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With everyone heading out to the Hamptons for Memorial Day weekend, it's the perfect time to take advantage of emptier streets, restaurants, and shops and spend some quality time in the West Village. With some of the top designer brands flocking to its streets these days, there's a great mix of high-end labels alongside local favorites that makes the neighborhoods one of the best places to shop away the day.
Start your tour with an inventive brunch, browse offerings from both top designers and local boutiques, and finish it all off with a hardcore workout for the best (local) start to your summer.
The latest venture from Kin Shop’s Harold Dieterle, The Marrow (99 Bank Street) is a mod-chic yet welcoming space with a menu that takes inspiration from Dieterle’s German and Italian backgrounds. Brunch on grilled bratwurst, squid ink garganelli, or the spiced waffle, or opt for the famous bone marrow-topped burger—just save room for a dessert of ricotta fritters.
Someday, Bleecker Street will be called Marc Jacobs Street. But for now, the designer’s mini-empire of stores is just enough to outfit your entire life in MJ, and Bookmarc (400 Bleecker Street) is one of the its crown jewels. Dip into this shop to get lost in inspiring art, fashion and music books, and stock up on office-perfect knick knacks.
In the market for a party dress? Look no further than Cynthia Rowley (376 Bleecker Street). The designer has the New York night-out look mastered with a balance of fashion-forward and classic, demure and daring, sophisticated and glitzy. Neatly displayed accessories make it easy to complete your entire look without leaving the shop.
You’ll find a selection of covetable day and night dresses at Mint Julep (555 Hudson Street), among other perennially chic clothing, accessories and bags. The Massachusetts-based store holds an inventory of love-forever pieces from the likes of Milly, Nanette Lepore,Parker and Tibi.
Whether you’re planning on splurging on a pair of statement shoes or just seeking some serious inspiration, it's worth stopping in Pierre Hardy (30 Jane Street). The sleek, minimalist space is peppered with the designer's bold, color-pop shoes and bags, making their outfit-transforming power stand out even more. [Photo by Brian Harkin]
A hit with both the style set and the surfer set, Saturdays Surf (17 Perry Street) has a West Village location so you don’t have to trek to Soho for a cup of their raved-about coffee. While you sip your brew, imagine you’re closer to Montauk by browsing boards, Vans, and the t-shirts you’ll want to grab to work a borrowed-from-the-boys look. [Photo by Brian Harkin]
The name Sucre (357 Bleecker Street) is fitting for this shop: everything in here has eye-candy status. Founded by former Patricia Fields buyer Candace Mohr and Selima Salaun of Selima Optique, the store carries a colorful mix of stand-out pieces and a funky eyewear selection. There’s a focus on up-and-coming designers, so you’ll get to discover your next favorite brand as you shop lines like Assad Mounser, Bliss Lau, Lulu Frost and Mara Hoffman.
Once you’ve had your fill of the many boldface names that the West Village offers up in shopping, check out some indie designers, artisans and vintage vendors at The Market NYC (159 Bleecker Street). There are four compact levels, featuring a variety of apothecary goods, jewelry, clothing, books, housewares, and art.
If you like your workout to have some fight to it, head to Equinox (97 Greenwich Avenue) for their Powerstrike! class. It fuses karate, kickboxing and other martial art moves with fast-paced music for a high-energy experience that gets you in shape while it ups your badass status.