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Manhattan Farmers Markets 2022

Upper East Side, Midtown Manhattan, West Side NYC, West & East Village & Chelsea Farmers Markets Manhattan

April 21, 2022 / Manhattan Neighborhoods / Manhattan Farmers Markets / Manhattan Buzz NYC.  

View the HOURS, MAPS, ITEMS / SELECTION of the 22 BEST & most centrally located Farmers Markets / Green Markets in Manhattan, w/ savvy shoppers' tips. This report includes the Midtown, Upper East Side NYC, Upper West Side NYC, West & East Village, SoHo, Tribeca, Harlem, Morningside and Chelsea farmers markets.

Click here for dates, times, locations of the Manhattan Farmers Markets - Manhattan NYC.

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Manhattan Street Fairs & Festivals NYC 2022

I. Manhattan Street Fair Dates & Maps 2022

October 6, 2022 / Manhattan Neighborhoods / Manhattan Shopping / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Manhattan Street Fairs begin in very late March. We've compiled one of THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCHEDULE of MANHATTAN street fairs including street fair TIMES & PHOTOS & maps, some street fair names & sponsors, and street fair maps to help you find your way around during the spring, summer and fall of 2022.

How This Manhattan Street Fair Page is Organized

The Manhattan street fairs and festivals on this page are organized

1) BY MONTH & WEEK and

2) BY NEIGHBORHOOD.

So you can now look through all of the Manhattan street fairs on a given weekend, and see where they are in each neighborhood.

*** Links to Street Fairs in All 5 Boros of NYC

Here are some links to Manhattan street fairs NYC, Queens street fairs NYC, Bronx street fairs NYC, Brooklyn street fairs NYC and Staten Island street fairs NYC. We'll add more as the summer progresses.

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Manhattan Holiday Markets - Manhattan NYC

Christmas Markets, Hanukkah Markets, Kwanzaa Markets & Outdoor Holiday Markets - Holiday Shopping in Manhattan NYC

December 17, 2021 / Upper East Side UES / Upper West Side UWS / Midtown NYC / East Village & West Village / Tribeca SoHo Bowery / Holiday Events & Holiday Markets - Kwanzaa, Hanukkah & Christmas Holidays in Manhattan / Holiday Shopping Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

EDITOR NOTE. While it seems we've turned the corner on the CoVid pandemic, it's after effects still linger. Hence a number of holiday markets we saw in 2019 may not yet return in 2021 for reasons related to CoVid, or possibly finances, or perhaps an assessment that the rewards of a holiday market at this time aren't worth the risks of operating one. Lastly, shopkeepers / market makers still have to operate knowing there remains some uncertainty in being able to obtain the selection goods you want in the time frame you want because of lingering issues associated with the supply chain. So while they may not return this year, they might make a comeback next year.

Holiday outdoor markets have been on the rise in Manhattan since the dawn of the 21st century. While some date back many years, some are relatively new.

Shopping at holiday markets alone, with friends, or with the kids gives folks a chance to enjoy the fruits of their labor and satisfy some of their yearnings as well as the yearnings of those we love.

Each of the Manhattan holiday markets is a bit different, as some are organized by community groups and others by business organizations. Oftentimes one can find artisanal products that are made in NYC or NYS.

Manhattan Holiday Markets Getting Underway

Some of the Manhattan holiday markets get underway almost immediately after Halloween, while others open up around Thanksgiving time. The Manhattan holiday markets are located in or near the following Manhattan neighborhoods - the Upper East Side UES, the Upper West Side UWS, Midtown NYC, the East Village, the West Village, the Bowery, SoHo, Tribeca, Lower East Side, Harlem, Inwood and Washington Heights. Many either include the serving of some beverage like hot chocolate and generally snacks like cookies - or are near food vendors and restaurants.

Click here for our report about the Xmas / Christmas / Hanukkah / Kwanzaa Holiday markets in Manhattan & Holiday shopping Manhattan NYC.

