(madewell.com)
“Visit Brooklyn. You can’t call yourself a New Yorker if you have only seen Manhattan and not explored the other boroughs. This neighborhood is especially important to me because I live there with my family. It is where we landed after moving here from Ohio. I love Williamsburg for its industrial vibe. It is full of creative people and has become such a great place to bring up kids. There are amazing restaurants and cool boutiques. You get a bit more space, but it is still a hop away from the city.”
“[You can] get lost while discovering new places in Chinatown, but find your way to Amazing 66 (66 Mott St between Bayard and Canal Sts; 212-334-0099), Winnie’s (104 Bayard St between Baxter and Mulberry Sts; 212-732-2384) and Joe’s Shanghai (9 Pell St between Bowery and Doyers St; 212-233-8888, joeshanghairestaurants.com). Amazing 66 has a really incredible dish that’s a whole chicken stuffed with fried sticky rice. Winnie’s is a local, no-frills, low-tech karaoke spot (they still use laserdiscs). Plus the drinks are cheap, and you only have to pay $1 per song. Joe’s Shanghai has the best soup dumplings!”
“I felt like a true New Yorker when I found local spots that made me feel at home. Continuing to go to them makes me feel like part of the city and community, especially seeing the same faces all the time. Sharing my favorite places with my friends and family also makes me feel like I am a true New Yorker. Some of my favorite restaurants include Five Leaves (18 Bedford Ave at Lorimer St, Greenpoint, Brooklyn; 718-383-5345, fiveleavesny.com) for the food and atmosphere; Marlow & Sons (81 Broadway between Berry St and Wythe Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-384-1441, marlowandsons.com) for great breakfast, pastries and dinner; and Rye (247 South 1st St between Havemeyer and Roebling Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-218-8047, ryerestaurant.com) has an old-fashioned vibe with delicious, rich food. My top stores are Bird (316 Fifth Ave between 2nd and 3rd Sts, Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-768-4940 • 220 Smith St at Butler St, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn; 718-797-3774, shopbird.com), an inspiring boutique with a beautiful selection of cool brands; Darr (369 Atlantic Ave between Bond and Hoyt Sts, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn; 718-797-9733, shopdarr.com), which has amazing antique finds; and Hollander & Lexer (358 Atlantic Ave between Bond and Hoyt Sts, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn; 718-797-9190 • 103 Metropolitan Ave at Wythe Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-797-9117, hollanderandlexer.net) for their aesthetic in men’s clothes. I also shop at 10 Ft. Single by Stella Dallas (285 North 6th St between Havemeyer St and Meeker Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-486-9482), a cool antique store owned by Japanese people that stocks American stuff and the latest vintage trends.”