will they make it, or will we wipe our hands of them, devilishly and unforgivingly. J/K. Liz Pink offers truckloads of making-it-in-the-big-city advice that only a very rich or successful artist could pass up. Join her.
Read More...
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The Grandest Street of All
By
Rob Tallia
Join NFT head honcho Rob Tallia on an epic journey down the entire length of Grand Street in Manhattan. From the gritty to the sublime, Grand Street has it all.
Read More...
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On Our Radar:
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Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Posted By:
Andrew Savage
Photo:
Courtesy of Marian Zazeela/The Dream House
The Dream House
On the third floor of an anonymous building in TriBeCa is one of New York City's greatest treasures. Dream House is a semi-permanent sound installation founded by minimalist sound artist/composer La Monte Young and visual artist Marian Zazeela. For a suggested donation of $5, you can experience Young's controlled sound environment that utilizes sine wave components to achieve unconventional intervals and harmonics. In other words: this place is a trip! Allow yourself a good chunk of time to fully experience Young's vision of the sound environment. Through movement, breathing, and vocalizations one may discover how to tune and harmonize with the room. Not a tourists destination by any means, Dream House is not for everybody. But if you are ever in TriBeCa and need to expand your consciousness, why not step inside?
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Thursday, October 22, 2009
Posted By:
Craig Nelson
Photo:
Craig Nelson
Square Diner
If you're a true New Yorker, every once in awhile you need a
good ol' greasy diner breakfast first thing in the morning. You can't do it
every day unless you have an iron stomach or don't care if you live past 40.
But when you're feeling a little down or just need a huge does of protein,
the classic New York Diner is there for you. That brings us to Square Diner in Tribeca--the perfect place to start
your morning. Friendly waitresses, perfectly brewed diner coffee
(it's actually pretty good), and of course mounds of bacon, bagels, eggs, and homefries to clog
your arteries and keep you going all day. Lean cuisine this is not and thank goodness for that.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Posted By:
Rob Tallia
Photo:
Rob Tallia
Roulette
Tired of hanging out until 2 am to see mediocre bands in Williamsburg? Want something to expand your musical mind a bit more than a night at Irving Plaza? Look no further. Roulette's now on its 30th year of experimental music, and it's hanging on (as opposed to dearly departed Tonic) right smack dab in the middle of upscale Manhattan, in SoHo of all places. Saturday's gig with Lisle Ellis and 8 other musicians was a great mix of originals plus a great Cecil Taylor piece to close the first set; while the musicians joked that they'd rather have been uptown that night (Ornette Coleman was playing at Columbus Circle), we felt right at home. Upcoming: the New York Electronic Arts Festival, October 16-18. More mind-expanding music for the avant-garde among you.
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Thursday, March 05, 2009
Posted By:
Harris Solomon
Photo:
Harris Solomon
On a block of Greenwich
Street most notable for its Whole Foods and the
clanging of nearby construction cranes sits a new hideaway---Kaffe 1668. Their
coffee is fair trade and pretty tasty, but what you're here for is the
atmosphere. With its wooden communal table at street level, and its cozy red
banquettes downstairs, Kaffe 1668 provides a welcome respite for those of us continually
lost in Starbucks Ville. A mellow soundtrack and a healthy mix of laptop-toting
downtowners and boisterous talkers make this a great place to grab coffee, no
matter what your mood. The best part: Unlike some Manhattan coffee places where the turnover
rate is steroidal, here you're free to linger as long as you please. One final
note--if you're not a fan of Tribeca uber-moms and the babies they tote with
them, you've been warned.
