Filter by our Side PicksStepping out onto the east side of 82nd Street, I enjoyed finding hints of the eastern European cultures that had once called the neighborhood home. The street is in the middle of the area known as “Little Hungary,” which stretches from 79th to 83rd Streets. Though there are not many traces left … read more
The story, or shall I say, the saga, for Gerald and his wife, Peggy, might be the most moving one that I have heard from business owners on the side streets of Manhattan. Enduring multiple setbacks and disappointments – both in New York and Paris – the loving couple nevertheless pursued their ultimate … read more
This shop grabbed my attention the second I stepped inside the door and smelled the scent of fresh sawdust. As he guided me through the expansive workshop, John Wolf stated, “We’re the secret that’s not a secret,” adding, “Everything is custom: I never make the same piece twice.”
John … read more
The first time that I stopped into Brady’s, it was a Sunday afternoon, and when I asked the bartender for a business card, one of the regulars jovially yelled out, “This isn’t a business, it’s a circus.” And thus began my relationship with this friendly corner spot. A bar has stood on 82nd and Second … read more
Sutton Clocks is what we at Manhattan Sideways refer to as a true hidden gem. The low shop was lined on both sides with clocks dating back to the eighteenth century, set to different times. I understood why they all displayed different hours when the first one chimed and I imagined the deafening roar … read more
I was impressed by the unique, brightly polished Judaica made by Swed Masters even before I discovered the secrets contained in each piece. Eli began my introduction to the work of the Israeli-based silversmith by showing me a small silver and gold platform. I had no idea what it was until Eli removed … read more
“We wake up every morning pinching ourselves, saying ‘Is this really our lives?’” Tina told me after sharing the story of how she and her husband, Chip, came to run an upscale restaurant on the Upper East Side. Their story is heartwarming and proves it truly is possible to achieve one’s dreams … read more
I had been told about Salon Riz by several people who live on the Upper West Side. They raved about Mike Riz’s space and told me that it cultivated a comfortable, relaxing environment unlike any other – “a visceral experience” is how Lisa, at the nearby women’s boutique, Pachute, describes her time … read more
The Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral is led by a man who shares a name with the church’s own saint: Volodymyr. Pastor Volodymyr Muzychka greeted us at the door to the church, tucked underneath the façade’s wide balcony, dressed in religious robes that gave him an air of beneficence. Despite the language … read more
I often wish that I could somehow capture sounds and smells on Manhattan Sideways. I especially felt that way at the Church of the Holy Trinity, where Andrew, the director of music, was practicing on the large Letourneau organ, which replaced the church’s old organ in the mid-1990s. The booming, melodious … read more
