Serious Eats: New York
Sugar Rush: Free Mulled Cider from Arcadia in Chelsea
From left: Arcadia exterior; free cider
Arcadia is not a restaurant or even coffee shop. It's a zen knickknack store in Chelsea with a hand-written sign on the door that mentions: "free mulled cider." Figuring it was from a powder, I didn't expect much while testing tangerine lotions and staring at other luxury thingamabobs I didn't need. (Indonesian shadow puppet?) Then the few ounces hit me like an apple orchard, spiked with all the favorite feel-good spices. (The cloves, cinnamon sticks, and ginger were all sitting behind the counter). This really could have been the best cider I've ever gulped down. "The owner always makes a batch just to hand out whenever." But as mama said, nothing's free. On a mulled cider high, there I was dropping $10 on fancy greeting cards.
Arcadia
228 Eighth Avenue, New York NY 10011 (b/n 21st and 22nd Streets; map)
212-243-5358
arcadianyc.com