MARISA’S NYC GUIDE

With help from Oli, Jen (JA) & Dan (DP)!

TRAVELING / TRANSPORT

Take a taxi from the airport – it’s a flat $45 + tolls and well worth avoiding the hassle of public transportation.

Buy a map, get your bearings and you’ll find life so much easier. If you’re ambitious, buy a map before you leave home, do research ahead of time and plan ahead. You can put little dots on all the places you want to go and then you’ll realize what neighborhood most of the stuff is in that you want to check out.

Subway map: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/subwaymap.pdf

Getting around: It’s really easy to take the subway (although there are regular problems!), but realize that most of the stops are really close together, so a lot of times you can walk. Taxis are super cheap, so if its not traffic time, just take a taxi.

For the most part, “Streets” run North/South and “Avenues” run East/West. So when you’re walking from 8th Street to 9th Street you’re walking North. When you’re walking from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue you’re walking West.

Things to remember: 6th Avenue is also Avenue of the Americas (pronounced HOWston) runs N/S and is the divider between the neighborhoods East Village and Soho. / 6th Ave / Ave of the Americas is a good marker dividing East & West. Downtown (depending on who you ask!) is below , although most people say below 23rd Street, some say 34th Street  …. Uptown would definitely be above 42nd Street…

The whole city is on a grid system, but it gets a bit tricky in the different neighborhoods (Soho / Greenwich Village), so use your map. You can also ask people – everyone is really friendly!

Major Junctions: 14th Street/Union Square: The 4,5,6, L, N, R, Q all stop here. Can catch the L train (grey) here to (it’s only 3 stops to Bedford Ave) or to Northern most part of the East Village (2nd Ave)

Broadway/Lafayette: N,R, 4, 5, 6, F This let’s you out right in the middle of the massive Broadway shopping district and is a good spot to get off - it’s btw Union Square and the thick of Soho.

2nd Ave/Houston or Delancey: F This is the stop to get off for the LES

42nd Street /Union Square 1,9, N, R, Q, 7 Most locals avoid this at all costs… but if you must…. All the big multimedia billboards, lots of tall buildings, hustle and bustle, all the bigger versions of the stores downtown. You can walk to Rockefeller Center. Its cool to walk around and take in the vibe, eat a street hot dog maybe jump in a pedi-cab, but you won’t really hang around long.

Car Services: In NYC there are several car services… Just call, tell them where you are and where you need to go and confirm a price before you get into the car. Here are 3 good ones: Delancey – 212-228-3301 (Jose car 131 has a pimping SUV – great for the airport if you’re in ) 212-666-6666 – Not sure of the name, but this is the easiest to remember Northside in Williamsburg – 718-387-2222

Eating: For reliable restaurant reviews: http://www.nymag.com, http://www.nytimes.com/pages/dining/

Information and menus for almost every single NYC restaurant (great resource when you want food delivered!): http://www.menupages.com

For all of the classic NYC restaurants / bars. This is from the Soho / Grand website written by our friend Jaclyn. http://www.grandlifenyc.com/dining_favorite.php

Shopping: http://www.nymag.com

NEIGHBORHOODS

The main ‘downtown neighborhoods’ are where I know best. You can easily walk around these three main hoods. We’ve included some other areas below that border these three – and have been becoming more popular, more gentrified and very nice in recent years.

SOHO means south of Houston (pronounced Howwwston – not like the city in Dallas) – Soho is massive – its sort of wedged between Houston, the West Village and the – all of the massive chain stores are here and Broadway is the main artery with all of the high street shops (H&M, Old Navy, Banana Republic, The Gap…)

NOLITA is called because its North of Little Italy (which is shrinking). It kind of borders Chinatown / Lower East Side close to Soho.

THE LOWER EAST SIDE runs along the East River (south of Houston) and West to (which is technically Ave A in the East Village)

EAST VILLAGE sort of starts East of Broadway around East and goes all the way to the East River… Its wedged between Greenwich Vilalge and Union Square…

*Definitely get a map – and hopefully it will all make sense!

SOHO

Once the center of ‘downtown’ hedonism and art and culture… Now a great place for shopping! All the major designer shops are around here (Chanel, Prada, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, APC) – a lot of the same ones as 5th Avenue really, but less of a headache to walk around on a crowded day… It’s a pleasant area to stroll, but pretty touristy and you won’t find lots of bargains, but hitting the sales are always good … Lots of independent designers set up little tables all around here selling jewellery, hats, t-shirts… If you’re after cheap accessories, head to Chinatown – even though a lot of these guys claim to be selling hand-made stuff, you’ll see a lot of the same in other stalls or for cheaper in Chinatown.

There are a few good restaurants in Soho, but they tend to be harder to find. Not that many bars in Soho either really, but it sure would be a nice place to live. Look up when you walk around – there are some amazing loft apartments!

SOHO GRAND 310 btw Grand & Canal – Lovely hotel with a great outdoor seating area in the Summer called The Yard – even if you’re staying in the hotel, I would suggest booking way ahead of time – it gets super super crowded. Nice cocktail bar next to Lobby on first floor. Use the concierge to make reservations for you if you’re staying here.

