Filter by our Side PicksMy first stop on 81st Street was only a short distance from my starting point at the East River. The appropriately named East End Kitchen (Lost Gem) with its warm, classic design, excellent hospitality, and food to match … read more
After my lively conversation with Gary Scheiner next door at Gentlemen’s Resale, who got his start at Designer Revival thanks to the original owner – his mother-in-law – I was eager to pay a visit to the upscale … read more
Gary Scheiner, the owner of Gentlemen’s Resale, is supremely proud of being in business for over twenty years. He began his shop in 1992 with help from his mother-in-law, Myrna Skoller, who owned Designer Resale next door (which has since become Designer Revival). … read more
On a street peppered with tailor shops, Dashnor Tailoring remains a hidden gem. Behind its nondescript storefront is Dashnor Begaj: a tailor with an awe-inspiring immigrant story and an impressive resume of celebrity clients. Growing up in the small Albanian town of Hekal, Dashnor was inspired by his … read more
When I asked Howard Nowes, the owner of Art for Eternity, what the oldest piece in his gallery was, he led me over to a Mesopotamian statue dating back 3500 years. It was pure white and had a circular design on top like eyes, signifying that it was meant to represent the All Seeing God. I never would … read more
“It keeps me sane,” Barbara Riering, the co-owner of Rita’s Needlepoint, said, referring to the craft that has now become her job. She told me that her grandmother taught her how to do needlepoint when she was nine years old and that she has stuck with it ever since. Originally a lawyer, she came to … read more
As I told Jim McConnaughy, the vice president of S.J. Shrubsole since 1982, I was, initially, intimidated to enter this world-renowned silver and jewelry shop, but after meeting him, I was able to relax and engage in conversation. There were many remarkable stories that Jim shared with me, but the most … read more
The seed that would eventually grow into Cook Travel was planted when Blake Fleetwood, the owner, was planning a trip in college. While studying at Columbia University, he traveled to Europe during one of his breaks. He discovered a special deal: if he convinced friends to accompany him, he would get … read more
When I walked into Book Nook, I thought I had stepped inside a children’s novel. Intrigued, I began to look around at the leafy, artificial vines hanging from the low ceiling like verdant Christmas lights, complementing the trees and birds painted on the walls. I walked by the fireplace in the corner, … read more
