wanderer

My husband and I will be spending a long weekend in NYC in early Dec.

We will be staying and spending most of our time in Midtown, but if we have time, I'd like to see another area of NYC.

We've seen alot of Lower Manhattan. We like shops (vs. department stores) and I especially like discount clothing. We like cafes, architecture, and good walking places (that we will feel safe).

Would Soho, Greenwich Village, or East Village (or another area) be better suited to an afternoon of walking, browsing shops and grabbing a bite at a cafe? Our price range is moderate. We don't want hi-end chic and we aren't into funky.

kct

Hi Wanderer, I am so excited to see your posting! I actually live in Greenwich Village and have also lived in Soho for three years. You can easily visit one of these neighborhoods in an afternoon. You can also browse the shops & catch a bite in a cafe in any of the neighborhoods since that is what a lot of new yorkers like to do! Soho has the most high end boutique stores, however they also have the types of stores you would find in a mall (Banana Republic, Sephora, Ann Taylor, Nine West) Don't feel intimidated by the boutiques because it is fun to window shop too. Plus, out of all three neighborhoods, Soho has the best architecture, in my opinion. The best area to hit is along Prince Street & Spring Street between Broadway & 6th Avenue. You should also walk down Canal Street & shop for knock-off handbags. You can get a jump on your holiday shopping! Greenwich Village is home to New York University and Washington Square Park which are interesting places to visit if you are strolling around. Otherwise you can walk down Bleecker Street (west of 6th Ave) to experience the "main drag" feel of the village. The East Village would be my least favorite to visit if I were a tourist. There isn't anything that notable in the East Village. There are definitely some good "local" restaurants but nothing that great as far as shopping and architecture. When I envision the East Village, I think of tattoo parlors. I hope this helps. If want to email me directly, feel free. [email protected]

wanderer

Thanks kct! I may email you as we get closer to the date.

Any favorite cafes in Soho?

kcw214

You could spend time walking around Soho AND the West Village -- Soho has great shopping and is full of bustle, but the West Village is full of brownstones -- a very residential neighborhood, with very individual shops -- a New York most visitors don't see. Le Gamin on Houston Street and Sullivan is a great cafe for brunch or an afternoon cup of coffee or glass of wine. Magnolia Bakery on Bleecker and W. 11th is a New York institution. Walking west on Bleecker from 6th Avenue and taking time to explore some of the side streets will give you a good feel for the west village.

mclaurie

If you like discount clothing, you should make a stop at Century 21 downtown. Go there first and buy, then hop over to Soho to browse & eat. I think the shops in Soho are hi end chic or funky or chains. I like Le Gamin too. For a fancier atmosphere for brunch try Provence on MacDougal & Prince.

Another fun area that's not mentioned here much is on the edge of the village, the meatpacking district (around 9th ave & 12 th st). Some very trendy shops have opened here (including Stella McCartney's) and Pastis is a fun rest. but there are tons of others including Florent and Markt.

AngusMc

I would recommend the Ukranian restaurants in the East Village. I cannot remember the names but they are easy to find.

dffisher

Go to McSorley's for great beers and cheer located in the East Village!

GoTravel

For reasonably priced shopping in SoHo, I always have great luck at Daffys and Pearl River however I liked Pearl River better when it was a death trap in Chinatown.

fairfax

I TOTALLY agree about the new location of Pearl River. It's a lovely building, but all of the character is gone. I loved the old place, although it took me ages to actually find the entrances. Have you been to the Pearl River on Grant or Grand Street? Interested to hear what that's like.

MFNYC

For a quick bite, Le Gamin in various village locations (E. 5th ST, Houston St, and bedford St to name a few). Some very reasonable village area restarants with good food: Le Tableau, Lavagna, Casimir, Cafe Mogador, East Post, Frank, Mermaid Inn, Gonzos, North Square, Philip Marie, L'Ecole and many more I can't even think of at the moment.

wanderer

Could someone comment on Lower East Side (is this not the same as East Village?), and Orchard Street.

I see this listed alot in guidebooks as a good bargain shopping area.

GoTravel

The Pearl River is kind of at the intersection of Broadway and Grand. It is the polar opposit of the old one on Mott. It is clean, well lit, and organized. Quite frankly, it is disappointing. The stuff is higher priced to offset the higher SoHo rents.

mclaurie

The lower east side including Orchard St is not in the east village. It's further south. It used to be a great place for bargains (& may still be) but with so many other discount options I don't tend to go there for clothes. It's closed on Sat. but open on Sun. Maybe someone else with more recent experience can advise you.

