Posts By: Kelly Rush

Kelly Rush is the Field Liaison for the Alliance for Downtown New York, the Business Improvement District (BID) for Lower Manhattan. She writes about what's up downtown and provides info on everything from where to find great corned beef to where to find great parking. She holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from The New School and is working on a memoir titled The Spring of My Transformation.

Wall Street and Broadway Lower Manhattan

Lights On…In Lower Manhattan

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Posted & filed under Arts & Entertainment, Eating & Drinking, Shopping.

Now that Lower Manhattan is starting to return to its former self after Hurricane Sandy, I’m happy to report on nine new openings in the district. They range from maternity wear to fried chicken and they are welcome additions.

 

SouthWest NY – 301 South End Avenue
(212) 945-0528 | www.southwestny.com

SouthWest NY is back and better than ever. The restaurant moved just around the corner to its new home, a space that features an Earth-toned color palette, a large open bar where patrons can enjoy margaritas and cocktails, and a fresh menu with items such as cedar-plank salmon, Mahi Mahi, and NY Strip Steak.

 

Stamina Grill & Juice Bar – 80 Nassau Street
(212) 513-7020 | www.staminagrill.com

Never fried or cooked in oil, the dishes at Stamina promise to give you energy to conquer your day. This eatery specializes in lean grilled meats and freshly-squeezed juices with names such as “Hangover Cure,” and “Cold Remedy.” Also available are fresh fruit smoothies and protein shakes. The motto at Stamina is “Lose the fat, not the flavor.” The perfect accompaniment to your morning run.

 

Dirty Bird To-Go – 155 Chambers Street
(212) 964-3284 | www.dirtybirdtogo.com

I had the pleasure of sampling this restaurant’s fare recently and was not disappointed. Dirty Bird’s second outpost (the first is in Chelsea) features all the natural fried chicken and sides of the first in a bit of a larger space. The chickens are fresh and organic and come from local farms. I tried the chicken fingers and mac ‘n cheese, and plan on getting the classic fried chicken and kale the next time I go, which will be soon.

 

Benares – 45 Murray Street
(212) 766-4900 | www.benaresnyc.com

This Indian restaurant has been getting solid reviews for its lovely space and innovative takes on classic dishes.  They have more than 20 vegetarian dishes in honor of the city for which it is named, which is known for its vegetarian cuisine. However, many different cuisines from different regions in India are represented here. Benares has plenty of unusual meat and seafood dishes and also features a 25-bottle wine list.

 

Black Hound – 301 South End Avenue

(212) 945-0562 | www.blackhoundbar.com

Next door to SouthWest NY is The Black Hound, a handsome bar that adds a welcome dash of nightlife to Battery Park City. Operated by Merchants Hospitality (as is Southwest NY) the bar is being called a “contemporary speakeasy” and offers a variety of cocktails created by mixologist Jeremy Strawn.  The Black Hound can accommodate parties of up to 75 guests.

 

Artion Galleries – 275 Water Street
(212) 608-4759 | www.artiongalleries.com

Opening on a stretch of Water Street affected by Sandy, Artion is proud to open its doors in the South Street Seaport as one of the area’s first art galleries. Artion is a family-owned gallery that started in Greece and has expanded throughout the European, American and Middle Eastern markets. Colombian photographer Carmen Molina’s “Undercurrents” exhibit is currently on display.

 

Cricketer’s Arms – 57 Murray Street
(212) 619-5550 | www.thecricketersarmsnyc.com

With an old-world British vibe, the Cricketer’s Arms evokes a past time in a former world, but patrons will find plenty of reasons to drop in today. One Yelper described the situation as thus: “Lived in the hood for 10 years, this Pub is the best thing that has happened in a long time.” Also receiving rave reviews are the fried pickles and onion soup.

