Meet 84th Street
84th Street marks the start of Carl Schurz Park, a green corner of Manhattan that hugs the East River and, farther uptown, enshrines the Gracie Mansion Conservancy. My walk, therefore, began with greenery and continued on to brownstone-lined streets with only a small scattering of businesses. Each shop and restaurant, however, had a fascinating story to share and a true neighborhood feel.
My first stop was at the Grape Juicery (Lost Gem), a wine shop owned by Marina Snetkova, who is originally from Latvia. She strongly believes in the quality of her stock, having tasted every single bottle of wine in her store. Having devoted a number of years to travel and research, she knows a great deal about pairings, the origin of the wines, and how they should be served. For denizens of 84th Street who prefer beer to wine, Trinity Pub is a classic Irish joint that has been attracting local customers since it was a German-run bar in the early twentieth century. For a dose of music with one’s beverage, Brandy’s Piano Bar offers live piano playing and singing every evening. For those who prefer tea or coffee, Café Jax (Lost Gem) is an independently run café with a cavernous lower level where customers can sip on a warm drink while working or simply relaxing.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover Pinpoint Bridal, a small shop where Remziye Perkin and her family design exquisite dresses and offer personal attention to everyone who enters. Also known for their expert tailoring, Pinpoint Bridal alters family heirlooms for their customers’ special days. Bernard and S. Dean Levy is another family-owned business on the street. I had the pleasure of meeting Frank Levy, the fourth generation in a family of dealers in American antiques.
The side streets of Manhattan never fail to produce an excellent neighborhood Italian restaurant. On the east side of 84th, Nica Trattoria is a small Sicilian restaurant praised for its savory dishes. It is owner Giuseppe Nicolosi, however, who fills the space with his jovial personality. After crossing through Central Park, I visited Spiga, a neighborhood haunt that has been serving outstanding Italian fare since 2005.
Just across the street from Spiga is John Koch Antiques, where many TV and film crews shop for props. Ohav Sholom, whose name means “lover of peace,” is a small orthodox synagogue that was formed by German Jews fleeing the Nazi regime. Pachute’s charming owner, Sharone Komoroff, is originally from Israel. Pachute translates from Hebrew to mean “simple,” as this is the concept of both the space and the comfortable, minimalist women’s clothing found inside. As I write this introduction to 84th Street, I am pleased to note that there will be a new addition to the West Side. Vin Sur Vingt, a French wine bar that is also on 11th Street, is hoping to open its doors in the late spring of 2016.
Between Broadway and Riverside Drive, 84th ends with “Edgar Allan Poe Street.” It is said that the poet moved into a farmhouse in the area back when this part of the Upper West Side was known as the village of Bloomingdale. It is here that Poe wrote “The Raven” while his wife, Virginia, attempted to cure herself of tuberculosis using the “country air.”
