Recommendations in NY?

[majurey]

I'm going to be in New York next week for a short business trip and wondered if there are any shaving/specialist shops people can recommend in midtown/Murray Hill area of Manhattan?

Thanks
Mark

[rum]

You could always try www.theartofshaving.com - they have their HQ in NYC and are apparently renowned for their shaves with their own 'shave mask' post-shave, errr.... mask. Also they sell the products as per the website above.

Not tried it myself, but have used their products before. I'm sure others here will have better recommendations though.

[majurey]

Thanks, I'll try to pop in and see what's on offer!

[jnich67]

I'm not a big fan of the Art of Shaving, but it may be worth sticking your head in. Save your money for the following places:

I cut and pasted this from a B&B thread you can find here http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=338 if you want read thru it. The descriptions are the authors, not mine.

Pasteur Pharmacy:
53 E. 34th St. (at Park).
and
806 Lexington Ave. (btw 62nd and 63rd).

To me, both stores appear to have pretty much the same selection. There was a lot of C&M (non-shaving) at 34th, and I could not find it at Lex. Both had the shaving cream. Supposedly, Lex has slightly more in the way of Simpsons brushes, although I did not see any, except a couple in the window. They do have a couple at 34th. Such an incomplete selection though, that I would not go there for brushes. Both stores carry a fair amount of Harris, pretty much the full line of Trumper and Taylors, and some T&H. For the T&H, only the cologne scents, and possibly a Lime or two - no soap. Although they have pretty much all of the creams and soaps from Taylor and Trumper, they only had a few Taylor colognes, and very few, if any Trumper. Of Coates, you can still get the Tubs of Rose, Lime, Almond, or Tea Tree (TT only at 34th).

Also carry Pinaud, and various other such things. As well as new stuff. Anthony logistics, some Baxter (but more washes, no ASB), all the basic drug store stuff.

This is also the only local source I know for Schick brand Injector blades.

Prices are very good. $14 for Taylor cream. $22 for T&H. $26 for Coates. $22 for Skin Food.

The space is cramped, and other than whether or not they carry a product, don't expect much help in the way of advice (friendly enough, though).

Cambridge Chemist
21 E. 65th St. (at Madison)
The posts above say it all. GREAT selection of the old english stuff. More Harris than I knew existed. Also Taylor, and Trumper. A little weak on the T&H, but apparently that is due to T&H north america limiting products. They do have the Luxury soap, which apparently is hard to find. Expensive, but very friendly folk. They supposedly have a pretty complete line of Simpsons brushes (branded John Bull), as well as some Rooneys. I did not see where they keep them, though.

They seem to have most of the Trumper colognes, which is nice. They also carry the Czech & Speake #88 line, for you #88 freaks. Including the Shaving soap. At $90, the price is crazy, but I think it is not much cheaper online. The refill is only $33, though, which is not quite as bad.

Website here. Do not count on the website saying they have something as being accurate. It shows stock of all the Coates creams, but in reality they are out of all the tubs, and down to Rose and Lime only for tubes.

Prices are very high, but, well, it is a great place. (Check the Website if you want to know prices). Trumper is $37 for tubs, $22 for tubes.

Clyde Chemists
926 Madison Ave. (E. 74th St).

Pretty nice selection. Trumper. Lots of other, rather random things. Mitchell's Wool Fat. C&E. Etc. Definitely worth looking at. But you will know what the problem is as soon as you step in. The atmosphere just oozes EXPENSIVE. Trumper creams run $37 a tub. That's Castle Forbes territory. For the same price, I'd rather shop at Cambridge. They do have some French and American stuff here that is not at Cambridge, though.

Zitomer's Department Store
969 Madison. (E. 76th St).

Mentioned above. I have not been here. Will post more when I have a chance to visit.

Paul Mole Barbershop
1031 Lexinton Ave. (E. 74th St).

Obviously this is a barbershop first, and supply store second. It is actually not a bad looking place for a haircut, if you like a little more of a clubby, dark wood, male luxury setting, rather than the more plain barbershop that I dig. Might give a decent shave, as well. $29 each for haircut or shave. extra for various speciality add ons (after haircut rinse, face massage with a shave). I would certainly rather go here than AOS for a shave, but that's just me.

