An Illustrator Walks through New York City
I would best describe myself as an artist with insatiable wanderlust. I visited 30 countries by my 30th birthday, filling up sketchbooks as I bounced from place to place. Most of these trips were done on my own. I found that art has a magical way of bringing people closer together and breaking language barriers (a Parisian once asked me out on a date by doodling the Eiffel Tower), and for me, it’s the best way to bridge my present experiences and my imagination.
Full disclosure: I lived in New York City in my early 20s and have visited countless times since. Yet the city is still a mystery to me. While I have my regular haunts (yes, after 10 years some are still there!), the true joy of NYC is still exploration.
As a visitor (whether it’s your first time or not), the city can be overwhelming in its options. The Moon New York City Walks book thoughtfully breaks down the city into six walks, with enough options for food, coffee breaks, museums, historical sites, shopping, and even more food to fill your day.
I chose Walk 2 through NoLita, SoHo, the West Village, and the High Line for nostalgic reasons. This was a neighborhood I frequented often for food, shopping, and dancing, and I wanted to see how it had changed (and also because I noticed the book suggested stopping at Magnolia’s, which I did visit, of course, because BANANA PUDDING. But I’m getting ahead of myself…).
First stop: breakfast! I skipped ahead to The Butcher’s Daughter (19 Kenmare Street, stop 8) to get settled, eat, and do my first NYC sketch. I had a delicious kale Caesar salad-something light, because I knew I had to save room for dessert later.
I looped back around and strolled down Elizabeth Street to explore the various shops. It was around the holidays so there were several pop-up shops that weren’t listed in the book, including The 5th, an adorable pop-up from Australia. They were making free Australian cappuccinos and coffees, yum!
Just next door is Le Labo (233 Elizabeth Street, stop 4), part scientific laboratory, part vintage boutique, that mixes customizable fragrances right in front of your eyes.
I took a shortcut to McNally Jackson Books, and serendipitously stumbled upon Concrete Collaborative (211 Mott Street), a shop where, you guessed it, everything’s concrete! I fell in love with the minimalist concrete planters.
Ah, McNally Jackson Books (52 Prince Street, stop 10). It’s no Strand Bookstore in terms of quantity (what is?), but it wins in ambiance and has a fantastic selection of books. I sat in the café, took out my sketchbook, and gazed up at the ceiling of floating books.
I headed to Magnolia Bakery (401 Bleecker Street, stop 27), the sweets shop made famous by Sex and the City and SNL’s Digital Short. Personal opinion, though: skip the cupcakes. It’s all about the banana pudding.
At this point I was chasing the sun and its warmth (December in New York, brrr!), and high-tailed it to one of my favorite places in Manhattan, the High Line. A park perched above the city streets and built on the former viaduct section of the New York Central Railroad, the High Line perfectly encompasses New York City: a little bit of old and new, with a diversity of locals and tourists adventuring about. What I love is that you can see the rail tracks between the plants and benches (some of them even roll!).
My favorite section is the gallery over 17th St. and 10th Ave., with a theatre-like window overlooking the street. Since the park’s opening, I’ve lost hours sitting here, observing the chaos down below, and savoring a rare moment of quiet in New York City.
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