Touring with the Germans

Their TOUR:
Like many Euro tourists, Rita and Erwin came to the city to see all the major sights, starting with “Ralph Lauren,” says Rita, “then Timberland, Levi’s and Macy’s. We want to shop and get things from New York. Plus, the euro makes it easy to have purchase power.” Rita was after a new pair of jeans, some perfume and a couple of presents to bring home to her young grandchildren. Erwin was more or less just along for the ride—guess the husband’s role is universal.

We started at the Ralph Lauren Rhinelander Mansion (and it’s appropriately named for our German friends!) (867 Madison Ave at 71st, 212-606-2100), more for the experience than for the actual find. We cruised the expensive Purple Label collection for holiday-party outfits for Rita, and the gentlemanly tweeds for Erwin to wear on the couple’s vineyard, but we left empty-handed, save a shopping bag to document the excursion.

The Timberland store is shuttered, so we headed to Levi’s (750 Lexington Ave between 59th and 60th Sts, 212-826-5957). It’s one tourist destination that deserves to be a staple, and Levi’s is one of the only companies that has maintained affordable prices in the “premium denim” craze (jeans are around $68).

Jeans are kind of my thing, so I’m confident I’ll help Rita find a new pair. However, I forget that women of a certain age have a different idea of how denim should fit: high at the waist and narrow on the leg. Luckily, the low-rise trend is outré, and high-rise skinny jeans are in fashion. But the Levi’s didn’t quite fit the bill. So far, my German tourists are not overly impressed with New York shopping, so it’s time to take them on a tour of my NY.

TONY’s tour:
Sensing we need some outdoor time, I shuttle them to Union Square, to the farmers market (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 8am–6pm). Since Rita and Erwin are from the German countryside, they appreciate the apple cider, and I, a lesson in how to make brussels sprouts. I think Mario Batali’s Italian Wine Merchants store (108 E 16th St between Irving Pl and Union Sq East, 212-473-2323) will also be a smash— my stop for Erwin to check out wine. But he’s looking for Californian, not Italian. So it’s back in a cab to Soho on a mission to find jeans. Forgoing Atrium (644 Broadway at Bleecker St, 212-473-9200) where there’s an enormous selection of every jean on the planet, I realize we need some personal service, so I take her to AG Adriano Goldschmied (11 Greene St between Prince and Spring Sts, 212-680-0581), a boutique denim store with an in-house tailor. The highest-rise style they have is “The Vargas” ($168), their new jean for the season—and we have success.

We then stomp over to Nolita and again, I’m sure they’ll appreciate the Europeanness of it all—the low buildings, the quiet streets, the intimate boutiques. On Elizabeth Street, we go to Le Labo (233 Elizabeth St between Prince and Houston, 212-219-2230), a French perfume laboratory that sells 12 unique scents, pours the perfume in front of you and individualizes the label. It’s an experience! It’s special! But it’s not Clinique Elixir, so we leave. Next door is Daily 235 (235 Elizabeth Street between Prince and Houston, 212-334-9728), one of my favorite kooky tchotchke and gag-gift places. We fool around with the spiral eyeglasses ($5) and chattering teeth ($8) to bring back for the grandkids. At least it’s fun. But everyone’s tired and, according to our translator, “tourists are here to see tourist things.” Like Macy’s. Where they wanted to go.

Macy’s is big. It’s an entire city block. And it appears to be the Promised Land for Rita and Erwin: they walked out with two pairs of Timberlands and two bottles of Clinique Elixir. And, outside, it’s a perfect view of the Empire State Building.

—Kristina Dechter

Factoid: 447,000 Germans will visit NYC this year