Neighborhood Watch: Nolita

Haute Hippie

Haute Hippie’s flag, emblazoned with its logo, loudly proclaims the store’s presence as a fresh bohemian addition to the Nolita neighborhood. As the brand’s first boutique (9 Prince Street between Elizabeth and Bowery streets), the store beckons customers with mannequins decked out with generous helpings of chiffon and intricate sequin detailing, showing off what Haute Hippie does best.

Julia Inglesias Musachio, the store manager, describes the Haute Hippie aesthetic as “passionate, sophisticated gypsies.” Certainly, the store decorations evoke its free and whimsical side, from the rhinestone-studded cow skull to the pictures of nude women scattered throughout the store.

With plush sofas and a faded tapestry rug , though, Haute Hippie makes it “super-inviting to come and relax, especially couples,” Musachio said.

Dominated by primarily neutral colors with intermittent pops of bright red, orange, and teal, the Haute Hippie selection mostly consists of diaphanous maxi dresses, draped tops, and leather jackets.

The price range is not for an average college student’s tight purse strings though, with a sequin-embellished maxi dress costing $1,395.

Tucked in a separate half of the store is Haute Hippie’s diffusion line Haute Hoodie, which incorporates both men’s and women’s fashion geared toward a more casual lifestyle. A cabin-like space, its walls collaged with cowboy imagery, evokes a non-fussy masculinity where the nostalgic “back to the old days” idea is manifested in their simple classic staples such as the white T-shirt, black leggings, and chunky tribal print sweaters. However, Haute Hoodie’s designs still don’t come cheap, with a plain V-neck T-shirt costing $85.

Amid the clothing, Haute Hippie’s jewelry selection proves to be the standout, tempering the carefree aesthetic with gothic undertones featuring claws and snakes clutching raw-looking stones.

Haute Hippie and Haute Hoodie’s embellishment and tailoring are impeccable, without a stray thread in sight. “We pay attention to detail and care,” Musachio said. Whether or not one can afford Haute Hippie, it is worth a trip to see their designs and be a gypsy for a day.

Parm

With a price tag of up to $50 dollars per person, a meal at breakout Nolita restaurant Torrisi Italian Specialties is out of the question for most Columbians. Luckily, Torrisi recently opened sister restaurant Parm next door, applying Torrisi’s high-quality approach to cheap and filling staples like its namesake sandwiches.

Parm begins seating patrons for dinner at 6 p.m. sharp, but hungry diners are more than welcome to seat themselves at the restaurant’s vintage lunch-counter-cum-bar beforehand and enjoy a drink or some small plates. A sure bet at the bar are the pizza knots ($5), fresh from the oven, slightly doughy at the center and dressed with garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. Much like everything else at Parm, the knots are like the Platonic ideal of a pizzeria dish most people have enjoyed hundreds of times—familiar, but startlingly unique.

Once seated, diners can choose from the nightly specials or enjoy a chicken, meatball, or eggplant parm. Proteins are served on either round rolls ($8), heros ($11), or by themselves on a platter ($15). In line with the restaurant’s casual spirit, the dishes are best enjoyed in sandwich form, layered with fresh tomato sauce, gooey mozzarella, and basil in a soft, sesame-seed-encrusted bun.

Every ingredient of Parm’s sandwiches is distinct, avoiding the goopy mess many associate with Italian comfort food.

After waiters in paper hats have cleared away the red plastic basket that most dishes at Parm are served in, diners can enjoy a creamy, sugary treat in the form of a traditional zeppole ($5), which finishes an already filling evening on an especially high note. All in all, Parm is an excellent restaurant for students who want to enjoy the very best of New York’s food scene in a laid-back setting and on a tight budget.