 

Lenny’s – 32 Water Street
(212) 785-7500 | www.lennysnyc.com

Lenny’s Deli recently celebrated its grand opening and has been serving up its well-known sandwiches ever since. The extensive menu features sandwiches as well as salads, homestyle meals such as the turkey with stuffing and gravy, and bagels and breakfast foods. Lenny’s is a great place to satisfy your sandwich craving, whatever it may be.

 

Rosie Pope Maternity – 55 Warren Street
(212) 608-2036 | www.rosiepope.com

Rosie Pope, the star of the television series Pregnant in Heels, has opened a new shop in Lower Manhattan catering to the expectant mom who wants to look stylish even if she hasn’t been able to fit into her regular clothes for months. She offers a full line of basics, dresses and accessories such as purses.

 

For more information on retailers in Lower Manhattan, visit the Alliance for Downtown New York at www.DowntownNY.com. You can check out an interactive map with details on hours, locations and services and search the events calendar. Or, stay connected through the Downtown Alliance iPhone app, available for download on the website. To order a free hard copy of the new Lower Manhattan Shopping and Dining Guide click here.

LIGHTS ON…IN LOWER MANHATTAN

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Posted & filed under Eating & Drinking.

I’m holding on to summer like a screaming toddler holds on to the bag of candy that mom just bought at the sweet shop. I’m going to put my fingers in my ears and tell fall to take a hike while I sip a cucumber lemonade chiller from one of the new bars in Lower Manhattan. In this edition of Lights On, we also have a shop that sells miniature baked goods and another branch of a popular Mexican food chain. Can you guess which chain? The lines forming outside their doors every day around noon give them away.

Sit back and enjoy the last dregs of summer. You’ll get a fresh cup soon enough.

Manhattan Proper, 6 Murray Street, (646) 559-4445

This venue, with its black and white décor, multiple flat-screens and a menu that goes beyond typical pub fare, is serving an upscale version of the restaurant/bar to the folks around Murray Street. Executive Chef Rachon Banks has created a menu that mixes cultures and cuisines. Start with a salad, or try an appetizer, such as the chicken wings, the bacon-wrapped dates or Andouille sausage sliders with rosemary creole mustard.  Sandwiches include a variety of burgers, such as the truffle burger with manchego and a balsamic reduction, and a chicken club with basil mayo. For dessert, order the sweet potato pie or the triple chocolate brownie. A wide selection of draft beers and wines are available as well as seasonal cocktails, which currently include the Truth Serum (we know this will be strong), signature Proper Peach Tea, and the Cucumber Lemonade Chiller.

Chipotle, 275 Greenwich, (646) 412-3981

Chipotle is a solid, dependable destination for an always-quality burrito. You know what to expect. And fans in Lower Manhattan must be asking for more because Chipotle keeps bringing new restaurants to our district. This outpost may help alleviate long lines at other locations, or Chipotle will just have to open even more restaurants. Either way, west siders can enjoy the build-your-own burrito bar without walking quite as far. This Chipotle marks the fourth location to open south of Chambers Street. We welcome it.

Baked By Melissa, 110 Fulton Street, (212) 842-0220

Teeny-tiny is in. As long as Melissa lets me buy four or five of these miniature cupcakes at a time, all will be well. The treat shop comes to a portion of Fulton that’s looking forward to several new openings, including a Greek restaurant I’ve been anticipating for a while. We have Red Mango for yogurt; now we have Baked By Melissa for treats of a more bite-sized nature. The cupcakes come in a wide variety of flavors, including a flavor of the month, which for August has been the snow-covered pretzel. Other flavors include the chocolate chip pancake, red velvet, cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, tie-die, cookie dough, and peanut butter cup. Choose a flavor from the store or you can create your own flavor for orders of 300 minis or more.

Wall Street and Broadway Lower Manhattan

LIGHTS ON…IN LOWER MANHATTAN

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Posted & filed under Eating & Drinking, Shopping.

