Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The blocks around Times Square and the Empire State Building are littered with cheap souvenir shops. There's nothing
wrong with these places (save some deficiencies in the taste department), but for the real bargains your best bet as always
is Chinatown. You won't find anything superclassy, but you will find incredibly low prices, allowing you to bring something
back for the whole crowd at your next flash mob.
Dollar More
(85 Mulberry St.;
212/227-0341
) is a great spot if your
baggage space is limited. Keychains ($1), shot glasses ($2), and magnets ($2-$2.50) are some options that won't hog too
much room. Closer to the Chinatown buses is
New York Music & Gifts
(151 Canal St.;
646/613-1754
). Although the
bulk of the shelves are dedicated to Asian CDs and DVDs, up front you'll find steals on New York-branded merchandise. T-
shirts are mostly $4.95 (a few go for $7.95), and there are some good-looking mugs for $3.95 apiece, or three for $10.
Housewares
Broadway Panhandler
Pan reviews consistently put this cluttered shop at the top. For restaurant-quality cook-
ware and kitchen tools, you can't find a better combo of selection, price, and service.
65 E. 8th St., at Mercer St.
212/
966-3434.
www.broadwaypanhandler.com
.
Subway: N/R to 8th St.
Fishs Eddy
You can reel in remainders of custom china here. Prices are relatively low, certainly the best you'll
do on a plate marked “Blue Plate Special.” You can also find retro designs, including soda fountain glasses and
vintage-looking flatware.
889 Broadway, at 19th St.
212/420-9020.
www.ishseddy.com
.
Subway: L/N/Q/R/4/5/6 to 14th St./Union Sq. Other loca-
tion:
Fishs Eddy outlet,
Heartland Village, Staten Island, 2555 Richmond Ave., near Ring Rd.
718/494-7020.
S61 or S44 local bus to the last stop.
Pearl Paint
Pearl Paint has the city's best art supply prices and selection, in a sprawling converted tenement tin-
ted by an air of genial disarray. The company itself is in contraction mode, but their Chinatown location remains
an art student requisite. Frames, paints, papers, canvas, and incidentals like day-planners and portfolios all carry
the lowest prices in the city.
308 Canal St., btw. Broadway and Mercer St.
212/431-7932.
www.pearlpaint.com
. Subway: A/C/E or 1 to Canal St.
Harvesting the Flower District
Two green thumbs go up for the selection of plant and flower stores on
28th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues,
and overflowing onto Sixth Avenue. (For those with brown thumbs, a great selection of plastic plants awaits as well.) The
stores are a mix of wholesale and retail, with the best prices going to bulk buyers. Small purchasers can also reel in good
buys, especially at
Starbright Floral Design
(150 W. 28th St., btw. Sixth and Seventh aves.;
800/520-8999;
www.starlor.com
; subway: 1 or N/R to 28th St.).
Luggage
Altman Luggage
This old-time LES classic has wheeled luggage galore, in addition to businessperson sundries
like pens, wallets, and watches. Already deep discounts get even deeper for closeouts and items that have been
too long on the showroom floor.
Altman has a lowest-price guarantee for everything they sell.
135 Orchard
St., btw. Rivington and Delancey sts.
212/254-7275.
www.altmanluggage.com
. Subway: F to Delancey St.; J/M/Z to Essex St.
Music
Academy Records and CDs
Between burning, shredding, and downloading, brick-and-mortar music stores
are increasingly imperiled. If you still take your music in tangible form, you can join fellow music junkies at
this legendary shop. The secondhand CD shelves are packed with classical, jazz, opera, and rock. Prices are
excellent, and the selection is forever in motion as Academy aggressively acquires collections. For vinyl, try
Academy LPs
in the East Village and the Academy Annex in Williamsburg.
12 W. 18th St., btw. Fifth and Sixth aves.
212/242-3000.
www.academy-records.com
. Subway: L/N/Q/R/4/5/6 to 14th St./Union Sq.; F/M to 14th St.
AcademyLPs,
415 E. 12th St., btw. First Ave. and
Ave. A.
212/780-9166.
Subway: L to First Ave.
AcademyAnnex,
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 96 N. 6th St., btw. Berry St. and Wythe Ave.
718/218-8200.
www.academyannex.com
.
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
