KNITTING Uptown New York City

New York City Residents knit. Take the train, take the bus, walk to the nearest yarn store!

Knitting has been occupying a lot of my time lately-- well mostly ripping, the knitting itself doesn't take much time at all. Yet, I've been meeting a lot of other fiber folk, crocheters, knitters, weavers and they've shared their enthusiasm for a few more yarn shops. These are New York City yarn shops located 'uptown'.

Yarntopia, 974 Amsterdam Avenue, up about 108th Street- have not been there yet, but got a pleasant and quick response to an email I'd sent them; so a definite yes visit- perhaps for some Valentine yarn.

Then there's String now located at 130 East 82nd Street in what is advertised as their new, bigger store.

Knitty City on 79th between Amsterdam and Broadway has been noted as the friendliest yarn store in town. People I've met through fiber groups and random chats while knitting on the subway, who've been to Knitty City, agree.

Knitters like to nosh while knitting, so I welcome comments for some good nosh eat in, take out near these uptown stores. Oops gotta go the magic loop is calling!

Knitting Downtown NYC

Sorry, it's been awhile since posting- life! But wanted to give readers a sense of yarn stores located in the downtown New York City neighborhoods.

So let's start with Seaport Yarns at 135 William Street - In previus posts I've mentioned Purl http://www.purlsoho.comon Sullivan Street- and Downtown Yarns on Avenue A. Downtown you'll also find Knit New York on 14th Street and Schoolhouse Products, Inc on 28th. Another downtown place to knit, eat and purchase yarn is The Point Knitting Cafe on Bedford Street.

Some of the great knitting folk I've met through the Bronx/Westchester Yarn Therapy Group (find them on meetup.com) will let me know about other yarn stores, both 'downtown' and when we visit the resident preferences in other boroughs.

FOOD AND MORE IN NEW YORK CITY

While we are still below 14th Street I must tell you about Jacques Torres Chocolate okay so I lied it is about food. But that's what most residents of New York City o- not just eat, but know where and how to eat. So Jacques Torres is located at 350 Hudson at King Street (1 block South of Houston), New York, NY 10014. Store hours are Mon - Sat 9:00am - 7:00pm. Sunday 10:00am - 6:00pm. there's a new site uptown around 73rd and gotta tell you we'll repeat when we get there ....

(for the tourist who wants to be a New Yorker, go for the spicey hot chocolate)

Okay so my good downtown Saturday- get a facial from Winnie over on Hester Street, then Suki cuts my hair around the corner on Elizabeth Street, a walk over to Sullivan Street to pick up new yarn at PURL, then Jacques for a spicey hot chocolate then a walk back to the Chess Forum before heading East on Bleeker to get the #6 train uptown. (If I have a 'critter sitter' then I might elongate the day with a film at Angelika.)So there you go...a residents guide to this area of NYC. So now we'll head north a bit http://www.jacquestorres.com/

Greenwich Village

Okay I'm aging myself by using the title Greenwich Village. For some New York residents there is no 'Greenwich Village'. There might be an East Village, West Village or the Village...but Greenwich Village is archaic.

So let's put food on the back burner for awhile and walk out of the park (see below) and head for the Chess Forum at 219 Thompson Street, or walk across the street to the Village Chess Shop. At either landmark you'll find unique and one of a kind chess pieces, full sets (in all price ranges) a fantastic library and chess software. Almost always there's a game going on or someone waiting in the wings for a partner.

Knitters and other fiber folk- walk south and west to Sullivan Street and visit PURL their website says Purlsoho.com but we know the shop is located in what once was the West Village. They have a wonderful selection of yarn, and also offer classes. I've not yet found a 'free' pattern on the website though- too bad NYC Residents gravitate to 'free'.

The Lower East Side to Alphabet City

New York City residents don't all agree to the boundaries for Alphabet City, an area north of The Bowery and East of 'The Village'. The purists can argue for lifetimes especially about the role East Houston Street plays separating the Lower East Side from Alphabet City. But one thing just about all New Yorkers can agree to is that Katz's Delicatessen (send a salame to your boy in the army) is the quintessential New York eating experience. Prices are a lot higher than in 1888 but you won't find a better french frie in all the land- and even vegetarians can fill up and enjoy.

A few doors over-is Yonah Schimmel Knishes there are no words to describe these knishes New York City made since 1910!

Full? well head uptown and on Avenue A to about 3rd Street and stop in to Downtown Yarns and don't forget knitting is not for women only. In fact, in New York men who knit and knit in public get the same kind of attention as men who walk those adorable dogs that make women stop and talk. You might want to tuck your knitting into a 'manly' bag when you walk past the Hells Angel's New York City headquarters at 77 East Third- or not, who knows this is New York, betcha there's a meetup group called bikers who knit or angels who purl.