A Day in Nolita
The Grey Dog
There’s one place that you could regularly start your day in Nolita on a positive note. The Grey Dog (with another location in Greenwich Village) has been a local staple for more than 20 years. They offer a solid but straightforward breakfast such as The Ol’ Fashioned Omellette (served with home fries and toast) and Grey Dog’s Breakfast (eggs any stile with French toast or pancakes with bacon, sausage or ham). But the star here is their incredible selection of coffee and teas. Later in the evening, they are replaced by some excellent alcoholic options.
Tacombi Fonda Nolita
There’s a nice little side journey you could take in Nolita that will utterly make you feel like you’re on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The experience at Tacombi Fonda Nolita is beyond anything you will encounter in the area. The eatery is designed to be a carbon copy of a beachside taqueria. The location, however, infuses the experience with artful touches and a looping surf video. The jewels in the crown? Dozens of tin-top backgammon tables, and a retrofitted VW bus that doubles up as a taco stand. The menu options are straightforward Mexican street style fare, curated by Food Network’s Aaron Sanchez.
REI
Shopping options are all over Nolita. The Puck Building has even been transformed into the REI (Recreational Equipment Inc) headquarters of the Tri-State area. The multi-level building has become a destination for hikers and campers. It’s also attracted many celebrities looking to get outfitted for their journeys –Justin Timberlake, Leiv Schriber and Aaron Paul are reported to have shopped REI. Various other specialty shops nearby may also be worth a visit, including the Manhattan Portage shop.
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
Your new digs are just blocks from the legendary and highly-addictive Landmark Sunshine Cinema. The cinema has become a cherished destination, and features hard-to-find indie films. They also have event gatherings and midnight showings of cult films on the weekends – think Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Room. The theater itself is a marvel, with original movie-inspired artwork scattered about.
Basilica of St. Patricks Old Cathedral
One of the most famous historic landmarks in Nolita is the Basilica of St. Patricks Old Cathedral, a Gothic Revival structure that acted as the original St. Patrick’s until its move to Rockefeller Plaza. In New York City’s relatively recent past, the cathedral became the site of civil unrest between Irish Catholics and anti-Catholics. At one point in time, the Irish patronage stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside the church to protect it from protestors keen on destroying it. The scene was recreated by Martin Scorsese (who grew up in Nolita) in his acclaimed film “Gangs of New York.”
A Night in Nolita
Peasant
From new wave American to Asian, Nolita is filled with many culinary options for dinner. Peasant is spot on in every way, making your first dinner selection an easy one. The decor is rustic, with a backlit brick wall greeting you as you walk in. The pan-Italian cuisine is likely to strike many a cord, including the little things that matter, such a small bowl of ricotta cheese that will stick in your head for months. Don’t miss a chance at the porchetta arrosto (suckling pig with fingerling potatoes) or, if you feel a bit more adventurous, the legato di porchetta (pig liver with marsala sauce).
The Randolph
With spots like GoldBar, Botanica, and the Mulberry Project, the nightlife is Nolita is trendy and boisterous. You get the mixture of the Lower East Sider hipsters with the socialites of your own neighborhood. To best capture the vibe of your area, head on over to The Randolph. The bar is unassuming to the point that it’s underrated. A long list of craft cocktails complement a classic European décor. Old World bric-a-brac lines the shelves and old school fans operate in the corners, making The Randolph a unique experience.
