"The very first thing I bought in this East Village store was a taxidermied duckling. I was raised Catholic, so I'm a sucker for religious icons." -Chloe Sevigny, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to NYC Read more.
"Overcrowded shelves containing millions of jars, bottles and tiny containers filled with every remedy and snake oil dream-merchandise for every ailment—imagined or otherwise." -Gay Talese Read more.
"Even though it gets a big fashion and art-world crowd, it always has a Zen vibe. It's my sanctuary, even on weekend nights. I get the black cod." -Chloe Sevigny, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to NYC Read more.
"Since 1914, the city's best and most character-rich smoked-fish experts." -Chef Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune Read more.
"Bring your own sandals and shorts, and a friend. Hit the sauna room and sweat, sweat, sweat. You'll never feel better." -Sean Avery, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to New York City Read more.
"It's my home-cooking spot. I understand why Patti Smith said it would be where she'd have her last meal." -Chloe Sevigny, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to NYC Read more.
"With its furniture, plates, ceramic objects, cutlery and glassware, I wish I could just move my bed and stove in and call it home." -Chef Gabrielle Hamilton, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to NYC Read more.
"I've bought drying racks, little vases. I collect Nelson McCoy ceramic flower pots, which I find there." -Chloe Sevigny, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to NYC Read more.
"Airy and light-filled with great music. Known for its indoor cycling workouts. You may even get to see Alec Baldwin in tights!" -Sean Avery, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to New York City Read more.
"They make handcrafted shoes and boots that are very expensive but objects of beauty." -Gay Talese, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to New York City Read more.
"It's an Irish place attended by neighborhood sports fans, firemen, cops, writers and old-timers who've been coming here for 50 years or so." -Gay Talese, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to New York City Read more.
"I order a big creamy bowl of café au lait when the place is peppered with discreet, big-deal New Yorkers." -Chef Gabrielle Hamilton, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to New York City Read more.
"Here an old-school barman will give you a nice gin pour and crack open your own bottle of cold tonic. Enjoy the Max Parrish mural, said to depict Old King Cole passing wind!" -Chef Gabrielle Hamilton Read more.
"It serves martinis at the table in the shaker. You thus get full measure, and the waiter doesn't spill drops of valuable gin on the floor while walking it to you." -Gay Talese Read more.
"My guilt-free shopping emporium. When I've outgrown something, it's where I trade it in. I just scored a gray wool Proenza Schouler sweater there." -Chloe Sevigny, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to NYC Read more.
"Knitting is my therapy, and this home goods boutique is where I buy hard-to-find yarns from all over the world." -Sean Avery, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to NYC Read more.
"For over 35 years, this tailoring salon has been a master at alterations, repairs and creative patching-up on cherished garments." -Gay Talese, in the WSJ's Insider's Guide to New York City Read more.
"Hitch a ride on the IKEA ferry to Red Hook to get the tastiest affordable lobster roll. For $9.99, it comes with chips and slaw. Go at dusk to see the Statue of Liberty." -Chef Gabrielle Hamilton Read more.
"The tiny space is a visual-books shop and gallery with a book club down below street level. The interior design by Rafael de Cárdenas lives up to its name." -Sean Avery, in the Insider's Guide to NYC Read more.
To taste the wide swathe of cuisines Lure's menu covers, start with a few oysters, move on to sushi and perhaps close with the Continent-inflected grilled whole daurade. Read more.