Meet 95th Street
There are not nearly as many businesses to discover walking in the nineties as there are downtown, but I have been able to stop and appreciate the tranquility of these highly residential streets. In particular, I have enjoyed observing the variety of townhouses and contemplating who has lived in them. At 122 East 95th, a plaque outside offered me the information that I always ponder: this had been the home of the renowned caricaturist, Al Hirschfeld.
I had been fascinated by Marina Snetkova’s story of opening her wine shop, Grape Juicery, on East 84th Street, not too long ago. So when I walked into Noble Grains and learned that Bora Yoon was the owner of a shop devoted to beer, I was excited. How amazing that both of these women chose to pursue their passion in an industry dominated by men and are loving every minute of running their businesses.
I was certain after exploring the exterior of 7 East 95th that I was in for a real treat when I entered. Under the umbrella of the Episcopal Church, The House of the Redeemer is a non-profit organization that serves as an event space, a place for worship, and a residence for those in need. Completed in 1916, the home has many hidden treasures to be discovered by anyone interested in stopping by for a brief tour.
Another walk through Central Park brought me to the corner of Amsterdam Avenue, where I enjoyed observing the lines of people ordering their gyros from The Halal Guys. This is the second brick and mortar shop from the men who have been serving customers from their very successful food cart since 1990. The perfect end to my day was spent chatting with Courtney Barroll, the owner of Buceo 95, a tapas restaurant that serves many of the dishes she discovered while spending time in Spain.
