West Town Tavern, West Town

Penelope’s

Jena Frey and Joe Lauer, the husband and wife team behind Penelope’s, are a rare kind of couple. With their brown hair, thick-rimmed glasses, and easy hipster style, the two look perfect together, like bookends. They talk in tandem, easily completely each other’s sentences, and it is obvious that Jena and Joe truly enjoy each [...]

Fan Si Pan

If you visit Fan Si Pan you must order the honeydew limeade not so much for the drink itself (although it is terribly tasty with kefir lime, ginger and lemongrass), but more for the straw that accompanies the drink. The straw is approximately three times larger than straws typically found in sodas and iced lattes [...]

Habit

What I like about Habit even more than its out-of-the-ordinary clothing is its out-of-the-ordinary concept: the store is dedicated entirely to showcasing the work of new and emerging designers. Habit’s creator and owner, Lindsey Boland, is a successful designer in her own right (her label is superficial inc.) meaning that she knows first hand the [...]

Logan Theater

A trip to the Logan is not a flash and glitter, red carpet, high-tech, twenty-first century movie going experience. It’s better. With all the charm you would expect from a theater that shows only second-run films, the Logan is one of the best entertainment deals in town. Tickets cost just $3 for all show times. [...]

Bistrot Zinc

When I was a girl my mom would let me skip school once in awhile to take what we called an “urban holiday.” Together we disregarded our daily duties and embraced the leisurely life. We would make waffles, catch a matinee, linger over a late lunch, shop, get pedicures, and whatever else struck our fancy [...]

Vosges Haut-Chocolat

There is an interesting phenomenon that sometimes occurs in long-term love relationships. It happens after several years, after you and your loved one have been through it all–giddy courtships, awkward getting-to-know-you moments, ridiculous quarrels, passionate apologies–when you finally feel at ease together. You and your partner are committed and walk together in a lyrical simpatico. [...]

Red Hen Bread

While the smell of a fresh-baked baguette may send Atkins devotees fleeing to the nearest butcher shop, for others this same aroma is cause for celebration. I, without question, fall into the latter group. I always have room in my belly for a baked good–for a fluffy butter croissant, a warm blueberry muffin, a trusty [...]

Sprout Home

Sprout Home is an urban girl’s nursery: more city glam than country grit. Owner Tara Heibel has a fine arts background and her love of clean lines and sophisticated design is immediately apparent upon entering the store. Stocked with the essentials needed for city gardening, Sprout Home offers a large selection of plants from the [...]