we just got back from the beach and are in a frenzy to put away our stuff as quickly as possible and then go out for lunch - the nerve! we have a bunch of pics and were very lucky with the weather as it's been pretty stormy in nyc. we're already missing the pool and may just put on some coppertone and fill up the tub to pretend we're still there. no complaints though, especially in light of the heatwave out west. portland 100+ - whoa!
cindy* is going to be visiting nyc soon and i thought it would be a great opportunity to post some of our favorite spots. most are local, but there do seem to be a number from japan. we're not big on expensive restaurants and prefer small cafes, which are highlighted in teal. we'll keep this list updated and probably add some photos in the future. so, get your walking shoes on, some $$$ and let's go. we've arranged them by neighborhood.
xo, cindy
ps if you have any other special spots in nyc, let me know and i'll add them to the list if they're places we like to visit or would like to!
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QUASI-UPTOWN
bloomingdale's - super-department store & forty carrots restaurant. delish & healthy!
59th street & lexington avenue
museum of modern art - the new building is as great as the art.
53rd street & 6th avenue
magnolia's bakery - one red velvet cupcake, please. ok, two.
50th street & sixth avenue
anthropologie - this is the best one with two floors and art installation pieces!
50th @ rockefeller center
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MIDTOWN
times square - visit at night for fantastic photos.
42nd street & 7th avenue
grand central terminal - great building and food court.
42nd street & park avenue
ny public library, main branch, rose reading room is incredible & free.
42nd street & fifth avenue
bryant park
42nd street & 6th avenue. outdoor movies on the lawn in the summer on monday's @ 5 pm.
kinokuniya - japanese store with wonderful craft books, paper goods and anime.
41st street & sixth avenue
international center for photography
42nd street & 6th avenue
muji - japanese department store features clean lines and neutrals.
40th street & eighth avenue
b& j fabrics - really organized & helpful.
525 7th avenue (in the 30s)
tinsel trading - trims & notions, incredible store for crafters. must visit!
37th street & 5th avenue
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MEATPACKING DISTRICT
lots of high-end stores in this neighborhood, but must our visits are -
high line park
gansevoort street, in the meatpacking district, to west 20th street, in chelsea, between 1oth & 11th avenues.
chelsea market - redefines the term 'food court'.
15th street & 9th avenue
billy's bakery via chockpocky - she loves the banana cream pie.
21st street & ninth avenue
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SOHO
so many shops, but we love
dean & deluca via jamie - gourmet food shop, including doughnut plant via chockpocky.
prince street & broadway
uniqlo - colorful japanese clothing store has great prices.
prince street & broadway
vespa via jamie - famous scooters.
13 crosby street
kate's paperie - stationery & paper crafts.
72 spring street (between crosby & lafayette streets)
paul smith via jamie - very cool english designer.
greene street & w. houston
van leeuwen ice cream truck - delicious organic ice cream. favorite flavor = all.
greene & prince streets.
makie - incredible handmade clothes, love everything made with liberty of london fabric, especially for little girls.
109 thompson & prince streets
snack - cozy cafe serving delicious greek food.
105 thompson & prince streets
purl - legendary knitting & sewing shop - paradise!
459 broome street @ greene
once upon a tart - for a quick bite to eat.
sullivan street & prince (next to purl knitting)
local - also good for a quick bite.
sullivan street & prince (across the street from purl patchwork)
thompson & sullivan streets have really nice independent boutiques. from there you can walk to greenwich village or the west village.
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READER SUGGESTIONS
UNION SQUARE
thé adoré via chockpocky - 'charming rustic 2nd floor dining room for a light lunch (tea + sandwiches, soups, pastries)'.
17 E. 13th, just off Fifth, just below Union Square
GREENWICH VILLAGE
greenwich letterpress via chockpocky - lovely stationery store.
christopher street & seventh avenue
sweetiepie restaurant via dallas shaw - sweet restaurant & dessert bar.
10th street & greenwich avenue
EAST VILLAGE
momofuku milk bar via chockpocky - 'delicious corn cookies + decadent cakes & inventful soft serve flavors'.
