New to the Retail team, Evan Silver makes his first appearance on the “Besen Retail Line of the Week” feature due to his recent conversation with Elliott Dweck.
Evan: I’m taking a power nap.
Elliott: Are you a baby, Evan?
Evan: Hey, our president takes them! Or at least Roosevelt did.
Where would we be without Evan’s knowledge of past world leaders’ sleeping habits?
-Caitlin
Still feeling overwhelmed by holiday shopping stress? This Sunday try out the BUST Holiday Craftacular from 10am to 7:30pm. Sponsored by BUST Magazine, The Metropolitan Pavillion will feature more than 200 DIY vendors selling handmade jewelry, housewares, and accessories. On top of the craft extravaganza, music, food, and free gifts are provided for shoppers. Just pay your $2 at the door, and you get access to items you can’t find anywhere else. The Metropolitan Pavillion is at 125 W. 18th Street at 6th Avenue.
-Caitlin
Jewelry display at the Bowery Bazaar (picture via Racked)
Over thirty-six vendors fill the Bowery Bazaar, a new indoor market with a wide selection of clothing, vintage and new jewelry, hats, scarves, home goods, handbags, pasteries, and chocolates. Shoppers are invited to taste the freshly baked cupcakes, try on bracelets and rings, and speak with the vendors and designers about their products, creating a one-of-a-kind personal shopping experience. Elliott Dweck and I stopped by the bazaar, finding a variety of prices that can fit any budget. Visit the Bowery Thursdays through Sundays, but take your time rummaging through this market, as it is crammed with goods perfect for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
-Caitlin
Gallery 151 at 350 Bowery
Gallery 151 buzzed last night with Village Green’s presentation of “Green Style,” a new art exhibit from the Urban Green Initiative. The show celebrated graffiti art as a cultural phenomenon that has changed the city’s streets and subways, and moving the style into galleries and art lovers’ homes. Displays from artists LA2, SHARP, and ERO covered the walls, while DJ Tony Crush of the Cold Crush Brothers brought music for the crowd.
While celebrating this contemporary art form, Green Style encouraged conversations about environmental awareness. The graffiti artists used only low or no VOC spray paints when creating their pieces, bringing environmental responsibility to the forefront. Next to the gallery, a model of a Village Green apartment was available for guests to roam through, showing the benefits of a green-friendly home.
Retail Specialist Elliott Dweck and I attended the Green Style party, enjoying the art exhibit, the musical entertainment, and a selection of wine and cheeses. The Urban Green Initiative holds an ongoing series of art exhibitions, music concerts, and dance performances to raise awareness and stimulate discussion.
-Caitlin
I feel like my vegan reports are on overdrive, but I have more exciting vegan related news! One of Besen Retail’s favorite bakeries, Babycakes, will be expanding their refined-sugar free, gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, casein-free, egg-free, vegan, kosher business to Los Angeles. Owner Erin McKenna said, “We’re built, just waiting on the final bits of paperwork!” Babycakes LA will open at 130 E. 6th Street, or you can visit the New York location at 248 Broome Street, near recenly leased 75 Orchard Street.
-Caitlin
Attention NYC Men! Here is your chance to smell good, learn HOW to smell good, and get free beer and snacks! Tonight Lafco NY/Santa Maria Novella will hold a seminar with free custom shaves by Martial Vivot, while Marina Searsale and Sebastian Alvarez Murena will show off their selection of guy-approved scents. Don’t forget about the Corona and snacks from Falai. Shaving starts at 6pm, lasting until 9pm at 285 Laffayette Street.
-Caitlin
The newly opened OBAO in Midtown Manhattan.
The restaurant opening-machine Michael Bao Huynh is recovering from a soup mishap at his newly opened OBAO at 53rd Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. The bun bo hue is a Vietnamese soup comprised of hot chili paste with a spicy lemongrass flavor. While the menu described the bun bo hue in this manner, the soup served was similar to that of the pho soup.
After receiving complaints, Huynh went back into the kitchen to perfect the recipe. He is now inviting people to come back to the restaurant, and if they order the new version of the bun bo hue, OBAO will throw in a free order of spring rolls. While it may not explain the mixup, it certainly makes up for it!
-Caitlin
Pamela Blackwell, owner of new vegan sweet shop Cocoa V (picture via NY Times)
Vegans avoid all animal products, and have to be extra careful when chocolate shopping, scouring the label for any traces of milk. Pamela Blackwell, owner of vegan restaurants Blossom in Chelsea and Blossom Cafe on the Upper West Side, has come to the rescue of chocolate-loving vegans everywhere with her new retail concept Cocoa V. The store contains two brick encrusted spaces, one with a vegan dessert and wine bar, and the other a shop.
The chocolates are composed of four ingredients, organic cocoa, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and sugar, creating a rich and intense flavor. Other treats include dairy-free cheeses, quiche, sandwiches, brownies, and other pasteries. Each food can be paired with a wine selection. If you have a vegan in your life, Cocoa V is an ideal spot to pick them up some sweet holiday treats! The shop is located at 174 9th Avenue, at 21st Street.
-Caitlin
Because my body temperature seems to average about 10 degrees cooler than a normal person’s, scarves are a staple in my wardrobe most of the year. If you are starting to feel the chills of December too, take a look at some of this neckwear, found in shops all over the city.
-Caitlin
Elliott and Evan playing ping pong at SPiN
SPiN bounced last night with music, gourmet appetizers, and plenty of ping pong. The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership congregated at the ping pong bar-restaurant-lounge to celebrate the businesses in the district, as well as give members a chance to meet their neighbors. Retail Specialists Elliott Dweck, Evan Silver, and I attended the event. Not only did we get the chance to sip on drinks from the open bar and snack on mini grilled cheese sandwiches and potato pizza, but we also brought new unwrapped toys to benefit the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies Toy Drive. I snapped some pictures while Elliott and Evan played a friendly game of ping pong.
-Caitlin
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