RESTAURANTS

Omen – 113 Thompson Street btw Prince & Spring, 212-925-8923. OMG! The best Japanese restaurant in NYC – amazing quality sashimi and beef and an amazing Saki list. Ask the waiters for some authentic suggestions. Very cozy and casual, and pricey. They only take cash and American Express, so come with a wad. Hundred Acres - 38 MacDougal St btw Houston & Prince, 212-475-7500 Food changes daily, sourced from neighboring Greenmarket. Nice and fresh and yummy. I’ve never been here, but it looks delicious and comes recommended (DP). Fried Green tomatoes, beet salads, burgers and pancakes! Count me in. http://hundredacresnyc.com Ruben’s Empanadas – 505 @ Watts Street, 212-334-3351. I used to always get empanadas delivered for my ’SUP parties. If you’re in the hood, swing by for a quick snack. Get a few of the minis for a little taster – great vegetarian / vegan options! Lupes – 110 6th Ave @ Watts Street, 212-966-1326- According to a friend - Best Mexican in Soho. All the Mexican classics – burritos, tacos , quesadillas, guac, salsa fresca. http://www.lupeskitchen.com/ Vesuvio Bakery – 160 Prince Street btw Thompson & West Broadway – walking distance from the Soho Grand. They make amazing bread and do a decent breakfast – but its not healthy at all. Yummy toad in a hole with cheese and proscuitto and great omelettes. Balthazar – 80 Spring Street btw Broadway & Lafayette - 212-965-1785 – Very hectic bakery and bistro. Nice food (yummy egg dishes and oysters), excellent service. One in the chain of restauranteur Keith McNally (see Pastis, Schiller’s Liquor Bar, Pravda, Lucky Strike, etc). Book ahead if you can, its usually busy. http://www.balthazarny.com/

SHOPS

Barney’s Co-Op – 116 Wooster @ Prince – only women’s clothing at this one… Really nice to not have to go uptown, but still doesn’t have the selection of the uptown shop… AMAZING selection of jeans, although they run out of popular sizes pretty quickly… http://www.barneyscoop.com Antropologie – 275 West Broadway btw Spring & Broome – total “shabby chic” vibe going on – owned by Urban Outfitters – its like the more sophisticated older sister. Really nice stuff, but not that original and a bit overpriced. Style is a bit hipper than J Crew. They have these in malls all over America now… Apple Store – 103 Prince Street @ Greene – from here – you’ll be in the heart of Soho. There’s a bathroom upstairs in the theatre as well… which is clean and kind of hidden. Might be a little awkward if there’s a lecture going on. APC - 131 Mercer @ Prince – Love, love, love this place. Preppie utilitarian style… The prices are a lot lower than in the UK. Really lovely basics and key pieces. Operations – 60 Mercer Street – Another very utilitarian, almost military style brand. Mostly guys clothes… NYC brand started by 3 dudes. Clothes are all really well made – mostly jackets and shirts. There’s a nice big cat who is always in there too sleeping… Olive & Bette’s - 158 Spring Street btw West Broadway & Thompson – cute, more casual designer clothes. Always the latest denim and simple tshirt brands. http://www.oliveandbettes.com/ Marc Jacobs – 163 Mercer Street @ Houston - There is no Marc by Marc in here – it’s the catwalk stuff. Great selection of hand-bags. Last time I was in NYC, there were loads of paparazzi outside waiting for Kate Moss who was apparently in the dressing room (I didn’t see her though!) http://www.marcjacobs.com J Crew – 99 Prince Street – We don’t have J Crew in the UK. Its kind of like a Gap, but more variety. It’s a great place for staple items like polo shirts, little dresses, belts, plaids, socks, PJs – http://www.jcrew.com Theory – 151 Spring btw W. Broadway & Wooster – New-ish. Theory store. Just women’s and accessories. Foot Locker - If you’re looking for trainers, definitely stop at one of the Foot Locker stores on Broadway. They usually always have at least one pair you will want to buy – and thankfully Nike is selective about their distribution, so what you buy at FL in the US, you won’t find in the UK!

GREENWICH VILLAGE

Greenwich Village is the hood where NYU is… Close to Washington Square Park wedged somewhat between the East Village (West of it), the West Village and Soho. If you decide to walk up to Union Square

RESTAURANTS

Blue Hill at Stone Barns - 75 Washington Pl btw Ave of the Americas & MacDougal, (212) 539-1776 http://www.bluehillnyc.com/ *They have a working farm and a massive barn about an hour outside of NYC. We thought about getting married there b/c we loved their philosophy on food – but it was too small! Recommended by (DP).

NOLITA

Nolita basically means North of Little Italy. Its East of Soho (basically 3 blocks east from Broadway) and West of the Lower East Side. Allen street is sort of the divide between Nolita and the Lower East Side – it kind of starts blurring together… This is a great area to just get lost and walk around… Lots of great tucked away vintage and tiny boutiques…

RESTAURANTS

Café Gitane – 242 Mott @ Prince, 212-334-9552 – my ALL-TIME FAVE lunch spot – amazing avocado toast, couscous, meatballs, espresso – hot spot in the area – always crowded, but just wait for a table. Super cute waitresses and almost guaranteed indie rockstar spotting… Cece Ceci – Spring Street btw Lafayette & Mulberry – next to FRESH – right around the corner from Otto Tootsi – AMAZING cappuccino & pastries. Have to get something here! Café Habana – 229 Elizabeth Street @ Prince, 212-625-2001 – amazing Cuban, roasted corn & Cuban sandwich are the way to go here… Plaintains – mmm http://www.ecoeatery.com/ Peasant – 194 Elizabeth (btw Spring & Prince), 212-965-9511 – very cute, romantic modern rustic Italian place – candle lit – lots of atmosphere and great wine – lovely roasted fish… Really great wine bar downstairs. http://www.peasantnyc.com/ La Esquina – 106 Kenmare @ Lafayette, 646-613-7100 – great Mexican! There’s three places you can eat here. Taco stand (which is delicious. Go for the fish or the pork), café around the corner – or go downstairs (through the door in the upstairs café) for a proper sit-down meal where they seriously have like 20 different kinds of tequila. You have to book. The tacos and salads are all really yummy! http://www.esquinanyc.com/ Pinche Taqueria – 227 btw Prince & Spring - 212-625-0090 – There is rumblings of a taco war in downtown NYC and its between La Esquna and Pinche… Pinche is mostly a take-out place but there is something quite impressive about roasting whole pigs in the back for your tacos… http://www.pinchetaqueria.com/

PIZZA

Pomodoro – 51 Spring @ Mulberry – They are famous for the “vodka slice” - crushed tomatoes, fresh mozzarella & basil with a pink sauce – you HAVE to get this – BUT IT HAS TO BE FRESH. Its not as good when its been sitting there for a while. My FAVORITE slice of pizza in NYC. Lombardi’s – 32 Spring Street btw Mott & Mulberry – This is more of a sit-down pizza place. Its classic “brick oven” style. There’s usually a line and its crowded. Lots of tourists come here, but it is actually really good.