ALSO fairly decent little shaving shop, in cabinets scattered about. GREAT selection of EJ and MP brushes. Some really cute little MP pures with wood handle for $15 that I am sorely tempted by. Felt nice and stiff, but surprising non prickly. I might get one for travel.

Most of the Trumper creams. A fair number of Jack Black products. Much of the T&H line (that is available in the US these days, that is). I bought their last tube of Almond. The guy gave it to me for $10. It was labeled $16. The T&H tubs are the standard online price of $22 (in other words, the prices here are competative with Pasteur, if the selection of cream/soap is smaller). The also had some unusual things, like Pre de Provence shave soap. One tin was labeled $10, the others looked like $26. Neither sounds right. I really should have asked, but did not....

OTHER (National Chains)

New york also of course has C&E, L'Occitane, C&M, and AOS stores. I will let you look them up online. Not much needs to be said here, as the selection is what it is anywhere else, and presumably includes more or less the complete line. One the worthy of note, is that there is a PENHALIGONS store, at 870 Madison. This and Las Vegas are the ONLY US stores (although it is also carried in some Sax locations).

PS. I was in Art of Shaving a few weeks ago (trying to figure out how to spend a gift certificate). They are now carrying overpriced TI razors....with "Art of Shaving" proudly etched on the blades!! Oh the humanity!!!

Have fun

Jordan

[RichZ]

Jordan,

I live in NYC and I am impressed with your listing.. Wow do you work . You really listed it all. AOS is not my favorite either too expensive and not a knowledgeable sales staff.

[jnich67]

Jordan,

I live in NYC and I am impressed with your listing.. Wow do you work . You really listed it all. AOS is not my favorite either too expensive and not a knowledgeable sales staff.

Thanks Rich, but I must admit I stole the list from the B&B thread. I try to let others do the work....

Jordan

[RichZ]

Thanks Rich, but I must admit I stole the list from the B&B thread. I try to let others do the work....

Jordan

So you are smart too...............

[majurey]

Best laid plans and all that....

Back from NY and the trip was a total failure from a shaving POV. You guys gave me such good leads, I planned the route I was going to take, was going to visit Cambridge, Pasteur, Zitomers... but then I got a call from my better half (who has been watching my dalliance with straight shaving with what I can only describe as puzzlement).

Looks like I wasn't the only one looking to take advantage of the exchange rate. Next thing I knew I was buying up half of Baby Gap and Kids Gap clothestore, Toys R Us in Times Square (actually, that was kinda fun), Best Buy for an iPod, and even got sent on an errand to Macy's. Bottom line, my 48 hours in NY was up and I hadn't had a chance to visit the REALLY important stores. Everyone else got their wishlist, but yours truly will just have to wait until his next trip there.

Thanks again for all the leads. I'm probably out there again in the summer, and definitely in November, so I'm determined to go see. I'll be more experienced by then and will probably find the experience more valuable. In the meantime, I'll go check out Old Bond Street here in London!

[RichZ]

Best laid plans and all that....

Back from NY and the trip was a total failure from a shaving POV. You guys gave me such good leads, I planned the route I was going to take, was going to visit Cambridge, Pasteur, Zitomers... but then I got a call from my better half (who has been watching my dalliance with straight shaving with what I can only describe as puzzlement).

Looks like I wasn't the only one looking to take advantage of the exchange rate. Next thing I knew I was buying up half of Baby Gap and Kids Gap clothestore, Toys R Us in Times Square (actually, that was kinda fun), Best Buy for an iPod, and even got sent on an errand to Macy's. Bottom line, my 48 hours in NY was up and I hadn't had a chance to visit the REALLY important stores. Everyone else got their wishlist, but yours truly will just have to wait until his next trip there.

Thanks again for all the leads. I'm probably out there again in the summer, and definitely in November, so I'm determined to go see. I'll be more experienced by then and will probably find the experience more valuable. In the meantime, I'll go check out Old Bond Street here in London!

Sounds like a Dad's problem. I know it well. You sound like you did the right thing though at least in your family's opinion.

[JerseyLawyer]

Speaking only for myself, I might print this list out and keep it in my briefcase next time I have occasion to go into the city.