New York City Soho And Tribeca

SoHo’s shopping is decidedly upscale, but you can still find some deals at the district’s used clothing stores and street-side stands. Prince, Spring, and Greene St. house the SoHo branches of the world’s best fashion brands. The spaces themselves are often works of art. Many a credit rating has suffered a sad demise at the hands of the salespeople here. The farther south you head toward Canal St., the cheaper the clothes generally get. Check out the daily “fair” that sets up shop on the southwest corner of Wooster and Spring St.

Toys in Babeland, 43 Mercer St. (☎212-966-2120; www.babeland.com), between Broome and Grand St. S A, C, E to Canal St.; 6 to Canal St. An adult toystore, this shop sells vibrators (from $12), sex books of every stripe (from $12), massage oils (from $5), and a huge array of dildos. If you’re unsure how to use the cockrings ($8), or you just want to improve your technique, “Babeland University” offers evening workshops ($30) like “G-Spotting,” “S&M 101,” and “Oral Ambitions.” Advance reservations suggested. 18+. Open M-Sa noon-11pm, Su 11am-7pm. Additional locations at 94 Rivington St. (☎212-375-1701), and in Brooklyn at 462 Bergen St. (718-638-3820).
Evolution, 120 Spring St. (800-952-3195; www.evolutionnyc.com), betewen Greene and Mercer St. S R, W to Prince St., C, E to Spring St. Completely different than any other store in SoHo, Evolution sells natural history items both cheap and expensive, but always exotic. From human skeletons and zebra hides to stuffed albino peacocks ($4,995) and wooly mammoth hair ($16), the novelty items here are amazing. Cambrian era fossils ($12), venus fly trap plants ($6). Open daily 11am-7pm.
UNIQLO, 546 Broadway (917-237-8811; www.uniqlo.com), bewteen Spring and Prince St. S R, W to Prince St., 6 to Spring St. A 4-story palace of affordable Japanese fashion. This flagship branch of Japan’s leading clothing chain is the only UNIQLO in the US and features collections by up-and-coming designers that can’t be found anywhere else. If the futuristic decor and the anime photo booth aren’t enough to attract your attention, the variety and prices of the items on display probably will catch your eye. Men’s and women’s clothing. Jeans ($50), t-shirts ($15), dresses (from $30). Year-round sales are plentiful and bring discounts of up to 50%. Open M-Sa 10am-9pm, Su 11am-8pm.
Lucky Brand Jeans, 38 Greene St. (☎212-625-0707; www.luckybrandjeans.com), at Grand St. S J, M, N, Q, R, W, Z, 6 to Canal St. Designer denim is all over SoHo, and Lucky Brand is one of the extortionists selling $200 slacks. What sets this store apart, however, is that its sales are serious—jean prices drop to as low as $40. Call ahead for sales information. Open M-Sa 11am-8pm, Su noon-6pm.
Exstaza, 491 Broadway (☎212-925-8193), at Broome St. S N, R, W to Prince St. A nice but cheap store that carries the trendy stuff you saw in SoHo’s boutiques at a fraction of the price. Not always designer labels, but stylish nonetheless. Plenty of high quality sale items (denim under $20, dresses under $10). Shirts $20. Dresses $30. Denim $45. Open M-Sa 10am-9pm, Su 10am-8pm.
Pearl River, 477 Broadway (☎212-431-4770; www.pearlriver.com), between Greene and Mercer St. S J, M, N, Q, R, W, Z, 6 to Canal St. This Chinese-run department store outgrew its original Chinatown location and moved up into this spacious SoHo site. You’ll find dozens of gorgeous Mandarin dresses ($39.50) and other Chinese products for fabulously low prices. Satin tote bags $13. Slippers ($15) I Love NY t-shirts (in Chinese; $10). Tea sets from $17.50. Open daily 10am-7:20pm.
Sephora, 555 Broadway (☎212-625-1309; www.sephora.com), between Spring and Prince St. S C, E to Spring St./Ave. of the Americas (6th Ave.); 6 to Spring St.; N, R, W to Prince St. As ubiquitous in New York as McDonald’s, this store offers a huge selection of cosmetics, including perfumes, powders, haircare products, and makeup from top brands like Chanel, Stila, Clinique, Dior, and Clarins. At the original SoHo location, there’s everything from bargain-bin deals to $50 Chanel foundation. Knowledgeable staff and free trial products make for an enjoyable shopping experience. Also sells men’s fragrances and skincare products. Open daily 10am-9pm.
Universal News and Cafe Corp., 484 Broadway (☎212-965-9042), between Broome and Grand St. S C, E to Spring St./Ave. of the Americas (6th Ave.); 6 to Spring St./Lafayette St. Over 7000 foreign and domestic magazine titles, covering everything from fashion to politics. The cafe provides decent fare and spacious seating. Muffins $1.50. Sandwiches $5-6. Bagels from $0.60. Computers are available for Internet use ($2 per 10min, $5 per 30min.) Open daily 6am-11pm.