Illustration by Archinect (background photo courtesy Jermaine Ee/Unsplash)
Manhattan: So much to do, so little time! To make New York City’s most densely populated borough more accessible for out-of-towners and residents alike, we’ve asked Julia Gamolina to host today’s Archinect City Guide. Beyond her role as the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning Madame Architect platform, she is also an Associate Principal at Ennead Architects‘ NYC studio and a Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute.
In this City Guide, Gamolina reveals her favorite Manhattan spots for Eastern European treats, tasty cocktails, and the best parks for picnics and walks.Â
Are you a Manhattan local with your own go-to spots? Or have a city you think we should cover next? Share your thoughts, suggestions, and favorite places in the comments.
Favorite restaurant?
Mari Vanna for a taste of home (get the horseradish vodka and the holodets), The Odeon for business lunches, and Heidi’s House for a neighborhood gem.
Image courtesy Mari Vanna on InstagramFavorite bar?
Singlish near Union Square — tiny and thoughtfully designed, and the salted-egg martini is so interesting and delicious. I also like Crown Shy after work.
Image courtesy Singlish on InstagramFavorite café?
Café Sabarsky at the Neue Galerie. I will also stop by Birch Coffee in Yorkville on my way to Central Park on weekend mornings.
Image courtesy Café Sabarsky on InstagramFavorite bookstore?
The Strand. When I was first new to New York City and working around Union Square, I would go there during my lunch breaks to decompress and reinvigorate my brain. I also love going to Rizzoli for their talks — a recent one was with Michelle Young about her new book, The Art Spy.
Image courtesy Strand Book Store on InstagramFavorite museum?
The Guggenheim. I appreciate a museum that is super easy to navigate, so you can focus on and get lost in the works, and not in the wayfinding.
Image courtesy David Emrich/UnsplashFavorite public space?
I live between Central Park and Carl Schurz Park and feel lucky for that every day. I’ve spent so much time in Central Park — running and training for races, picnics in the pandemic, Sheep Meadow on summer Fridays. And I’ll go to Carl Schurz for a post-dinner or pre-bedtime walk to wind down.
Carl Schurz Park. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons user Jim.henderson (Public Domain)Most underrated building?
The General Society’s Library — the second oldest library in New York City! The library focuses on resources for those in manual, technical, craft, and creative occupations, and hosts the Artisan Lecture Series, which pays tribute to the art of craftsmanship by featuring master artisans who lecture about the intricacies of their specialized crafts.
Favorite new architecture?
Not architecture per se, but I’m really excited about the upcoming plans to transform Fifth Avenue into a grand pedestrian-friendly boulevard, and to redesign 14th Street with wider sidewalks, lush landscaping, and safer spaces. Making our cities “people-first” is essential to their health and vibrance.
Related on Archinect: New York City previews initial pedestrian-minded ‘Future of Fifth’ redesign proposalNew or upcoming projects by your firm or organization in the city?
At Ennead, we just completed the Public Theater’s Delacorte Theater renovation, and I can’t wait to go and see a Shakespeare in the Park performance. We’re also leading the Studio 54 renovation for the Roundabout Theater Company. I’ve loved being with a firm that is working with so many significant New York landmarks.
For Madame Architect, I’ve been busy planning our fall event lineup, where we interview clients and architects in the spaces they respectively designed and commissioned.
Archinectors, what are your personal favorite picks for Manhattan? Let us know in the comments!
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About the Author
Alexander Walter grew up in East Germany with plenty of Bratwurst. He studied Architecture and Media Design at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany, and participated in foreign exchange programs with Washington-Alexandria Architecture Consortium in Alexandria, Virginia and Waseda University in …
