Restaurants

Ouest - 84th and Broadway
This is a really SUPER hip, can't-get-a-reservation new addition to the Upper West Side. The Upper West equivalent to Balthazar or Pastis. You might wait 45 minutes at 10 PM on a Tuesday for a table these days. It's sexy, beautiful, amazing food and wine -- also many a celeb sighting here. It opened recently to rave reviews. The bar is always just as packed as the restaurant.

Ollie's -- 84th and Broadway
Right next store to Ouest. Best Chinese in the neighborhood. Certainly the best sesame noodles in the city!

Josie's - 74th and Amsterdam
This is a hip, trendy health conscious restaurant -- but it's one of those menus that's super-healthy, but not so healthy that you can't have meat or alcohol, y'know what I mean?? Kinda the NY version of The Newsroom in L.A.

Gennarro's -- Amsterdam betw. 92 and 93
Amazing traditional Italian 'joint' -- it used to be teeny tiny (about 12 tables) and, because they don't take reservations, people would wait on the sidewalk (no waiting area) for hours to eat here. They recently expanded and the lines are just as long!!

Cafe Luxembourg -- West 70th, betw. West End and Amsterdam
Similar vibe to Ouest, but not quite as pricey and not quite as hard to get a table. French bistro, sexy place, great for drinks or dinner -- I think it's run by the same people as Odeon downtown.

Isabella's -- corner of 77th and Columbus
An old standby on the Upper West -- very popular, very trendy spot for drinks, dinner, and lunches and brunches on weekends -- it is oddly LA in its vibe -- airy, vaulted ceilings, wicker chairs, etc.... great people-watching.

Zen Palate -- Broadway betw, 76th and 77th
A very healthy, very trendy vegetarian Asian restaurant -- and just a beautiful-looking place. It's biggest drawback: no alcohol. ! That might keep at least Jessica away!

Brunch/Lunch/Coffee spots

Columbus Bakery -- Columbus Ave. betw. 82nd and 83rd
This place is so New York-y and great. It has a million yummy gourmet foods -- from soups to salads to quiches to baked goods to made-to-order crepes -- and you stand in line, point to what you want, then come back to get it when it's ready. Some people stay here all day and read a book, do work, read the paper, etc... It also recently doubled it size and it's still packed at all hours.

Sarabeth's -- Amsterdam and 80th
Perhaps the best brunch in the city. Crazy long lines every weekend to eat here. Famous for their homemade baked goods and jams. (As a sidenote, I was a hostess/manager here for a year!)

Good Enough To Eat -- Amsterdam between 83rd and 84th
Also an amazing brunch spot. This one isn't as fancy as Sarabeth's -- it's more of a Vermont rustic vibe. But it's just as delicious and just as popular.

Cafe Lalo -- 83rd street between Amsterdam and B'way
This a cafe and dessert spot that's open until the wee hours -- it was featured in "You've Got Mail" (the beautifully lit, dark wood and floor-to-ceiling windows in the front, do you remember it?)) Great date spot, very romantic and sweet.

Edgar's Cafe -- 84th st., between Broadway and West End
Named Edgar's because it's on "Edgar Allen Poe street" which is another name for 84th. This is also a cafe and dessert spot -- I prefer it to Lalo's because it's not as cramped -- it's got high vaulted ceilings, marble tables, classical music always plays. This is a very Jesica spot -- people might stay here for hours on end reading. (This was also the spot of my very first waitressing job in NYC!)

French Roast -- 85th and Broadway
There's also one on 11th and 6th which is featured in our movie (in the first date/argument scene between Helen and Jess). What's great about this place is that it's a French bistro open 24 hours a day, so you can come and linger over coffee, or wine, or omelettes or Frenc Onion soup. It's a great all-purpose for the city that never sleeps.

Other Food Spots

Zabar's -- 80th and B'way
Best gourmet food store in the city.

H&H Bagels -- 80th and B'way
Best bagels in the city. Open all night. You can go in and get a steaming hot, just-out-of-the-oven bagel of any variety. The smell from the street is insane.

