We were down in SoHo to take some photos for an updated homepage.

More details on the updated homepage will be coming shortly.

But here are some other photos from the afternoon.

The corner of Lafayette and Kenmare.

We are having a second wind to summer here in NYC. Beautiful walking weather, so we walked from SoHo through Midtown…

Took a photo of a guy taking a photo of another guy taking a photo.

Not one, but two pink buildings…

A carrot peeler salesman at Union Square, seriously. Check out the 2006 Vanity Fair issue with a multi-page spread.

Here’s a bit of midtown charm just north of the Flatiron district. And then the 20th century modern Empire poking its head out.

Not a cloud in the sky. Walking through SoHo. On our way to the playground.

Tree-lined streets.

I love Vespas. If only I was not so scared of driving one, it would be a thrill to have one. As well as convenient.

Condos going up all over the city. Even in view from the Thompson playground.

It’s NYC. A segregated world between dogs and kids. Dogs have their dog runs. Kids have their playgrounds.

Cool what kids create with chalk in the playgrounds.

After our visit to ChinaSquare the previous week, I was really into seeing some more contemporary Chinese art. So my son and I spent an afternoon in SoHo, walking around and visited the China Now : Lost in Translation exhibition at the Eli Klein gallery.

Societies in transition can bring about inspiring art. This exhibit is another example of it. Check out some photos for yourself below. Even better to view them live & in-person.

Gallery

Eli Klein Fine Art - 462 West Broadway, New York between Prince and Houston. RW Trains at Prince Street. CE Trains at Spring Street.

Decisions, decisions.

With three Joe locations, which one to visit?

Each one offering a unique and truly enjoyable experience.

The tucked-away neighborhood-y café in the West Village packed with locals.

The always buzzing and popping East Village/NYU loft location.

And the chic espresso bar in the Alessi store down in SoHo.

Plus, the espresso at each is top class.

Joe has you covered for one of the best espressos in NYC, and probably a café mood to match what you’re up to for the day. Just take a look at the videos for a look at all 3.

You have your choice. With Joe you can not go wrong.

Another beautiful day yesterday. Just crisp fall weather with a lot of sunshine.

My wife was off of work yesterday, so the three of us walked through the children’s Halloween parade at Washington Square Park and then headed south to SoHo, where we experienced quite a pleasant café surprise.

Upon seeing Café Borgia, my wife and I both said, yep, let’s have a café there. It is actually called Café Borgia II, as the original was in the Village on Bleecker with a rich history of its own.

What a location, being situated on Prince just off of Thompson. And Café Borgia matches it with a great place to enjoy a café.

People watching and more people watching.

They offer sidewalk seating, a comfortable interior and a good espresso.

The cakes looked delicious too. But we had already had a snack from the Union Square farmers’ market. It was a busy afternoon yesterday  Did I mention that we took our son swimming for the first time yesterday as well? He loved it.

Yesterday was a good day.

And we’ll have to visit Café Borgia again.

Address

Café Borgia II – 161 Prince Street, New York between Thompson and West Broadway. RW Trains at Prince Street. CE Trains at Spring Street.

Music

Edith Piaf – Sous le ciel de Paris

My son and I were in SoHo to meet a friend and enjoy an espresso.

We had a very good one at Aroma Espresso Bar.

It is not so much in SoHo as on SoHo, being located on the south-side of Houston itself. Thus, it loses a lot of the SoHo charm by facing north across what may be one of the widest streets in Manhattan.

The café itself was refreshing and crisp. A modern/futuristic 50s diner with long communal tables and plenty of bar seating.

I would put Aroma in a small category of NYC cafés that appear to, either have aspirations or just look like they could, become local contenders to Starbucks throughout the city. Throughout London, there is Caffe Nero and Costa presenting strong local competition to Starbuck’s. This competition is surprisingly lacking here in NYC.

If they maintain the taste of their espresso, the sharpness and cleanliness of their espresso bars, then Aroma could be one to present this challenge. If they do not, someone else will.

Address

Aroma Espresso Bar – 145 Greene Street, New York on Houston Street. BDFV Trains at Broadway – Lafayette. RW Trains at Prince Street. 6 Train at Bleecker Street.