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Thanksgiving Day Gourmet Food & Grocery Stores & Restaurants in Manhattan 2021

Gourmet or Specialty Food Shops & Grocery Stores for Preparing Dinner on Thanksgiving Day or Restaurants Open Thankgiving Day on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, East Village, West Village, SoHo, Tribeca & Downtown NYC

November 21, 2021 / Manhattan Neighborhoods / Manhattan Restaurants / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

The origins of Thanksgiving Day in the United States began with one of America’s first settlements, founded by the risk-taking, resource-pooling, hardworking, spiritual community of Pilgrims. The Pilgrims were early English settlers who arrived on American shores in the early 17th century [1600’s]. They came here because they wanted a measure of freedom and self-determination that they were forbidden in Europe or what was called the ‘old country’. The Pilgrims wanted to practice their faith, unencumbered, in a way that differed from the established Church of England. They pooled their money to obtain a ship, the Mayflower, to cross the Atlantic in mid September of 1620, landing on America's shores at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts on November 9, 1620.

The Pilgrims Receive Help from the Native People of a Strange Land

Per Wikipedia, the Piligrims survived a hard winter in 1621 with the help of the Wampanoag, an American Indian tribe. The Pilgrims were the immigrants, and the first Americans, the Indian natives, welcomed them. The Wampanaog taught the Pilgrims how to catch eels, and how to grow and harvest corn. Thus the Pilgrims ended 1621 with a good harvest which they celebrated and shared with their new friends, expressing their thanks to a higher power, aka God, for the success of their endeavors.

Thus it was that the first Thanksgiving celebration happened in America. There's some dispute to this account, which we'll address in a future post, near Thanksgiving Day.

COVID protocols remain in effect per NYC guidelines. Rsvp is recommended.

We've identified a number of Manhattan places to shop for Thanksgiving Dinner, or restaurants open Thanksgiving Day in Manhattan. Enjoy.

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Shopping the Lord & Taylor Department Store NYC

Lord & Taylor is Consolidating its Ten Floors into Four in 2018

December 11, 2017 / Midtown Manhattan Neighborhood / Manhattan Shops & Shopping / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

I recently heard that Lord & Taylor is consolidating its ten floors of department store space, into three or four, following the Christmas shopping season [mid January]. As a longtime customer, who has once enjoyed shopping recreationally, I decided to return for one last journey through the land of Oz … because certainly after Lord & Taylor consolidates its floors, the look and feel of a once great department store … will not be the same.

For better or worse, over the past couple decades, we have all witnessed the relentless onslaught of the big box and online retailers pummeling what was once called traditional retail. Traditional retail as we once knew it, began more or less in tandem with the 20th century, and New York City was, and still is, one of the great retail hubs.

Short History of Large Manhattan Department Stores 1902 - 1924

Macy’s at Herald Square. In 1902 the R.H. Macy Company had led retailers’ march uptown, to what is now Midtown, when they erected their first store at Herald Square at 34th Street and Broadway. Eventually this flagship Macy’s store expanded to encompass the entire block along the north side of 34th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue. The Macy’s building was landmarked in 1978.

Lord & Taylor on 5th Avenue. A bit more than a decade later the Lord & Taylor building was erected in 1914 [began one year earlier] at 38th and 5th Avenue. The building was designed by architects Starret & van Vleck – and from the start – was a venerable landmark. The Lord & Taylor building was officially landmarked in 2007. Architects of the building, Starret van Vleck, were also the architects of a number of other notable flagship department stores of the time, which according to Wikipedia includes Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Alexanders [was across 59th Street from Bloomingdales].

Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks Fifth Avenue, which was owned by Gimbels, erected its flagship store a decade later in 1924. The Saks store encompassed an entire block along 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, just south of St Patrick’s Cathedral, and across from the site that would eventually become Rockefeller Center. Rockefeller Center was erected in 1934.

Bergdorf Goodman. And in 1928 Bergdorf Goodman erected and opened a five-story department store much further north along Fifth Avenue at 58th Street, on the site previously occupied by the Cornelius Vanderbilt Mansion. During the Great Depression Vanderbilt purchased adjacent lots on the rest of the block, which he used to expand the store.

• CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE reading our report about holiday shopping at Lord & Taylor along 5th Avenue in NYC.

Cigar Stores in Manhattan: Davidoff

Midtown Cigar Lounge with Fine Selection & Ambiance

August 15, 2017 / Midtown Manhattan Neighborhoods / Shopping Manhattan Midtown / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Earlier this year I had an opportunity to take a break at the Davidoff Cigar store located in Midtown Manhattan. I have visited the store on several prior occasions, stopping in for a quick take out order of a fresh cigar or two. But on this day I had a bit of time available, so I decided to reward myself with an 'eat-in' cigar.

