Shopping

Only In New York: Spectacular Just To Visit

There are stores you shouldn’t miss because they’re landmark properties or they’re just amazing. Also listed are two of the city’s major shopping areas, fun just to stroll around for celebrity-watching and rubbing shoulders with Europeans on a shopping spree because the dollar is so weak.

ABC Carpet and Home is one of the most spectacular stores in the world. The two-story lobby is chocked full of wonderful treasures from all over the world, including pottery, decorative fabrics, Venetian chandeliers, jewelry and myriad other items. It’s theatrical New York at its best.

Grand Central Terminal is one of New York’s great landmarks, beautifully restored to its original grandeur. You’ll find dozens of stores plus restaurants, including another landmark, the Oyster Bar & Restaurant which opened in 1913.

Sony Wonder Technology Lab While this is a Sony store, it’s also an amazing interactive technology and entertainment museum that will delight children of all ages for hours. A robot will greet you at the door, that asks and answers questions; Expect to spend several hours playing with the interactive fun toys. Oh, they will sell you Sony stuff too. And they don’t charge a nickel for playing with the high tech toys.

American Girl Place Anyone who loves dolls will be enchanted by this store. I recommend lunch, dinner or brunch in the store’s restaurant (gourmet dining for kids) then visit the doll hair salon, get a studio photograph taken and attend the theater.

Madison Avenue. From 57th to 72 Sts, Madison Avenue sparkles with the world’s most famous designers. Prada, Chanel, Armani, St. Laurent, Hermes and Ralph Lauren showcase their finest clothing and shoes. Expect to feel elegant rubbing shoulders with wealthy Europeans and Americans rich enough not to care about price.

Soho. While Fifth Avenue and the Upper East Side were once home to the trendiest fashions, Soho (short for “south of Houston Street”) steals the thunder today. It’s fun to meander the attractive residential area, home to the rich and famous, art galleries, high-end designers and funky boutiques.

Bergdorf Goodman. Since 1899, this legendary store has been catering to wealthy New Yorkers in an elegant building at 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, across the street from Tiffany & Co, where it’s fun to try on $50,000 necklaces and other baubles.

Zabars has been selling gourmet food for 70 years. On the upper level is a kitchen/housewares department chocked full of items, many you probably didn’t know existed. The prices are great, the atmosphere lively. A real New York experience.

DISCOUNT DEPARTMENT STORES
New York is home to a handful of discount department stores. The merchandise constantly changes and while I occasionally score a fabulous buy, I often leave empty-handed. So many merchants have dropped Italian clothing because of the dreadful dollar/Euro exchange rate so the days of discount luxury European clothes is a thing of the past. Still, it’s loads of fun just to browse these enormous stores, occasionally stumbling on a real find.

Editor’s Note: Listed are links to stores’ web sites for information on addresses and store hours. New York stores are generally open every day, including Sunday.

Gabay’s A popular discount store since 1940, this store does offer fine Italian clothing for men and women, including overstock from Bergdorf Goodman and Henri Bendel discounted at 50 – 80% off retail.

Century 21, located across the street from Ground Zero, is so popular it can feel like a battle zone. This huge store has clothes for men, women and children plus house wares and electronics. I suggest avoiding the store during lunch hours when the crowds are greatest.

Loehmann’s has two Manhattan stores full of discount shoes, clothing and accessories for men and women.

Filene’s Basement has several New York stores with several high end brands; shoes and clothing for men and women

Daffy’s has seven stores scattered around Manhattan; the largest with the best selection is located at Herald Square (34th and Broadway)

J&R Electronics is the mother of discount stores for cameras, computers, movies, games, music, software and household electronics. Located in lower Manhattan, it’s the first place most New Yorkers head for when seeking big discounts. Should you discover an unbeatable bargain you don’t want to lug on a cruise ship or carry on an airplane, they’ll be glad to ship it to your home.

ANNE’S PERSONAL SHOPPING TOUR

Anytime I want to escape my neighborhood, the Upper West Side, and make a day of shopping I focus on stores in a specific area and stroll from one to another. Here’s one of my favorite routes, which takes roughly four hours.

1. Start at Loehmann’s, 7th Ave. at 16tth Street, where I generally score best on shoes and bags. There are three floors chocked full of women’s clothing (plus a floor of men’s attire) which is frequently too much to tackle for this shopper.

2. Walk one block east on 18th Street to 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas). On the corner of 6th Ave. and 18th Street is a large building with three mega-stores: TJ Maxx, Filene’s Basement and Bed, Bath and Beyond. While TJ Maxx has men’s and women’s clothes steeply discounted, I do much better at Filene’s Basement, especially in casual attire and lingerie.

3. Walk east on 18th Street towards 5th Avenue. Two large discount stores have depleted my energy and it’s time for a sugar and caffeine boost. City Bakery, a few steps before 5th Avenue (3 West 18th) has sinfully rich chocolate cookies that melt in your mouth (there is wonderful buffet dining too if you care for a more substantial meal). Add a cup of frothy cappuccino, hot chocolate (considered New York’s best) and you’ll be ready to tackle the world.

4. Walk across Fifth Avenue and continue on West 18th Street until you hit Broadway. ABC Home, another New York landmark, will restore your soul and amaze you with vibrant panels of fabric in the two-story lobby illuminated by dozens of Venetian chandeliers and unique treasures from all over the world. I normally stick to the lobby because floors above have pricey home furnishings, antiques and European linens.

Recommended Stores and Salons

Shoes: Harry’s Shoes on Broadway and 84th Street for men and women. As a typical New Yorker who walks everywhere, I’ll pay full price for the most comfortable everyday shoes. Brands include Mephisto, Clarks, Cole Haan, Stuart Weitzman, Ecco, Geox and more. For discount dressy shoes I head to Loehmann’s at 16th and 7th Aves.

Dressy Cruise Clothes: For years I’ve bought cruise evening wear separates at a local boutique, Off Broadway, located at 137 W. 72nd Street (Columbus & Broadway), tel: 212-724-6713. Unique separates, some made exclusively for the store, will make you stand out from the crowd. Say “hi” to Pat, who runs the store. Even if you buy nothing a half hour of Pat’s uplifting morale boosting feels like a day with Oprah.

Day Spa: Men and women come from all over the country for cuts by Rosa at my local day spa, Feline. A great haircut can cost up to $1000 at some of the fancier salons in New York; Rosa does a single process and cut for roughly $135. Located on W. 75th Street between Broadway and West End, Feline also offers wonderful oxygen facials.

Massage: A few blocks south of Feline on West 72nd Street is Zen Nail and Spa where I get the the most incredible massages with Gene, who also teaches the art of massage. I walk in a typically cranky, tired New Yorker and after a 60 minute table massage ($70) I’m transformed into Mary Poppins, cheerful and energized. Be sure to call (212- 873-5822) for an appointment with Gene, he’s wildly popular and booked solid on weekends. If you can’t manage an hour, get a chair massage (30 minutes is $36) with Neil or Paul. I’ve also had wonderful manicures and pedicures at Zen.

Copyright Anne Campbell, 2009. All rights reserved.