Archive for the ‘Lights On In Lower Manhattan’ Category

Lights On…In Lower Manhattan

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

By Kelly Rush

It’s not spring yet, no matter how tightly I squeeze my eyes and pretend it is, so in this edition I’m focusing on treats to help you get through the last throes of winter. Soon enough I’ll park my down jacket in the closet and wipe the filthy salt residue off my well-worn boots. In the meantime, February is a perfectly appropriate month to indulge in chocolate, comfort food and wine. As usual, if you see any new retailers or spot changes to a long-time friend, please email me at tre@downtownny.com and I’ll check them out.


Aroma Espresso Bar - 100 Church Street
(212) 346-0095 | www.aroma.us

Coffee shops abound, but it’s hard to find a place that serves an outstanding cup o’ joe and fresh, made-to-order food. You won’t find pre-made sandwiches wilting in a cooler here. The coffee bar emulates the Middle Eastern concept of organizing the space around a u-shaped work station where baristas make their caffeinated creations out in the open instead of behind a counter, said Manager Gal Danay. “Customers feel like they’re part of the coffee-making experience,” he said.

The bar is large and airy and has plenty of seating for both groups and the individual who wants to settle in with a book and a hot chocolate. Speaking of the hot chocolate—try it. It comes with a large chunk of chocolate praline at the bottom and a spoon to stir it as it melts. Enjoy this treat because eventually, you’ll have to go back to work.

Chipotle - 281 Broadway
(212) 385-3506 | www.chipotle.com

Chipotle is a place that does satisfying Mexican food fast the way you want it. They now have another location for us to enjoy in Lower Manhattan, which brings the count to four within a half a mile of one another. The chicken is always juicy, the condiments are plentiful and if you’re looking for a bit of a healthier version of the burrito, you can go for some tortilla soup or mix up a custom bowl. There’s something comforting in knowing you’ll always find a hot and fresh meal here and with a portion size that’s big enough to take the leftovers home for dinner.

Financial District Wines & Liquor - 120 Nassau Street
(212) 933-1092 | www.fidiwine.com

Don’t let the construction, cranes and drills on Nassau Street stop you from hitting this new wine and spirit shop. FiDi Wines & Liquor is spacious, bright, features a diverse selection and what they describe as the lowest prices in Lower Manhattan. Customers already are dubbing the shop a favorite. One recent patron declared on Yelp: “If you live or work in the Financial District, FiDi Wines & Liquor really is a neighborhood gem.”

They kicked off their grand opening with a party that included a D.J., free tastings and a stilt walker. Assistant Manager Norman Bent says the stilt walker was the consummate professional and didn’t come close to knocking over any bottles. They know how to throw a party, so give them a call to see how they can help with your event.

J&R Jr. - 1 Park Row, Second Floor
(212) 238-9060 | www.jr.com

Above the computers and the laptop cases and the office supplies of J&R Electronics lies a sweeter venture more concerned with nurturing our youth than say, expanding a business. Children’s store J&R Jr. opened on the second floor above the electronics retailer and is busily entertaining Lower Manhattan’s kids. The store sells everything from car seats and strollers to the tiniest grand piano you’ve ever seen. Don’t attempt to sit on the miniature bench. C’mon; you’re too large if you’re reading this column. They held their grand opening the day before Valentine’s Day and entertained a packed house. I stopped by the store a few days before it opened and felt a bit of an expectant lull or pregnant pause, if you will, kind of like a delivery room at the hospital. Stop by and welcome J&R’s newest addition.

 

Vintry Fine Wines  - 230 Murray Street
(212) 240-9553 | www.vintryfinewines.com

Vintry is so pretty it looks more like a work of art than a shop that sells wine. Their architect knew what he was doing. The space’s curvilinear lines are reminiscent of waves or straw-colored sand dunes softly stretching out to the water and beckoning you to stroll through the store’s vast selection. The shop has something for the wine connoisseur and the casual sampler who is just looking for a great bottle to go with dinner. Vintry is owned by Peter Poulakakos, whose father Harry is the restaurateur responsible for such establishments as Harry’s at Hanover Square, later reborn as Harry’s Café and Steak. Customers have come to expect a lot from this family and Vintry is sure to deliver.

