So, being a culturally literate girl, you’ve just spilled out of a matinee at the New York City Ballet, or the Met, or the Symphony, or even an artsy movie at the Walter Reade theatre. And you’re hungry for something with a touch of class.

Stand at the Lincoln Center fountain and look across the street. See the sign for Cafe Fiorello? Good, head there.

Cafe Fiorello is a sophisticated Italian restaurant that glows with shiny dark wood paneling, lots of mirrors, and candlelight. The booths have small signs that say things like “Reserved for Renee Fleming” on the wall. The bread (divine) comes with olive oil for dipping, and if you order a Sprite, it comes in a glass carafe.

The antipasto bar greets you at the door with a colorful riot of seafood and vegetables. Also on the menu is thin-crust pizza, salads, pastas, and other Italian specialties. The food here is amazingly good, and the service matches; you’ll never go wanting, and they’ll bring you more bread if you ask.

Don’t fill up too fast, because dessert is not to be missed. The menu includes such delights as oversized cannolis, amaretto cheesecake, and homemade sorbet. My personal favorite is the chocolate mousse with whipped cream, which the server brings to the table in two big buckets and ladles out till you say “stop”. One bite and you’re in heaven.

During the afternoon you can generally walk in and get a table; however, if you plan to catch an evening performance at Lincoln Center and have dinner afterwards, you can make reservations via the phone or internet. It’s well worth the effort.

Cafe Fiorello
Weekdays, 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Saturdays, 10:00 am – 1:00 am
Sundays, 10:00 pm – 11:30 pm

1900 Broadway between 63rd and 64th Street
1 to 66th Street – Lincoln Center
212.595.5330

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I know I should love thrifting, but after a childhood spent pawing through smelly or weirdly-colored clothes at various Salvation Army stores in the suburbs, the very idea of thrift stores sends a little shiver up my spine. Happily, there’s Beacon’s Closet.

Well-known to Brooklynites, Beacon’s Closet has outposts in the two Brooklyn neighborhoods of Park Slope and Williamsburg. This isn’t your grandmother’s thrift store. Beacon’s Closet caters to the hipster crowd, carrying only clothes that are vintage enough to be “cool” or are new enough to be in style. I have picked up shirts and dresses that I saw last season on the racks at Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters – for about fifteen dollars.

And if you’re interested in getting rid of old duds to make room for new ones, Beacon’s Closet can help, too. Bring your old clothes, neatly folded and in bags or boxes, and leave them with the staff. They will sort through to see what they can use and buy it from you. You can receive a percentage of the selling price of the clothes, either in cash or store credit. But be forewarned – they’re picky.

Beacon’s Closet carries both men’s and women’s clothes, accessories, shoes, outerwear, jewelry, and even some music. And they’re a store with a conscience; they donate a portion of their profits to shelters and relief organizations, as well as giving old clothing to groups who distribute the garments to the needy. So, you can be stylish for less, and you can make a difference.

Beacon’s Closet
Weedays, 12:00 – 9:00 pm
Weekends, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

88 N. 11th Street, Williamsburg (between Berry & Wythe)
718.486.0816
L to Bedford Ave

220 Fifth Ave, Park Slope (between President & Union)
718.230.1630
M/R to Union Street

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In this city of yoga-addicts, venturing into a big yoga class at a big gym can be scary. What if you don’t execute the perfect downward dog? Or what if you are a pilates devotee and not so sure about yoga?

The owners of the Joschi Body Bodega, Joschi and Monika, put a lot of effort into creating a studio with a relaxed, inviting, family feel. There’s no loud aerobics going on in the next room, and there’s no set program. Instead, members can take a variety of classes with a variety of exertion levels, including vinyasa yoga, pilates, conditioning classes, and a series of signature classes. One of these signature classes, Energy Balancing, includes innovative wholistic techniques such as light therapy, aromatherapy, and music therapy into a yoga class, aiding in deep relaxation.

The studio is rounded out with changing rooms, cubbies, fresh towels, a shower, yoga mats, and a private training room. Joschi hopes to expand into training other teachers and incorporating new and innovative techniques into the schedule. There are several levels of membership (unlimited, per class) and the personal attention ensures they’ll work with you to help you design the program that fits your lifestyle.

Joschi Body Bodega
163 West 23rd Street, 5th Floor between Sixth & Seventh Avenues
F/V or 1 to 23rd St
212.399.6307

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It’s easy to find a decently drinkable latte in our city, thanks to the Starbucks on every corner (sometimes two). But a truly great latte? Not so easy to find.

Jonathan Rubinstein was working as a talent agent when he realized how difficult it is to find a coffeeshop that focuses on both their atmosphere and their coffee. He opened Joe the Art of Coffee in 2002, and four years later, he’s providing coffee for David Letterman and pulling espresso shots at three successful locations in downtown Manhattan.

