Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Exploring Gramercy
Park and Flatiron
Morning
Book-lovers should start
on 12th Street, where the
city's biggest used book-
store, the Strand, is located
at No. 828. From here,
head north up Broadway
to Union Square, visiting
the
Greenmarket
(see
p111)
. Continuing up Broad-
way brings you to the
Paragon Sports superstore,
867 Broadway at 18th
Street, and Fishs Eddy,
889 Broadway at 19th,
selling all but indestruct-
ible vintage and new china.
The fascinating
ABC
Carpet & Home
awaits
at No. 888
(see p111)
.
Writers' faces, National Arts Club
69th Regiment Armory
This Beaux Arts building was
used as the drill hall and offices
of a military unit privately formed
in 1848. In 1913, the contro-
versial exhibition of modern art
known as the Armory Show
was held here, including works
by Van Gogh, Duchamp, and
Brancusi. The show was widely
panned in the press, but it
brought modern art to New York
on a large scale and had a
profound and lasting effect on
American art.
d
Lexington Avenue,
between 25th & 26th sts
•
Map L4
•
Closed to public
At the
Flatiron Building
,
turn east to
Madison
Square
(p111)
, then have
lunch at
Tabla
or the
gourmet
11 Madison Park
(p115)
. Several restaurants
on
“Curry Hill”
also offer
inexpensive lunches,
including Pongal, No. 110,
and Cardamomm at 100
Lexington Ave.
Afternoon
While you are in the
neighborhood, check out
the intriguing spices at
Kalustyan's, 123 Lexington
Avenue.
"Curry Hill"
Despite changes around it,
this three-block corridor just
south of Murray Hill remains filled
with Indian shops selling saris
and gifts, and is lined with
restaurants that are a boon for
diners (particularly vegetarians)
in search of interesting food at
reasonable prices. Kalustyan's,
123 Lexington Avenue, is a
treasure trove of fragrant spices
and grains and features some 31
different kinds of rice.
d
Lexington Avenue, between 26th &
29th sts
•
Map L4
More shops can be found
on Fifth Avenue between
14th and 23rd streets, in-
cluding Emporio Armani,
No. 110, between 16th &
17th and Daffy's, No. 111,
a discount store offering
designer finds.
End your day in the civilized
oasis of the
Gramercy
Park
neighborhood. Be
sure to stroll East 19th
Street, known as the “Block
Beautiful,” for its hand-
some 1920s houses.
113