Davidoff Cigar Store - Men's Gift Stores in Manhattan

I like entering the Davidoff store. It's a tightly appointed men's store, complete with more than a full range of sizes and strengths of cigars. They also offer all of the accessories one might need to properly care for and to assist in the consumption of cigars, meaning humidors and ash trays and lighters and the like. They also offer other men's accessories like wallets and brief cases that match the quality branding of their cigars.

Inside the humidified cigar room I began browsing the selection. While looking through the cases, I started conversing with another customer who recommended a Dominican made cigar he favors. I was in a receptive mood to try something different, so I bought a regular sized, medium bodied, lighter tobacco cigar, which cost in the neighborhood of $8 - $12 [can't remember the price or name right now] and headed into the smoking lounge to enjoy my purchase.

Cigar Lounges in Manhattan: Davidoff Cigars

The smoking lounge is at street level on 6th Avenue between 56th and 57th streets. As it was a quiet Saturday on a cool spring day, the pedestrian traffic was fairly light. During the weekdays and holidays it's bustling. The mood of the room reflected the calmness outside, as there were about a half dozen men, ranging in age from about the mid thirties to mid sixties, sat reading the paper, conversing or quietly staring into space contemplating a business deal, a family issue or the universe.

I spent the better part of an hour talking to the guy who'd recommended my cigar. We covered the family and kids, the job and what's doing in the world, both here and abroad. It was a pleasant conversation and I left the Davidoff store on 6th Avenue just south of 57th Street feeling pretty good about things and planning to make a return visit in the not-too-distant future.

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UES Upper East Side Shops & Shopping

December 2017 / Upper East Side Neighborhood / Manhattan Shops & Shopping / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

The Upper East Side of Manhattan in NYC has some of the finest shopping street in NYC, including Madison Avenue and Lexington Avenue. This section contains maps, a shopping center that links to many advertiser home pages and stories about what you'll find in some of the Upper East Side unique and exclusive stores.

Click here to enter the Upper East Side Shops & Shopping UES section of the site.

Farmers Markets & Street Fairs in Manhattan

April 4, 2017 / Manhattan Farmers Markets / Manhattan Street Fairs / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Many Manhattan farmers markets are open year round, but there are also a number of them that are seasonal. Some of the seasonal Manhattan farmers markets begin opening in the Spring, with the rest of them opening no later than the first couple of weeks in July. Click here to view the schedules of many of the farmers markets in Manhattan.

Manhattan street fairs are entirely seasonal, with some of them hitting the streets as early as March. Manhattan street fairs rise markedly during the spring and lighten up during the dog days of summer [July / August], returning in the fall. By the end of November the Manhattan street fairs go on hiatus, with a few returning as early as March, increasing in April and coming enmasses begining in May. Click here to view a full schedule of Manhattan street fairs.

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Manhattan NYC - Specialty Food & Wine Shops

April 2019 / Food Stores & Wine Shops In Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC. 

This section contains stories done of some of the specialty food & wine shops in Manhattan & NYC

Click here to enter the Specialty Food Stores & Wine Shops in Manhattan & NYC section of the site.

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Men's Styles For Fall

Men's Fashions In Astoria & Queens

Fall Season / Manhattan & NYC Shopping / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

I recently stopped in to visit Frank Adhami the owner and manager of Esquire Men's Clothing Store to get the buzz on what’s happening in men’s designer clothing for the summer and fall. 

Frank and Esquire have been selling men’s designer clothing on Steinway Street in Astoria dating back to 1982.  Esquire started carrying the Canali brand of men’s suits as early as 1984, when the Canali brand was just making inroads into the American market.  And Esquire has introduced many other European designers into the Astoria, Queens market since then, such as Hugo Boss in 1990, Versace in 1994 and Burberry in 2003.

Pal Zileri and Canali Men’s Business And Designer Suits

The style in men’s business suits and designer sport coats seems to be moving toward a slimmer, trimmer cut that plays off of the man’s silhouette.  Some fashion houses, such as Burberry are tightening the shoulders and waists, while other fashion houses such as Hugo Boss are providing a more flexible structure that becomes more defined by the man’s body.  Each approach has its own strengths, and Esquire tries to capitalize on that by employing professional full time tailors who strive to modify the suit to give the look the customer seeks.  

Stylized lapels are also in vogue.  The winged lapel on the pin-striped suit by designer Pal Zileri in the adjacent photo shows such a flair, while the smaller more closely cut lapel shown on a Canali suit I saw provides another lapel choice.

