Okay, I am planning a 1-Day NYC trip based around the Halloween show that Balzac is playing.

I am gonna fly into LaGardia Airport in the afternoon of Halloween, stop by Toy Tokyo, go to the Balzac show, and head back to the airport for my 6am flight back to Chicago.

Since I've never been to NYC before, and may have some time on my hands, are there any places that I should check out (especially toy stores, rare bookstores, cool shit, etc.)? Preferably near the area that I will be around (I know that Toy Tokyo and the show is not that far away from each other). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

there is tons of shopping in that area, and lots of places to eat. Kim's Video on St. Marks has all kinds of weird movies, books, and music. there is also a book store up around the corner from the Continental and the McDonalds that's right there, I think it might just be called St. Marks Books or something. There's St. Marks Comics also, right along that strip.

for something fun you could eat at the Automat

Thanks for the tips!

If you find youself at St Marks Place turn right at 2nd ave. Toy Tokyo is right there (if your lookin for a toy spot) but eat at POM FRITE next to toy tokyo. They just serve french fries. The big thick good ones, with something like 100 different sauces to choose from. Try the mango sauce.

kims video is great for music!! well worth checking out

Also across the road from kims and a bit further down (toward TT) is a strange little food shop were all the food is behind perspex slots which are coin operated...not the best food (macaroni filled deep fried sticks, pretzels, mini corn dogs etc) but a fun concept to try!

Also try other music if your in the area

i rush right past POM FRITE into TT all the time - now that you have shed some light on the 100 dipping sauces - ill have to slow my speed next trip and snap up some fries!!!


but yeah - Toy Tokyo is all you will really need to hit - and I will suggest dropping into MyPlasticHeart right across a bit from TT - its a nice shop

If you're doing all this is one evening, you'll need coffee. Right around the corner from TT (St Marks btx 2nd and 1st Ave) is Porto Rico Coffe Company. Best cup in town. The beans are super cheap too and they have over 100 types.

that's the automat, the food place

If you go into the Asian bakery on St. Mark's head downstairs; they have an amazing food store with all sorts of great candy, drinks, etc. I always leave with a huge bag of stuff.

As for Pomme Frites, the greatest sauce (IMO) is the satay sauce (spicy peanut butter and chili)

If you need a bar to go to, Manitoba's (run by the one and only Handsome Dick Manitoba from the Dictators) is on 99 Avenue B, about 3 blocks away.

Have fun!

There is a little mediterranean shop next to TT that is just amazing!

If you are into games, I love to go to J & L on Elzabeth street, awesome place, only place I have ever seen retail Neo Geo home cartridges. But go to Chinatown anyway, it's so awesome.

Supreme used to be close by on Lafayette - probably still is. Go there for some semi-authentic FU attitude!

Also, back when people used to buy music, I'd frequent a couple of great cash only record stores near St Mark's Place (8th Street, can't recall) great prices, then there was Other Music for harder to find indie stuff.

Where exactly are Balzac playing?

BB Kings NYC... I wanna go, but I have this annual thing...

J & L rules bigtime

not true Muton. Maybe the WTF do you want attitude, but definitely not FU.
I'd say venture into Brooklyn just over Willy B bridge. High 5 is there as a plethora of little hipster boutiques. People at TT will be able to help you with directions.

POM FRITE !!!!

Hell yeah, get the mango chutney sauce !!! Best fries ever. A killer toy shop next to the best fires in the world = PARADISE

Shuffle down to Houston street and hit Katz's Deli.

Lean brisket w/ saurkraut and mustard on rye. Potato Knish and a Dr. Brown's cream soda (don't even think about getting a Celray).

You're welcome.

look up shakespear and co. if thats the right name, its a bookstore not far from st marks and its relally got some cool stuff. definitly definitly hit up kims, and right downstairs on the corner there by toy tokyo is an interesting place called love saves the day.

If your in the mood for a good big ass burger you can walk past Pom Frites and hit up Paul's Burger Palace(about 1/2 block down from TT), get the Texas burger and also check out a store called Love Saves the Day(right on the corner next to TT) for some childhood toys and memorabilia.....

...Then there is that place on Prince Street in Soho...

love saves the day is an amazing store, met civ in there randomly one trip and bought fake moustaches from there have some killer photos from that trip, kims is amazing too lots of second hand vinyl upstairs.also remember johns pizza being round there with great slices

love saves the day is really overpriced and has an attitude problem, but otherwise it is a cool toy store

Thanks everone for your assistance. I will definitely check out those places!

Are any of you going to the Balzac show in NYC?