Wedding Blog
For those of you who live in normal-land (i.e. not New York City), there are probably a plethora of craft stores within an easy drive (or at least one). Here in New York, that is not the case. It is a well-documented phenomena within the NYC crafting set that the store options are few and far between. While it’s true that you can get anything at any time in the city, you pay the price for that advantage. Any crafting item can usually only be found in specialty stores, for which one pays an arm and a leg for. I’d heard that there were no Michaels’ or Jo-Anns’ or Hobby Lobbys in Manhattan, and that is in fact, true. I Googled. Even Target is far away (Harlem?) and is usually a disaster zone.
Which is why, ladies and gentlemen, you can now fully understand my excitement when on a whim, I went to the Michaels homepage and entered my zip code into the store locator, determined to go to Queens or even Jersey for this hallowed mecca of crafting.
Fact: None of my wedding projects will look anything like the ones in this picture. That’s OK, I try 
Imagine my excitement and surprise when the search revealed a store in Manhattan. But wait, it gets better. The website said the store was located on 100th street. I live on 101st street. That’s right, Michaels has opened a mere 1 block and 2 avenues away from my apartment! And I work on 97th street on the same avenue… bonus!
This is doubly exciting because in New York, everything is a schlep. Dragging bags of groceries several blocks to the subway, up and down the subway stairs and then up 5 flights of stairs to my studio is exhausting. The thought of all the crafting materials I hope to purchase would be overwhelming if I had to use public transportation to get everything home. But no, the wedding gods are clearly smiling on me and my crafting ambition, as this new Michaels (the only one in Manhattan, for gosh sakes!) is open. HOL. LER.
Any other New Yorkers excited about this discovery? For the rest of you, are you as into Michaels as other bloggers I’ve read about? What’s your favorite craft store?
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Share this post: An Exciting Discovery!
Thats really exciting! I can’t imagine not havign a craft store nearby. I’m lucky since I have paper-source, Michaels and A.C. Moore all within 20 minutes.
that is exciting! I had no idea there was one up there, I thought the only Michael’s was in Queens and I’d rather wait for a trip to see my parents than go out there. I wish there was one further downtown though. I live in Brooklyn so 100th street is still quuuite a schlep for me 
let us know how it is though!
I heard about this on Friday! Lack of a ‘real’ craft store in the city was definitely the #1 reason that I didn’t DIY more for my wedding - who can afford the mark-up at all the other ’semi craft’ stores here? My wedding is over, but at least I now have a place to buy all those random crafting items that I had to buy online before.
Life. Changing. (seriously)
How odd- we’re quite the opposite. Smallest town with a good craft store 1 hour away!
It’s so great you found one within walking distance- score!
I love Michaels! I am fortunate that I live in the bay area in California and we have Michaels and Jo-ann’s in each town. We also have stores like Beverly’s Fabrics and all sorts of scrapbooking stores. Most of the time I can get to one within a 10 minute drive.
I’m really excited for you!
I completely understand your excitement!!! I live in the Bronx so I’ve dealt with the same thing. They just recently opened one near the Bronx/Westchester border and I almost threw a party I was so excited. I’m glad I’m not the only one, lol.
Um, I did NOT know this!!! You totally made my whole day!! I buy all my crafting stuff from Kates Paperie…so you can imagine what that has been costing me. Thank you!!!!!
wow! we have a michael’s? i’m a little scared of being overwhelmed and getting too many crazy ideas, but my excitement/curiosity may get the better of me.
That is so exciting!!! I have been waiting for a craft store in Manhattan for what feels like forever. Thanks for the good news!
WHAT?!?!?!?! You just made my day, seeing as I live on 87th Street - this is going to be a hugeeee help. Thanks from a fellow New Yorker!!!
That’s my favorite part of living in the suburbs.. craft stores everywhere! But don’t get me started on the complete lack of fabric stores around here.
That’s great!
Very Exciting!! I also live on the UWS (not quite as close as you), but I am super excited to have a Michaels within walking distance!!!
OMG!!!! I’m sooooo excited, I was just complaining to my Fiance that it sucks that there arent any good craft stores in the city! And while 100th street is far away from me since I live in Brooklyn, its well worth the trek!!. I’m so excited…thoughts of pomanders, embossed invitations, and waaay cool oot bags swimming in my head!
WHAT?!? I was SO going to go to Queens to go to Michael’s this week, but I work on the UES, so forget that! You rock, Trail Mix!
So awesome! I live in Queens near the Northern Blvd Michael’s. A Manhattan location is awesome though!
@Mrs. Star: Hey, I have to tell you that the UES is the most convenient part of Manhattan to Queens. All you have to do is take the R from 59th st to Northern Blvd. OMG we should have a Queens Michael’s Bee Meetup. Ha!
Total sympathies on the lack of NYC craft stores! I just discovered their absence when trying to make a Halloween costume. Thanks for the info!
Oh wow! I never knew NY had such a lock of big box craft stores- So glad that you have something close by. Does your Michael’s carry fabric?
Awesome! All this talk of schlepping up stairs makes me want to move to Manhattan! I know, I’m crazy.
I’m SO excited for the new Michael’s. Even though it’s still a major trek for me, I’m totally going to do a “day trip” uptown for it!
OMG! I had no idea! I see a trip uptown in my future! I live in bklyn but work in manhattan, so I’ll plan a trip after work one day. Thanks!
I’ve never actually been to Michael’s…but that’s only because A.C.Moore and Hobby Lobby are within a 30 minute drive. But I imagine I’ll be frequently both closer to the big day. Can’t wait to see your fabulous Michael’s finds.
Man, I’d be so bummed if I couldn’t go to Target and Michael’s whenever I want.
…I would be DEVASTATED without craft stores. I have a target across the parking lot, and a Michael’s across the side street at work and oh man, I would be so sad if I couldn’t pop over there on a lunch break!
I live in the UK & even I’m excited about this discovery!! Is the store central (i.e. in walking distance ) or is it on a retail park as many tend to be? I am visiting NYC 2moro (staying nr 32nd St) and just wondering if it’s too far to walk to? Thanks!
I live on the UES so I am super-excited about this too!
I’m so excited because I *just* went to Michaels about a week a go for the first time ever!!
[...] used my handy-dandy glue gun to attach a few to a yellow ribbon I got at Michaels in the clearance bin. My own take on a combination of Martha Stewart’s bunting flags and fabric [...]
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Miss Trail Mix, New York
Age and Occupation: 26, PE Teacher
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, MBA Student
Engagement Date: March 2009
Wedding Date: June 2010
Venue: Tannery Pond at the Darrow School
About Me: I'm a country girl who somehow found herself living in the Big Apple and loving every minute of it. I'm planning a rustic, country-chic wedding in my hometown in upstate New York and it's going to be a Party with a capital P. White wine, flea markets and running keep me happy and my friends, family and fiance are my world. I'm a little bit crafty, a little bit crazy but mostly just crazy in love.
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