There’s no question that the focus is on the coffee here. The hazelnut lattes have rendered me (a confirmed coffee snob) speechless on many occasions. They are big and creamy, with just the right amount of foam, and the baristas are skilled in latte art. Joe also serves some of the best chai in town; my mother, who doesn’t like to drink anything too sweet, will request a trip to get chai when she comes to visit.

The atmosphere is quiet enough for writers and students, despite the steady stream of traffic. The music is always eclectic and at a pleasant background level, and there’s usually a pile of recent issues of the Times and some postcards for indie films.

Joe the Art of Coffee has acquired the undeniable “cool” stamp as well, and it’s not just the Letterman connection. My husband and I have personally bumped into Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jake Gyllenhaal there. And Amy Sedaris bakes the cupcakes.

One caveat: all the locations are relatively small, with about a dozen cafe tables apiece, so you may have to hover for a while to stake a claim on one. But once you’re there, you can stay for hours.

Joe the Art of Coffee
141 Waverly Place at Sixth Avenue
B/D/F/V or A/C/E to West 4th Street
Weekdays 7am-8pm
Weekends 8am-8pm
212.924.6750

9 East 13th Street between Fifth Avenue & University Place
4/5/6 or N/R to Union Square
Weekdays 7am-8pm
Weekends 8am-8pm
212.924.7400

130 Greene Street between W. Houston Street and Prince Street
In the flagship Alessi Store
R/W to Prince or B/D/F/V/6 to Broadway-Lafayette
Weekdays 7am-7pm
Saturday 8am-7pm
Sunday 8am-6pm
212.941.7330

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I don’t really know what makes a wine good or bad. I usually wander around the store, trying to look like I know what I’m doing, and once I’m confused enough, I pick the bottle with the prettiest label. Not the most sophisticated method, and never too successful.

At Red, White, & Bubbly, however, I’m in good hands. Darrin Siegfried, the operating partner, selects the wines carefully and describes them in witty layman’s terms on the tags. The staff is accommodating and refreshingly unpretentious; if you know what you want, they can help you find it, and if you don’t know what you want, they can help you figure it out. And there’s more to this store than wine – they have an excellent selection of liquors, champagnes, and all the accoutrements, all at affordable prices.

For me, Red, White, & Bubbly’s most exciting offering is Darrin’s monthly “best buy 4 pack”. Four wines (generally two red and two white) are selected and boxed and priced at 10% off, and each four-pack is about $32. The store also carries larger hand-selected sets of wines from around the world, and quantities are discounted 10-15%.

In keeping with their “fine wines, great spirits, no attitude” motto, Red, White, & Bubbly holds wine tastings on Fridays and Saturdays, with good snacks and lots of great information. It’s well worth the trip to Brooklyn.

Red, White, & Bubbly
211 5th Ave between Union St & President St
Brooklyn, NY
718-636-9463
Subway: R, M to Union Street

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The Biography Bookshop is my favorite kind of bookstore. The best stores in New York are usually tucked away into unobtrusive corners, and I found Biography while I was wandering back from an afternoon soaking up the sun by the Hudson River. Nestled onto the corner of Bleecker Street and 11th Street, the store is like a mini-Strand, without the crowds and traffic and with better air conditioning.

And like the Strand, the sidewalk tables are loaded with discounted books – but these aren’t obscure books that nobody wanted. On the contrary, I’ve found beautifully bound modern classics and volumes of poetry, all new copies, on these tables. Last spring, one could pick up the entire Narnia series in paperback for substantially less than list price.

Inside on its hardwood shelves and built-in bookcases, Biography carries much more than biographies, and all at 20% off list price. The selection includes such goodies as a comprehensive section on New York City history, travel, pets, crafts, fashion, and more. The fiction section is one of the best and most comprehensive I’ve ever seen, with carefully selected editions, and I lost my fiancé to the poetry, theater, and film shelves, hearing only his periodic coos of joy.

The store invites browsing and paging through books, and it’s open late for night owls. Hungry bibliophiles, take note – the Magnolia Bakery is just across the street, so you can enjoy your new book while munching on a confection. That’s my idea of heaven.

Biography Bookshop
400 Bleecker Street at West 11th Street
New York, NY
(212) 807-8655
Subway: 1 or A/C/E to 14th Street

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Comfort food and autumn belong together – remember chicken noodle soup in your My Little Pony thermos during the first days of school? But now that we’re grownups, we need comfort food that will fill soul and tummy.

Risotto seems like the perfect fit, warm and creamy and hearty, and Risotteria is the perfect spot for it. With no less than thirty-six savory types of risotto, there’s something for every palate – asparagus and Spanish saffron, calamari and pesto, gruyere and green onions, even roasted leg of lamb and gorgonzola. There are extra creamy, vegetarian, and gluten-free varieties, and they are all reasonably priced between $8.50 and $14.50 for an entrée that will likely satisfy your hunger and leave enough to bring to work for lunch tomorrow.