13th street & second avenue
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OUTER-BOROUGHS
long island city - queens
easy to get to from grand central - one stop on 7 train.
gorgeous views of mid-town from a really nice park - this is the attraction, but there are a few very nice shops and several restaurants - our favorite is cafe henri right by the subway.
new york botanical garden - bronx
get there using metro north from grand central.
williamsburg - brooklyn
very cool shops and restaurants.
greenwich village
ReplyDeletegreenwich letterpress (kicks kate's paperie's ass in terms of cuteness and curated selection)
union square
té adore (E13th street) with its charming rustic 2nd floor dining room for a light lunch (tea + sandwiches, soups, pastries)
chelsea (or tribeca)
billy's bakery (sooooo much better than magnolia ;) – get their banana cream pie)
This is a big list to follow. I just noticed Chelsea's comment- banana cream pie!! Hmmm... do you think they ship? smile... Have fun! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis was very, very cosmopolitan! I love that you keep track of such a big list of favorite haunts!
ReplyDeleteI hope to be visiting nyc one day -- need to bookmark that list! Anthropologie - I so much loved that store back in our Californian days!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, love Takashimaya!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if TROY in Soho is still around, that was my fave too...
xo*
thanks for the additions! i love greenwich letterpress and billy's bakery, too. actually, my favorite cupcakery recently closed - ugh. te adore is a restaurant i've wanted to go to for a while, now. i'll add these, but troy seems to be closed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun list...thanks, Cindy! I need to return to the Botanical Gardens soon...they are so beautiful.
ReplyDeletei totally had a mind burp – a taste of nyc isn't complete without a trip to the lower east side/east village. momofuku milk bar (delicious corn cookies + decadent cakes & inventful soft serve flavors); doughnut plant (churros!); sugar sweet sunshine (for the "bob" and banana pudding); and finally 2 places you can get a slice of real new yawk flavor (russ & daughters, katz's deli – yes, cliché but darn good pastrami).
ReplyDeletebtw – what was your fave but defunct cupcakery?
I am bookmarking this...if it's the last thing I do, I will get to NYC. Thanks for the info..you are too generous...
ReplyDeletethis Portland girl is dying in the heat...107 two days in a row. No worries, a cold snap is hitting today 97! burrrrrrr.... xo t
add the fabulous sweetiepie- it's on my blog today- you MUST see the photos. MUST!
ReplyDeletedallas
http://dillydallas.blogspot.com
oh wow, chockpocky - i think you need to make a list yourself;). i've tried to keep ours to things we've do fairly regularly, but i'll include some of the places you've mentioned that are on our wish list. i would love to visit momofuku milk bar one day and doughnut plant is great - i usually get them at dean & deluca, though. cheeks bakery in williamsburg made the BEST cupcakes i ever had. they were perfect. not to much icing, nice moist cake.
ReplyDeletesweetiepie looks wonderful, dallas. i'll add it to the wish list!
thanks!
I need to make a trip to NYC!
ReplyDeleteah! this is the best list ever!!! you are a gem cindy...my trip is coming quickly and the excitement, it's mounting ;)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to go to NYC! All of these places look FAB!
ReplyDeletedon't forget the Vespa shop in SoHo on Crosby street, Dean and Deluca at Prince and Broadway, and Paul Smith on Greene Street!
ReplyDeletegot 'em jaimie!
ReplyDeleteWOW - what an amazing list! If I ever make it back to NY (for longer than just an awful night on the floor of the JFK airport) I will know exactly where to go and what to do!
ReplyDeleteAnd as far as the blog goes... of COURSE it's "okay" - it's your blog my friend! Change is good, change is exhilarating. And you are so talented, I know that whatever you come up with will be awesome :)
Meg xoxoxo
ohhh...i am dying to get to nyc. went to the u.s. open last year and i so want to go this year.....and it is fast approaching. i keep trying to talk my scott into just going overnight and seeing some tennis...but if we did that, how would i go to all the wonderful places that you listed, too????
ReplyDeleteyayy cindy and cindy! what a great list!!! love it!
ReplyDeletecindy...i had this list marked for our u.s. open trip....but we ended up enjoying it on this trip too!!! i have been dying to go to kinokuniya, but wasn't going to make the kids go. i was showing scott your list and he noticed that you mentioned they have paper goods too. my daughter loves asian paper goods and pens...so we went and spent forever in there. i wanted to buy so many books (and managed to get a few) and she spent most of her trip money there as well. thanks for such a great list...totally planning on using it next time too
ReplyDeletemichelle
may i say --
ReplyDeleteif chockpocky is liesl, i am so looking for her email address!
signed, lars.