Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
University Place and Broadway.
212/674-2146.
www.dswshoe.com
. Subway: L/N/Q/R/4/5/6 to 14th St./Union Sq. Other locations:
Midtown,
213 W. 34th St.,
btw. Seventh and Eighth aves.
212/967-9703.
Subway: 1/2/3 or A/C/E to 34th St./Penn Station.
UpperWestSide,
2222 Broadway, btw. 79th and 80th sts.
Subway: 1 to 79th St.
Downtown Brooklyn,
139 Flatbush Ave., at Atlantic Ave.
718/789-6973.
Subway: B/D/N/Q/R/2/3/4/5 to Atlantic Ave./Pacific St.
Shoe Mania
This popular discount store has a wide-ranging selection, putting Kenneth Coles sole to sole with
Doc Martens, Birkenstocks, and Mephistos. Whether you go for style or comfort, you'll find a good price on it
here.
853 Broadway, at 14th St.
212/253-8744.
www.shoemania.com
. Subway: L/N/Q/R/4/5/6 to 14th St./Union Sq. Other locations:
Midtown,
331 Madison
Ave., btw. 42nd and 43rd sts.
212/557-6627.
Subway: 4/5/6/7/S to 42nd St./Grand Central.
SoHo,
654 Broadway, at Bond St.
212/673-0904.
Subway: 6
to Bleecker St.; B/D/F/M to Broadway/Lafayette St.
Tip Top Shoes
This Uptown shop is tops for walking shoes, which are essential equipment in New York. Rock-
port, Mephisto, and Ecco are among the brands represented here, sold at reasonable prices. They also carry
shoes of a less practical nature for those who prefer form to function. Staff is knowledgeable, if a little harried
by the frenetic pace of business here.
155 W. 72nd St., btw. Broadway and Columbus Ave.
800/WALKING
(925-5464) or 212/787-4960.
www.tiptopshoes.com
.
Subway: 1/2/3 to 72nd St.
3 Flea New York
New Yorkers seeking free stimuli can certainly do worse than whiling away a few hours at a flea market. The
rows of tables function as touchable museums, and the sheer width and breadth of stuff is stunning. Prices for
goods are generally not as cheap as they should be, given the low-overhead locales, but there are ways to tip the
scales in your favor. Sunday, as closing time approaches, the last thing a dealer wants to do is reload that half-ton
armoire back into the truck. Likewise, a sudden rain can make parting with a wooden antique or a suede jacket
more sweetness than sorrow. Use the elements to your advantage when it's time to haggle.
Brooklyn Flea
This upbeat Fort Greene market has scored one of the nicest slices of real estate in the
borough: the Deco wonderland inside the Williamsburgh Savings Bank's former lobby. More than 100 vendors
lay out affordable clothing, crafts, vinyl, vintage jewelry, and architectural salvage. An even bigger draw here is
the food—Korean hot dogs and Salvadorian
papusas
are just two of the cheap eat possibilities. (There's an all-
food spinoff of the Flea called
Smorgasburg,
held on the Williamsburg waterfront during warm-weather Sat.)
April through November, the market runs outdoors from 10am to 5pm at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High on
Saturdays, and on the Smorgasburg location on Sundays. The rest of the year it's at the bank both weekend days.
1 Hanson Place, at Flatbush Ave.
www.brooklynlea.com
. Subway: B/D/N/Q/R/2/3/4/5 to Atlantic Ave./Pacific St. Other locations:
Ft.Greene,
176 Lafayette Ave.,
btw. Clermont and Vanderbilt aves. Subway: G to Clinton/Washington aves., C to Lafayette Ave.
Williamsburg,
East River waterfront near Kent Ave., btw. N. 6th
and N. 7th sts. Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
The Garage
Imagine a series of yard sales jammed right on top of each other and you'll have an idea of
the scene at the Garage. They've got lots of art, loose photos, and other oddball junk. Prices are higher than at
its siblings (Hell's Kitchen and W. 25th St.), but it's still fun to browse. Two floors, open Saturdays and Sundays
from 9am to 5pm.
112 W. 25th St., btw. Sixth and Seventh aves.
212/243-5343.
www.hellskitchenleamarket.com
. Subway: F/M or 1 to 23rd St.
Come Sale Away
When out-of-towners marvel that anyone would pay what's printed on a New York price tag, they aren't taking into account
that most locals never pay full retail prices. The key to dirt cheap shopping in the Big Apple is timing the sales. Seasons'
ends, like just before back-to-school and just after Christmas, are routinely great for bargain hunters. Buy your sun-
dresses and air conditioners in August, and wait until February to pick up that new winter coat. If your tastes run to vin-
tage or barely used, try looking around in January, when a fresh crop of nonreturnable gift fails get consigned. My fa-
vorite Web sources for sale info are:
www.nymag.com/sales
,
www.ny.racked.com
,
www.thechoosybeggar.com
, and
