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Best of New York: Shopping, Recreation and Services

Written and reported by Julie Gordon, Kristen V. Brown, Tracy E. Hopkins, Jennifer Milne and Alina Soler

October 24, 2007

Harlem Lanes (Jefferson Siegel, Newsday / October 23, 2007)

Do you want to know which store in New York City sells the cheapest home goods? Where you can buy mouthwatering candies and chocolates? Which pet spa will pamper your pooch to the max?

You can find it all in amNewYork's "Best of New York" special. For Part 1 of our guide, the staff searched the city high and low to find the ultimate in shopping, entertainment, recreation, sports and services.

Be sure to look for Part 2 Thursday, featuring top picks for dining and nightlife.

SHOPPING:

Candy
Economy Candy
108 Rivington St., 800-352-4544
Willy Wonka has his match. What started out as a corner candy shop in 1937 is now a Lower East Side institution, selling hundreds of types of candies, chocolates, nuts and dried fruits. Lining the store in bins and on shelves, from floor to ceiling, are all of your favorite treats -- from old-time faves like Fruit Stripe gum, Nerds, Fun Dip, Pez and rock candy, to hand-dipped chocolate fruits and other upscale delicacies.

Chocolate
La Maison du Chocolat
1018 Madison Ave., 212-744-7117; 30 Rockefeller Center, 212-265-9404
La Maison du Chocolat's mouthwatering, smooth pieces will make you never want to buy Hershey's again. The dark chocolate is so flavorful that even a die-hard milk- or white-chocolate fan has been known to convert. Each handmade chocolate is crafted in the brand's production facility near Paris and then shipped to New York. If you're dying to find out the secret behind the candies, check out one of the store's comprehensive chocolate tastings or classes.

Vintage store
Beacon's Closet
88 N. 11th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-486-0816
Whether you're a college student or a working guy or girl on a budget, taking your new or gently used fashions (think current trends from H&M or vintage clothes you found in Grandma's attic) to hipster haven Beacon's Closet is an inexpensive way to replenish your wardrobe. The store offers 55 percent of the resale price in trade or 35 percent cash. Be aware, however, that Beacon's staffers are notoriously picky, and having your items rejected is practically a New York City fashionista's rite of passage.

T-shirt selection
Chelsea Flea Market
Sixth Avenue, between 24th and 25th streets
Unlike mainstream vintage stores where bargaining isn't the norm, the Chelsea Flea Market has amazing T-shirts whose prices can be finagled by smart shoppers. Metal racks hold dozens of cheap shirts, which come in every color, size and design you can think of. And, you'll be the only one in the city sporting it.