Besides risotto, Risotteria also serves gourment salads, paninis, and thin-crust pizzas with a variety of unusual toppings. Celiacs will be happy to note that there are gluten-free versions of nearly everything on the menu – even salad dressings and beer. Whether or not you are gluten-intolerant, if you’ve still got room after your meal, try the heavenly gluten-free “fudgie” sandwich cookies, or one of the Italian espresso drinks.

Risotteria offers take-out and delivery. The café-like restaurant is small, and on cold weekend days you may be forced to wait, but it’s well worth it.

Risotteria
270 Bleecker Street at Morton Street
New York, NY
212-924-6664
Subway: B/D/F/V or A/C/E to West 4th Street

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There is no shame in dragging your friends fifty two blocks, past the industrial clothing factories dotting Orchard Street where bearded men hock paisley dresses and orthopedic shoes circa 1969, all for the minor miracle of huddling in a tiny shoppe – just to get a taste. Yes, my obsession with il laboratorio del gelato, is very much like crack. Quite honestly, look to your right and let me know if you can possibly resist the creamiest gelato in New York City.

Dedicated to producing the very finest ice cream and sorbet, il laboratorio del gelato opened in August 2002 on Orchard Street in Lower Manhattan. With a list of almost 100 vibrant and affordable flavors which includes chocolate kahlua, lemon verbena, fuji apple, dinosaur plum…the options are dizzying and endless. This hip looking slip of a store offers an expansive window into an open kitchen, where their frozen desserts are hand-made in small batches, and many of the ingredients are locally supplied or organic.

With gelato this divine, you want to stop and sample all the flavors. On today’s trek, we savored toasted almond, blueberry and basil and yes, we are going back!

Prices: $2.75 a small cup (two scoops), $3.25 for a medium, and $3.75 for a large. Pints are $4.75, and $4.50 for two, or more pints. $2-5 for cappuccino, and other assorted drinks, such as affogato (espresso poured over a scoop of gelato.)

il laboratorio del gelato
95 Orchard St., New York, NY 10002
between Broome and Delancey Sts.
212-343-9922
Subway: F/V to Delancey

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After spending a luxurious two weeks in Paris sampling mousse and berry tarts, coming home to a sultry New York summer replete with hour-long lines at Starbucks and crowded thoroughfares, I was desperate for a little bit of Paris in Soho. Meet Ceci-Cela: a charming, cozy (cozy in New York speak = claustrophobic) cafe that evokes nostalgia for the crowded patisseries of Paris. Maybe it’s the glass cases of impossibly delicious pastries baked by chef Laurent Dupal who was trained at the prestigious Compagnons du Devoir du Tour de France or the loaves of warm bread smothered in strawberry preserves, but this shop is the eminent destination for sweet-hounds and gourmet coffee lovers, tired of the morning coffee carts lining the streets.

Owned by two former French pastry chefs who met while working at a Club Med, Ceci-Cela boasts a loyal following of downtown hipsters, expats and anyone seeking a cafe au lait and a flaky croissant (much better than the over-hyped Balthazar down the street). Although the service is a touch on the slow side, the savory fare is well worth it.

Duck into the woody back room with your Sunday Times and treat yourself to petit fours, a hearty sandwich and quiet in a notoriously rowdy neighborhood.

Ceci-Cela
55 Spring St
New York, 10012
(212) 274-9179
Subway: 6 to Spring Street

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Hankering for walnut brownies, overstuffed ciabatta sandwiches, homemade granola, piping-hot peanut butter cookies without all the yuppified Park Slope attitude? My home base for long conversations and tasty fare has been Naidre’s, a sweet cafe that escapes the stroller-mom madness of bustling Park Slope.

Inside resembles your breakfast nook replete with cookie jars, coffee pots, handwritten signs and the latest issues of Seed, Business Week, Entrepreneur, O and Time Out New York, spread out amongst the tables. Service is quick and incredibly friendly and you can tell a little bit of love goes into everything they make. From fresh tuna melts on multi-grain bread to the cinnamon raisin organic home-made oatmeal that sells out in a flash, to a bevy of healthy and decadent sandwiches, the options are bountiful and the vibe decidedly laid-back.

If the sumptuous selection of baked goods (some vegan, sugar and gluten-free but all are divine) don’t lure you back, check out their no cell phone policy – imagine a quiet lunch without someone barking into their phone. There is no table turn policy here and I’ve spent afternoon hours munching on energy cookies (think granola, cranberries and all the healthy bits rolled into a fortifying treat) and sipping on raspberry ice-teas. The coffee is always strong and fresh, and tea selections delightful (black current, mango, english breakfast, and a variety of green teas).

So head in with the breakfast crowd for fresh food on the go or kick back in the later hours at this Park Slope down-home cafe.

Two Locations:
Park Slope
384 7th Avenue
(Between 11th & 12th Streets)
Brooklyn 11215
TEL 718-965-7585
EMAIL naidre@naidres.com
Subway: F to Seventh Avenue

Carroll Gardens
502 Henry Street
(corner of Sackett)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
TEL 718-596-3400
EMAIL naidre@naidres.com

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