The New York City Traveler

An unnamed Keith Haring mural that enjoyed a brief life on the Lower East Side in the 1980s has returned in all of its DayGlo glory.  The mural was recreated by using photographs of the original mural that Haring, a New York artist, painted, then shortly thereafter painted over.  Haring died of AIDS at the age of 31 in 1990 and the new mural is in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Haring’s birth.  The mural is located on a large piece of concrete at the corner of Bowery and Houston (map).  You won’t miss it… it’s bright!    
Photo credit: …read more

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The warm, beautiful weather we have had recently in New York has given us the hope that we can put away our big coats and boots.  This last week I walked the streets of Soho to see what spring fashion trends I am seeing on the locals on the streets of New York City. 
 
Leggings   All of the major fashion mags may have said that leggings are out but there are still quite a few girls rocking this look on the street.  Remember, these are not to be work in place of pants, so always wear this look …read more

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One of my all-time favorite stores in Manhattan has to be Pearl River Mart.  All of the silk robes and lacquerware remind me of my trips to Hong Kong and the endless rows of shopping finds at Stanley Market.
Pearl River Mart was founded by Chinese immigrants over thirty years ago and was branded the first Chinese-American department store.  It was popularized as a second-floor store on Canal Street in the heart of Chinatown.  My first trip to the original Pearl River Mart was very memorable.  There were plates and bowls stacked from the floor to the ceiling, boxes of …read more

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Uniqlo speaks to the Type-A side of my personality.  From the moment you walk into the store you notice the rows of clothing, arranged by color, neatly folded and stacked from floor to ceiling.  Shopping is once again easy! 
The fashionable Japanese clothing retailer opened its first store in the famous Harajuku district of Tokyo in 1998.  The retailer’s sales quickly took off and it now has over 700 stores in Japan as well as stores in South Korea, China, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and the flagship store in Soho, New York. 
The Soho Uniqlo, which opened in late 2006, …read more

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The original Old St Patrick’s Cathedral is located on a quiet residential street in Nolita and is far cry from a busy Fifth Avenue location.  The quaint old cathedral also more makes up for what St Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown lacks in charm and character. 
The corner stone of Old St Patrick’s Cathedral was laid on June 8, 1809 and the church serves as the  Archdiocese of New York until the new St Patrick’s Cathedral was opened in 1879 in Midtown.  The church still holds various masses throughout the day and visitors are welcome to check out the beautiful interior. …read more

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It has been said that the average life span for a restaurant in New York City is five years. Balthazar, the Soho-based brasserie, is considered ancient for having been around for 10 years and is yet shows no signs of slowing down.
Balthazar offers a true French bistro dining. Breakfast and brunch feature eggs (from Benedict to Florentine) and Brioche french toast. For dinner, escargot and foie gras are standouts on the hors d’oeuvres menu while the entree menu boasts fish, chicken, duck, lamb, as well as no less than four steaks. Balthizar Bakery has an array …read more

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