Have you been to Maiden Lane yet? No? Well, then hail a cab and head down to this quaint little alley near Union Square where high end fashion lives. Retailers like Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Marc Jacobs all have cozy little stores nestled away in this posh alley. In addition, you will find the Xanadu Gallery which is housed in a space designed by the infamous Frank Loyd Wright.
Before the 1906 earthquake and fire, this little street was known for its "red light" activity. One can only imagine all the whoring, opium dens, and general crime that found it's home in these short blocks. The fire destroyed all of the buildings and left piles or rubble, but a jeweler saw potential in the mean little alley and transformed it to its current glamour by first changing the name from Morton to Maiden, and then courting businesses that would help the little lane to compete with the Maiden Lanes in both New York City and London.
Get up, catch a cab, and go window shopping in Maiden Lane. While you are down there, you might as well stroll over to Union Square for some light shopping, and then you can end the excursion with a cup of tea in Chinatown.
Cheers,
Mike
Source: Wikipedia
