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What's New

This week we’re sharing our Flatiron/NoMad Neighborhood Guide, highlighting 3 new shops and introducing you to our cool new friend: Natalie Freihon of Nat’s on Bank & Nat’s on Bleecker. 

Culture Corner

COOL NEW THING

Electric Beets quietly opened in Park Slope this week as the neighborhood’s first plant-based deli. The purple storefront sells amazing breads (including gluten-free options from Sixteen Mill) as well as coconut yogurt parfaits and other veggie-based goodies. Although we’re perhaps most excited about their made-in-house circular oat milk program. No more waste! Simply play the role of (oat)milk man, and return the glass bottle when you’re done.

LISTEN
This week on the super-cool-super-fun podcast, Wear Many Hats presented by Dahsar, are coolstuff co-founders Anna & Garrett. We sat down (digitally) with illustrious host Rashad Rastam to chat about how we founded coolstuff.nyc, our shared love of wheatpasted posters, and some of our favorite spots in New York right now. Give it a listen here.
READ

Cobble Hill favorite, Books Are Magic, is expanding its Brooklyn footprint! A new location in Brooklyn Heights opens this Saturday! Stop by this weekend at 122 Montague St. to celebrate with book signings from multiple authors including Tessa Bailey and Emily St. John Mandel. 

SHOP

New store alert! UpWest, a cool but comfortable clothing label, opens this weekend in Hudson Yards and is celebrating with an espresso bar, sips, bites, and DJ sets. PS they’ll also have some free gifts for people who visit early on - RSVP for the opening weekend festivities here! 

COOK

This weekend, Cherry Bombe is debuting their second "Cooks&Books"  event at the Ace Hotel in downtown Brooklyn. The weekend-long festival will be a celebration of all things cookbooks, featuring over 25 top chefs. There will be demos, talks & panels from the coolest cookbook authors, food memoirists and foodie-readers in the game. Check out the lineup of events & grab your tickets here!

LOOK (at art)

One of our favorite artists, designers & humorists, Maira Kalman is back with a new book, Women Holding Things. The small but mighty read features a colorful cast of characters as an ode to women and all that we manage in this day and age. In addition to inside the new book, Maira’s paintings can currently be seen at Mary Ryan Gallery, on view until November 12th. The show features more than 30 new paintings, exploring how the objects women hold nurture and burden them. Grab a copy & go see the show!

EAT

PSA: FREE TACOS! Next Thursday 11/10, the Williamsburg location of Tacombi will have complimentary Birria tacos and cocktails. Stop by 242 Metropolitan Ave from 7pm until they run out! 

Neighborhood Guide:
NoMad & Flatiron

You know this neighborhood because there’s a fair chance you or someone u luv works nearby…BUT it can occasionally be hard to find things to do unless an ideal night is a shopping spree at The Gap followed by dinner at Outback Steakhouse. Big chains aside, we love Flatiron / Nomad for its wonderful architecture, central location, and hidden gems. We’ve put together a list of our favorite small businesses in the area.

READ THE GUIDE
Cool Friends: Natalie Freihon

Meet Natalie, the founder of Nat’s on Bank, Nat’s on Bleecker, and The Orchard Townhouse. You may also know Natalie for another one of her greatest hits, the legendary Fat Radish that once graced Orchard St. We love ALL of Natalie's restaurants for their bold design, imaginative dishes, and fantastic drinks. We caught up with Natalie to hear how opening Nat’s was a step closer to inviting you into her own home.

How did you start your restaurant, Nat’s?

The story is quite a long one so I won’t start at the very beginning.   Nat’s specifically was born out of covid to be honest. I own a hospitality group called Strange Bird Hospitality. We closed one of our beloved restaurants The Fat Radish during covid but were able to continue operating The Orchard Townhouse for the duration of the pandemic. It was an incredible learning experience and brought me closer to the reasons why I work in hospitality than I had ever been before. That passion drove me to find a new space and start on a new journey for my group…The Nat’s Journey! I wanted to open a space that felt like you were coming over to my house. A space that was casual, thoughtful, precise and a bit silly where everyone would feel welcome and hopefully make it their home too. Our first location had to be in the heart of the west village where I’ve lived for 15 years, where my daughter goes to school, where we’re surrounded by such a wonderful community of people. The concept of a thoughtful whimsical home worked and we are excited to continue to bring Nat’s to new neighborhoods that we love.

 

What’s your favorite part of the New York creative community 

I have to say the constant evolution and dynamic nature of those involved.

 

What’s inspiring you right now?

1960’s French inspired American classic cooking. I am just loving going back to the archives and reading historical cookbooks right now! 

 

Follow along
Instagram: 
@natsonbank
@natsonbleecker
@theorchardtownhouse 

strangebirdhospitality.com

Read more Best Of articles, Cool Friends interviews, and past Newsletter editions on our website: www.coolstuff.nyc 

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