We have the best spots for Tex-Mex in NYC…
and all the coolest eats, drinks and shops in Flatiron for every scenario.
This week we’re sharing our Best Tex-Mex in NYC line-up, highlighting our Flatiron Neighborhood Guide for The Malin Journal, featuring spots to get inspired at this weekend collaborations and introducing you to our cool new friend: Dawn Nguyen.
Osteria Radisa
There's a new kid on the block in Carroll Gardens - Osteria Radisa is serving up a contemporary ode to the heart of the northern-central Italian region, Emilia-Romagna. Named after the Romagnol word for “root,” Radisa is an ode to the timeless osterias along the Adriatic coast, weaving together old stories and new expressions through food, wine, design, and community. Chef Aita’s menu, which is in part a collaboration with Osteria da Oreste in Romagna, highlights fresh ingredients with dishes like Piadina with whipped lardo, prosciutto di Parma, and vegetable gratinati, Tagliatelle al ragù with peas and “diritto di sugo” and Ravioli verdi di ricotta with pecorino di fossa and ramps.
Little Goat
The new project from Taavo Somer (Freemans, Ray’s Bars) and Erin Winters, Little Goat, is their first restaurant since working together on Lola Pizza and INNESS. Sitting pretty upstate in Rhinebeck, NY, Little Goat is a bakery, pantry, and all-day café set in the former Amsterdam space, a lovingly restored 18th-century townhouse. You can expect a grab-and-go café and curated pantry up front and a cozy dining room with Mediterranean-ish, farm-driven fare in the back. The exciting menu is a joint collaboration between Chef Brian Arruda and Chef Brian Paragas. This is a project built by locals, for both locals and visitors, and is already Rhinebeck’s new go-to for soulful design and good food in a relaxed space.
Bascule
While W-burg has its fair share of natural wine bars…are there ever too many to add to the repertoire? The newest on the lineup is Bascule, with $12 pours & collector cuvées by the glass. This new natural wine bar residency is taking over Bright Side café and is the latest project from French-born winemaker Jordan Veran (from spots like Le Comptoir, Fradei & Sauced). Pours start at $12, with a constantly shifting lineup of low-intervention wines. On weekends, they’ll be opening top-tier bottles usually reserved for full purchase - offering rare pours below market price. The space is warm, candlelit, and casual, with a snack menu perfect for an outdoor terrace ideal featuring golden hour sipping. It’s all happening at 184 Kent Avenue, Wednesday–Sunday, through Fall 2025.
Guest Written by Mimi & Sidney Bauer
If you know the coolstuff team, you know we LOVE Tex-Mex...and while we have our usual favorite spots for queso in the city, we knew we needed to tap San Anotonians and sisters Mimi & Sidney Bauer for the best places with true Texas cooking.
Now calling the East Village home, they have always been on the hunt for authentic Tex-Mex in NYC and whether celebrating a promotion or birthday, having a bad day at work, or fighting the Sunday Scaries after a late night out, a frozen drink and queso (the ultimate comfort duo) always seems to cure it all.
Read on for the best spots to find this beloved cheese-filled cuisine in the heart of NY.
Calling all brides! NYC-based designer, Alexandra Grecco is hosting their annual bridal sample sale TOMORROW. If you’re interested in all things bridal including veils, gently worn samples, discontinued styles, and orders with slight flaws ranging from sizes 00-18, head to the sale at 263 W. 38th St, 10th Floor in Manhattan’s garment district ready to say, “YES!” (And with just one friend and light makeup.) The sale opens for general admission from 11a-3:30p with special early access entrance available from 10-11a. RSVP or purchase early access tickets here to get access to one of the hottest sample sales of the year!
This week is a special one because, in a sense, you get TWO coolstuff.nyc guides! We’ve teamed up with our friends over at The Malin Journal to put together a guide to our favorite spots in Flatiron just in time for their newest The Malin location to open on Monday at 895 Broadway. Check out all our picks for the best power lunches, spots to grab a midday pastry and much more!
