Little India

Once you leave the comfort zones of Manhattan and Brooklyn, the best way to approach shopping is by area, looking at, say, a stretch of several blocks on one street as a mini bazaar, with a collection of various shops that you can wander into aimlessly, either laying down cash or simply taking in the otherworldly vibes. In Jackson Heights, Queens, the stretch of 74th St that begins at the Roosevelt Ave subway station is a good example. The Little India strip is chock full of shops selling saris, like India Sari Palace (718-426-2700; 37-07 74th St at 37th Ave; 10:30am-7pm); 24-karat-gold jewelry, at spots like Mita Jewelers (718-507-1555; 37-30 74th St at 37th Rd; 11am-7pm); Bollywood DVDs and CDs at Today’s Music (718-429-7179; 73-09 37th Rd at 73rd St; 11am-7pm); and all manner of Indian groceries, from fresh curry leaves to jars of mango pickle. Plus, the neighborhood’s beauty salons will thread your eyebrows rather than wax them; hanging out in one of these spots is a great way to spend some time around the relaxed locals. To get there, take the 7 to 74th St–Broadway or the E, F, G, R, V to Jackson Heights–­Roosevelt Ave.