So you tried to get a table at Veselka and there’s a long line, no worry. Just few doors away is the Ukrainian East Village Restaurant. That’s how I discovered it. It has a very homey feeling to it and somehow feels more authentic. Whatever that means. They are both really good.

You might not see the sign for the entrance if you don’t look closely. The entrance is down a hallway. I’ve eaten there twice and I really like it. Borscht, blintzes, pierogis and strudel. You can’t go wrong.

Ukrainian East Village Restaurant - 140 Second Avenue (212) 614-3283

Astor Plate brings Mud Coffee back to Astor Place. There was always a Mud Coffee truck located next to the Astor Place subway station. They know how to make a good cup of coffee! They also sell food including avocado toast and there's outdoor seating.

Astor Plate, East 8th Street and Cooper Square.

B&H Dairy is a great little deli in New York City. Whether you are a vegetarian or not, you should be able to have a great meal here. I typically have the pierogis and/or a bowl of borscht. I keep meaning to try the French toast made with challah bread! It's difficult to choose from the many deli items they have. They also serve Dr. Brown's cream soda. The staff are very friendly and the clientele are typically from the neighborhood.

They have been in business since 1938! In a city with more than 20,000 restaurants that is truly amazing. Many restaurants in this city come and go. As an old school restaurant, they don't have a website! Also, they are a CASH ONLY restaurant. And the prices are nice on the wallet. By the way, they are also Kosher.

B&H Dairy and Vegetarian, 127 Second Avenue, near St. Marks Place in the East Village.

Update: Casey’s is in business still! It’s a great store. Updated 12 July 2021.

In a world that seems to be dominated by all things digital there are some analog items that still exist with good reason. Casey’s Rubber Stamps has existed in its East Village location on 11th Street for more than 15 years now. Casey has been in the rubber stamp business for more than 35 years.

Casey has every kind of rubber stamp that you can imagine from alphabets to zebras. And if he doesn’t have what you’re looking for he takes custom orders. You can also order online. When was the last time you wrote a physical letter to someone or made a greeting card by hand? There are so many cool things you can do with rubber stamps including shopping at an independent business.

Casey’s hours are based on artist’s hours and he is “open when not closed and closed when not open.” The listed hours of business are Monday-Saturday 1-8 pm and Sunday 2:30-7 pm.

Casey Rubber Stamps 322 East 11th Street (between First and Second Avenue)

East Village Books is an old style secondhand bookstore. They buy and sell and claim they pay the best price for used books. They've been in business since 1994 and that's saying a lot for a little bookstore in this city! There is a method to the madness if you look closely. Oh the things you can find when you take the time! If you're in the East Village do check it out!

East Village Books, 99 St. Mark's Place.

Alabaster Bookshop is just around the corner from Strand Books. (Strand will be covered in an upcoming post.) Alabaster is a secondhand bookstore just like the old days when 4th Avenue was lined with secondhand bookstores. They sell rare and secondhand books and $2 books in front of the store! They are so old school that they don't have a website! The link below is for their Facebook page.

Alabaster Books 122 4th Avenue at 12th Street

Yum! It’s really difficult to choose what to eat at Veselka as they have so many fabulous dishes. I love their borscht and pierogis. But that’s just a few of the amazing things to choose from.

They opened in 1954! That’s really remarkable for a city with 40,000 restaurants. There is no such thing as luck when it comes to surviving here. They are open 24 hours. Yep, this is the city that never sleeps.

Veselka is Ukrainian for rainbow and I say it translates to comfort food. This is a must go to restaurant in NYC.

Veselka - 144 Second Avenue at 9th Street

When was the last time you bought a new hat? I’ve been shopping for a new hat for the upcoming cooler temperatures when I came across this quaint shop. Julia, the owner and hat maker, makes the hats here in her shop.

Fabulous collection and you can see that they are handmade with the kind of detail that you don’t often see in other shops. There’s so much to do in the East Village. Make certain to check this shop out.

East Village Hats - 80 East 7th Street

Update - I am happy to say that Russo’s is open. I walked by there a few days ago. Updated 21 July 2021.

Russo's Mozzarella & Pasta is a real treasure. Nestled on East 11th Street next door to Veniero's Pastries is a store with all kinds of amazing Italian foods. They opened in 1908! That's right over 100 years ago! The face of the store has the look and feel of the old days in NYC!

They have all the fresh pastas and mozzarella as well as everything you might need to make an excellent Italian meal or picnic. This is the real thing. Of course you can go to other newer Italian specialty stores with big names and with big prices. Or you can go to the place where New Yorkers have been going for a really long time!

Russo's Mozzarella & Pasta, 344 East 11 Street near First Avenue