Closings:

Waterstone Grill – 79 Pearl Street

For more information on retailers in Lower Manhattan, visit the Alliance for Downtown New York at www.DowntownNY.com. You can check out an interactive map with details on hours, locations and services and search the events calendar. Or, stay connected through the Downtown Alliance iPhone app, available for download on the website.

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Showtime in the Canyon of Heroes: Awash in a Deep Blue Sea of Revelry

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Giants Canyon of Heroes Parade 2012

By Kelly Rush

My day begins as I chat with a young couple wearing Giants jerseys and black Band-Aids under their eyes while we wait for a train that will take us to a parade, and ends with a National Park Service worker who is blowing confetti out of the streets while smoking a fat cigar asking me with a polite smile to please move out of the way.

More than a million people were expected to attend the ticker-tape parade along Broadway on Tuesday celebrating the Super Bowl champions. By 8:30 AM, it’s easy to see how this number might be achieved. Crowds are already thronging to the parade route and many look like they never went to bed.

I can hear the rumble from three blocks west of Broadway even though the skyscrapers absorb noise like the world’s largest carpet, or perhaps they just pull it up toward office workers 30 floors high in the sky.

It is the kind of warm February day where the clouds roll back and expose a robin’s-egg blue dome and New Yorkers look around, take their coats off and ask themselves how hot the summer will be. It’s not that we always complain; we just want to prepare.

The people who have staked out the area around Broadway at Wall Street are a raucous group; mothers and their children are nesting on other corners. This spot belongs to toilet-paper throwers, the 9 AM beer drinkers and the fans who are so pumped they scream at their neighbors and the crowds across the Canyon just to have something to do. “We want salsa!” they shout and I duck as a football comes whizzing across the canyon and misses my head by inches.

While these revelers awash in royal blue are waiting for the parade to begin, others are heading to jobs or walking poodles with neon-yellow booties and pink coats as if a million other people just happened to be in their Lower Manhattan neighborhood. Hawkers everywhere are exhibiting entrepreneurial spirit, though there are few takers for $30 Giants caps.

Alex Fernandez, manager at L’Atelier Des Fleurs Floral & Event Design, is betting someone will come in and buy a single flower or three to toss at the Giants’ feet. He’s gotten more phone calls by now than he usually does all morning.

Outside the parade route, fans thirsty from all their screaming were streaming into local bars.

Some people in Lower Manhattan didn’t quite know what to do: Go to work or celebrate? Many, like Mike from New Jersey, decide to do both. Mike was at The Porterhouse Brewing Company around lunchtime and said he was going back to work just to check a few e-mails and shut off his computer before returning to the bar.

Porterhouse co-owner Eddie Travers said the bar was as packed on Tuesday as it was on Sunday when the Giants bested the Patriots. “Go Giants, because this is like a Paddy’s day in February,” he said.

John Moran, owner of the Killarney Rose and a lifelong Giants fan, said the bar would be celebrating the Giants’ win the whole week. He was visiting his father, who had owned the bar since 1968, in Florida when the team won and he was not surprised they pulled off a victory.

“When you’re watching the team, everything is ‘we,’ not ‘I,’” he said. “That’s the same way you run a business; we’re a team.” Though he loves his Giants, the thing he’ll remember about the Super Bowl is being with his family, which has the kind of bond that just can’t be broken.

Outside, the day wears on and the procession moves through the Canyon of Heroes, host to so many other ticker-tape parades before honoring returning vets from World War I, Olympic teams, Charles Lindbergh. I head toward Broadway on Wall and the sound of revelers and wonder if anyone ever bought that flower to throw in the street.

It’s 50 degrees outside and yet it’s snowing. We have confetti in our hair.

Kelly Rush is Field Liaison for the Downtown Alliance.

 

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Lights On…In Lower Manhattan

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

By Kelly Rush

Without vision, a people perish. Or, in my version of this proverb for the column: Without glasses from the right eyewear shop, one might not be able to find one’s way to the spa … or to the restaurant for ribs. In this week’s edition, pamper yourself with a facial, indulge in barbecue and get lost in art while you wait for your new custom eyeglass frames. As usual, if you see any new retailers or spot changes to a long-time friend, please email me at tre@downtownny.com and I’ll check them out.

