Born and bred in the DMV area (not the Department of Motor Vehicles, but rather District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) and now a local Boulder resident of 15+ years, with a decade of retail experience about town. You may have come across Chris Ta cafe hopping or generally bopping around town. Here’s Chris’ brief guide for a jam-packed day in NYC. Different city, same adventures.
Looking to do a little getaway outside of the Boulder bubble and make a weekend trip to the Big Apple? Everyone knows there is so much to do with so little time that a trip to NYC can be overwhelming. If I only had a day to tackle my favorite places to shop and dine at, here’s how I would do it. In this case, it’s a sprint, not a marathon. Come with me on this NYC speedrun; you’re going to be shocked at how much can be done within a few hours!
A couple of notes before we embark on this journey:
- The stores I have focused on are primarily Menswear shops; however, they tend to carry unisex brands and styles.
- Pick and choose the stops that pique your interest. It’s possible to hit all stops, but you’ll have to be speedy.
First Section (Manhattan). Approximately 3 to 4 hours.
- Coffee to start the day. Park at KIMS, opens at 8:00 a.m.: One of the best coffee shops in the city. Korean-owned. Simple, masterfully brewed, great coffee—no frills. Very little seating, so get your coffee and git!
- Take your coffee from PAK and stroll on over to Golden Diner. Pray that the line isn’t too crazy (imagine the line at the Village Coffee Shop; it’s like that). They open at 9 a.m.. What you want to order are their famous Honey Butter Pancakes; they are simply to die for. After finishing a double stack (if you’re brave), you’re going to want to walk it off…
- Head back towards the LES (Lower East Side) area and let the shopping commence. Most retailers do not open until 11 a.m., so we’re right on schedule.
- Orchard Street Shopping, starting from south (Canal St) to north (Delancey St)
- Options: Fugazi, Brut Archives, Free Agency, Colbo, Wythe, Luke's Vintage, Awake NY, Standard and Strange, Self Edge, Komune, Assembly
- Depending on how long you want to peruse each shop, this should take about 1 to 2 hours max.
*Now make your way to the subway, Delancey & Essex Station (F Line). Headed to Brooklyn.
Second Half (Brooklyn). Approximately 3 to 4 hours.
- From the Delancey & Essex station. Hop on the F train, destination Carroll Gardens. This part of the day is a little bit “out of the way,” but believe me, it’s worth it. First Brooklyn stop, Ven Space: one of the best shops in the country, exclusively an in-store-only experience with an incredible selection of brands from all over the world.
- Lunchtime (before or after Ven Space, up to you): Grab a slice at F&F Pizzeria. C’mon now, gotta grab at least a slice when in NYC. Need more coffee? Noir coffee is close by for a caffeine pitstop.
- Back to the subway, Carroll St to Nassau Ave. Taking the G train to Greenpoint.
- Snack Time: Another pitstop option: Peter Pan donuts. Good ol’ fashioned donuts; my favorite is their French cruller varieties. Fun fact: a scene from Spider-Man was filmed in there. Without giving out spoilers, I cannot say which scene.
- From there, head down to Cibone O’Te. This home goods shop shares the space with multiple Japanese businesses. One building, 4 stops: Cibone O’Te, Dashi Okume, HOUSE Brooklyn, Cafe O’Te
- Next up, across the street is Contrasto. New to Brooklyn, really cool outdoor gear shop with a tasty Japanese cafe. Imagine a mini (I mean mini mini) Neptune Mountaineering with a Japanese twist; that’s the vibe Contrasto gives.
- Now go north (15ish min walk) to check out: Cueva, Million Goods, Bandit Running
- To tie off the end of this section, we’re taking the scenic route home. Ferry from Greenpoint back to Manhattan ($4), drops you off in the Financial District. Get on the ferry, take a seat, relax, and soak in the skyline views of Brooklyn and Manhattan as you cruise along the East River.
- Dinner time: Once dropped off in Manhattan (Pier 11). Make your way to Chinatown for dinner at Great NY Noodletown. Cash only. Favorite dishes are the Shrimp Wonton Soup with noodles, Char Siu Pork, and Roasted Duck.
*Now time for sleep because of all that food from dinner, and what a day.