SHOPS

All in the same area (near Café Gitane): IHeart – Mott btw Prince & Houston – downstairs – trendy girls & designer clothes – down a few doors from Café Gitane – look out for the neon pink sign – and then you walk downstairs… They are also the showroom for WOWCH who make the coolest hoodies and t-shirts… This is my friend Jill’s shop. She’s cute and blonde. Say hello if you think she’s working. http://www.iheartnyc.com, http://thingsweheart.blogspot.com/ Laces – 252 Mott btw Prince & Houston – all girl trainer shop. http://www.laces- nyc.com NIKE ID Design Boutique - 255 Elizabeth Street (custom design your own Nike’s - secret door kind of vibe) – This place changes purpose quite regularly, but its always some kind of Nike shop. Eleven – 11 Prince Street btw Mott & Elizabeth – really great little vintage shop. A bit overpriced, but its Nolita… Well selected, so usually great jackets, tops, skirts, accessories, etc. If you’re on a vintage mission though, Brooklyn is the best bet…

All in the same area (near Lafayette & Spring): Label – 265 Lafayette btw Cleveland Place and Prince – in-house label – Really nice ‘pieces’ – great stuff for women & men – very reasonably price – great fit – very different (near the fire station on Lafayette). Its all the clothes from one designer who only sells her clothes at her other shop in LA. In God We Trust – 265 Lafayette (down a few doors from Label) – they sell new designer stuff as well as their own line… SUPER CUTE. I love this place. Not a lot of merchandise, but its all good. Great boots, shoes, jewellery. There’s another one in Brooklyn. They don’t mark up the prices as much as other boutiques, so you’ll find stuff here priced lower than in other shops. They are apparently opening a new shop at 153 Ludlow as well. http://www.ingodwetrustnyc.com/ Amarcord – 252 Lafayette btw Prince & Spring - its across the street from LABEL. Over-priced vintage, but well-selected and everything is in very good shape. http://www.amarcordvintagefashion.com/ Supreme - 274 Lafayette - ever seen a Japanese kid with a Supreme hat? This is what its all about oddly – almost hipper than thou skaeshop where there is usually some pro skaters hanging around inside or causing trouble on the sidewalk out front. http://www.supremenewyork.com/ Stackhouse - 273 Lafayette near Prince – they have two shops – one for men and one for women (I think this is still right). Tshirts, sneakers, hoodies…

NAIL/WAXING/BEAUTY Dekka Nails – Spring btw Lafayette & Mulberry – across the street from Pomodoro Pizza – really good quick cheap manicures and pedicures – waxing, etc.

LOWER EAST SIDE (LES)

2nd Ave on the F train is the best stop to get you to the LES. It is roughly bounded by Allen St., E. Houston, Essex St., Canal St., Eldridge St., E. Broadway, and Grand St. Ludlow Street is one of the main arteries of the Lower East Side with lots of shops and cute boutiques… has lots of leather shops and cheap suitcases – closed for street vendors on the weekend – fun to walk around, but its not really amazing stuff… Shops around here are always opening and closing, so its best to just get lost and walk around!!

Check out this link – a lot of places on my list are on here – http://newyork.citysearch.com/roundup/37806, http://lower-east-side.com/

HOTEL EAST HOUSTON 151 East Houston @ Allen Street, 212-777-0023 If you’re staying here, you are right on the border of the Lower East Side and East Village (across the Street). It’s a two-minute walk to Lil Frankies FYI.

RESTAURANTS 1492 – 60 Clinton Street btw Rivington & Stanton, 646-654-1114 – really great Spanish tapas place. Waiters are all really nice and they make you feel at home. Go for the seafood. Good for big groups. Doesn’t beat tapas from Spain obviously, but pretty good for NYC. http://www.1492food.com Mexican Restaurant – have NO IDEA what the name is – It’s on Rivington – right across – nextdoor to the bar – the Magician – really good big plate Mexican – not very fancy or nice, but great for hangovers… Kat’z Deli – 205 E Houston Street @ Ludlow – the infamous Jewish deli (was in the movie When Harry Met Sally) – massive pastrami sandwiches as ‘big as your face’ says Carl Brickman, Jr. http://www.katzdeli.com Café Charbon – 170 Orchard @ Stanton - French bistro/casual food – great Pouliifousse on the wine list! Usually really great – but don’t deviate from what they do best which is steak frites or mussels. Schiller’s Liquor Bar - 131 @ Norfolk - French bistro kind of food, really trendy, AWESOME dirty martinis! A bit pretentious – owned by the same people who own Balthazar & Pastis – this is where the trendies come to slum it in the Lower East Side – the wine menu is good, average and really good – or something silly like that. Food is okay, but there are a lot of ‘British’ dishes on here, that are better in England. http://www.schillersny.com Clinton Street Baking Company – 4 Clinton Street @ Houston – OMG! They have the most amazing biscuits and pancakes… The lunch looks yummy too, but I’ve never had anything but breakfast. The portions are ginormous! Mmmm. I’m getting hungry thinking about it! Always a wait for a table, but it goes fast. Not good for parties of more than 4 people. http://www.clintonstreetbaking.com/ Freeman’s Alley – End of Freeman Alley - Off Rivington btw & Chrystie, 212- 420-0012 – its down a little alleyway directly across from Off-Soho Suites. It started the whole taxidermy as chic thing. The food is not healthy at all, but its really yummy and the restaurant is trendy, but usually more full of locals. Devils on horseback – figs & goat cheese wrapped with bacon. Whoa!! http://www.freemansrestaurant.com/ Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop – 129 Rivington Street @ Norfolk. This is hands-down one of the best sandwich places ever. Build your own or choose from one of theirs. Tiny’s is an inspiration to all. http://www.tinysgiant.com/