Affina Beauty & Spa – 125 Church Street
(212) 233-8822 | www.affinaspa.com

It’s appropriate that Affina Beauty & Spa is located on Church Street because a trip here could be a heavenly experience. The interior looks like your ultra-hip friend’s loft with warming influences from grandma. Manager Shine Guo said spa employees designed the space themselves. It features a relaxing pale gray, blue and white color palette, dangling lights in whimsical shapes and floral artwork. Think of the manicures and pedicures offered here as an introduction, an opportunity to get your feet wet. The spa offers Swedish, deep tissue and hot-stone massage and several different facials such as the derma acne facial which clears up skin and prevents future breakouts from occurring.  Check back because the spa soon will be offering laser hair removal because no one wants to pluck for the rest of her life. Receive 20 percent off services until April 1.

North End Grill – 104 North End Avenue
(646) 747-1600 | www.northendgrillnyc.com

North End Grill, the other new offering from Danny Meyer’s restaurant group in Battery Park City, is also operating at full capacity. Chef Floyd Cardoz, formerly of Tabla and a competitor on Top Chef Masters, is bringing his spin on high-end American cuisine to a lovely space overlooking the Hudson. Appetizers include Louisiana shrimp with fennel and radish or a torchon of foie gras with quince paste and grilled brioche. Entrees include a Nova Scotia halibut, diver sea scallops, a Berkshire pork chop or a duck breast and leg with leeks and tangerines.

Artsee Eyewear – 220 Murray Street
(212) 227-2400 | www.artseeeyewear.com

Curated art shows meet fashion frames at this eyewear shop across from the Shake Shack in the Goldman Sachs building’s restaurant alley. The current exhibition, David L. Nicholas’ Night Vision II, features large-scale and panoramic color photographs on the walls. The artwork accentuates the shop’s selection of eyeglass frames and both work in tandem to create a unique shopping experience.  General Manager Carlos Venegas said the exhibit space is currently booked; it’s easy to see why artists would want to showcase their work here. Frames sit atop pedestals and under glass domes that receive just the right amount of light from the fixtures above. Come for the eyewear, stay for the artwork.

Blue Smoke - 255 Vesey Street
(212) 889-2005 | www.bluesmoke.com

Danny Meyer’s eatery has been getting a lot of press, so diners will be pleased to hear that Blue Smoke is finally serving its full menu full-time. The restaurant features many barbecue favorites such as Texas salt and pepper beef ribs, pulled pork and Kansas City spareribs and some unexpected treats including chicken gumbo and bourbon pecan pie. Vegetarian and gluten-free menus round out the options for people with allergies or restricted diets.  Just because Blue Smoke is a barbecue place doesn’t mean you have to indulge, but I would.

OBAO – 38 Water Street
(212) 361-6311 | www.obaony.com

The second Obao outpost, on Water Street, calls itself the “casual extension” of the flagship Obao in Midtown, which earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2011 and 2012. The Water Street location, like its predecessor, specializes in blending Thai and Vietnamese cuisine but at a pace fast enough for its Financial District patrons.  Start with the caramelized pork belly, move on to the massamun chicken or pho, add a side of sautéed bean sprouts or Chinese broccoli and end with a green tea panna cotta.

Closings:

Bolton’s – 95 Wall Street
Syms – 42 Trinity Place
Cafe Doppio – 55 Broad Street
Hidden Treasures – 32 Warren Street
Twin Café – 275 Greenwich Street

For more information on retailers in Lower Manhattan, visit the Alliance for Downtown New York at www.DowntownNY.com. You can check out an interactive map with details on hours, locations and services and search the events calendar. Or, stay connected through the Downtown Alliance iPhone app, available for download on the website.