Fairway -- Broadway and 74th
Best supermarket, best gourmet foods and produce -- like Zabar's but more of a supermarket, not such a specialty store.

Shopping, living, etc...

Montmartre -- Broadway and 78th street
I love this boutique. Very hip, trendy, small--a great place to shop!

Liana -- Columbus in the 70's
Ditto on this place.

Nine West -- Broadway and 83rd-ish
Since they're mentioned in the film... the Nine West near me is at Broadway and 83rd-ish and the Kenneth Cole near me is on Columbus, around 75th street.

Nova Nails -- in my neighborhood, there's truly an Asian nail place on EVERY block
But this one is simply the best. They kinda go the extra mile, if you will -- for example, the chairs you sit on to get a pedicure are massage lazy-boys!

Equinox -- there are a couple of these gyms on the Upper West
They are very swank health clubs, with great classes. I go to an amazing Pilates class at the 92nd street location -- the teacher's name is linda farrell, and I think she's the best Pilates person ever.

Scott J. Hair Design -- 72nd and Columbus
Great hair services here.

Jeffrey Stein Salon -- 86th and B'way
This is the other salon I frequent. Great blow-drys!

Shopping, living, etc...

Shakespeare in the Park
Every summer, the Public Theatre shows two Shakespeare (or other classical) pieces --- tickets go on sale the day of, and you wait in line for hours to get your free tickets to the show that evening. The theatre is called the Delacorte you enter the park at 81st and Central park west) and it's always an amazing, romantic NY happening to watch theatre under the stars every summer. Another similar NY-ey experience is when the NY Philharmonic plays on the Great Lawn in Central Park. I've gone several times -- and thousands and thousands of people have elaborate picnics on blankets and listen to beautiful music together. They do this twice a summer as well, and it always ends with fireworks.

Promenade Theatre -- 75th and Broadway
Big Off-Broadway theatre. Currently, the new Neil LaBute play is there.

Lincoln Center
Not quite upper West Side, but Lincoln Center (which houses the Metropolitan opera, the NY City Opera, Julliard, Avery Fisher Hall, the Vivian Beaumont Theatre and the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre) is on Amsterdam betw, 64th and 66th streets (certainly walkable). Amazing theatre, opera, ballet, concerts, etc.

Museum of Natural History -- 81st and Central Park West
This museum has amazing exhibits all the time. And the new Rose Space Center (I know there is a more official name for this) is truly spectacular. It opened last year, I believe, and it is remarkable.

Riverside Park
I am a die-hard reservoir-runner (in Central park), but Riverside Park is one of the great gems of the Upper West Side. It feels much more like a neighborhood spot, a well-kept secret, if you will. There are playgrounds and neighborhood flower gardens and dog runs -- and, most importantly, there's the beautiful promenade by the river that has just recently been expanded so that you can now run or blade all the way down to Battery park. ! (This promenade used to stop at 72nd; the city recently finished building one all the way downtown).

B'Nai Jeshurun -- my synagogue!
Located at 88th between B'way and West End; they also hold services in the church at 86th and West End. This synagogue has become something of a legend in the city, because of its super-inclusive/hipster/progressive vibe. It was revitalized by my great uncle, Rabbi Marshall Meyer when he came back to the Upper West Side (after being in Buenos Aires for 25 years) and, soon after he took over as rabbi, the temple started getting 1500 people for Friday night services (the reason they hold services in the church is because they have so many members, they have to have two concurrent Shabbat services). It's a very vital community and, even though it's denomination is technically 'conservative', it has been a great center for interfaith work, outreach programs, gay pairings and, oddly, the singles scene. Most single Jews feel that Friday night services at B'Nai Jeshurun is the best place to find a mate!!!

 

These are my favorite places in NY, in no particular order:

TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK DOG RUN
Avenue B at 9th Street
The best dogs in the city. I used to live across the street, and when I was feeling down I would go over, dogless, and hope some dachsund or pug would take pity on me, sit on my lap and nuzzle my face. Even when that didn't happen it was pretty good just to watch them run around, ignoring me.

