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De-stress despite the holidays in lovely Lincoln Square.

Monday Nov 29, 2004.     By Genevra Gallo

Lifestyle Feed

Let’s face it: the holidays can stress anyone out. Between the gift buying, calorie counting, relatives coming, and cooking and cleaning, it’s a hectic time of year. Deal with the inevitable tension by planning some "you" time: go somewhere relaxing, enjoy a friendly atmosphere and eat some fantastic food.

When your nerves are already frazzled, inviting traffic into the equation is never a wise choice. Thankfully, Lincoln Square, located right off the Western L, brings together an eclectic mix of cultures with a strong tradition of independent businesses and European style. It has a small-town feel with big-city sophistication, making it the perfect spot to pamper yourself with good meals and great spots to unwind while avoiding the usual holiday crowds.

Cafe Selmarie
No trip to Lincoln Square is complete without a stop at Cafe Selmarie, which opened its doors in 1983 and boasts a casual dining room serving lunch and dinner seven days a week, as well as a fabulous Sunday brunch.

The carefully crafted menu includes warm marinated goat cheese salad, Cafe Selmarie chili and wraps and quiches made daily. For those who crave comfort food, try the macaroni and cheese (with leeks and a four-cheese gratin). The Sunday brunch changes weekly, re-inventing breakfast standards: expect cinnamon-orange cream French toast, multi-grain pancakes topped with toasted pecans or sliced bananas, and several delicious egg dishes.

If you’re in the mood for something sweeter, the cafe specializes in European cakes, pastries and breads. General manager Connie Kobayashi says, "Because we’re a restaurant and a bakery, we really have something to offer everybody. You can do a full meal with wine and dessert, or just pop in for coffee and a treat."

The holidays bring extras like daily-made pumpkin pies, specialty sugar cookies and Stollen, a traditional German spice cake with candied fruits, rum-soaked raisins and almonds.

Timeless Toys
Martha and Harry Burrows opened Timeless Toys in 1994, after scoping out many other neighborhoods for the perfect place to settle. Why Lincoln Square? Martha replies, "We live here, and we know that people are always looking for classic toys—especially people in the city, whose children are bombarded with so much."

A paradise for the young-at-heart, Timeless Toys offers opportunities to browse, play and lose track of time. You'll stumble upon gifts you can’t find elsewhere: handcrafted rocking horses and dollhouses, international toys and stocking stuffers, and one-of-a-kind handmade dolls. It also carries puppets, games and puzzles, blocks for toddlers, toys for infants and even items for teens. Add to that fantasy figurines, model kits, castle sets, science toys and art and crafts, and you've got something for every under-18er on your list…and then some, according to Martha, who says it's not unusual to find people shopping for adults.

Expect above-par customer service; the staff can always lead customers to age-appropriate items.

Merz Apothecary
A must for anyone feeling stressed out, anxious or just plain tired, Merz Apothecary knows how to soothe. The store’s leaded glass windows, tin ceilings, parquet floors and solid oak cabinets are beautiful, and it’s filled with the scent of luxury soaps and fresh herbs.

Peter Merz, the original owner and pharmacist of Swiss decent, sought to preserve his cultural traditions and serve the neighborhood’s immigrant European population by offering herbal medicines and formulas uncommon in American drugstores. The store remained family-owned and operated for 85 years until Ralph Merz had no one to take over the business. Enter Abdul Qaiyum, a 26-year-old pharmacist from Pakistan, who heard about the apothecary from his German in-laws. He bought the store in 1972 and continued to expand, following the Merz tradition of natural goods.

Anthony Qaiyum, Abdul’s son and co-owner, says, "We’re the ideal bridge of Lincoln Square past and future. We’re frequented by Romanians, former Yugoslavians, Russians and a core group of European customers…but we also have the popularity of newer medicines and natural options, so we’re able to reach out to American families as well."

The store carries everything from personal grooming items to homeopathic remedies to natural bath, skin and aromatherapy products. The staff includes international pharmacists who speak a combined seven different languages. They’re knowledgeable, helpful and patient, and can offer gift ideas to fit your budget and needs. You can even shop from the comfort of your own home via its Web site.

The Book Cellar, Inc.
With great books, comfy chairs, wines by the glass and a classy cafe, The Book Cellar is the perfect place to unwind. "Lincoln Square is very supportive of independent, small-business owners, and I thought the neighborhood could use a bookstore," says Suzy Takacs, owner, "[It’s] been asking for one for years."

The Book Cellar carries more than your average bestseller, principally featuring local and first-time authors. It hosts monthly events with readings for kids and adults, allowing customers to meet their favorite authors and hear up-and-coming writers. It also carries a wide range of children’s literature and has special "Friday fun" readings each week.

The cafe offers excellent options, including a seasonal salad with butter lettuce, blue cheese, red grape with a shallot-confit vinaigrette; a roast beef sandwich upped a notch with blue cheese dressing, spinach, roasted tomato and frazzled leeks on sourdough bread; and roasted squash soup. You can also choose a glass of wine from an impressive collection of red, white and roses, all priced between $6-$8 per glass.

La Bocca della Verita
Whether you’ve spent the day shopping or just hanging out, you deserve to end your day with La Bocca della Verita. This restaurant, owned by Cesare D’Ortenzi, has been in Lincoln Square for 15 years and features such tantalizing options as gamberi e carciofi (shrimps, fresh baby artichokes, white wine, lemon, portobello and extra virgin olive oil), capesante "lido" (sea scallops, grilled and sauteed in fresh tomato and oregano, served with Belgian endive), ravioli anatra (homemade pasta with duck breast-sage-shallot filling, cream sauce, tomato and parmagiano cheese) and gnocchetti ai formaggi (homemade spinach-potato dumplings, sauteed in cream sauce, blue cheese, mascarpone and parmigiano cheese).

Says D'Ortenzi, originally from Rome, "We’re a friendly place; not overly sophisticated, just good, fresh Italian food." You can’t go wrong with this menu; each dish is prepared with the finest ingredients and the restaurant often has seasonal specials. A predominantly Italian wine list complements the full-service bar and its imported and domestic beers. The great dessert menu features authentic, old-style Italian specialties; try the panna cotta.