 

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Lights On…In Lower Manhattan

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

By Kelly Rush

Now that it’s January and we’ve eaten far too much and feel disgusted with ourselves, I thought I’d mention a health food restaurant and some non-food openings in Lower Manhattan including a medical facility that specializes in pain management, though just the physical variety, so keep your therapist. We have a lot of new openings on the horizon, particularly in Battery Park City around the Goldman Sachs building. Stay tuned and healthy so you can get out and enjoy them. As usual, if you see any new retailers or spot changes to a long-time friend, please email me at tre@downtownny.com and I’ll check them out

Maxwell Medical – 99 Wall Street, 10th Floor
(212) 952-9355 | www.maxwellmed.com

“You should never wake up with pain.” That’s Maxwell Medical’s mantra, and they take it seriously. I violate this rule every day, so I stopped in for a massage and was rewarded with a pain-free neck and shoulders the next morning. The multi-disciplinary medical center specializes in physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, sports medicine and manual therapy (a more specialized form of massage therapy). They’re against medicine—as far as pharmaceuticals are concerned, Marketing Director Erum Hussain said. The idea is to find out what is causing a patient’s pain, whether it’s the way she sits at her desk at work or the remnants of an old sports injury, and treat through therapy instead of medicating. The staff also incorporates diet and exercise consulting into treatment plans. “It’s not just rehabilitation; it’s about a lifestyle,” Hussain said.

TJ Maxx – 14 Wall Street
(212) 587-8459 | www.tjmaxx.com

Da da da-da da da da-da TJ Maxx! The retailer with the catchy, classic theme song (click here for some nostalgia) is open and ready for bargain hunters. Walk through the brass gate on Nassau Street between Wall and Pine streets, take a trip down the escalator (but don’t trip down the escalator) and peruse designer handbags, clothing, shoes and home décor at discount prices. In other words, you’ll get the max for the minimum, minimum price.  I stopped in recently and found a wide selection of everything you’d need to stay warm, including coats, hats, scarves and some cashmere items for people tiring of warm but scratchy wool.

Pier 15

The stretch of waterfront south of the Seaport has a new place for visitors to sit, stroll and enjoy views of the East River. Pier 15 features an upper and lower deck with benches and grassy lawns which I predict will become very popular in the spring. The lower level contains two glass-paneled buildings; one will house a restaurant and the other will house a maritime museum. The way the deck was designed with steps leading down to the water gives you the feeling you could dip your toes in, but you can’t, and in this weather, you wouldn’t want to anyway.

Basics Plus — 85 John Street
(212) 791-6870 | www.basicsplus.com

Founded in 1989 at the corner of University Place and 13th Street, the first Basics Plus store sold everything from keys and hardware to an expanding line of household products. The retailer recently opened a new location in the Financial District, focusing on housewares. It’s known as “the corner store that carries everything,” and customers can find well-known kitchen staples such as Cuisinart and Simplehuman or try out the efficiency of eco-friendly cleaning products such as Mrs. Meyers or Totally Bamboo.

Beans and Greens – 245 Murray Street
(212) 786-4760

Beans and Greens’ grand opening presages a host of new retail offerings in Battery Park City, which is growing so fast it’s hard to keep track. You won’t find produce treated with pesticides at this organic eatery. Their menu features organic Stumptown Coffee, organically farmed greens and organically farmed dairy.

The café has several different stations where patrons can choose their toppings, including a yogurt bar, an omelet bar and a salad bar. Or, choose a chef-inspired entrée salad such as the sweet greens salad with dried cranberries, candied walnuts, veggies and grilled chicken, or the vegan Mediterranean with chick peas, falafel, veggies and tossed in a spicy Tahini sauce.

North End Grill and Blue Smoke– Goldman Sachs Building, Battery Park City

I mentioned a host of new openings in Battery Park City and would be remiss if I didn’t point out these two highly-anticipated restaurants. They’ve just opened and are serving limited menus at the moment, but I’ll have more details in my next column.

Closings:

Milk Street Café – 40 Wall Street
Duane Reade on – 147 Fulton Street

For more information on retailers in Lower Manhattan, visit the Alliance for Downtown New York at www.DowntownNY.com. You can check out an interactive map with details on hours, locations and services and search the events calendar. Or, stay connected through the Downtown Alliance iPhone app, available for download on the website.

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Lights On…in Lower Manhattan

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

By Kelly Rush

Sometimes you’re hungry, or you really just need a beer. But where to go? As Scully tells Mulder in an episode of the X-Files, “The answers are there. You just have to know where to look.”