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Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Posted By:
Sarah Moroz
Photo:
Sarah Moroz
La Colombe Torrefaction
Think Tribeca is a wasteland of empty streets and overpriced restaurants? Well, it is. But this Tribeca cafe is exceptional. Through wide windows you can get a glimpse of the warm brown tones of the place--the same color as the delish coffee they serves up! Seriously, their potent mochaccinos could knock a Dunkin Donuts drinker unconscious with headiness. Exposed brick, high ceilings, polished smooth wood floors, and a trim counter all lend a glossy, airy feel to this spacious cafe. You can enjoy your drink on site, sitting on a low stool at a funny little table the shape of a fava bean. More than just a place for tasty caffeine sipping, it's also a most welcome relief from the unbearably slow tourists clogging Canal Street and the vendors tirelessly trying to hustle you into buying a shitty faux designer bag.
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Friday, October 17, 2008
Posted By:
Craig Nelson
Photo:
Craig Nelson
Deitch Projects
Chris Johanson does not just create art. He creates full on artistic environments. His Totalities exhibition at the Deitch Projects through October 25 is a two-level extravaganza of painting, music, sculpture, and organic architecture. Johanson and his assistants carefully constructed everything by hand using only recycled and found materials from Brooklyn. It's a trip through four distinct worlds reminding us of our fragile existence on the planet. In the first room, several multi-colored paintings surround a rotating sculpture. Move in and out between the various spaces and submerge yourself in the musical soundtrack that envelops the room. Then enter the expansive space where you can climb the steps and look out on to the fragile world below. Before you exit, take a moment to mellow out amongst the beautiful walls of beige and brown hand painted boxes. Totality accomplished.
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Monday, February 25, 2008
Posted By:
Rob Tallia
Photo:
Rob Tallia
Blaue Gans
Yes, it’s cool-looking, and yes, it’s in TriBeCa, where I would live if I made actual money instead of NFT-dollars, but is the food at Blaue Gans worth the credit card debt? Mostly, little grasshoppers, mostly—although my Suckling Pig was dry, and I can’t really imagine any fate worse than overcooked meat, including death (one of those “musts” for me, however, is Suckling Pig on Menu = Rob orders Suckling Pig). Next time, though, I’ll know what to order—because my friend’s jager schnitzel was fucking awesome. As was the Tyrolean speck, and the dessert (pictured) which was Chocolate Truffle Lollipops with Vanilla Milkshake and Double Crestor. An excellent date place, given the cool-factor, good to go on an expense account (now really, what isn’t though), but in the end—it’s still Austrian food, which is NOT either #1 or #2 on the world’s list of Great Cuisines. But hey—Thomas Bernhard was Austrian, and he was cooler than you.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Posted By:
Sho Spaeth
Photo:
Sho Spaeth
After reading the rave reviews for this place, I figured that I only had to try a bite of the chicken to confirm the hype and then write up this review. I called in an order for pick-up (the website says to allow for 15 minutes for the preparation of your chicken), and snuck out of the office while my boss was in the bathroom. I figured if I took a leisurely stroll over from our East Broadway offices, I’d be just in time to snatch my chicken fresh out of the fryer, and I’d be able to hoof it on back to the office with little to no explaining to do to the bossman. Unfortunately, I ended up waiting 30 minutes in the bare and stark interior of Bon Bon. When I got back to my desk, I got yelled at, and, in addition, I had some over-fried chicken, a piddling sweet bun, and some too-vinegary coleslaw to assuage my guilt. Verdict: if you have an hour to kill and 8 bucks to spare on some mediocre chicken, go to Popeye’s. The packaging won’t be as pretty, but at least you won’t be pissed off.
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Thursday, March 30, 2006
Posted By:
Ben Bray
Photo:
Ben Bray
Of the four places listed here, Pakistan Tea House is the one that would most likely be called a restaurant. In fact compared to the others, this place is downright fancy. There are several tables and chairs (even tablecloths!). The naan is baked fresh to order, and the vegetarian samosas are only $1. The combos are an ample amount of food and range from $5 to $6. Pakistan Tea House is also open until 4 am, which is a big plus for this neighborhood.
