Adieu to Goulue and Payard
Francophiles hope for new café homes, sustain themselves on catering
By Sarah Liston
If you’re a Francophile New Yorker like me, there is no such thing as bistro and brasserie burnout. We Francophiles dream of New York City boulevards bountiful with boulangeries and patisseries—which is why we take special notice (and remain in mourning) when any of our beloved cafés Français bid us au revoir.
This summer, the Upper East Side lost two of its favorite French bistros, La Goulue on Madison and Payard on Lexington. La Goulue, which had originally been slated to close last April, extended its business until Aug. 26, when it closed after 36 years. Read more
Ups and Downs on 86th
Lots at Lex, but ghost town farther east at 2nd Ave.
By Sarah Liston
Things are really starting to shape up on the corner of 86th Street and Lexington Avenue. H&M opened its doors at the end of May and New York magazine reported that some Upper East Siders lined as early as 6:30 a.m. to be among the first to shop at the new location. And I thought I was a clotheshorse.
There is no longer that odd juxtaposition of two Barnes & Nobles within a few blocks of each other around East 86th Street. The location by the subway on Lexington between 86th and 87th was recently shuttered, while the larger location on 86th between Second and Third prepares to move to a space next to H&M, on the corner of 86th and Lexington. A third tenant-to-be in the same building, Bank of America, is also slated to open soon—adding even more ATM options to the already bank-saturated corner. Read more
RETAIL HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
SEAFOOD SWEEPS THE UPPER EAST SIDE, WHILE BUSINESS GROWS UNDERGROUND
By Sarah Liston
Every year, when I leave New York City to visit my family in Texas for half of December and all of January, I return to find that at least half a dozen businesses in the neighborhood have either popped up, moved, closed or are on the verge of opening their doors. This year is no exception. And despite the economic woes we’re experiencing, I’m happy to report that most of my news is of new businesses opening—particularly seafood spots and subterranean studios. Nice to know that hope still springs eternal. Read more
LOVE FROM BELOW 14TH STREET
DOWNTOWN TRENDINESS MIGRATES NORTH, PLUS A RETAIL VERSION OF MUSICAL CHAIRS
By Sarah Liston
After a year of hip downtown restaurants snubbing the Upper East Side in favor of satellites on the Upper West Side (Shake Shack, Magnolia Bakery, Mermaid Inn), we are finally getting some love from below 14th Street. Indie pizza purveyor Two Boots will soon dish out its Cajun-Italian slices to hungry East Siders in the former Mimma’s Pizza space at 1617 Second Ave., at 84th Street. Two Boots is scheduled to open around the first week of November.
Another business previously absent from the Read more
ZEN COMES TO 86TH STREET
OVERWHELMED BY CONSTRUCTION? TRY PURE YOGA.
By Sarah Liston
There’s been an awful lot of talk lately about buildings “going green.” And at 203 E. 86th St., between Second and Third avenues, there’s a new “green” building like you’ve probably never seen: greenery is literally growing from the façade. The grand opening of Pure Yoga studio has been much anticipated since the Pure Yoga offices opened earlier this year, rather ironically, in the old Krispy Kreme Doughnuts space at 1497 Third Ave. Read more
