New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [28]
Little Singer Building.
Ernest Flagg’s 1904 masterpiece reveals the final flower of the cast-iron style with a delicate facade covered with curlicues of wrought iron. The central bay windows are recessed, allowing the top floor to arch over like a proscenium. The L-shape building’s second facade is around the corner on Prince Street. | 561 Broadway, SoHo | 10012 | Subway: R to Prince St.
SOHO GALLERIES
Deitch Projects.
This energetic enterprise composed of two gallery spaces shows works from the global art scene, as well as performance groups such as the Citizens Band. Artists on view have included Swoon, Ryan McGinness, and Kihinde Wiley. | 76 Grand St., between Greene and Wooster Sts., SoHo | 10013 | 212/343–7300 | Tues.–Sat., noon–6 | www.deitch.com | Subway: C, E to Spring St. | 18 Wooster St., between Grand and Canal Sts., SoHo | 10013 | 212/343–7300 | Subway: N, Q, R, J, Z, 6, A, C, E to Canal St.
Drawing Center.
At this nonprofit organization the focus is on contemporary and historical drawings seen nowhere else. Works often push the envelope on what’s considered drawing; many projects are commissioned especially by the center. A second gallery is across the street at 40 Wooster Street. | 35 Wooster St., between Broome and Grand Sts., SoHo | 10013 | 212/219–2166 | www.drawingcenter.org | Subway: N, Q, R, J, Z, 6, A, C, E to Canal St.
New York Earth Room.
Walter De Maria’s 1977 avant-garde work consists of 140 tons of gently sculpted soil (22 inches deep) filling 3,600 square feet of a second-floor gallery maintained by the Dia Art Foundation. You cannot touch or tread on the dirt, nor can you take its photo, but it has been valued at $1 million. If you like the work, check out de Maria’s Broken Kilometer a few blocks away at 393 West Broadway. | 141 Wooster St., between W. Houston and Prince Sts., SoHo | 10012 | 212/989–5566 | www.earthroom.org | Free | Wed.–Sun. noon–6 (closed 3–3:30 and during the summer) | Subway: R to Prince St.; B, D, F, M to Broadway-Lafayette.
OK Harris Works of Art.
This SoHo stalwart hosts a wide range of visual arts: paintings, digitally enhanced photographs, trompe-l’oeil reliefs, and sculptures. The gallery closes from mid-July to early September. | 383 West Broadway, between Spring and Broome Sts., SoHo | 10012 | 212/431–3600 | www.okharris.com | Subway: C, E to Spring St.
Ronald Feldman Fine Arts.
Founded in 1971, this gallery represents more than 30 international contemporary artists. It has a large selection of Andy Warhol prints, paintings, and drawings. | 31 Mercer St., between Grand and Canal Sts., SoHo | 10013 | 212/226–3232 | www.feldmangallery.com | Subway: N, Q, R, J, A, C, E, 6 to Canal St.
LITTLE ITALY AND NOLITA: TOP TOURING EXPERIENCES
THE BEST ITALIAN AMERICAN EATS
Around Grand Street near Mulberry and Mott are a number of fine family-run Italian grocers, including the fifth-generation DiPalo’s Fine Foods (200 Grand St. | 212/226–1033), known for its amazing cheese and cured meats (ask for a sample!), and fourth-generation Alleva (188 Grand St. | 212/226–7990), where the mozzarella and fried rice balls are among the best in the city. Although it’s technically NoLIta, newcomer Torrisi Italian Specialties (250 Mulberry St. | 212/965–0955), with former cooks from Babbo (a Mario Batali enoteca in Greenwich Village), has brought high-quality Italian-American food back to the area. Try to avoid visiting before dinner, when locals hit them after work, and have a much less frenzied experience and more of a chance to taste the goods. (DiPalo’s in particular has long lines most days.)