BARS

Max Fish – 178 Ludlow btw Houston & Stanton – skater crew, hipster – avoid on weekend unless you want to see it fully in action – this used to be the epicentre of the skateboarding scene in NYC and where Leo Fitzpatrick / Chloe Sevigny would hang out back in the day, but I doubt they are rarely ever in NYC anymore… Definitely and old stomping ground! http://www.maxfish.com Darkroom – 165 Ludlow btw Houston & Stanton – hipster, music crowd, very sceney – downstairs entrance. Used to be THE late-night place for gig after parties and general debauchery… Once you’re inside, there are two sides of the room… Happy Endings 302 Broome – hipster, great music, fun crowd, upstairs & downstairs – the night will depend on what kind of party they are doing. The crowd and music style varies greatly by night. http://www.happyendinglounge.com Home Sweet Home – 131 – go downstairs – no real sign – taxidermy – rock and roll… 205 Club – 205 Chrystie – they are usually pretty snotty at the door here. It was really exclusive and trendy LES for a while, but now there are regular nights and it can be hit or miss. Downstairs is usually where the ‘cooler’ kids are. Be prepared to pay $10 for a shot! http://www.myspace.com/205club

MUSIC VENUES Mercury Lounge – 217 East Houston Street @ Ludlow (250+) http://www.mercurylounge.com – 6 Delancey @ Bowery (600+) http://www.boweryballroom.com *These two spots are owned by the same people and almost always have great live music on… Check schedules ahead of time and buy tickets or call ahead to see if you can get tix on the door. Pianos – 158 Ludlow @ Stanton. (250+) Usually local bands play here. Check their schedule online. http://www.pianosnyc.com/

SHOPS

These are all really close, so you can just walk around the whole area. Economy Candy – down from Edith & Daha/Teany – lots of weird candy – in bulk or sold singularly… http://www.economycandy.com/ Alife Rivington Club – 158 Rivington btw Clinton & Suffolk Street – amazing designer sneaker store. They usually only have less than 10 pairs of shoes, but they’re all exclusive to the shop and limited edition. http://www.rivingtonclub.com/ TG170 – 170 Ludlow Street btw Houston & Stanton – trendy, girls, designer. I could quite happily buy all of my clothes here. Its all designer and quite pricey, but great selection. Nice range of denim and tshirts. http://www.tg170.com/ Marmalade – 172 Ludlow btw Houston & Stanton – over-priced vintage, but definitely worth a look. http://marmaladevintage.com/ DV – Dolce Vita – If TopShop had a style biter it would be DV – they have an AMAZING selection of shoes… and lots of basic-type styles. You won’t be able to leave without buying something… However… Make sure you walk around in the shoes for a while. I’ve bought 4 pairs from here and have only ended up wearing one pair regulary b/c the other 3 are so uncomfortable… Sizes also vary b/c they are factory made and not that high quality … Great gold jewellry. http://www.shopdolcevita.com Shop – 105 Stanton @ Ludlow – really, really cute designer clothes. Great hand-bags and one-off pieces. They will have similar stuff to TG170. Usually have local designers who are starting out – v. good quality control. Pixie Market – 100 Stanton @ Ludlow – hit or miss. Their own line isn’t that great, but the other stuff is usually pretty cute. Nice selection of shoes. And the lady that runs it is really nice. http://www.pixiemarket.com/store/ Ellen – 122 Ludlow @ Rivington – super cute vintage ran by a mad woman named Ellen – she will totally bargain with you and usually has a really great selection. She’s upped her prices though as everyone else around her has… I was honestly a bit shocked when I went in there last time!

RECORD STORES

Cake Shop – 152 Ludlow @ Stanton – down the street from PIANOS - records & coffee upstairs, venue downstairs – great selection of vinyl – right near all the shops on Ludlow.

EAST VILLAGE

The East Village lies east of Greenwich Village, south of Gramercy and Stuyvesant Town, and north of the Lower East Side. The East Village encompasses the neighborhood of Alphabet City (Avenues A - D). The neighborhood is bounded by 14th Street on the north, on the east, Houston Street on the south, and the Bowery and 3rd Avenue on the wes

Everyone knows St.Marks Place b/c of the punk history – and its still a good street to walk down, although a lot of the tattoo shops, record stores and nasty “punk shops” have been replaced by chain stores and nice apartments… There’s a Chipotle, a Subway and who knows what else by now.

Lots of good eating spots have been creeping up here over the past few years – or maybe they were always there and know I just know about them. There are several little hidden gems in the East Village. It used to be a pretty happening area for nightlife, and there’s still a lot of spots to go out, its just not that edgy or interesting. is at the East end of St.Marks Street and is where all the skaters hang out. Used to be the focal point for homeless people and drug dealers, but now it’s a nice cultural mix of people just chilling out – great for people watching.