Welcome to my inaugural blog, “Lights On in Lower Manhattan,” featuring updates on the newest merchants, where to find them and what they’ll become known for.

I can be seen walking through Lower Manhattan every day, scouting out everything from restaurants to eyeglass shops, so you don’t have to.

If you live here or work here, you may have already seen me. If I’m a bit windblown or limping, please excuse me; it’s all in the name of bringing you the latest. And if you see any new retailers or spot changes to a long-time friend, please email me at tre@downtownny.com and I’ll check it out.

crumbs2

Openings:

Kortako Korean Taco & Sandwich – 80 Nassau Street
(212) 964-4625 | www.kortako.com

It’s Tako, not taco. Get it right, I mean write. Kortako is the newest offering from co-owner Andy Lau, who also owns Bon Chon Chicken on John Street. The ordering method is simple: choose your carb (white rice, corn taco), choose your protein (steak, pork, chicken or tofu), choose your supplements (spicy coleslaw, seared kimchi or pickled jalapeno are among the choices) and choose a sauce (everything from ranch to yogurt cucumber). If these choices are too much for you to handle, check out Kortako’s recommendations on the back of the menu. The restaurant also offers a weekly lottery, announced every Tuesday. Just fill out a card after purchasing food and you’re entered into the contest. The winner will receive a $50 coupon for Bon Chon.

Crumbs Bake Shop – 40 Broad Street
(212) 344-4600 | www.crumbs.com

Crumbs Bake Shop recently celebrated its newest opening in the Financial District, and people who live, work and visit here celebrated too.   Located just steps from the New York Stock Exchange, Crumbs offers a sweet reprieve for those whose busy schedules are taking a bite out of them. Stop by for a holiday taste pack, which includes two cupcakes each of gingerbread, chocolate holiday sprinkle, holiday squiggle, holiday flurry sprinkle, peppermint hot cocoa and white hot chocolate, or grab a classic such as the red velvet or peanut butter cup.

Polarn O. Pyret -  200 Chambers Street
(212)-201-1944 | www.polarnopyretusa.com

Since 1976, Swedish children’s clothing manufacturer Polarn O. Pyret has been making distinctive pieces that are durable, stylish and kid-friendly. Now, they’re taking what worked so well in Sweden and bringing it to Lower Manhattan. The company is founded on the idea that what’s good for children is good for adults, and that means a commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Look for the brand’s signature stripes and the PO.P nickname.

Blue Planet Grill – 120 Greenwich Street
(212) 571-1700 | www.blueplanetgrillnyc.com

At Blue Planet Grill, additives, hormones, pesticides and other potentially-harmful products are strictly prohibited, making it a healthy and fresh alternative in the city. The brunch menu includes options such as crepes with Alaskan caviar or chocolate French toast with strawberries. The dinner menu offers a 28-days-dry aged prime rib-eye steak, several seafood options including a Chilean sea bass or a salad with peaches, prosciutto, bleu cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. Additionally, a coffee bar features brews from Gimme Coffee, born in Ithaca, New York, and mixologist Artemio Vasquez is ready to create his signature Poquito Picante, made with gin, jalapeno, cucumber and cilantro, or classics including the Whiskey Smash and Moscow Mule.

Fabio Doti Salon – 40 Exchange Place, Suite 702
(917) 261-6865 | www.fabiodotisalon.com

Whether you need a cut, updo, or a highlight to brighten up winter tresses, Fabio Doti Salon is equipped to handle the job. Doti recently opened his business here after building a loyal clientele at locations in the Upper West Side and Brooklyn.  Doti began his study in Italy and went on to style hair in Milan and Paris before deciding to head to New York City. The salon was designed by Matias Sagaria, and is defined by its open and bright feel, simple lines and calming atmosphere. Come by for special event styling, a whole new look or just a shampoo in the special massage chairs.

Closings:

Bon Chon Chicken – 98 Chambers Street (unaffiliated with Bon Chon on John Street)
Lemongrass Grill – 84 William Street
The Essences Hair Salon – 80 Nassau Street

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