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Welcome to Drunk Shopping! Our new feature celebrates the time-honored tradition of getting totally wasted while the sun's still shining before buying a bunch of debatably useful stuff that the sober you would be too timid or too restrained to take home. Each Friday we'll cobble together a new itinerary starting you off with a boozy Saturday or Sunday brunch before meandering through a few neighboring retailers and happy hours notable for seasonal specials, limited time availability, fantastic deals, recent openings, or new shipments.
The weather's a little iffy. But it's Friday, so pop on a hoodie and deal with it: Time for Drunk Shopping. We're back in Soho this weekend, and we're lining the clouds with a little silver by going just slightly fancy. Start out at Kittichai. This posh Thai restaurant at the equally posh 60 Thompson hotel offers a $20 prix-fixe brunch: Try the pad thai or a house omelet made with sour sausage and crabmeat. Bonus: Included drinks are bottomless, and in addition to your standard-issue Bloody Marys, the restaurant often offers other seasonal, brunchable libations to swap in and out. After about six, you really ought to free up that table. It's time to drop some cash.
Just around the corner on West Broadway you'll see 7 For All Mankind's flagship. Pop in—king of quirky interior design Jonathan Adler just launched his collaboration with the brand at a big party this past Wednesday. Ogle Adler's custom paper lanterns and try on bamboo-print denim and summery shirting. Then hit Spring Street and throw bricks through the window of the freshly opened Crocs flagship. Actually, don't do that—keep it moving along to Buckler on Grand. The menswear line's MePa sample sale might be too nuts or too picked over to bother with by now, but peruse summer merchandise as well as deep discounts on past season rock-inflected tailored pieces and coveted denim in the shop's basement.
Correct us if we're wrong but it's probably cocktail o'clock by now. Double back to Spring and sit at the bar at Manhattan Bistro. About $6 can get you a heavy pour of house wine to put away while everyone takes turns using the restroom. Then get out of there; there's a lot of ground to cover.
Head south on Broadway. Breezy, spring basics at Eryn Brinié are up to 40% off; plus, if you're there on Saturday between 1pm and 5pm, you can get a free manicure with purchase! A few steps further south, you can visit Topshop. The fast fashion legend just launched a cosmetics line; so buy some stuff and try not to become too drunkenly entranced by the usually great, rotating cast of weekend deejays the shop employs. Ten or 12 Rihanna songs later you'll come to and realize you need some serious designer in your life. And, lo, you're just a block or two north of Opening Ceremony. Pop into their sample and overstock sale to see what's left (by "pop" we mean wait in a long line, or don't by simply paying off the guard at the door). Now, you may end up disappointed, and if so you'll want to pop (literally pop) into the actual store. Rachel Comey's new backpacks are in stock and you won't know whether they're totally stupid-looking in real life until you go in and see them for yourself.
Next hit Lafayette and trek north. Inven.tory just launched their Point Suite Pop-Up with a big, crazy, Tim Burton-ish art installation. You've already gawked at paper lanterns, so why not? Plus, cheap cute things to buy! And, finally, cross the Bowery and check out the almost brand new International Playground. Formerly a pop-up, now a real deal, this airy boutique features a living wall and a slew of hard-to-find but very-worth-finding fashion from local and northern European designers. And the owner's resident affenpinscher might be "working." How cute are they?
Well, that was a serious marathon. Rehydrate at Marshall Stack. The wine and beer bar (they also offer some seriously fantastic nibbles) has a daily happy hour until 7pm. You can probably put away a good three discounted berry-infused microbrews by then. Go ahead, you're worth it.
Enjoy! And please do share your Drunk Shopping tips, tales, and war stories in the comments!
· Jonathan Adler and 7 For All Mankind: Collaboration Celebration [Racked NY]
· At Long Last, Crocs Flagship Finally Opens in Soho [Racked NY]
· Dealfeed: Buckler [Racked NY]
· Dealfeed: Eryn Brinié [Racked NY]
· Starting Today, You Can Wear Topshop On Your Face [Racked NY]
· Dealfeed: Opening Ceremony [Racked NY]
· Take a Hike With Rachel Comey's New Line of Accessories [Racked NY]
· Inven.tory's New Hobbies: Art Collecting, Surfing [Racked NY]
· International Playground Goes From Pop-up to Permanent [Racked NY]
· Drunk Shopping [Racked NY]