We have just one opening for you in this edition, but this store has already become one of the most popular businesses on Fulton Street. Any neighborhood with a growing population of residents, not to mention workers and visitors, needs a well-stocked grocery store that caters to a variety of needs. Key Food’s huge new 55 Fulton Market is a neighborhood amenity on a street whose residents are more than ready to welcome it.

55 Fulton Market, 55 Fulton Street, (646) 581-9260

A formerly vacant storefront is now one of the busiest stretches of sidewalk on Lower Manhattan’s east side. Key Food’s 55 Fulton Market threw wide its doors to a lot of eager shoppers and celebrated its grand opening with specials and free treats.

The 24-hour market—located in the Southbridge Towers and replacing the old Key Food a block away—is more of a gourmet food shop with restaurant touches and outdoor seating that also carries your basic super market staples. I stopped by on a “pre-grand opening” day this week and perused the aisles with a horde of other shoppers. I was surprised by how many people came out, considering that this is a grocery store and no one is giving away free iPads, but I’ve learned to never underestimate the power of something large, new, and well-stocked with food and free samples.

Local workers will find the hot bar, salad bar, and grab-and-go-options great for fast lunches. Several sushi chefs were working behind the counter restocking a supply of rolls that looked to be fresh and more affordable than I’ve seen in other quarters. Also available are ready-made sandwiches, soups, and desserts. In other parts of the market, shoppers can find meat and cheese counters, bakery items, and the usual dry goods and supplies.

Closings:

Urban Lobster Shack, 15 Stone Street

Wendy’s, 117 Beekman Street

LIGHTS ON…IN LOWER MANHATTAN ~ Cravings & Fixes

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Posted & filed under General.

New Yorkers are known for needing their fixes, and they know just where to curb their cravings. In today’s edition, I bring you several new businesses that I predict will become favorites for people looking for coffee and comfort food.

Blue Spoon Coffee Company, 90 William Street, (212) 809-8880

Tucked in between a nail spa and a barbershop you’ll find Blue Spoon, the second coffee shop from owner Heather Teegarden to grace Lower Manhattan. The first location on Chambers has been a favorite of the government crowd and residents on the go, and this new outpost is sure to attract its own loyal following.

The menu is a mix of deli classics with gourmet touches. For coffee, Blue Spoon brews direct-trade Intelligentsia. The sandwiches and panini include options such as the smoked turkey and brie with apples and honey mustard, roast beef and cheddar, and hummus with roasted red peppers on Balthazar ciabatta bread. Soups and salads also are available as well as homemade baked goods, such as chocolate chip cookies, scones and cupcakes.

Eager to leave her desk job in public relations, owner and native New Yorker Teegarden opened her first store in 2005 and assumed the lease of a struggling tea shop on Chambers Street. “It’s been such a great ride,” she says. “There is such an amazing sense of community here. I love my regular customers and am so excited to be recreating this energy at our new location on William Street!”

Grandma’s House, 27 Peck Slip, (212) 472-6362

This cozy spot, which looks more like your grandma’s kitchen than a restaurant, is a throwback to simpler times when a big meal and a hug made everything better. Or maybe old-fashioned milkshakes and mac and cheese just delude us into thinking life is great. Either way, diners can fill up on delicious food and be happy for at least one hour of their day. The restaurant, which features large portions of comfort food, is already taking orders from Seamless. Popular menu options include the aforementioned mac and cheese, Angus hamburgers—called hambiggers—and the baby back sweet ribs.

The restaurant’s décor includes curtains in the windows, a white picket fence outside and flower boxes in the dining room. I love the idea of a slice of peaceful Americana in Manhattan’s financial center. And the prices aren’t bad either. A four-cheese, four-layer grilled cheese is $7.50. Burgers and steak hero’s are around $10. Desserts begin around $2.50.