RESTAURANTS

Lil Frankie’s – 21 1st Ave btw 1st & 2nd Street, 212-420-4900 – amazing pizzas – great sides – spinach, baked squash, mozz & tomato salad is always fresh & good, great ravioli, pasta, everything is nice – so homely & cute – MY FAVE! http://www.lilfrankies.com IL Bagatto – 192 2nd btw A & B – sit in the wine bar & definitely order the meatballs, cheese plate & spinach with pine nuts – its sooooo nice to sit in here and just relax – the staff are really helpful and lovely. In the restaurant, don’t ask for salt or olive oil & balsamic vinegar on the side – they will say they don’t have it. http://www.ilbagattonyc.com/ Dok Suni - 119 1st Ave | Btwn 7th St & St Marks Place, 212-477-9506 – great modern Korean food. Its not a grill-at-your-table style… Kate’s Joint – 58 btw 4th & 5th – a really good home-cookin’ style vegetarian restaurant. There’s not much that is really healthy (lots of fries and veggie burgers and carbs) – go for the tofu hot wings – they are yummy. For healthy vegetarian, there are much better options. Mama’s Food Shop – 200 E. 3rd Street @ Avenue B – soul food aficionados will cuss this place, but its actually really good. http://www.mamasfoodshop.com/ Cafe Mogador -101 St. Marks Place btw 1st and A, 212-677-2226 - Morroccan food. Very cool, basement restaurant that's been here forever. Good brunch, plus entrees and falafel, hummus, mint tea, roast chicken http://www.cafemogador.com/ (JA) Momofuko - 171 1st. Ave btn 10th and 11th st. Awesome Japanese noodle soup place. Famous chef, but I forget who! Really fresh food and the ramen w/ pork is amazing! http://www.momofuku.com/noodle/default.asp (JA) Yakitori Taisho - 5 St. Marks near 1st Ave - this place is legit Japanese yakitori. You sit in crowded tables and order grilled food off a gigantic menu. The grilled shrimp and chicken wings are awesome. Everyone that works here is straight from Japan. Actually feels like you are in Tokyo. http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/yakitori-taisho/ (JA) Hasaki - 210 E. 9th St btn 2nd and 3rd Ave, 212-473-3327 - really fresh and delicious Japanese sushi spot. It's pretty tiny and tucked away below street level. Look for a white "lantern" outside and go down the steps. This is right in the middle of the East Village off St. Marks (JA). I hear its best to stick to the sushi.

BARS

Hangar Bar – 217 East 3rd Street btw B&C. Used to be Plant Bar – where DFA threw their all night dance parties back in the day! My friend Nicole is the manager… Now its kind of a local hang for dirty rockers! Check the nights because they have guest DJs. Lit Lounge – 93 2nd Avenue btw 5th & 6th – Used to be THE SPOT to go to about 5 years ago. Super rock ‘n’ roll vibe. Downstairs basement was THE place for late-night debauchery. Apparently its starting to get good again. http://www.litloungenyc.com

Good for saki: Decibel – 240 East 9th Street @ 2nd Avenue - 212-979-2733. Nice cozy bar with great selection of saki.

Good for beer: DBA – 41 1st Ave near 2nd Street – 250 types of beer, 90 types of Scotch. This is a great place to go for a pint! Little garden out back with extra seats. Zum Schneider – 107 @ 7th Street, 212- 598-1098. Bavarian Biergarten in the East Village. Big huge mugs of beer, wooden picnic tables and unhealthy German sausages. Mmmm. http://www.zumschneider.com

SHOPS

The Good the Bad & The Ugly – 9th Street @ Ave. A - vintage, new, funky – have their own line of clothes – nice tights – interesting bits http://www.goodbaduglynyc.com Dave’s Quality Meat - 7 East 3rd Street (amazing sneaker shop - good stuff - my buddy Crazy Dave owns it - say hello!) http://www.davesqualitymeat.com

RECORD STORES

Turntable Lab – 120 East 7th Street btw 1st Street & Ave A – (212.677.0675) GREAT new/emerging stuff – lots of mixtapes - downstairs from street – sort of hard to find http://www.turntablelab.com

WEST VILLAGE

The West Village (further West of Greenwich Village) is really neighborhoody and really nice. Full of brownstones and tree-lined streets, its quickly become the place to live for young wealthy families (i.e. Uma Thurman, Sarah Jessica Parker, etc). Its also becoming a place for designer boutiques and upscale restaurants. The area is usually defined as bounded by the Hudson River and either or Seventh Avenue, extending from 14th Street down to Houston Street. Bordering neighborhoods include Chelsea to the north, the Hudson Square section of SoHo to the south, and the core of Greenwich Village to the east

RESTAURANTS

The Little Owl – 90 Bedford Street @ Grove, 212-741-4695. Nice rustic Italian-style food. Lots of hype around this place. We almost had them cater the wedding! http://www.thelittleowlnyc.com/ The Spotted Pig – 311 West 11th btw Hudson & Washington – NYC’s own ‘gastropub’. This place is really West and people LOVE it here. Its comfort food – the chef / owner is actually from the UK! http://www.thespottedpig.com/ Corner Bistro – 331 West 4th @ Horatio – People say they have the best burger in NYC… I’ve never been surprisingly! Marys Fish Camp - 64 Charles Street at the Corner of 4th Street, 646.486.2185 This looks like a fantastic place for fresh seafood. It comes recommended (DP). no reservations. http://www.marysfishcamp.com

SHOPPING

Marc Jacobs – 403 Bleeker @ 11th Street, 212- 924-0026. This is the place for the deals on MJ… Lots of cheap made in China accessories and other t-shirts, bags, etc.