Music

Serge Gainsbourg – 69 Année Érotique

Who forgot to tell summer to take a pause until next year?

Yesterday was a gorgeous day to walk around SoHo, or probably anywhere in New York for that matter.

Checking out some galleries. Unexpectedly walked by a set filming ‘Sex in the City’. With her large rimmed-designer sunglasses, at my first take I was not sure if it was Madonna or Sarah Jessica Parker.

I’m still trying to figure out what exactly catches my son’s attention so fully as we bummel through the streets of the city (is it the people, the stores, the streets, the signs). He just becomes absorbed as we make our rounds. Fascinating to think about what interests him so.

Ah, yes, the café for the day.

And, we had a fantastic espresso at Alessi on Greene Street.

The boutique is chic, cool, laid-back and energetic. Softly white lit, adding to the energy and modern sensibility.

All of the designer house and kitchen wares towards the back of the store provide a feast for the eyes and mind.

For us, though the real treat was the espresso bar at the front. Alessi has created a comfortable space to enjoy Joe’s espresso (yes, Joe the Art of Espresso is served down here, which explains why it is so good).

There is a bar, my personal preference, if you have just a few minutes to enjoy your espresso. Or, you can soak up the ambience at some of the mini tables. It is a narrow space in SoHo, which accentuates the feeling of ‘finding’ something special when you see the inviting glass entry leading into the espresso bar.

Stimulating boutique. Very comfortable. Wonderful espresso.

Alessi (and Joe) have created a destination on its own, in a destination neighborhood.

Address

Alessi – 130 Greene Street, New York. Between Prince and Houston. RW Trains at Prince Street. BDFV Trains at Broadway/Lafayette.

Espresso

Joe the Art of Coffee

SohoKind Previous Visit to Joe the Art of Coffee in the East Village

Music

Serge Gainsbourg – 69 Année Érotique

Today was the last Sunday of summer.

What a beauty! Sunny skies, warm but not too hot.

Baby and I were strolling through SoHo. We got some great art photos today. Littered throughout SoHo. Take a look at them on our SohoKind Flickr page.

And we had a cafe at Café Café.

Café Café is in the middle of SoHo on Greene Street, so tucked away a bit. Even more tucked away now that there is construction above it with scaffolding.

Indoor seating only, but two levels providing great balcony seating. We chose a bar stool seat on the top level overlooking the mezzanine below.

There was no music and I loved it. Something about the acoustics of the space over 2 floors turned people’s voices into the ambience of the place. Quite pleasant.

The espresso was enjoyable. Baby was happy.

If we had an hour or two (and if there were not such gorgeous weather outside), it seems like a great place to either chill and read or get some work done on that balcony.

A cafe opera!

Address

Café Café - 470 Broome Street, New York (Entrance on Greene Street). 6 Train at Spring Street, ACE / NQRW Trains at Canal Street.

Music

Serge Gainsbourg - Hold Up

The first day of SohoKind Café seemed to be in jeopardy.

I have been working from home since the birth of our son, over 3 months ago. But Wednesday was my wife’s first day back at work.

And my son kept me busy almost continuously from just after 4am until 11am with brief, intermittent pauses.

So when he finally settled into a lunch-time nap, I thought he might sleep through much of the afternoon and we would never leave the house.

Alas, at 2pm, he woke up, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Off to Le Petit Café in SoHo!

It’s a great location, right in the heart of SoHo. Directly around the corner from a previous internship I had on West Broadway.

While they do not have sidewalk or terrace seating, the full-window cafe front that entirely opens out towards the street is where I wanted to be on a beautiful NYC summer weekday. SoHo on the weekends is still SoHo, but loses some of its charm with the crowds. This was it.

I ordered my usual, espresso macchiato.

Good espresso, no complaints.

Comfortable music level.

Relaxed atmosphere.

Great people watching out of the terrace windows.

One note is that I am really glad to have brought the little one in the Baby Bjorn, as there was almost no room for a stroller.

We wanted a place to enjoy a café on a beautiful summer day.

Thank you Le Petit Café!

Address

Le Petit Café - 156 Spring Street, New York between West Broadway & Wooster. 6 / CE Trains at Spring Street.

Music

Serge Gainsbourg - L’anamour