Can You Tell I Like Books?

One last post for one of my favorite little shops in all of downtown Manhattan? Yes, yes it is! Like I've said in a previous post, I love to read and I can do it for hours and hours with no breaks in between (maybe not no breaks, but you know what I mean). This store is so unique and I just happened to stumble upon it because I was walking all over the Lower East Side. Anywhere street I could walk on, I would go to. Any store that looked interesting, I would walk in! I feel really lucky to have found this store because it is a diamond in the rough; it happens to be one of the most interesting stores that I've ever gotten to walk into!

This place is called Bluestockings and it's located on Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington. Bluestockings is a bookstore where the workers volunteer their time and have books on topics such as feminism, race issues, climate change, and more subjects that some people would never dare get into talking about. I think that's what genuinely makes this place cool and so appealing, the fact that the books they have here really challenge normal ideologies that some people may have and causes people to see things in a different light due to the content of the literature.

Image by bluestockings

Just an FYI, Bluestockings is fair trade cafe, as well! Fair trade is where awareness is raised for what an organization stands for, such as the ideologies discussed above! It's honestly undoubtedly nice to sit in this cafe, relax, and read a book. It's even vegan and organic so if that's your thing than Bluestockings is really the perfect place to go to.

The second you walk into Bluestockings, you get a sense of welcoming and acceptance for anybody and everybody. It does not matter race nor religious beliefs, anybody is welcome in this store with open arms. There is something for everyone to read because there is such a broad category of books throughout the whole store.

Bluestockings not only has this wide array of books to choose from, they also have merchandise that I still regret not buying. They have little pins, bags, mugs, and more that talk about the importance of reading or just have the ability to make someone laugh. My favorite mug they sell is probably the "fuel to fight the power" mug because it is so true for me that coffee is my fuel to get me through my day! Coffee also happens to be my fuel to fight the power, incase you were wondering that.

The environment in this place is just, honestly, one of the best in New York City. The employees are also so welcoming and everybody walking around has a truly friendly face. I feel like it's the one place in the city that you can interact with people without the fear of someone getting annoyed with you like the rest of Manhattan. As the last post I'm going to make for this blog, I highly recommend going to this incredible hole-in-the-wall store and buying anything that catches your eye.

Seriously, do it.

Better Than the Rest

I can't even begin to be able to describe this place, but I'll try my best. Have you ever had something to eat that just melts in your mouth and makes you see fireworks with your eyes closed because the food is just that good? Or maybe you could hear cheers in your head where it's so loud like an audience at a concert? If you have, then congrats you've had food as phenomenal as I have at an incredible restaurant called TAO.

TAO is by far the best Pan-Asian food you will ever have in your life (So biased, I know). It's some of the best food I've ever eaten, in general. I've been to some of the best restaurants in New York City, like Del Posto and the Four Seasons, and this place is by far my absolute favorite. There are two locations for TAO in Manhattan, but I definitely prefer the restaurant in Downtown Chelsea compared to the location in Midtown East. TAO's location in Chelsea is between West 17th and 16th Street off of 9th Avenue, just a short, convenient walk from Penn Station!

Image by cityelitegroup

The first time I ever went to TAO was for my best friend's sixteenth birthday and boy was it an experience. I remember how excited all of us got when we walked into this restaurant; it is still one of the most breathtaking places I have ever gotten the experience to enjoy. The main piece of the whole restaurant, probably the first thing you notice when you walk in, is the statue of Quan Yin Buddha; the Goddess of Mercy is the main statue in the downtown restaurant, standing proudly with 24 giving arms. This statue isn't even the first you see when you see when you walk into TAO since there is a Buddha laying down above the seats in the lounge.

Besides this place being absolutely gorgeous with its decor, it's got food that will knock you out of your seat (that's how impressed you'd be, I mean... you know?). This was the place where I realized I am completely in love with edamame, the outside is so salty with these perfect soy beans that you take out and eat. Seriously, have you ever had edamame?! It sounds sooo bad, but trust me it's sooo good!

Also, by my standards, their deserts are to die for. They make these chocolate Buddhas that are cute and delicious all in one, what more could you need from chocolate?! Don't even get me started on the Giant Fortune Cookie, too... Actually, get me started on it. I won't shut up about that desert for hours on end, it is seriously one of the best things I have ever tasted in my entire life. UGH, writing about it right now is making my mouth water! It's made with chocolate moose, what more could you really ask for, come on now.

If me ranting about how much I love TAO in Chelsea doesn't convince you to go try this place, then I don't know what would. If you love Asian cuisine as much as I do, then I highly recommend TAO as a restaurant you should stop at in Manhattan.