Filter by our Side PicksChange has always been a force, for better or worse, along the East and West Village side streets. This is particularly true on the east side of 12th Street, where not one, but two distinguished churches have met their fate. Recently, Mary Help of Christians Church was reportedly purchased for $41 million … read more
European cheese dishes have long been staples in American cuisine, from fondue to burrata. But as Edgar Villongco noticed, raclette – a Swiss cheese that is melted and scraped fresh from a cheese wheel onto a dish – never caught on in the United States. When the Manhattan Sideways Team met with Edgar, … read more
The only genre of music missing in Academy Records is classical….but not to worry, that is completely covered in their shop on 18th. Otherwise, this shop, here on 12th Street, has an impressive selection of rock, jazz, soul, funk, country, and folk. In chatting with one of the owners, he told us that … read more
Considering the multitude of rave reviews that Hearth has received since it opened in 2003, we were pleasantly surprised at the unpretentious and warm greeting we received. Although reservations for the dining room are recommended, especially during peak times, some of the best seats in the house are … read more
Known across the city for its exceptional Neapolitan-style pies, this small pizza lair with low ceilings, vintage light fixtures, and a tiled floor is often on NY’s “Best Pizza” lists. I have been here on a number of occasions and never been disappointed with the simple but perfect Margherita pie. … read more
I would have to say that John’s is about as old world Italian as one can get here in the East Village. The décor, the menu, and the service all take me back to my youth when I adored going out to eat with my family and ordering spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, or veal parmigiana. I do still appreciate … read more
When Paul first opened his business in 1973, he did not sell or repair a single watch; he did not even know how. Paul started out in the East Village doing picture framing, and eventually expanded to selling antiques. But one day, a passerby changed Paul’s business entirely. An old Jewish man – broke … read more
I guess it would be quite obvious to those who have been reading my site since the beginning, that my particular passion, besides Manhattan itself, is books. I have been a frequent customer of the Strand since I was a little girl and my mom made this a destination on a New York City outing. Their stock … read more
Ribalta is all about bringing the customer a complete and genuine pizza experience. From the three separate ovens that produce slightly different crusts, to the flour that is milled in Italy, to their “master instructor” (who comes to us straight from Scuola Italiana Pizzaloll, a pizza school in Italy … read more
When first walking in, we thought we were entering just another Mexican takeout place, but after spending a few minutes looking around and chatting with the husband and wife team behind Dorado, we realized that this was something special. It isn’t often that you see a large glass dispenser with homemade … read more
