If you love music especially vintage vinyl records, Princeton Record Exchange is the place to go. It's a veritable treasure trove of new (but mostly used) CDs and vinyl. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and can help you find any obscure album you may be searching for. Be sure to browse through their budget section, for forgotten favorites.
At Stray Vintage in Queens, there aren't many things you can't find. Containing a large selection of secondhand knickknacks, trinkets, home decorations, and other miscellanea, Stray is a favorite among New Yorkers always looking for those one-of-a-kind items. Many of the items featured in the store are created by local artists and craftsman, so you'll feel good putting money back into the local community. Visit the store today to find that special item you never knew you were missing.
Since 1927, this East Village gem has delighted bibliophiles with its impressive collection of new, used, rare, and discontinued books. The illustrious shop boasts an impressive 18 miles of books spread over its three floors, promising printed works for every tasted. Used-book lovers will find several specialty sections, including a notable selection of discounted art books, and others will enjoy browsing review copies of recently published works in the basement. Strand Book Store also carries antique items and novelty merchandise guaranteed to put a smile on any bookworm's face. Keep an eye out for discounts and sales when you drop by to experience this literary spectacle, as the beloved bookstore does its best to create special offers for its loyal patrons whenever possible.
New York's Chinatown is a cultural haven full of ancient and exotic traditions, and a huge amount of restaurants. This bustling and crowded neighborhood is home to over half of the city's Chinese population. In the grocery stores and fruit stands, you will find many food items available nowhere else in the city - from exotic fruit and vegetables to live snails and dried shrimp. Excellent Thai, Vietnamese and Korean restaurants have also joined the mix in more recent times. Every lunar new year, the street are filled with the hubbub of the Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade.
Eat, chill, read and benefit charity all in a couple of hours! The Housing Works Used Book Cafe in Soho is a book lovers' delight and allows customers to help the HIV afflicted too. Browse through tens of thousands of new and used books while you go through their range of snacks. Beer, books and cushy chairs turn out to be the perfect recipe for a relaxing and lazy day. A comfy library-esque ambiance and casual service add the finishing touches. The cafe even hosts events and live music acts, with proceeds donated to charity.
Columbus Circle, named after Christopher Columbus, is one of Big Apple's most famous landmarks. Built in 1905 and renovated in 2005, this is a traffic circle between Broadway, Central Park and Eighth Avenue. The importance of the landmark lies in the fact that the monument at the center is used to measure distances within New York city. The beautiful fountains, the marble statue and wooden benches surrounding the monument have also appeared in a number of Hollywood movies.
Situated on Mulberry Street in New York, Yu and Me Books is an independent bookstore. Set in Chinatown, this cozy bookstore offers a fantastic selection of books across various genres. They even offer a selection of refreshing drinks like tea, coffee, and wine. Lined with books and pictures, this bookstore features several cozy corners where patrons can sit and immerse themselves in their favorite book. They even sell a range of audiobooks on their online store. This warm and friendly bookstore is a great place to visit for bibliophiles in the area.
Fiore's is an Italian-American grocery store and deli that retails specialty meats, cheeses and condiments. The cash-only store has earned a reputation for some of the best sandwiches this side of Hoboken and certainly one of the best home-made mozzarella you'll find in town. Each day the shop offers a daily special sandwich from the cult-classic roast beef and mozzarella or "muz" as its known by regulars, to the flavorful prosciutto and mozzarella sandwich. Get here early to avoid the lines out the door at peak lunch hour.
Set on Rockaway Avenue in Brooklyn, Love, Nelly opened its doors in 2020. This friendly bakery is known for their scrumptious eats from the Columbian cuisine. It features a glass display case that is lined with items like empanadas, arepas, cakes, cookies and more. In addition to this, they serve a selection of drinks like hot cocoa and tea. This bakery also has a small seating area for its guests.
More an international mission than a simple boutique, Domus manages to pack a world's worth of artisan goods into their small Hell's Kitchen location. Each year owners Luisa Cerutti and Nicki Lindheimer travel to a different far-off region of the globe in hunt of handmade goods produced by local craftspeople. Now shoppers can find anything from Afghan soaps to Zulu baskets, all sourced directly from the makers of these quality goods. Best of all, Domus passes little of its curating costs to customers, allowing guests to find the perfect gift in a wide price range.
A humble grocery store, Caputo’s Fine Foods is a favorite Brooklyners. Specializing in selling the best of Italian produce, they are well-known for their fresh mozzarella and handmade pasta. Located on Court Street, they stock everything, that you will ever need to cook up a decadent Italian meal. Olives, parmesan, pastas, cured meat, fresh ricotta et al are classic finds. Open till 6:30p, they sell items that are imported straight from Italy, along with goodies, that are made freshly on-site.