It's no secret that New York City is beautiful during the holidays. The only downside
to this time of year is the surge of overwhelming crowds that fill the streets.
Sure, Macy's is beautiful and so is the tree in Rockefeller Center. But if you want
a day of shopping without an abundance of tourists, there are other options.
I always start off my holiday shopping with a visit to Chelsea Market. Located on
Ninth Avenue and 14th Street, right before the Meatpacking District, is a place
full of amazing things for the kitchen, chardonnays for the wine cellar, and cookbooks
for the aspiring chef. Yes, you will still encounter packs of people in Chelsea
Market, but these crowds won't be nearly as bad as those you'll find at a department
store in Midtown.
Chelsea Market is also particularly perfect for the foodies in your family. There
is a kitchen supply store so full of culinary gadgets it could take you an hour
to get through it all. And then there's Buon Italia, an authentic Italian import
store with aisles of marzipan, risotto, jarred sauces, and other specialties. I
have bought numerous gifts here, all of which have received rave reviews. The imported
items tend to be a little pricey, but the quality is well worth the splurge.
While specialty stores aren't that rare, sample sales are much harder to find in
New York. At Chelsea Market they constantly have sample sales from top designers.
This week they have Sferra fine linen Italian bedding for up to 70 percent off.
We're talking $500 sheets for 150 bucks! They even have cashmere slippers for $20
a pair. The sample sales are always the best find in my mind, and truly an ideal
place for gifting on a budget.
While you're picking out our sheets, you'd be a fool not to get yourself a latte
at Ninth Street Espresso, located right inside. It's easily the best cup of coffee
in the city. The menu is basic – no pumpkin spice or flavored syrups here; just
classics like cappuccinos, espressos, and regular coffee. I was skeptical when I
saw this, but after I tasted one I realized the drinks didn't need added flavoring.
Ninth Street Espresso sells exceptional beans as well, which is something I'm secretly
hoping to find in my stocking this year.
A short walk away is an amazing vintage jewelry shop called Pippin, located on West
17th street. This stunningly set-up spot is full of jewelry, gloves, bags and other
classic pieces from the past hundred years. This is the ideal place to shop for
those one-of-a-kind treasures you'll never find in retail chains. The owner is extremely
helpful and knowledgeable, too. You might be concerned about prices here, but it's
pretty reasonable. Naturally there are more expensive pieces, but you could get
a beautiful necklace for about $50. What I also love is most of the jewelry is on
display for you to touch and try on, a rare quality compared to the city's snootier
stores.
If unique gifting is something you always strive for, you'll find that special something
at The Bathroom in the West Village. Known for its high-end beauty products and
rare scents, it's perhaps the only place in Manhattan where you can buy the same
shaving cream as Don Corleone and Marcello Mastroianni. But if the plethora of available
scents isn't what you're looking for, you can also create your own signature fragrance.
This place has products that are impossible to find anywhere else, but be warned;
you could walk in looking for one thing and leave with a half dozen.
If you're looking for a little more adventure in your shopping, trek to the Upper
West Side for one of my favorite flea markets. Located on Columbus Avenue between
76th and 77th Streets, this year-round bazaar is open all day every Sunday and has
everything you could ever want. There's furniture, home goods, clothes, jewelry,
vintage books, etc. I even bought a mirror for my apartment there. The crowd is
very neighborhood and helpful, so much so that I don't think I've ever walked out
of there empty-handed.
Naturally, all this shopping is going to make you hungry. Since you're already on
the UWS, I'd suggest Patsy's Pizzeria for a casual dinner on West 74th street. Pizza
is the perfect way to end a day on your feet, and Patsy's serves up New York's finest
with fresh mozzarella and thin crust cooked in a brick oven. They also have amazing
pasta dishes and salads, my personal favorite being the Insulata Arugula. Cap off
your meal with one of their excellent cappuccinos while you soak in the relaxed
atmosphere and poke through your purchases of the day.
Since it's the holidays after all and it is the season to indulge, I have to insist
on finishing your day at the nearby Levain Bakery. They're known for their enormous
(we're talking quarter of a pound) cookies that are phenomenal, particularly their
classic chocolate-chip walnut recipe. And don't ask me how they do it, but their
cookies are always warm in the middle, a welcome surprise after shopping in wintery
weather. Even a cookie connoisseur like Santa can't deny this place is heavenly.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with enjoying the splendor of midtown Manhattan
during these festive months. But holidays or not, it's nice to be reminded of all
the amazing places there are to check out in a city that's so special.