LOVE SAVES THE DAY VINTAGE CLOTHING
2nd Avenue and 7th Street
Still one of the best. When I was 15 and scored an invite to the senior prom I found a dress here-- a crazy pistachio-green monstrosity. Also a good place for old Charlie's Angels and Star Wars memorabilia, if you're into that kind of thing.

LA PETITE ABEILLE BELGIAN BISTRO
West 18th Street and Sixth Avenue
I can't say I'm a world expert on chocolate, but I can attest to the dark stuff here leaving me with a pleasant all-around glow, not unlike a good post-coital buzz. The hot chocolate is a perfect afternoon pick-me-up, and if you need a snack try the yummy fennel soup with the fresh-baked bread. The brie sandwich doesn't suck either.

ANGEL'S SHARE BAR
3rd Avenue at 9th Street/Stuyvestant Square
I've always loved scotch, and the Tokyo bartenders at this joint do an extra-snazzy pour-and-presentation, serving you up all the fancy brands in a tall crystal shot glass with large, oblong ice cubes. This place wasn't always as crowded as it is now, but if you go on the off hours, it's a great place to feel smoky and glamorous. My friend dd and I come in here when we're waiting for a table at the Korean BBQ next door.

KATZ'S DELI
Houston and Ludlow
There aren't many places left that actually time warp you back to another era quite as effectively as this old pastrami deli. You take a ticket upon entering, and then order from counter guys who look like they're straight out of central casting. The food's all salty and greasy and good and they have plenty of Dr. Brown's Black Cherry Soda to wash it down with. Then when you're done you bring your ticket up to the cashier to pay. It's arcane and crazy, but I guess normal to the old Lower East Side guys who've been hanging out there, kibbitzing over coffee for decades.

FORBIDDEN PLANET
Broadway at 13th Street
I'm a recent convert to this place. I passed it a million times, but finally went in when I was looking for Magic cards for a family member last Christmas. It's like entering a parallel universe where nerds rule and comic books form the culture's primary form of creative expression. This place makes me want to actually learn that crazy Magic game just to come in and play at the open game on Sundays. There's nothing cooler than freaks owning their power.

THE FILM FORUM
Houston at Seventh Avenue South
Forever and ever the best rep house in the world. As a side note they also have the best popcorn. I like to eat mine dry (but lightly salted) with pieces of the homemade chocolate chip cookies crumbled up into it. Their curators are genius. The program notes alone are worth the price of membership.

SAM C'S SPA
Fifth Avenue at 22nd Street
That special Sam C massage is really something to write home about. In addition to the actual massage, there's a lot of muscle-stretching and limb-wrangling. Afterward you feel like half-brand new person and half-beat up rag doll, but when you're really tense, you gotta go for the tough stuff. They're very nice to actors which earns them a special cha-ching in the karmic bank account, and the overall environment is seriously soothing. I usually feel better the second I walk through the door.

VILLAGE COBBLER
Broadway at Astor Place
These guys custom-made a leather knapsack for me once, which I needed to be really big because I'm a pack rat and tend to carry a lot of stuff. They did a nice job. It's strong as an ox, has really lasted, and I get compliments on it everywhere in the world. People in LA seem especially jealous because it's hard to find simple, practical stuff out in la-la land.

EIDOLON
233 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn
We're talking really downtown. Get ye to the hip new stretch of the Slope in Brooklyn where four fabulous girl designers set up shop for themselves with cool clothes, jewelry and accessories. Check out my girl Yukie's handbags (yukinyc.com), made of yummy soft felts, ultrasuedes and upholstery fabrics.

CAFE ORLIN
St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue
An old standby. I like to come here for mint tea and cake at the end of an evening. They also have a nice pesto if you're hungry.

EAST WEST BOOKS
Fifth Avenue at 14th Street
A great place to open your mind. Upstairs they have free open meditation once a week.

