Lafayette Street and Astor Place

In the lobby of the Public Theater. I always like the Public, which can be hit-or-miss (in my opinion) but always interesting. Here’s what’s on this season. (Show I’ve enjoyed so far from this lineup: Fela. Show that left me cold: Idiot Savant, although The New Yorker loved it.) And just out: a new book about Joseph Papp (an oral history, actually), which I haven’t read, although it sounds good, doesn’t it?

South Street and Peck Slip

Oysters at the New Amsterdam Market, which happens once a month near South Street Seaport. A few of the vendors that I enjoyed visiting this past weekend were Mast Brothers Chocolate (whose beautifully wrapped trio of chocolate bars would make a lovely small Christmas present), Porchetta (for their aromatic pork sandwiches), and the various New York vintners giving out tastes of cider and wine (I especially liked the late harvest Riesling—sweet but not heavy—from the King Ferry Winery).

37th Street and Fifth Avenue

Tinsel Trading Company is the place to find both new and vintage trimmings, paper decorations, threads, and ribbons. Most things are reasonably priced, though there are spools of intricate, gold-laced, rare trimmings behind glass. I never understood the name of this store (read the history here for an explanation), but it’s pretty easy to believe the line printed on their business cards: “A resource for the imagination.” (That is, this is a great place for Christmas gift-wrapping decorations.)

Fulton Street and Rockwell Place (Brooklyn)

Urban Glass is “a leading resource for both aspiring and established artists wishing to create with glass.” It is a wonderful place, especially in the winter (it’s always hot inside). The class list is extensive, and the staff is friendly. I’ve taken a variety of workshops here and always have fun—and then leave with a handful of odd beads or some other lovely misshapen piece to prove where I’ve been. (Beginner’s luck rarely happens with glass work, in my experience.)

Tudor City Place and 43rd Street

If you find yourself near Tudor City (as I did recently, stuck in traffic) and you’re craving Italian food (as everyone in our car was), you can try to grab a table at Convivio (if you’re wearing casually elegant clothes, which we weren’t). Even so, they squeezed us in, after a bit of pleading. I remember cool red wine, hot olive bread, crisp baccala fritters, and mezzaluna stuffed with rabbit and slicked with butter (delicious). I would go back, especially the next time I find myself stuck in traffic near Tudor City.

City Hall Park

City Hall Park is a nice patch of downtown greenery (here, changing colors with the seasons). In winter, the gaslights around the fountain seem especially pretty. (And here’s what’s underneath it.)

Fifth Avenue and 88th Street

It’s the 50th anniversary of the Guggenheim Museum, and the celebration includes a comprehensive Kandinsky exhibit, which is worth seeing up close, ramp by ramp, but if you’re not in town, try the online experience.