R&R Coffee, 76 Fulton, (646) 449-8908

“R&R” stands for a decades-long friendship, rest and relaxation, and is the perfect meeting spot for New Yorkers looking to sit down for a minute and share a pastry or two over great coffee. Co-owners Ron Julka and Richard Young (the R’s) have been friends for around 20 years, and they decided now was the time to open their version of the coffee shop in Lower Manhattan.

“We’re in love with the location,” Julka said. “We have tourists, residents and businesspeople, and more and more people are sticking around longer.”

The shop, a stone’s throw from the South Street Seaport and yet still close to Wall Street, features Intelligentsia beans and pastries by Ceca Cela. Coming soon are salads and sandwiches, bagels and an even greater selection of pastries and cookies.

The walls of this space are yet blank, but they’re considering looking to local artists to add splashes of color. However the coffee spot evolves, it’ll still feature friendly service and great food.

Kelly Rush is the Field Liaison for the Alliance for Downtown New York, the Business Improvement District (BID) for Lower Manhattan. Every other Thursday, she writes about what’s up downtown and provides info on everything from where to find great corned beef to where to find great parking.

Wall Street and Broadway Lower Manhattan

Lights On…In Lower Manhattan

by:

Posted & filed under Eating & Drinking.

Grandma’s House, 27 Peck Slip, (212) 472-6362

This cozy spot, which looks more like your grandma’s kitchen than a restaurant, is a throwback to simpler times when a big meal and a hug made everything better. Or maybe old-fashioned milkshakes and mac and cheese just delude us into thinking life is great. Either way, diners can fill up on delicious food and be happy for at least one hour of their day. The restaurant, which features large portions of comfort food, is already taking orders from Seamless. Popular menu options include the aforementioned mac and cheese, Angus hamburgers—called hambiggers—and the baby back sweet ribs.

The restaurant’s décor includes curtains in the windows, a white picket fence outside and flower boxes in the dining room. I love the idea of a slice of peaceful Americana in Manhattan’s financial center. And the prices aren’t bad either. A four-cheese, four-layer grilled cheese is $7.50. Burgers and steak hero’s are around $10. Desserts begin around $2.50.

R&R Coffee, 76 Fulton, (646) 449-8908

“R&R” stands for a decades-long friendship, rest and relaxation, and is the perfect meeting spot for New Yorkers looking to sit down for a minute and share a pastry or two over great coffee. Co-owners Ron Julka and Richard Young (the R’s) have been friends for around 20 years, and they decided now was the time to open their version of the coffee shop in Lower Manhattan.

“We’re in love with the location,” Julka said. “We have tourists, residents and businesspeople, and more and more people are sticking around longer.” Read more »

Lights On…In Lower Manhattan

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Posted & filed under Eating & Drinking, Getting Away, Shopping, Transportation.

Summer is the season of escape. In this edition, we have a new car rental service for your upcoming vacation, a sandwich shop to equip you with food for the road, a shoe store so you’re fashionably shod when you arrive, and a nail salon and spa to pamper your tired feet when you return.

Abey Nails & Spa, 32 Warren, (212) 608-2208

Lower Manhattan is becoming a destination for charming salons and spas where professionals (or tourists) can come and get out of the stressful office/hot sun for an hour or maybe two. Abey offers a variety of treatments—from manicures and pedicures to waxing, massage and facials—to help customers relax and enjoy some pampering. Some of the spa’s more unique treatments include a AgeLOC face lifting and firming treatment and skin treatments for acne and sensitive skin. If you’re not satisfied judging your body shape, and also find yourself judging the length of your eyelashes, you can come in for eyelash extensions and eyelash perming and put down the mascara and curler for good!  The salon is offering 15 percent off services (grab a coupon on their website) through September 30.

Dollar Rent A Car, 345 South End Avenue, (917)-701-1069, or 718-656-2401 Ext. 228 for NYC local corporate programs

With about 9,000 people living in Battery Park City and revitalization efforts continuing in the community and around Lower Manhattan, Dollar Rent A Car decided this location was the perfect place to open a car rental service, said Sales and Marketing Manager Paul Rivera.