Men’s Designer Jeans in Queens, NY

Hugo Boss has been having great success with its Orange sub brand.  The Boss Orange brand was designed with a youthful spirit by Andrea Cannellone who has crafted the clothes to blend seamlessly in with the Boss Orange brand of jeans.  While blue jeans are the predominant color in jeans, other color shades have been selling well too, including softer blues and grays, as well as some with muted patterns. 

The trend in men’s designer jeans has been moving away from the very low cut, tight jeans to something with a bit higher waist and greater comfort.  Ironically, this trend is nearly the opposite of what is happening in designer suits, although it’s important to note that suits have generally been worn loosely, while jeans have generally been worn tightly.  I guess you could say there’s convergence toward the mean going on in men’s fashions, which is a concept generally employed in the financial markets.  That said, there’s a certain asymmetry between the fashion and financial worlds when it comes to damage.  Specifically, I’m referring to the worn look in jeans, which has been ‘fading away’, while damage in the financial markets seems to be on the rise. 

Men’s Designer Shirts In Astoria NY

The trend in men’s shirts is ongoing toward more vibrant, attention-grabbing colors.  This may be part of what’s going on generally along the urban landscape as American men have been moving away from the cowboy look toward a more intelligent, refined and gentrified appearance which fits in with the modern times and more urban landscape.  It seems women are looking for a little less cave man and a bit more style in their men.  Nonetheless, the time-tested fabrics carried by Esquire seem to remain all natural and all cotton, particularly when it comes to shirts.

Men’s Fashion Footwear In Queens NY

We didn’t get a chance to discuss footwear, but I did manage to get a couple of photos of some of the classics he had on display.  It’s worth mentioning that the Esquire men’s clothing store  provides a warm, relaxed, boutique shopping atmosphere, and Frank is frequently on site to help those who may need a quick download of fashion info. 

Men’s Designer Clothing Shopping Tips

In closing I would say, watch for the summer clothing sales which provide an arbitrage opportunity to get items at a discount to their real value, although you won’t get the opportunity to wear them for much of the season.  And keep an eye out for the introduction of  the fall inventory which provides an opportunity to find clothing for the next season in your size and color before the season begins so that you can wear them while they’re still hot.  Ciao.

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Midtown Shops & Shopping

December 2017 / Midtown Neighborhood / Shopping Manhattan Shops / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

The Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan in NYC has some of the finest shopping street in NYC, including Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Lexington Avenue. This section contains maps, a shopping center that links to many advertiser home pages and stories about what you'll find in some of the Midtown unique and exclusive stores.

Click here to enter the Midtown Shops and Shopping section of the site.

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Holiday Sales Upper East Side & Manhattan

Upper East Side Shops & Shopping - Unique Shops & Store Holiday Sales UES & Manhattan

Updated May 2017 / Upper East Side Neighborhood / Shopping Upper East Side / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

The hallowed Black Friday has passed as we have assembled this outline of unique shops and shopping along the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

One of the great joys of visiting NYC is its breadth and depth of shopping venues. One can find inexpensive authentic ethnic cuisine and imported goods from around the world in the outer boroughs like Queens, and the world's finest haute cuisine, fashion, art and furniture in Manhattan. This report will focus on the options for Manhattan shopping on the Upper East Side UES in NYC, but also includes shopping venues on the Upper West Side, Midtown and the East Village.

First, let me say that this is not intended to be a comprehensive guide, but rather an introduction to a number of shops I have visited over the years and found to be either a bit unique and / or staffed by someone who's knowledgeable or personable.

Click here for a report, including photos, descriptions, maps and contact links for shopping the Upper East Side UES of Manhattan, as well as shopping holiday sales on the Upper West Side UWS, Midtown NYC, the East Village & Bowery shops.

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The Winter Antiques Show NYC

A Fascinating World Of Cultural Collectibles

January / Upper East Side UES Neighborhood / Manhattan History / Art in Manhattan / Gotham Buzz.

I attended the Winter Antiques Show at the Park Avenue Armory on the Upper East Side [UES]. It was my first visit, although I had walked past it over the course of many Winters, on my way home from work. Little did I know what pleasant surprises awaited.

It didn’t take me long to figure out that the name - Winter Antiques Show - is as old as some of the items on display and is in much need of an update. At the show I found a fascinating world of cultural collectibles – many of which dated back a century or more - but also many of which were from the 20th century. The cut off for exhibited pieces is 1969.