My discount favorites are Daffy's, Century 21 and Syms (54th betw Park & Madison).

BYW, in Soho, Anthropologie is a fun store.

GoTravel

The East Village is from 14th Street to Houston east of Washington Square Park. The Village is from 14th to Houston West of Washington Square Park. The Lower East Side is South of Houston on the East Side. SoHo is South of Houston on the West Side.

KandKmom

This thread has been fun to read for our family will be coming to NYC in Dec. and we, too, want to visit the Greenwich Village area. KCT and kcw214, you said that these areas could easily be seen in an afternoon. Do you mean that you can see both the Village and SOHO by walking through in an afternoon or should you take a cab or subway from one area to another? We have two kids- 8 and 13. Do you think walking through both areas is too much to tackle with them? I think HowardR had told me earlier that he felt it would be too much. What are your thoughts? I had received a site for a great walking tour of GV that I thought we would try. wanderer if you want it, I'll dig through my stuff and find it, or you can do a search on Greenwich Village and look for a post from me and it should show up. Thanks for your post- you all will be going before us- I hope you will let us know how your trip was and share tips!

Scarlett

Hi~
If you are walking around the West Village, and cross Houston Street, you are in Soho. Keep walking and you will be on Canal Street. It will be a good walk, when you get tired, stop and have a bite or a drink in one of the many cool cafes. There is enough going on to keep an 8 year old interested too~

NYCFoodSnob

"There isn't anything that notable in the East Village." Sounds to me like kct has a tattoo on the brain. The East Village IS what Greenwich Village used to be and kct should get out more and stop shopping HSN. There are some very exciting young designers who set up shop in the East Village and the editors at Vogue are always on the prowl there. Soho might as well be the Upper West Side, another mall. However, wanderer, if you and your wife are not hipsters, stay away from the East Village. Have you heard of Macy's? That store is so huge they're always giving great things away.

wanderer

FoodSnob:
If not liking funk or grunge makes us not hipsters, I guess we are not.

We dislike department stores, and were seeking instead small boutique type stores.

I am a woman, and I was also seeking a good source for inexpensive - but different than I'd find at home in Boston - (read a little more stylish rather than provincial) shoes.

Any sources for stylish shoes, or stylish work clothes? Also, where do I find out about sample sales?

wanderer

p.s. I'm a broker at a Wall St. firm in Boston - so I guess I'm looking for "stylish chic", but not "elite chic" (read expensive) when it comes to work clothes. Classic with an edge.

NYCFoodSnob

Dear wanderer, I apologize for getting your gender wrong. Thanks for the clarification.

I wouldn't necessarily classify the creativity coming out of the East Village as "funk" or "grunge." I'd call it "cutting edge modern." I don't know one woman (or man) in finance that aspires to a "cutting edge" image. So, like I said, the East Village probably isn't for you.

As for affordable "stylish chic" boutiques, have you considered traveling to Italy or France? The truth is Manhattan rents are so astronomical who can afford to create such a store? Boutique clothing stores for women do exist (especially in Soho, UWS, and UES and very expensive) but they're stand alone shops scattered throughout each neighborhood in Manhattan. Some are more stylish than others and the term "bargain" is truly relative.

When I hear "classic with an edge" I think I'm at a board meeting for Ann Taylor, whose shops do very well in NYC. Many business women on a budget are shopping at Chico's, which does nothing for me but I can see its appeal.

If I were you, I'd get over your dislike of department stores and spend a little time in Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and even Lord & Taylor and Macy's. These NYC institutions offer a selection like no other store in the country and, oftentimes, their sale prices can't be beat. SFA in NYC is nothing like SFA in Boston, or anywhere else. I always find something great there. This way you don't waste any time searching for those boutiques that don't exist anymore. If you happen upon one during a stroll, pop in and try stuff on. Everything at the department stores is returnable.

Yes, you can try Century 21 and Loehmann's but these hand-me-down, flea-ridden stores remind me of thrift shops and give my delicate skin a rash if I go anywhere near them.

Stylish shoes can be found almost everywhere but I can't help with the cheap stuff. My feet are too important to me to put them in anything less than high quality heaven. Sample sales can often be found in Women's Wear Daily. Pick up a copy at the nearest newsstand.