November 20, 1994
By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
[NEW YORK] -- Even if your only goal in New York is to score tickets to see David Letterman tape his show, you're bound to have a moment or two when you want to do something kinda fun. Listed below are some of my favorite haunts to eat, dance and shop in the Big Apple - not necessarily in that order.
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St.; call (212) 475-8592. Very hot, very happening jazz spa that features canned greats such as Dizzy Gillespie. The place gets packed, so show up early if you want to snag a table. Cover ranges from $7.50 to $40, plus a $5 drink minimum.
China Club, 2130 Broadway. Chicago's branch of the China Club bombed, but New York's flagship club still attracts its share of hipsters and celebs. Busiest night for the Upper West Side club, oddly, is Monday, when the nightspot is crammed with models, musicians and actors all just waiting to be seen. The music is best on the weekend, though, when it veers toward alternative and industrial. Cover: $10.
Eureka Joe, 168 5th Ave.; call (212) 741-7500. Simply the best coffeehouse in New York. Located smack dab in the middle of the Flat Iron District, Eureka Joe has plush draperies, comfortable sofas and chairs, and a divine selection of coffees and desserts. This is the place where you can sip a cappuccino and make free (local) calls on any of the phones sprinkled throughout the cafe. Don't forget to grab some of the postcards on your way out. Not only are they free, but they also look better than the ones you pay 50 cents apiece for.
Flea Market, Wooster and Spring: OK, it's not really called the Flea Market. But it has no official name and it's a flea market, so that's what I'm calling it. Until the weather gets too cold, this open-air market in Soho offers some of the coolest selections of Esprit dresses, silver jewelry and knickknacks for reasonable prices. The hawkers are good about letting you try clothes on, although I don't know that you'd want to (not much privacy).
Knitting Factory, 47 E. Houston St.; call (212) 219-3055. This downtown club is quite low-key, considering the number of fashion plates roaming around. The music veers toward underground and acid jazz. Downstairs is quieter, while upstairs is more of a scene. Cover charge: usually $10.
Nell's, 246 W. 14th St.; call (212) 675-1567. If nothing else, you've got to love Nell's for turning Cher away. This downtown club isn't quite as happening as it once was, but the beautiful set still flocks here to pose and hang. The dance floor is downstairs, nestled discreetly away from the two bars and room full of elegantly upholstered divans and armchairs. Cover ranges from $7 to $15.
Roseland, 239 W. 52nd St.; call (212) 247-0200. A beautiful, old-fashioned dance hall, the Roseland hosts live bands and discos. But the venue is best suited for ballroom dancing, which it still offers. Unless you don't mind what kind of music you'll be dancing to, call first to find out whether the musique du soir will be ballroom or thrash. Cover: $6 to $10.
Russian Tea Room, 150 W. 57th St.; call (212) 265-0947. You can't go to New York without at least checking out the Russian Tea Room. A legendary place to celebrity-watch since the 1920s, this restaurant is pricey but worth it. The decor is a bit much (green walls offset by red banquettes), but the food is delicious - borscht, chicken Kiev and beef Stroganoff so rich it may take two to finish a serving.
Soho Zoo, 176 Spring St.; call (212) 226-0915. This boutique is one of my favorites in New York because it's trendy without being pretentious. As its name indicates, the Zoo is in Soho. A lot of the clothes here come in just three sizes (small, medium, large). If they're out of something, the saleswomen will offer to have another dress, sweater or skirt made especially for you at the same price.
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St.; call (212) 353-1600. Housed in the former home of the late, great Ritz, Webster Hall is the club of the moment - which is why it gets away with the hefty $17 cover. Spanning four floors, the hot spot has something for everyone - cool music ranging from rasta reggae to punk to alternative to pop; roomy dance floors, and its own little freak show. Check out the strippers, fire breathers and trapeze artists.
Zen Palate,
34 E. Union Square; call (212) 614-9345. Artsy-fartsy name, great vegetarian
food. If the idea of eating soybean protein and wheat gluten sounds unappetizing,
just order the exquisitely named dishes (moo-shu fantasia, taste of nirvana)
without thinking about what's in them. The spinach crepe-esque rolls are
quite tasty, and the non-dairy banana pie is out of this world.
Travel
Jae-Ha Kim's syndicated column Go Away With
Travel essays and photos by Jae-Ha Kim and Denton Morris
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