For most of us furniture is what first comes to mind when one hears the word antique, but this was nothing like the Antiques Road Show. It encompassed a much broader selection of things. I would soon encounter specialists in the fields of rare books, Venetian glass, impressionist paintings, Chinese porcelains, European jewelry, French furniture and early American and British photography.

Within these categories I would found treasures that included an original book authored by Benjamin Franklin, early Venini glass, a couple of William Merritt Chase paintings [the Chase school of art was the predecessor of the Parsons School of Design], porcelains from the Ming Dynasty, early Cartier jewelry and photos of a young Senator Kennedy and a defiant Winston Churchill signed by the photographers who took them.

Click here to read the rest of our story about the Winter Antiques Show NYC at the Park Avenue Amory on the Upper East Side. The story includes a photo slide show of many of the rare antiquities and objets d’arte.

Bastille Day On The Upper East Side NYC

Alliance Francais Hosts Three Block Street Party

July 14, 2014 / East Side Neighborhood NYC / Manhattan Restaurants / Manhattan Buzz.

I was feeling very revolutionary Sunday afternoon as I made my way to the Bastille Day Street Festival hosted by the Alliance Francais on 60th Street. They were hosting a [long] three block party that stretched from Central Park souteast at Fifth Avenue across Madison and Park to Lexington Avenue from 12 noon until 5 pm.

It had rained a bit that day which probably worked to the street farers' advantage as, while it was crowded, it was also very easy to move around and not so hot that one was 'glistening' throughout the afternoon.

The 60th Street blocks contain a number of fancy establishments, including the quiet, but well known, Metropolitan Club of which J. Pierrepont Morgan was once a member.

The vendors offered a variety of food, beverages, travel opportunities to places like Monaco and the French islands of Martinique, along with wine, cheeses, spices, some clothing, soaps, perfumes, jewelry and art. I think one of the things that separates this street fair from many others is that it generally stuck to the theme of all things French and hence had the effect of leaving me walk away with a little bit of feeling like I had taken a time-warp trip to Paris and back in the course of the afternoon.

Au revoir mon ami. Je voudrais voir vous bientot. A slide show with photos will follow later this summer.

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Manhattan Street Fairs 2022 in NYC

Manhattan Street Fairs 2022 on the UES, UWS, Midtown, West & East Village, LES, SoHo, Tribeca, Chelsea

October 6, 2022 / Manhattan Neighborhoods / Manhattan Shopping / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

This is one of THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE MANHATTAN STREET FAIRS including DATES, FOTOS & maps of most of the Manhattan Street Fairs and Festivals in the NYC neighborhoods of the Upper East Side UES, the Upper West Side UWS, Midtown NYC, East Village NYC, West Village NYC, Chelsea and more.

Click here to view our report, including links to maps, of Manhattan Street Fairs & Festivals 2022.

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Manhattan Farmers Markets 2022

Upper East Side, Midtown Manhattan, West Side NYC, West & East Village & Chelsea Farmers Markets Manhattan

April 21, 2022 / Manhattan Neighborhoods / Manhattan Farmers Markets / Manhattan Buzz NYC.  

View the HOURS, MAPS, ITEMS / SELECTION of the 22 BEST & most centrally located Farmers Markets / Green Markets in Manhattan, w/ savvy shoppers' tips. This report includes the Midtown, Upper East Side NYC, Upper West Side NYC, West & East Village, SoHo, Tribeca, Harlem, Morningside and Chelsea farmers markets.

Click here for dates, times, locations of the Manhattan Farmers Markets - Manhattan NYC.

Great Wine Stores in NYC - Morton Williams Wine & Spirits near Gramercy Park

For Food & Wine, Morton Williams Supermarkets and Morton Williams Wine & Spirits provide a modern organic, natural and standard food shopping experience and the wine store provides a nice selection of wines from around the world.  They’re located at 313 East 23rd Street.

Manhattan NYC Related Links

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Click for Manhattan Furniture Stores NYC

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Click for Manhattan Professional Services NYC

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Click for Manhattan Real Estate - Upper East Side NYC.

Midtown Dentists and Midtown Chiropractors

Holiday Shopping Season In Full Swing

November 2015 / Shopping In Midtown Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz.

The holidays are nearly here. The cooler weather has put a bit of spring back into folks steps. The local merchants and small businesses tell us that this month the holiday shopping begins in earnest leading up to the Thanksgiving / Black Friday Weekend.

Click here for New Years parties and restaurants in Manhattan. And click here to read about Upper East Side restaurants in NYC.

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