Meet Dawn, founder and owner of L’Ensemble, a boutique that reimagines shopping as an experience rooted in hospitality and discovery. Formerly a fashion buyer for La Garçonne, Dawn admired the experience of visiting a brand showroom. As a buyer, there was so much one-on-one attention and knowledge gained from conversing with brand representatives about their collections, and she realized that this element of hospitality and personalization was missing from the customer experience across the retail landscape, which inspired the idea for L’Ensemble. We spoke to Dawn about the power of personalization in retail and how opening up her new DUMBO showroom has impacted her business.
How did your career as a fashion buyer & boutique owner begin?
I’ve been in retail for over 20 years starting off as a sales associate in my late teens. I was studying menswear design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and working part time in retail. I enjoy working in retail as I grew up in the 90s and have such fond memories of the mall. Shopping in the 90s was such a magical experience; plus the fashion during this time was everything. I progressed through the years from Store Manager to Area Manager and was fortunate enough to experience buying at La Garçonne in Tribeca. After my time there, I was doing sales at a multi brand showroom which is when I realized how much I missed buying and curating. Timing is everything and I knew it was the time to start something of my own.
Tell us about L’Ensemble, your boutique that reimagines shopping as an experience rooted in hospitality and discovery! What product offerings will be new + different at the DUMBO location?
It’s important to me to have a welcoming environment. When clients come into the shop, it’s like we’re hosting them in our home. Shopping can be overwhelming and I wanted to create a space where clients feel at ease. Multi Brand stores these days often have the same brand matrix and I wanted to showcase brands that are hard to find. There are so many amazing brands out there that don’t have much distribution. I love when a client discovers a brand they’ve never heard of before and comes back for it.
We have new brands coming in for FW25 that I’m really excited about. We are growing our men’s offering and will have unisex brands such as Magliano and William Frederick. Magliano was founded by Luca Magliano. The Italian brand imbues menswear fundamentals. Their outerwear and knits are fantastic. William Frederick is an American designer from Cleveland, Ohio. William creates exceptional core staples that are developed and manufactured in Cleveland. For women, we will be introducing Ashlyn and Grey’s Studio. Ashlyn is a New York based brand founded by Ashlynn Park. She designed under Yohji Yamamoto and is known for her mastery of modern tailoring. Grey’s Studio is a new brand that was born in the UK but is now based in NY. Emily Grey, the founder, designs exquisite timeless pieces that you will cherish for years to come. That’s only naming a few as we have other exciting new additions, stay tuned!
What’s your favorite part about the New York fashion community?
My favorite part about the New York fashion community is the people I meet and get to work with. The fashion community is quite small so you often run into people you’ve known or share some kind of connection through a mutual friend/colleague etc. It’s lovely to develop genuine relationships that make work enjoyable.
What has the process of opening up your new NYC location on Water Street in DUMBO beenlike? How will the new location impact community with your customers?
The process was interesting... I learned a lot! We’re a small team and I’m in awe of how much we achieved especially with so little of us. With dedication and perseverance, I truly believe you can accomplish anything. I’m so grateful to have such a talented team. I think the new location will impact the community as the store brings people together. The environment is warm and inviting, and allows clients to feel comfortable. Our new location is in between high rise residential and office buildings where we have clients who visit us daily. It’s been great having regulars as we have gotten to know these clients on a more personal level where they are now friends. Also, I love when we have moments in-store where clients who don’t know one another is engaging and helping each other. It’s such a beautiful moment seeing two strangers come together and connect.
We love that you offer both walk-ins + private shopping experiences. How do you structure the personalized appointments?
Personalized appointments are structured around what the client wishes to achieve. I understand how overwhelming shopping can be and if you don’t have the time to properly shop, it can be daunting. With the personalized appointment, it allows us to listen and assist by providing options that best suit your needs. I think clients are sometimes uncertain about booking an appointment because it feels like a whole “thing”. However, I assure you that it’s very casual as shopping should be a fun and pleasurable experience. Booking an appointment allows us to prepare and thoughtfully curate a selection for the client. We have appointments for all types of situations - clients who are new moms in need of an entirely new wardrobe after pregnancy; to clients who are eloping and would like to explore nontraditional wedding looks. Whatever it is, we’re always happy to help.
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