BARS

Employees Only - 510 Hudson @ Christopher, 212-242-3021 (there’s a Fortune Teller restaurant/front - restaurant is inside - super sleek 20s style décor - good food & cocktails). http://www.employeesonlynyc.com/

CLUBS

Love - 40 West 8th St (MacDougal & 6th Ave), 212.477.5683. Open super late. Very small downstairs undercover bar with a great sound system. Check schedule for line- up of regular DJs. Smalls - 183 West 10th Street @ 7th Ave, Late-night jazz club. Not exactly sure what the deal is here. I’ve never been, but I hear its pretty cool. http://www.smallsjazzclub.com/

TRIBECA

Tribeca is short for ‘Triangle Below Canal”. It runs roughly from south to Park Place (or Vesey Street), and from the Hudson River east to Broadway.

TRIBECA GRAND - 2 Avenue of the Americas (Church btw White & Walker) Nice lobby bar – usually has good music. Amazing espresso martinis. http://www.tribecagrand.com

RESTAURANTS

Walker’s – 16. N. Moore @ Varick – AMAZING burgers and hot chicken wings – you can get mash instead of fries/chips… Great comfort food – super beer list… Be warned – no wings on the weekend – they do a brunch menu. Bread Tribeca – 301 Church Street – like its Soho sister – great sandwiches, soups, lovely bread… Nam – 110 Reade Street – above average Vietnamese food – ask for Tofu & vegetable curry that’s not on the menu http://www.namnyc.com Witchcraft – 397 – close to North Moore (212) 780-0577 Tom Collicio who owns Gramercy Tavern and Craft has a sandwich shop. Never been, but I’m sure its pretty amazing… http://wichcraftnyc.com

SHOPS

Steven Alan – 103 Franklin – designer showroom & shop http://www.stevenalan.com

MUSIC VENUES

Knitting Factory – Leonard btw Broadway & Church http://www.knittingfactory.com

MEATPACKING DISTRICT

This is the area furthest West btw 12th & 14th Streets… Lots of big designer shops – Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Pastis Restaurant, Spice Market, Gansevoort Hotel, Soho House. Diane Von Furstenburg…

Nice area to walk around and pop in places, but a bit dead during the day and kind of full of wankers at night who are coming to the area for a “big night out”. However, this makes it GREAT for people watching and its also a great place to go to the massive flagship stores for the above designers…

Great spots for people watching: Soho House – 29 9th Ave @ West 13th – a bit hard to find, but there’s always door guys standing outside and lots of black town cars. Great rooftop pool, but you have to be a member. Gansevoort Hotel rooftop – 18 9th Ave @ 13th Street, 212.206.6700. Very Miami-style neon hotel. Style over substance, but has an amazing rooftop. You can see Shoreditch House rooftop from Gansevoort’s! http://www.hotelgansevoort.com/

RESTAURANTS

Spice Market - 403 W. 13th St. @ 9th Ave. 212-675-2322 Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s huge restaurant. This place is really, really good. Its hard to get into and a bit pricey, but well worth it. Lots of fun, great for people watching. http://culinaryconcepts.com/ Pastis – 9 9th Avenue, 212-929-4844. Classic French Bistro. Basically a way bigger version of Balthazar. http://www.pastisny.com/ Matsuri - Inside Maritime Hotel - 369 W 16th St btw 8th & 9th Ave - further up from the Meatpacking / moreso in West Chelsea. Really nice Asian food in an amazingly- designed space. More for the ambiance than the food and the service. http://www.themaritimehotel.com/matsuri.html

SHOPS

Stella McCartney – 429 West 14th @ Washington Alexander McQueen – 417 West 14th btw 9th & Washington Diane Von Furstenburg – 440 West 14th

UNION SQUARE

Union Square is a massive junction / intersection in downtown NYC. There’s a massive Virgin Megastore (stock up on DVDs that aren’t out yet in the UK), a big Barnes & Noble bookstore, and some days an amazing outdoor farmer’s market. Its more of a ‘passing through’ kind of spot than anywhere you’d spend more than an hour or so.

RESTAURANTS

Coffee Shop - 29 Union Sq at 16th St.- This place serves American diner type fare. Eggs, burgers, sandwiches, etc. It's a good brunch/lunch spot and it's right in Union Square so it's close to everything. Good bloody mary's too! (JA) http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/coffee-shop/ Stand - 24 E. 12th St btw University & 5th St - One of the newer "fancy" burger joints in the city. The dining is casual and laid back, but the burgers are way better than your typical fast food style and you can't get fancier toppings and cheeses, etc. Really great fries too! (JA) http://www.standburger.com/

SHOPS

Forever 21 – 40 East 14th Street – This is like the US Top Shop, but a little bit cheaper. Not as cheap as Primark though. They rip-off designer clothes and make them super cheap overseas. Its great for one-off finds and cheap ‘trend’ pieces. The clothes aren’t properly sized so make sure you try stuff on. Lines are long, so be prepared to just throw stuff on over what you’re already wearing. Be prepared before you walk in, b/c its likely to be a mess and really hectic! http://www.forever21.com

CHINATOWN

All along Canal Street - take the ACE (blueline), get off at West Broadway and walk down Canal Street OR just walk to Canal - TONS of jewelry, knockoffs, bags, etc…

RESTAURANTS

Brown Café – 61 Hester Street @ Ludlow, (212) 477-2427. Really cute locally owned café – great organic food and little gourmet shop next door. Great coffees, nice staff, lovely atmosphere… http://www.greenbrownorange.com New Green Bo – 66 Bayard Street (near Elizabeth / Mott) (212) 625-2359 – Really yummy and SUPER cheap – it’s the best of all of them I think but also quite greasy… Get steamed buns and fried rice, scallion pancakes… Oli and I went just the two of us and had enough leftovers for 2 days… Dim Sum Go Go 5 East Broadway at Chatham Sq. - great dim sum spot in a very busy section of Chinatown. It's delicious. (JA) Its also a more ‘healthy’ version of Dim Sum with lots of options to get stuff steamed instead of fried. http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/dim-sum-gogo/ Bacaro - 18 Division btw Orchard and Ludlow - This is a great nighttime dining spot. It's half street level, half basement "wine cellar." Lots of small shared plates like meat and cheese, salads, sauteed veggies and good entrees like fish and chicken and pastas. Leans towards Northern Italian style. Great wine list and fancy cocktails. Pretty hip clientele too! (JA) http://www.bacaronyc.com/

