When was the last time you were in a cool magazine store? I still love print. After seeing Ali’s Instagram feed I decided that I needed to check out his shop. It’s very small and he has managed to use every square inch of the shop.

While I typically just show a photo of the facade of a business, after we got into a conversation he invited me to take his photo. He is proudly holding a magazine with Julianne Moore on the cover. She lives in the neighborhood and he calls her his friend.

Btw, he has more than 28,000 on Instagram! And, he’s 2 doors down from one of my favorite diner style restaurants, La Bobonniere.

Casa Magazines, 22 Eighth Avenue at Bleecker Street

Update: I’m happy to say that not only is La Bonbonniere open for business, they have way more outdoor seating than they ever had indoors. This is a fabulous greasy spoon. Cash only. Updated 13 July 2021

News flash, if you watch the streaming show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, they have a few scenes that were filmed here! La Bonbonniere is a little restaurant in the West Village. They've been around for quite a few years. Just have a look at their fading sign. It is inexpensive and the atmosphere is casual. The food is standard diner style food and yummy too. A number of famous people have eaten here including Molly Shannon, James Gandolfini, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman to name a few. But you don't need to be rich or famous to eat here. They have a few tables on the sidewalk during good weather. It is a cash only restaurant and they don't have a website.

La Bonbonniere, 28 Eighth Avenue near 12th Street.

So I'm a huge fan of Joe Cafe. They have about a dozen locations around the city. It is independently owned and operated. The coffee is consistently very good and the staff are always friendly. This location in the West Village is small and it's often difficult to get a seat indoors or outdoors. But if you're in the neighborhood and want a good coffee you'll find it here.

Joe Cafe - 141 Waverly Place between Sixth Avenue and Christopher Street

The White Horse Tavern has been in business since 1880! It's not the oldest surviving bar in NYC. But it is one of the most famous. People who have frequented the White Horse Tavern include Dylan Thomas, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, Norman Mailer, Jane Jacobs, Hunter S. Thompson, Jack Kerouac and James Baldwin to name a few.

I don't know if you'll meet any famous people there now! They have a sidewalk terrace in the nice weather and the customers are a combination of neighborhood regulars and tourists.

White Horse Tavern, 567 Hudson Street.