Shortcut to Fabulous Favorites of NYC

There are as many fabulous places in New York City as there are people, but we decided to share our favorites with you.

Favorite Museum: The New York City Tenement Museum. This museum tells the story of America and will change your life once you visit it. The museum is housed an an actual tenement apartment building that was constructed in 1863. It has been called home by over 7,000 immigrants and some of the residents’ apartments have been restored with acutal pieces from the period in which the family lived in the apartment. To visit this museum, check out the tour options by clicking here. You can only visit the museum by going on a tour, but this makes the experience even more amazing. Go to the website, choose a family you are interested in learning more about, select a date and time and purchase your tickets. Then, meet at the museum gift shop located at 108 Orchard Street and your journey begins! They also have a neighborhood walking tour where you learn what you might have seen and experienced negotiating the streets of the Lower East Side a hundred years ago. However, my favorite tours are the ones that take you inside the apartment building and transport you to New York City at the turn of the century.

Favorite Cupcake Shop: Sweet Revenge. This fun cupcake shop has a menu of delicious and healthy-sized cupcakes with wine a beer pairings for each cupcake. What could be better than a cupcake? A cupcake with a glass of wine! The wine and beer pairings aren’t for everyone, but even if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, the cupcakes are some of the best in the city. Our favorite flavors are the Pure, Crimson & Cream and Not So Dirty. Located at 62 Carmine Street, this is a fun cupcake shop with a cool vibe and delicious cupcakes.

Favorite Candy Shop: Economy Candy located at 108 Rivington Street stocks just about any type of retro candy confection your sweet little heart could desire!

Favorite Junk Store: Pearl River in SOHO. This store is comfortable, air conditioned and large, full of Chinatownesque goods at incredible prices. Think paper lanterns, chinese tea sets, chopsticks and so much more. Located at 477 Broadway.

Favorite Vintage Shop: Zachary’s Smile, two locations in Greenwich Village and NOHO. This vintage clothing shop has decent prices, great pieces and their own collection of vintage inspired clothes.

Best Bargain Hunting Vintage Jewelry Shop: Pippin, located at 112 West 17^th Street, right by a bargain hunter’s paradise complete with a Filene’s basement, TJ Maxx and Loehmanns. This vintage jewelry shop has an amazing selection of jewelry and lots of $5 and $10 pieces!

Favorite Celebrity Chef Restaurant: Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill. We’ve tried just about every celebrity chef’s NYC restaurant and this is our favorite. The prices are moderate, the food is delicious and the atmosphere is fun and hip, but not too pretentious. Located at 102 5th Avenue in the Flatiron District, the restaurant’s central location makes it perfect for a night out on the town.

Favorite Hole in the Wall Lunch Spot: Nha Trang Vietnamese Restaurant. The lunch specials at this Chinatown eatery are out of this world and the service is snappy in the perfect NY sort of way. This is the perfect place to eat a fabulous, quick and tasty lunch for under $10 (under $6 if you have tap water). Our favorite dish is Ga Xao Cary* chicken with curry sauce. Located at 87 Baxter Street.

Favorite Restaurant with a view: The River Cafe, located at 1 Water Street in Brooklyn is worth the extra travel time because the view of Manhattan is spectacular. The foot is pricey, but delicious. Try the chef’s six course  chef’s selection ($125). They serve lunch, dinner and brunch.

Favorite Brunch: Jane Restaurant, 100 West Houston Street location. More affordable than other brunch options, this restaurant has a great atmosphere. Try the creme-brulee battered french toast. Make reservations!

Favorite Chinatown Dim Sum: Jing Fong, 20 Elizabeth Street, 2nd Fl. This is the best place in Manhattan for the full dim sum experience. There might be better dim sum in Queens, but Jing Fong is the perfect Chinatown Dim Sum spot!

So, print our favorites of NYC list and enjoy this shortcut to fabulous food, fun and shopping in Manhattan!