SHOPS

Great Chinese department store with all kinds of cool stuff on the corner of Lafayette and Canal - Northside of the street. Not sure what its called, but its 4 stories! Pearl River – 477 Broadway btw Grand & Broome. Massive recently renovated ‘department store’ of all Chinese goods. Lots of cute things like flip-flops, origami paper, cool chopsticks, etc. Don’t get swayed by the Kimonos because you’re likely to never actually wear one in public! http://www.pearlriver.com A Thing (aNYthing) – 51 Hester Street @ Essex – owned by A-Ron the downtown Don – a skaters haven – he worked at Stussy, left to work for Supreme and then started his own shop – lots of local designers, amazing sneakers… http://www.anewyorkthing.com

BROOKLYN (Williamsburg)

You can totally do Williamsburg in a half day – if you want really nice food and the best shopping, definitely make the trip…

How to get there: To get to Williamsburg – either take a cab over the Williamsburg Bridge and get dropped off somewhere on Bedford. I suggest you have a cab drop you off at Diner (s.5th & Broadway) or the little spot next door for brunch and then you can just cruise all the way up Bedford Ave and pop into all the shops along the way…

You can also easily take the L train from Union Square. Its 3 stops from Union Square into Brooklyn and stops at Bedford and N.7th. The JMZ train also goes across the Williamsburg Bridge, stop is Marcy Avenue – if you get off here, just ask anyone where Bedford is.

Once in Williamsburg, so you know – from East (the River) to the West (don’t want to go further West than Driggs) – the streets are parallel – Kent, Wythe, Berry, Bedford, Driggs. And then the streets are numbered started at South 5th (by Diner) and they go up to s.1st, then there’s Grand & Metropolitan and then they start going up again – N.1st, N.2nd, etc.

Great web resource: http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/

RESTAURANTS

Diner – 85 Broadway @ Berry, 718-486-3077 - Great brunch on the weekends, and lovely dinner. It was the first restaurant in the hood. You can’t miss the building, half of it is in an old railway car. Be prepared to wait a little bit. http://www.dinernyc.com/ Marlow & Sons – 81 Broadway (next to Diner) – amazing oysters and nice low-lit wooded decor. Special wine & comfort food. Yummy. Worth a trip to Brooklyn for this place. http://www.marlowandsons.com/ All of their restaurants are here: http://www.dinernyc.com/sister.html Egg – North 5th btw Bedford & Wythe – really yummy Southern Style breakfasts. Everything is organic and hand-made. Biscuits and gravy, cheese grits – ham and cheddar biscuit with home-made fig jam! So tasty, but you’ll need a little sit-down after eating here. The head chef went to Chapel Hill! UK peeps don’t know what biscuits are – THESE are biscuits. YUMMMMM. http://www.pigandegg.com/ Dumont Burger – 314 Bedford Ave. (btw s1st & s2nd) Great eat-in / take-out burger spot. These boys are gnarly. http://dumontrestaurant.com/dburger.html Dumont – 432 Union Avenue & Lorimer - brunch, dinner. Great mac & cheese, burgers and salads. This spot is closer to the Lorimer L train, but you can easily get her by walking up Metropolitan Avenue from Bedford and taking a right on Union. http://dumontrestaurant.com S&B – 194 Bedford Ave & N7th – Great breakfast. Right near the L train station - amazing low-key Polish spot. There’s a takeaway and a sit down restaurant. Pierogis, borscht, sausages… You have never seen a BLT so packed with bacon! DOC Wine Bar – 83 N.7th Street & Wythe – wine, cheese, pasta, small plates Amazing cheese plates & great wine - if it’s nice - go sit outside. http://www.docwinebar.com/ The Lodge – 318 Grand & Havemeyer, (718) 486-9400 – comfort food, greens, burgers, pot pies, meatloaf sandwiches, great cocktails… Owned by the same people that own Freeman’s Alley. http://www.lodgenyc.com/ Bozu - 296 Grand St near Havemeyer, 718-384-7770 Japanese tapas, sushi, great drinks and sake (JA) . Very reasonably priced and always very good. http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/bozu/ Zenkichi - 77 N. 6th @ Wythe. 718-388-8985 This is way fancy Japanese. You need to make a reservation. It's a cool dining experience b/c you get a private booth w/ a curtain and you have to ring a bell for your waiter. (JA) http://www.zenkichi.com/ Baci & Abracci - 204 Grand St btw Bedford & 1st. (718) 599-6599 This is a yummy Northern Italian place. Not too many red sauce dishes, but lots of great fish and meat dishes. They also serve brick oven pizza and it's delicious! Good brunch on the weekends and a nice outdoor patio. (JA) http://www.baciny.com/

Coffee Shops / Cafes The Verb Café – 218 Bedford - coffee shop in the “mini mall” on N.5th & Bedford – the kind of place where there are kids in there on laptops all day long… Strong coffee and every soy variety imaginable… Make REALLY good toasted bagels…

PIZZA

Driggs – Driggs & N7th – the best slice of cheese – also go for the Grandma pizza – amazing! http://www.driggspizza.com Anna Maria’s – 179 Bedford – this spot is right by the subway – open till about 5am – the thing to go for here is a slice with a ton of different toppings (fried eggplant with red peppers or the tomato / fresh mozz & basil are the best) – not the kind of pizza you want to eat sober b/c its super greasy!