“Our Dollar location is strategically situated to service residences, the World Financial Center and the greater New York Metropolitan area as a whole,” Rivera continued.

Customers can expect top-quality rentals at competitive rates for a wide range of vehicles. Dollar offers a variety of rental programs depending on the customer’s needs, including Dollar Express, the Dollar rental rewards program. Also available are GPS navigation units and the EZ Pass for rent at competitive rates.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop, 90 Broad Street, (646) 289-4211

A transplant from my native Chicago, Potbelly is digging some new roots in New York City. The shop also will be opening a location on Fulton Street that we’re looking forward to as well. Potbelly specializes in tasty subs that are also very affordable with prices ranging from as little as $5, which is hard to beat in this city. Try classics such as the turkey breast, ham and Swiss, or roast beef, or go for something wild like the pizza sandwich (pepperoni, meatball, capicola, marinara sauce, provolone cheese, mushrooms and Italian seasoning) or the wreck (salami, roast beef, turkey and ham with Swiss cheese). Vegetarians and healthy eaters can try a chickpea veggie salad or veggie sandwiches, and diners with a sweet tooth will find shakes and cookies to satisfy cravings.

Aldo, 181 Broadway, (212) 227-1686

I have a number of pairs of shoes from Aldo, and a few things always hold true about the brand: They last forever, look great, and are affordable enough to own as many as you like. The retailer is one of the largest shoe brands in the world, and specializes in leather goods and accessories in addition to shoes. The new location on Broadway joins several other shoe stores on the block including Aerosoles and the Century 21 women’s shoe store so you don’t have to wander very far to find a variety of quality brands and styles.  Aldo is also offering a huge sale on items throughout the store and online, so drop by before it’s over.

Closings:

Uncle Mike’s, 57 Murray

Kelly Rush is the Field Liaison for the Alliance for Downtown New York, the Business Improvement District (BID) for Lower Manhattan. Every other Thursday, she writes about what’s up downtown and provides info on everything from where to find great corned beef to where to find great parking.

LIGHTS ON…IN LOWER MANHATTAN ~ Drug Store with a View

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Posted & filed under General.

I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th holiday. I spent the day at the beach because it was much too hot to stay in my apartment and watch my cats, who actually pant and generally look even hotter than I feel. It is guilty escapism with a holiday twist. For this edition of Lights On, we see the Duane Reade presence expanding in Lower Manhattan, while a nightclub replaces a nightclub and several well-known names move to new homes.

Duane Reade, 100 Broadway, (212) 227-2186

The newest Duane Reade feels a bit more like a department store than a pharmacy. The two-level space features several Duane Reade staples, such as the Up: Market brand with a few extras. There’s a café with selections of coffee and breakfast items, a self-serve, frozen yogurt bar, a salad bar, selections of soup plus a wide variety of grab-and-go options such as wraps and sandwiches. The bottom floor mainly is devoted to fresh food options while the upper floor contains the pharmacy, beauty sections, a large selection of greeting cards from the Papyrus brand, and a lovely view of the Trinity churchyard.

Quest, 27 Park Place, (718) 300-9647

Replacing Club Remix is Quest, just a couple of hops from City Hall in case anyone there needs a refreshment break from running the city. They’re advertising “Escape After Work Thursdays” featuring dj’s, drink specials, and food deals.

Moves:

NYC Opera: Moved to a larger permanent space in the same building, Suite 1010 at 75 Broad Street

Downtown Florist: Moved from 125 Church Street to 25 Murray Street

Closures:

Eastern Newsstand, lobby of 120 Broadway

Club Remix, 27 Park Place

Kelly Rush is the Field Liaison for the Alliance for Downtown New York, the Business Improvement District (BID) for Lower Manhattan. Every other Thursday, she writes about what’s up downtown and provides info on everything from where to find great corned beef to where to find great parking.