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Friday, March 04, 2005
Posted By:
Diana Pizzari
Photo:
Diana Pizzari
Tucked away in the back streets of Tribeca, Ula Day Spa offers manicures, pedicures, and facials,but their best service by far is massage. Choose the one-hour treatment ($90)—it’s hardly worth the effort of traveling there for a half-hour rub. If it’s your first time, ask for Jennifer; an excellent masseuse from Belfastin Northern Ireland. Arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your appointment time and take advantage of their lovely sauna and complimentary fresh fruit. The only negative feature of the spa was the cruddy showers—don’t bother wearing expensive clothing because you’re going to have a difficult time removing the massage oil before putting them back on. Also, the spa is co-ed, so expect to share the sauna and locker room with members of the opposite sex.
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Powered By Subgurim(http://googlemaps.subgurim.net). Google Maps ASP.NET
See
TriBeCa...
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Restaurants (54)
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Nightlife (21)
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Shopping (61)
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Landmarks (14)
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Other TriBeCa Restaurants |
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Acapella
Sopranos-worthy Northern Italian cuisine.
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Bouley
Absolute top NYC dining. Love the apples in the foyer.
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Bread Tribeca
Country-style Italian.
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Bubby's
Great atmosphere—good home-style eats and homemade pies.
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Capsouto Freres
Excellent brunch, great space, oldish (in a good way) vibe.
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Centrico
Cha-cha upscale Mexican makes you forget the ka-ching.
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City Hall
Bright, expensive, lots of suits, but still cool.
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Corton
Bruni and Platt love this place. So should you.
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Duane Park Café
Underrated New American.
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Dylan Prime
Excellent steakhouse, great location, TriBeCa prices.
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Edward's
Middle-of-the-road, kid's menu, mostly locals, sometimes great.
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Estancia 460
Louche Argentines and brilliant french toast. Formerly Sosa Borella.
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Flor de Sol
Tapas with—of course—a scene.
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Il Giglio
Stellar Italian. Trust us.
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Ivy's Bistro
Down-to-earth neighborhood Italian.
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Other TriBeCa Nightlife |
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Anotheroom
Cosy, cute, and narrow.
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B Flat
Stylish Japanese basement cocktail den.
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Brandy Library
Refined but cozy with lots of free tasting events.
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Broome Street Bar
Real low-key for this part of town.
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Bubble Lounge
Champagne bar; the more $$$ you spend, the nicer they'll be.
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Church Lounge
Luxurious space with pricey drinks and occasional live music.
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Lucky Strike
Hipsters, locals, ex-smoky. Recommended.
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Naked Lunch
Average lounge.
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Nancy Whisky Pub
Good dive. As if there were any other kind.
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Puffy's Tavern
Suits, old timers, and hipsters. Top TriBeCa watering hole.
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Roulette
For the experimental at heart.
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Smith & Mills
Upscale cool cocktails. Limited seating.
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Soho Grand Hotel
Swank sophistication.
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Terroir
Happening wine bar with funky list and tasty eats.
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Toad Hall
Laid back vibe with SoHo locals.
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Other TriBeCa Shopping |
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Other TriBeCa Landmarks |
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American Thread Building
Check out cool rounded front; watch out for tunnel traffic.
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Cary Building
Cast-iron goodness on Chambers. We like it.
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Duane Park
One of the nicest spots in all of New York.
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Fleming Smith Warehouse
TriBeCa's most sublimely beautiful structure. Believe it.
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Ghostbusters Firehouse
Are you the gatekeeper?
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Harrison Street Row Houses
Some old houses.
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New York Law School
New York Law's new main building burns brightly on cold TriBeCa nights.
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New York Telephone Company Building
Massive Art Deco gem still looms over now-fashionable TriBeCa.
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No. 8 Thomas Street
Bizarre Venetian townhouse in the middle of downtown. Really.
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One York Street
Enrique Norten's postmodern offering is pretty damned good.
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Powell Building
Carrere & Hastings gem w/ Nobu on the ground floor.
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Textile Building
Henry J. Hardenbergh goodness in TriBeCa.
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The Dream House
Cool sound + light installation by La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela. Closed during summer.
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Washington Market Park
One of the city's oldest marketplaces.
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