Shopping at the Tribeca Film Festival
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Tribeca Shopping
You’ll want to stretch your legs a bit after sitting in a dark theater for a few hours, and a stroll along Franklin Street should do the trick. Added bonus: there’s a bevy of fine stores along this strip, including fashion-world favorite Steven Alan (103 Franklin St between Church St and West Broadway, 212-343-0692). The eponymous owner is not only a pioneer in the Tribeca retail scene (this shop moved here from Soho in 2002) but a designer himself, of supersoft and often organic cotton and cashmere apparel for both sexes. Besides Alan’s own collection, the store is packed with wares by indie designers like Isabel Marant, Tucker, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Matt Bernson.
Just across the street from Alan is Bu and the Duck (106 Franklin St between Church St and West Broadway, 212-431-9226), where, upon entering, at least a century seems to melt away: Vintage baby prams and wooden furniture, a casual country-store vibe and low lighting take you way, way back—and so does the winsome house-designed line of clothing and Italian leather shoes, which is upscale but utterly lacking in pretension. The superior quality of the goods is, refreshingly, paired with unobtrusive but warm service.
You’ll find no kids’ stuff down the street at Intérieurs (149 Franklin St between Hudson and Varick Sts, 212-343-0800). Earth tones and elemental textures inform each product in the visionary home décor shop, from its line of minimalist furniture to handwoven throws and intricate ironwork lighting fixtures. Extraordinary chandeliers dangling antique-looking spoons, knives and forks, by José Esteves, and wire-birdcage –inspired lamps are as imaginative as they are luminous.
Tribeca has definitively taken the mantle from Soho as Downtown’s best shopping destination, where you’ll find upscale and unique fashion and home design from independent retailers. Haute boho shoe salon Edon Manor (391 Greenwich St between Beach and North Moore Sts, 212-431-3890) is more approachable than its price tags would let on. A cheery staff and personality-exuding kicks (and bags) by the likes of Alaïa, Givenchy and Proenza Schouler do much to make this spot worth a visit.
Likewise, Stella (138 West Broadway between Duane and Thomas Sts, 212-233-9610), which opened just a month after the September 11 attacks, has become a neighborhood mainstay thanks to its exquisite house wares, primarily for bed and bath.
A relative newcomer to the neighborhood, More North (39 North Moore St between Hudson and Varick Sts, 212-334-5541) is a home-design company, kids’ shop, and bona fide art gallery rolled into one. Tying it all together is its Nordic theme, in which exquisite paintings by Icelandic artist Sigtryggur Bjarni Baldvinsson, vintage Arne Jacobsen Egg chairs and Playsam Swedish toy cars exist under the same roof in perfect harmony.
Israeli expat designer Nili Lotan (188 Duane St, 212-431-7788) chose Tribeca for her first and as-yet only boutique in 2007. Minimalist yet highly designed, her clothing is both modern and elegantly feminine. Note: Her pieces must be tried on to be fully appreciated.
If you don’t splurge on designer fashion, splurge on exquisite confections at Rachel Thebault’s renowned Tribeca Treats (94 Reade St between Church St and West Broadway, 212-571-0500), where you’ll find incredible hand-made truffles and chunky ice-cream sandwiches, along with a small collection of kitchen wares.
Union Square Shopping
If Tribeca is the home of boutiques catering to the well-heeled, Union Square and the East Village cater to a youthful, street-smart set. Tap into the look at Owl’s Lab (20 E 12th St between Fifth Ave and University Pl, 212-633-2672). Smack in the middle of NYU turf, this high-ceilinged boutique is stocked with womens’ retail staples like Splendid tees, J Brand and Seven jeans, and Havaianas—just what every collegiate XX chromosome needs. Newcomer Elizabeth and James, the Olsen twins’ diffusion line, is especially—and surprisingly—worth a look.
Just up the street is Rugby (99 University Pl at 12th St, 212-677-1895), the latest in Ralph Lauren’s ever-expanding empire. This charismatic spot puts a postmodernist spin on preppy. True to its name, the shop’s signature piece is the rugby shirt—in unisex and women’s versions—customizable with assorted faux-retro patches.
The designer formerly known as William Reid has opened his first store north of the Mason-Dixon line. Billy Reid (54 Bond St between Bowery and Lafayette St, 212-598-9355) is all about lifestyle; particularly appealing is the casualwear, whose stars include oilcloth men’s coats and a down-home line of vintage-feeling leather boots and shoes. His nascent, somewhat smaller womenswear line is slowly trickling in now.
Continue your mini culture-tour just north of Union Square. The Common Ground (55 W 16th St, 212-989-4178) offers all types of Native American miscellany, including antique turquoise bracelets and handmade dream catchers.
Then travel to Beads of Paradise (16 E 17th St, 212-620-0642) for silk scarves from Thailand, handlathed chopsticks and a variety of ancient glass beads from China.
Head north for some eastern flavor at Kyotoya (23 W 19th St, 212-414-0720), where all items—such as cast iron tea kettles and silk wallets—come from Japan.
Even the most laid-back filmgoers want to look spiffy for a tony festival event, and they will find what they’re looking for at Odin and Pas de Deux, both at (328 E 11th St between First and Second Aves, 212-475-0666, 212-475-0075). Loyal doesn’t begin to describe the following of Odin, an exquisite menswear shop. The allure lies in the choice understated wares, many of which, like Robert Geller, Common Projects, and Yohji Yamamoto’s Coming Soon, had their NYC debuts here. Girlfriends of Odin’s customers rejoiced when sister store Pas de Deux opened, hitting the same high notes of style with lines such as Rag & Bone, Shipley & Halmos and T by Alexander Wang. Despite Pas’s diminutive size, well-chosen accents such as Philip Crangi jewelry and Repetto shoes make shopping practically one-stop.
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