Meet 32nd Street
Still in the throes of the NYU Langone Medical Center, the East Side of 32nd Street is chock full of medical offices. Moving out of this area, I discovered The Cutting Room, a fantastic supper club that hosts well-known musicians along with up-and-coming talent. For comic book enthusiasts, JHU is the perfect place to browse, and Bosco (Lost Gem) is a must-see for anyone with an interest in coins and antiques.
Crossing to Fifth Avenue, I experienced an explosion of activity in what is known as Korea Town. In just one block there are over one hundred different Korean shops, barbecue restaurants, karaoke clubs, bakeries, salons and other fascinating finds. Included among these places are two frozen yogurt chains, Pinkberry and Red Mango (in Food Gallery 32), which I later learned have Korean roots. At lunchtime, I took off my shoes and ventured inside for an outstanding vegetarian Korean meal at Hangawi. A few doors down, I discovered Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong, a trendy Korean barbecue spot, and Five Senses Restaurant, which serves up steaming plates of kimchi fried rice, bibimbap, and other traditional dishes with a modern twist.
Later, I went into Koryo Books, where I was entertained browsing through many recognizable titles, but all in Korean. Probably the best part of this section of 32nd were the bakeries. Each dessert emporium is certainly enticing, making it difficult to decide not only what to choose, but where to eat it. Cafe M is charming, while Grace Street appears to be the happening spot for coffee and conversation. Delicious desserts and a variety of ginseng-based drinks can be found at Besfren x Korean Red Ginseng, the newest kid on the block, but oh so good.
After stopping in at The Harold, an American bistro with a warm, welcoming atmosphere, I was eager to stand and look straight up at the 1925 Art Deco copper bridge. It joins the two buildings that once housed Gimbel’s Department Store, but are now home to Manhattan’s very own mini shopping mall.
Located in the heart of Korea Town and a few steps from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, this area is home to a number of historic hotels. The Avalon Hotel, The Hotel at Fifth Avenue and the Radisson Martinique were completed over one hundred years ago, but their elegant lobbies remain intact, with mosaic tile flooring and even a spiral staircase. At the end of my journey across 32nd, my last destination was the immense Hotel Pennsylvania, dating back to 1919. Sitting down for a few minutes, there was no question that I had entered a tourist hub, as I relished the cacophony of conversations in languages from around the globe.
