NOW & THEN

By Johnny Burke

For a step back in time, head down to Horatio Street (between Eighth Avenue and Hudson Street). The street was named after General Horatio Gates, one of the American Revolution’s most controversial figures. In fact, it’s hard to believe, but Hudson Street was at one time the shoreline for Manhattan before the Dutch, British, and American colonists began reconfiguring the island as they built and rebuilt downtown neighborhoods.

Today, Horatio Street is a mix of business concerns and trendy boutiques. At No. 1 Horatio, we found that the brick building was originally built in the 1850s as part of row houses housing the merchant class on what was formerly farmland. Later those private houses were sold off and divided into Bohemian apartments for struggling artists and laborers as the West Village slid into its less fashionable phase in the early 1900s. Much of the neighborhood was torn down and replaced with either industrial and business buildings or the new Art Deco pre-war apartment houses in the 1920s as real estate boomed before the stock market crash.

No. 1, however, survived the many transitions over the decades and today houses Darling, one of the most trendy shops in the city offering the go-to place for designer looks, gorgeous leather, and jewelry, even luxury soaps, and candles. In fact, stylists call this shop one of their secret weapons when it comes to dressing everyone from celebrities to soccer-moms. Owners Donna Baxter and Raquelle Stiefler are right there with their fabulous staff to help with suggestions from their new Fall collection. They told us that besides carrying the best local and international designers—including their house label Kisses by Darling—they strive to create an environment that is fresh and modern, yet retains the charm of the historic West Village. “You could say it’s turn-of-the-century Paris meets modern-day New York City,” says Donna.”

Shoppers are welcome to Darling for an espresso or Champagne—a wonderful way to relax after a mad dash around the city. Stop into Darling soon and enjoy a relaxing shopping experience and soak up the history, too. Remember to tell them Johnny sent you!

Darling
1 Horatio Street (at Eighth Avenue)
646-336-6966
darlingnyc.com