Thrift Shopping in the Neighborhood

This week, the Michelin Guide released its “Bib Gourmand” picks for the upcoming 2015 restaurant guide. The restaurants named on the list demonstrate excellence on a budget (two courses and wine or dessert for $40 or less). The Union Square neighborhood had 7 establishments make the cut, including ABC Cocina, Boqueria, Bread & Tulips, Hill Country Chicken, Laut, Momokawa, and Turkish Kitchen.

This view shows the east side of 5th Ave. at 13th St. in 1911. In other words, it’s where the New School now has its main entrance. Down the block on 13th St. you can see the tallish building that is now apartments. Ah, the good old days. Note that even in 1911, those elegant brownstones had seen better days. Since then, three large buildings have stood on this block, so that’s one reinvention about every 35 years.

Credit: New York Public Library Digital Collection.

Visit Koi, at 32 Union Square East. They say:

A celebration, a date or just a relaxing break in the day, there is always a reason to get together around a cup of KOI tea. KOI brings joy to the world. Freshly brewed tea and flavorful ingredients, prepared with passion are the key to KOI’s authentic taste and the reason why people come back again and again. In each and every KOI store, the staff is keen to share our happiness and love of tea with you. They do their best every day to make your experience memorable. Hear the sound of tea being brewed, of ice being crushed, and of laughter. Smell the aroma of our freshly prepared ingredients. Be excited by the chewiness of our milk tea pearls. Enjoy the fun and comfortable surroundings. And the warmth of our tea shakers. With KOI, happiness happens naturally.

Not that the area needed another high-end coffee pourer, but here comes Blue Bottle Coffee, on University between 12th and 13th.

It’s been a while, but our site is up and running again, and we hope to make it fun and informative.