PHILIP WILLIAM POSTERS
60 Grand Street
I love to go in here and gaze longingly at the antique advertising posters from France and Italy. I don't know who can actually afford them, but I think when I become rich and famous I'll buy one.

PALACINKA
28 Grand Street
This place is incredible. I think it's called a "Russian Creperie." Only in New York, right? The egg crepe is amazing, but when I'm hungry I usually need two. It bugs me when restaurants serve those tiny portions. Maybe someone should tell them they need a 'Hungry Man' size.

NADINE'S
99 Bank Street
I like to go here when I'm on the West side-- it's the antidote to the dumb, trendy restaurant. It's comfortable, pretty, the food's good and I always feel well-taken care of.

UNION SQUARE FARMER'S MARKET
Union Square
Isn't it nice in a place like New York to be able to sip hot apple cider while shopping for fresh produce and maybe the occasional skein of yarn or peach cobbler? My friend Heidi and I like to stroll through the market and dish, and we once got embarrassingly goofy and giggly as we observed the startlingly phallic nature of the daikon. Two minutes later we ran into her brother-in-law and adorable nephew. There aren't many places in NY where you can have that particular convergence of events.

TEKSERVE
West 23rd Street off Seventh Avenue
Only Mac lovers will understand the strange joy of this raggedy old fourth floor fix-it shop, where everyone's smart and all they do is Macs. For anyone who's ever wandered through a Staples in need of cartridges or software, only to feel mocked and betrayed by the PC world in all its ubiquitous smugness, Tekserve offers a warm, friendly haven of Apple-centered expertise and service. And how about that antique coke machine?

JUNIPER CAFE
185 Duane Street off Greenwich
What Bubby's used to be-- in Tribeca, my favorite New York neighborhood. Small, cozy, with a rustic-yet-sophisticated menu. It feels very off-the-beaten path, but it's only a hop skip and a jump from Hudson Street.

SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
Third Avenue at 12th Street
I love shelves, and this place has the Swedish tubular stuff that's cheap, lightweight and easy to put together. Plus thousands of other gadgets and household chotchkes that I'm a complete sucker for. A good place to come when you need some retail therapy-- you can spend $20 and leave smiling with a bag full of stuff. Only try not to get tempted by Keihl's down the street, or you'll end up spending hundreds.

FRAGMENTS
53 Stone Street
Stone Street is off William, not too far from where my mom lives in Lower Manhattan. It's one of the oldest streets in New York, with cobblestones and gas lamps, and it really feels like going back in time. It's recently been refurbished with new boutiques and swank restaurants. Anyone interested in helping out the bruised lower part of the Big Apple should take the 2/3 to Wall, go have lunch at the Stone Street Tavern and then pop into this eclectic jewelry store across the street. Their artisan-designed stuff is divine-- contemporary yet classic, featuring lots of that colorful semi-precious stuff that makes you feel like you're wearing candy.

ASTOR PLACE BOOKS
Third Avenue at 9th Street
One time I was taking the downtown 6 and became fascinated with a guy who was sitting on the train sketching people. He got off at Astor Place, and in a fit of mad insta-infatuation, I jumped off the train too and followed him home. He ended up at an NYU dorm, got into an elevator and disappeared, leaving me standing on the sidewalk like an idiot. I turned around and went into Astor Place Books as though I was looking for something, to try to pretend I hadn't just become a stalker. Madonna's sex book had just come out, and I fingered the mylar wrapping longingly, though I couldn't bring myself to buy a book I couldn't actually flip through. So I went home and it turned out my roommate Jeremy had just bought it! Boy, did we love that book. To this day the photo of her hitchhiking naked in Miami with stilettos and big hair has to be one of the best nudie pictures of all time. The point is, Astor Books is a great place to kill time, or to look like you have a reason for being.

JOE'S PIZZA
Sixth Avenue off Carmine
Absolutely, positively the best slice in the city.

BROOKLYN
The entire rocking borough.
From Cobble Hill to Canarsie, the ultimate downtown hipster destination.