SHOPS

Best areas to shop are: 1. Bedford Ave - between N. 8th to S. 4th. 2. N. 6th St. - between Bedford and Kent St 3. Grand St - between Havemeyer to Kent St.

Otte – 132 N.5th Street - Mini-Mall – Bedford & N5th – designer – always have a good selection of local designers and the latest denim – cheaper than the shops in Manhattan with the same stuff – development, ella moss, – etc. – whatever is goood. Catbird – 219 Bedford Ave @ N 5th – really great selection of local jewelry. There’s another shop at 390 Metropolitan Ave. http://www.catbirdnyc.com/ Mini Market - Mini-Mall – 218 Bedford & N5th – girly - great for limited edition t- shirts, amazing accessories, cheap hoodies, interesting dresses – we used to joke that they provide hipster uniforms for all the kids in Williamsburg! http://www.miniminimarket.com/ American Apparel - N6th btw Berry & Wythe – A little bit cheaper than in London. This store is massive. Oak – 208 N.8th Street - Oak is a men and women’s clothing store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Oak specializes in hip designers like Tsubi, Marc Jacobs, Opening Ceremony and Acne Jeans. The Oak store is housed in a raw, warehouse style space with a garage door style front that opens up onto the street in the warmer months. http://www.oaknyc.com In God We Trust – 135 Wythe… Description above in Lower East Side… One of my faves. Beacon’s Closet – N11th btw Berry & Wythe – Massive massive vintage / resale store. It used to be really great, but its sort of picked over. They always have really great new socks and tights though! http://beaconscloset.com/ KCDC Skateshop – N11th Street (cool skate shop in a big warehouse next to Beacon’s Closet - Nevett and Amy own it - there’s a massive skate bowl inside and usually people skateboarding) http://www.kcdcskateshop.com/ Jumelle – 148 Bedford Ave. @ N.9th - a mid to higher-end women’s clothing boutique in Williamsburg, Brooklyn - lots of cute dresses, tops, pants and shoes for the selective shopper like Sonia by Sonia Rykel and Cacherel – HOWEVER – this place is totally over-priced. I bought a pair of boots from In God We Trust for $425 and the exact same boots were $625 here… So do some price comparisons – or go to Barney’s! http://www.shopjumelle.com

RECORD STORES

Academy Records – 96 N.6th btw Berry & Wythe – on the same block as American Apparel. Big selection of new and used. http://academylps.com/ Earwax – 218 Bedford Ave & N.5th. GREAT selection of indie CDs and vinyl. Right next to the mini mall. Soundfix – 110 Bedford Ave @ N 11th – Great selection of indie and vinyl. Coffee shop attached that sometimes has acoustic live performances. http://www.soundfixrecords.com/

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BEST DEPARTMENT STORE SHOPPING Honestly, unless you know what you want – like Calvin Klein underwear or something – I would seriously avoid Bloomingdales, Sak’s etc, unless you REALLY enjoy department stores. They are always super crowded – esp around holidays – and honestly not really THAT great. Skip it and spend more time in Barney’s!

Barney’s Co-Op – 660 Madison Ave @ 61st – Take the 4,5,6 green line to 59th & Lexington & then walk west two blocks and north 2 blocks. Spend some time in here. Co-Op is on the 7th Floor. Massive Marc Jacobs section. Jeans & t-shirts upstairs.

BEST BURGER Shake Shack 11 Madison Ave - in Madison Square Park - 23rd Street & Madison Ave - get the double shack with cheese - it is the best burger you will ever put in your mouth EVER… Amazing shakes as well… Fries are not so good, so don’t worry about saving room. Go for the double. It’s like meat candy. YUM! – it used to only be open in warm months, but I think they’re trying to stay open all year round. Its owned by Danny Myer who also owns BBQ spot Blue Smoke. http://www.shakeshacknyc.com Burger Joint 118 West 57th Street – in Le Park Meridien Hotel – I’ve never been here, but apparently its one of Heston Blumenthal’s favorite burger places, so it must be good!

BEST RECORD STORE IN NYC This is sort of at the top part of the East Village, so you can always start around here and then cruise across – big black square sculpture on its side in the middle of the square/Starbucks/Kmart/big wine shop/ University… onto St. Marks Street…

Other Music – 15 East 4th Street btw Broadway & Lafayette Best store in NYC – hands down. Look at what the staff recommends in the fronts of the shelves – its always good. http://www.othermusic.com

Ask for Dwayne, Dan or Josh – one of them is always there – my total buds and they will help you out!

BEST HEALTHY MEAL Pure Food & Wine – 54 Irving Place btw 17th & 18th – a favorite of Vegan baldie – nothing here is actually cooked above 180 degrees. You never knew raw food could taste so amazing or that they could make cheese from nuts. All organic and tasty… http://www.purefoodandwine.com/

BEST TOURISTY THING TO DO Circle Line Harbor Cruise - http://www.statudeoflibertyferry.com You want the 1 hour Liberty cruise - FULL narrated tour of Manhattan from the water - makes a loop around the Statue of Liberty - SOO AWESOME! I’ve taken a few people on this and everyone loves it. *We’re all scheduled to do this Saturday, September 6 at 4:30pm.

NYC WEBSITES & BLOGS Gothamist.com www.timeout.com/newyork/ Brooklynvegan.com wordofmouse.com nycshopguide.blogspot.com Ohmyrockness.com Gawker.com Music.for-Robots.com Theblowup.com DailyCandy.com Flavorpill.net Officialnewyork.com Fluxblog.com Ephemeroi.com Thedelimagazine.com