go to the architects and designer building 150 east 58th street. it is for the trade but they allow anyone entrance. their showrooms are a visual treat.
they even have all miele on display. everything is high end. you might find them on the internet also.

Last time I was there, I had a blast going to open houses. You get to stroll and poke your nose into stuff, seeing how real New Yorkers live. The New York Times has an online open house listing with links to pics, so you can choose those most likely to interest you.

Got to see a couple of upscale kitchens and baths in the process.... ooohs and ahhhs all around.

Here is a link that might be useful: The NYT search page for open houses:

GREAT ideas... thanks so much. anyone else?

I just think the A&D building itself is really beautiful. The outside anyway, with those windows.

There are also a ton of little showrooms, particularly lamp shops and lighting showrooms, on side streets.

I advise starting down 59th street (everybody start humming), go to the Conran Shop (don't be fooled, there's a big shop in the basement with lots of small, affordable things). Then poke around the other streets a little.

I don't do a lot of antiques shopping in NYC, but there is supposed to be a nice antiques mall, called something helpful like the Downtown Antiques Center? On 14th or something? Some New Yorker here probably knows.

I have been dying to get to the shop at Scandinavia House. Maybe you can beat me to it.

If you've never been to the design floor at MOMA, it has a lot of household objects and architectural pieces in it.

And ABC Carpet and Home (14th st) has all kinds of stuff. And the Union Square Greenmarket nearby.

I also can't go to NYC without going to Myers of Keswick to restock.

But there are probably fresher eyes than mine out there. Try Apartment Therapy.

You know, as much as I love window shopping in NY, I actually prefer to design and purchase my own lighting fixtures online.

Have a fun trip!

Hi Mamadadapaige, here are a few ideas:
for lighting: Aero in Soho, and I think there are some cool lighting places on the Bowery.
For other housewares, try Moss in Soho, Gracious Home(several locations),Takashimaya(5th and 55th), Jonathan Adler(Greene St. Soho), and a fun place across the street from ABC Carpet and Home sells vintage dishes from old hotels and clubs but the name is escaping me! I'll follow-up when I remember it!

Mamadadapaige,
I can tell you italian modern kitchens showrooms:
(many are in Soho )
-Vivendum (kitchen, etc.. showroom),23 greene street, (I used to work for them and I still dealing with them)
-Boffi (kitchen bath showroom), 85 Grand St. (a friend of mine now work there)
-Valcucine (kitchen showroom), 66 Crosby street.
-Artemide (lighting), 46 Greene St
-Alessi (kitchen accessories)130 Greene St

M2L Collection (furniture), 215 E. 58th Street. it's on the second floor (mostly furniture, I design the kitchen for the owner)

B&B Italia (sofas), 150 East 58th Street
Poliform (kitchen etc..),150 E 58th St

and others but I don't remember right now, sorry.

Make sure and go to Zabar's on the west side.They have wonderful kitchen things and food samples to die for. The Green Market is wonderful but not when it is 30 degrees ! You will want to eat at Thalia's and Beco. These are 2 restuarants that we frequent as they are so good and have a quality that reflects what my DS1 is doing...hard to find anywhere in the US. You will be very pleased.

MOMA is wonderful . Also FishsEddy by the ABC store ( across the street). Hope you have a GREAT time. c

this is all so great. Thank you so much. We're leaving this morning but I'll have internet access and check back here if anyone has anything else.

So excited.... we usually only go for a couple of days because of the pricey hotels, but this time we have an extended stay as we are staying in my brother and sister in law's apartment while they are away.

bump

For cool kitchen gadgets: Broadway Panhandler on Broadway and 8th St.
Enjoy your time in NYC- we were just in on Friday for DD's 3rd birthday and went to the cutest little tea shop called Alice's Tea Cup on 64th and Lexington, just thought I'd recommend it for an affordable delicious lunch. I don't know if you have a little girl but both of mine LOVED this place- and they sell their adorable tea pots.

Just wanted to thank everyone for their GREAT recommendations. We had a wonderful time in NYC. It was more of a gastromic tour than anything but did have a chance to visit many of your recommedations. My biggest regret was not getting to Scandinavia House. We tried... got their at 11 am but they don't open until noon. DH and the kids are swedish/danish so this would have been great.. also found out they have a cool kids playspace they kids would have liked. At least now I know about it... next time.

Did you get to Thalia's ? We have been there 3 times now and it is always great .I hope if you got there that is was wonderful. How about Becco ? That is the most fantastic Italian food...love the all bottles are $25 wine menu . c

blakey, did you mean Fish's Eddy?

http://www.fishseddy.com/

Glad you liked the Scandinavia House pointer!

I mention it to a lot of people and it doesn't set them on fire, but a for a few people, it's just exactly what they're looking for.

Lets hope we both get there sometime when it's open this year!

last track of this thread, but wanted to follow up.

trailrunner, we didn't end up making it to thalia's. we went over for lunch on one of the days and it turns out to be almost directly across the street (on 50th) from Toloache which we think has the best Mexican food we've ever had. We were there last summer shortly after they opened (read about it in Elle Decor) and loved it. The draw was too strong for DH who adores Mexican.. unfortunately where we are you don't find a lot of good Mexican. Next time, will have to try Thalia's... I also love that they have a take out kitchen -

growlery, we will definitely be going back to S. House. I guess their cafe is run by Aquavit which I think is known for the best Scandinavian food in NYC (although what do I know I'm from Boston).

Can I just tell you that I had the most delectable dish of food ever while in the city? It was at the bar room at the Modern (at MOMA). Wild Mushroom soup with Chorizo Wontons - such an unusual combination of flavors and so tasty... I am still dreaming of it. We also LOVED Nobu (went for our first time). The sashimi salad and the shrimp tempura were TDF.

Was served less than fully cooked chicken one night when DH and I ate at the bar at Jean George. DH insisted that JG would never make a mistake and that he obviously intended the red juices flowing from the chicken... I disagreed and asked for it to be cooked a little more. I know there is a trend in the food world to serve things rare, but I have to draw the line at chicken.

thanks again.

Graffito,
Yes, that's it! Thanks for the reminder....

That wild mushroom soup sounds amazing, mamadadapaige...perfect for this cold, snowy winter!

Mama...I have not had the Mexican across the street. There are only so many meals a person can eat !! LOL. I too love the MOMA cafe. It is always wonderful. Was the Van Gogh still there ? It brought me to tears...just the most wonderful exhibit I have ever seen.
Glad you had a wonderful time. c

ahh, yes, the Van Gogh show. We were lucky enough to see it and you are right, it was wonderful. Amazing that he only painted for 7 years and loved to see what he painted just 2 weeks before Starry Night (I forget the name, but read that he really had to talk himself into the night paintings and felt anxiety over it, but did this painting and two weeks later completed Starry Night... just amazing).

One funny thing at the museum... on the ARchitecture and Design floor, there was an exhibit with these "do not touch" signs. They showed an image of a hand with two fingers cut off with blood spurting out. Very Japanese Anime. DD asked what the sign meant and was very perplexed by it. I had to take a picture of the sign... it was so irreverent for this day and age and cracked me up. Also took a picture of DD in the coed bathroom at the Modern... this was a first for both of us (very modern indeed).