The East Village has quickly become one of our favorite neighborhoods to visit in the city. And we as a family have developed a bit of a routine. Join us for brunch, some light shopping, and a trip to the dog park! You just may discover something new to checkout the next time you’re walking along 9th street.

Brunch at Veselka

We started our adventure at one of our favorite breakfast spots, Veselka. I first learned about this Ukranian diner from a video that Chloe Sevigny did with BUST Magazine back in 2010. Known as New York’s oldest Ukranian restaurant, it’s a neighborhood darling. The food is absolutely incredible. And being that they are a dog-friendly restaurant with a fantastic outdoor seating area, it’s become a regular stop on our East Village adventures.

On this trip to Veselka, Steven ordered one of his usuals: the veal goulash. Although he alternates between that dish, and the beef stroganoff. I always order eggs over easy and potato latkes, which comes with a side of apple sauce. Finally, the meal is rounded out with a plate of fried pierogies. We typically order the beef, potato, and sauerkraut and mushroom pierogies, which come with a side of caramelized onion sauce and sour cream.

Brunch at Veselka is the greatest way to start our day, not only because of the fantastic atmosphere and delicious food, but because they often provide Giuseppe with a water bowl and a crunchy dog treat. It’s safe to say that they have his approval!

Veselka
144 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003

We then began our stroll through the shops of the neighborhood, where Giuseppe enjoyed walking along the floorboards. Check out the video below to hear the pitter patter of his footsteps, and the squeak he caused when he leaped onto the pavement.

The sign outside of Crif Dogs peaked Giuseppe’s curiosity. He wondered where he could apply to become Dog of the Month.

Crif Dogs
113 St Marks Pl
New York, NY 10009

787 Coffee

I then enjoyed a cup of coffee in a very unique vessel. 787 Coffee served up some java in a tall biodegradable sleeve reminiscent of an IV bag - an eco-friendly alternative to the disposable cup. I was in need of an iced coffee, so the woman at the counter suggested an iced Americana with their Rum-Infused Beans.

I know that the idea of rum-infused beans conjures images of an alcoholic coffee, but not so. These beans are merely soaked in rum for two days to absorb its flavor. It has a bitter and slightly spiced taste. It’s for the coffee-lover who wants a new experience, and doesn’t want the flavor of the bean bogged down with simple syrup.

787 Coffee
131 E 7th St
New York, NY 10009

A Sustainable Village

Speaking of eco-friendly, the next shop we stopped into was A Sustainable Village on 9th street. This adorable shop had refillable health, beauty, and cleaning products, and everything reusable and compostable that you can imagine. I picked up a miniature wooden hairbrush to keep in my purse, as well as some hair ties and a bottle brush.

A Sustainable Village
318 E 9th St
New York, NY 10003

Jane Cookshop

I also stopped by Jane Cookshop, which always has a great revolving selection of kitchen supplies, serverware, gardening tools, and home decor. Every time I’m there, I’m tempted to clear out their entire store. I hope to one day do an article all about their selection

Jane Cookshop
328 E 9th St
New York, NY 10003

East Village Books

We couldn’t visit the East Village without checking out the used and vintage bookstore East Village Books. They have an extremely eclectic collection of scholarly titles. Steven has never once left the shop empty-handed.

For anyone looking to sell their books, give this place a try. They even make house-calls to estate sales. Please note if you’re interested in stopping by, that they are cash only.

East Village Books
99 St Mark’s Pl
New York, NY 10009

Tompkins Square Dog Run

And no trip to the East Village with Giuseppe would be complete without a stop at Tompkin’s Square Dog Run. This small enclosed dog park intended specifically for small dogs under 25 lbs is a fantastic shady spot in the park to take your pup.

Giuseppe loves to run around and meet the various dogs. It gets nice and busy on the weekends, which makes for a lot of great opportunities for socialization. On this occasion, Giuseppe made friends with a lovely little pup named Andi.

This park has an incredible community feel, as does the rest of Tompkin’s Square Park. There are a lot of wonderful locals who know each other bringing their dogs around not only for the dogs to socialize, but to make some connections themselves. It’s always such a nice experience being there, and it absolutely makes our day to see Giuseppe having fun with the other pups. And for those with dogs 26+ lbs, there is a section of the run for big dogs, which gives them ample space to run around.

Tompkin’s Square Dog Run
99 1/2 St Marks Pl
New York, NY 10009

Takeaway from Evil Katsu

After a long 10,000+ step day, Steven was ready to head back to Connecticut. So I suggested that we satisfy our cravings for Japanese food with takeaway from Evil Katsu. Between Steven and me, we shared the Katsu Pork Bites and a Chicken Katsu Cutlet bento with garlic rice, potato salad and coleslaw. It was about an eight minute wait to receive our delicious meal, and it was was perfect to enjoy in the car. We’ll definitely be back!