Karl Anthony Towns talks about 5 tourist attractions in New York

His birth certificate may say New Jersey, but 7-foot New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns' origins stretch to New York City.

Growing up near Piscataway, New Jersey, Mr. Towns and his parents routinely traveled 37 miles to see parks, museums, New York Yankees games, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and, of course, Knicks games. I was commuting into the city. His mother, Jacqueline Cruz's favorite team plays at Madison Square Garden.

“It's pretty cool to be playing somewhere like that right now,” said Towns, who was traded to New York from the Minnesota Timberwolves in October. “It's pretty cool to see life come full circle.” he said in a recent phone interview.

Towns, 29, has been one of the most dominant forces in this young NBA season, averaging a league-leading 24.7 points for a Knicks team that ranked third (24-12) as of early January. He recorded 14 rebounds and 3.3 assists. in the Eastern Conference. He's already a fan favorite in the five boroughs, and recently earned the nickname Big Bodega for his physique and deft combination of New York and Dominican roots.

“You know you're stepping into sacred ground,” he said of playing at The Garden. “There's a reason this place is called Mecca.”

His tenure in New York so far hasn't been all smooth sailing. Mr. Towns and his girlfriend, model Jordyn Woods, enjoy dining around Manhattan, stopping at Nobu Downtown and Corner Store in SoHo, as well as Joe's Pizza and Little Ruby's on Mulberry Street. – Cafe or his guilty pleasure of taking out empanadas after games. Mom.

“Shout out to Big Mama and hold it down for the night,” Towns said.

Here are five of Townes' favorite places in New York City (no bodegas, unfortunately).

1. Yankee Stadium

Just as nostalgic as the Garden for Mr. Towns is another iconic urban sports cathedral: Yankee Stadium. Some of his most cherished childhood memories are of sitting in the outfield at old Yankee Stadium with his parents, wearing their pinstriped uniforms, eating popcorn (still his favorite snack at the ballpark). is).

“My parents didn't have a lot of money, but they used the money they had to make my life special,” Towns said. (His mother passed away in 2020). What is his favorite moment in the stadium? He still has it when Yankees legend Bernie Williams threw a baseball from the outfield in the early 2000s.

During this year's playoffs, Towns was a regular at the stadium, but the seats were slightly better. “It was really great as a fan to see the Yankees get to the World Series this year, and I'm really proud of them,” he said.

2. Polo Bar

“The Polo Bar is the definition of classic,” Towns says of the Midtown celebrity hotspot created by American fashion designer Ralph Lauren and one of the most difficult spots in town to reserve (30 days in advance recommended). spoke. Part of the charm and experience are the unique décor, including brown saddle leather seats, stained wood paneled walls, and equestrian artwork. “Every Ralph Lauren Polo restaurant or bar you imagine is exactly what he did, and he did it at the highest level,” Towns said.

Mr. Towns recently dined with Mr. Woods and his agent Jessica Holtz at Polo Bar, where they ordered chicken paillard and Dover sole. “The service and food are great and everything is well branded,” he said.

3. Comedy Cellar

Beneath the bright Comedy Cellar sign, descending the stairs of an unassuming West Village building, comedy royalty like Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer and Dave Chappelle have been known to pop up at night.

Towns, who has been frequenting the Comedy Cellar since his early days with the Timberwolves, appreciates both the art of stand-up and the room's features: low ceilings, small crowd, and distinctive red brick backdrop. I am doing it.

“It feels like a pub with a stage, and it's intimate,” he said. Pub prices also include a $14 cover charge and a minimum of two drinks on weekdays.

Cool kids don't just shop in Williamsburg or Soho. Located on the border of the NoMad and Murray Hill neighborhoods, Dover Street Market is a seven-story retail oasis filled with hypebeast brands, exclusive collaborations, and comma-priced runway-quality fashion.

Towns, who counts Marni, Comme des Garçons, Rick Owens and Balenciaga among the store's top designers, also pays homage to the carefully selected art installations, including textured walls and columns. “Different cuts, different patterns, maybe thinking outside the box about fashion,” he said. “I really like it.”

On a recent visit, Towns took time to grab a coffee at the colorful Rose Bakery on the store's first floor and do some shopping. His purchases included Mirror perfume, a collaboration between Comme des Garçons and Cowes, and Vomero 5 sneakers, an exclusive collaboration between Nike and Dover Street Market, which he gifted to Woods.

5. Altro Paradise

Trendy but not trendy, Towns is drawn to the quiet coolness of Altro Paradiso, a SoHo neighborhood spot run by restaurateur Ignacio Mattos (also owner of local favorites Estela and Lodi).

“I think in most cases you can just walk in and don't need to make those kind of reckless reservations,” Towns said, adding that the Italian-style Altro Paradiso has “good space” and serves pasta dishes. He pointed out that there are creative pastas like this. Strozzapreti al pesto.

Townes, like most New Yorkers, is still exploring and discovering the restaurant scene. “Choose your location based on the vibe of the people you're with,” he advised. “Would you like to go see a Yankees game with a bunch of Mets fans?”

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