Tintin in New York
I don't know whether Tintin ever visited New York. I'd like to think so -- New York's just the place for an intrepid spirit like Tintin. The city fairly reeks of adventure, after all.

Tintin -- the boy reporter brought to life by Belgian cartoonist Hergé -- can be found in books and on clothing, posters, umbrellas, watches and a variety of other baubles in New York. For fans like me, NYC is a pretty good place to be. It seems important to have at least one good Tintin t-shirt in my collection at any given time, and I sleep a little better now that I have Tintin bedsheets. Now that I live in the suburbs of New York, I don't have to travel far afield to get my Tintin fix, though I have yet to find a store here that's as serious as those I've visited in Canada.

In New York, I've found Tintin-related items at the following locations:

  • E.A.T. Madison Avenue at 80th Street. This toy and book store is adjunct to a bakery and restaurant of the same name, next door. (After you've checked out the Tintin material, buy a few semolina rolls at the bakery ... mmm!) This store promises a lot in its window display, but has relatively few Tintin items inside. (It probably would pay to ask a clerk for help, and I haven't the few times I've been here.) I recall seeing books, pins, watches and an umbrella I'd love to have, if I don't buy that Keith Haring one downtown instead. E.A.T. is near the Metropolitan and Whitney museums ... just in case you need an excuse for being in the neighborhood.

  • The Strand Broadway at 12th Street. The Strand is one of the biggest bookstores in the world, or so I'm told. It's a legendary source of rare and used books. In the children's section, you can find Tintin books, including hardcover 3-in-1 volumes by Little, Brown.

  • Coliseum Books Broadway at 57th Street. Coliseum Books is a large independent bookstore that carries the full line of Mammoth paperback books. (When I was there, they had 20 of the 21 volumes available in English.) I had some difficulty finding them -- look for them on a carousel in the children's section, along with a collection of Asterix books. (Thanks to Paul Blazeby for alerting me to Coliseum, and the Alphabets store on the Upper West Side.)

  • Alphabets 47 Greenwich Avenue, near Seventh Avenue. There's also a store at 115 Avenue A, across the street from Tompkins Square Park, and another on the Upper West Side, on Broadway at 83rd. The Greenwich Avenue location has a good selection of Tintin t-shirts, including some designs I haven't seen elsewhere; it also has books and notebooks, and, I think, some ceramics. This store also endeared itself to me by carrying Wallace & Gromit items, which seem relatively rare here.

  • kar'ikter 19 Prince Street, between Elizabeth & Mott. Also 418 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94108. Kar'ikter was formerly the TT Globe Trotter USA store in San Francisco, and I'm happy to report that these folks have opened a store now in New York, as well. (For those of you who aren't convenient to these cities, consult their website for info on ordering a catalog.) They claim to have the one of the most extensive collection of European cartoon character merchandise anywhere. They also stock stuff for Babar, the Little Prince, Wallace and Gromit, Asterix and others. I ordered a catalog before they opened the New York store, and I found them a bit slow in delivering it; I'd try calling if I were in a hurry. They offer the Tintin series of books in English, French and Spanish.

After you've finished your shopping expedition, you might want to have lunch at Petite Abeille. This small string of Tintin-themed Belgian eateries has three locations in Chelsea and the West Village. The restaurant is at 466 Hudson St., a couple of blocks below Christopher. The café is at 107 West 18th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues, and the catering location -- the one I've eaten at -- includes a small café at 400 West 14th Street, at Ninth Avenue. (This location is near Chelsea Market, and the two combined make this out-of-the-way neighborhood a worthwhile visit.) Time Out New York claims Petite Abeille has some of the best pommes frites (French fries) in New York.

You also could try Milou Café, a 24-hour bistro at 92 7th Ave. S., between Bleecker and Grove. I haven't been in, but it looks inviting and Sidewalk has pleasant things to say about it.


Tintin elsewhere

  • Il était une fois... 428-B Victoria St-Lambert, Québec Telephone:(450) 466-3818 Fax: (450) 466-3913 E-mail: info@iletaitunefois.qc.ca I haven't been to this shop yet, but I've had ongoing e-mail contact with the proprietor, who seems both very nice and a real Tintinophile. I intend to go the next time I'm in Montreal. (St-Lambert is a South Shore suburb near Longueuil.) I've got the impression that Il était une fois... has the most complete collection of Tintin objects in Montreal these days.

  • Planet BD
    493 Sussex Drive (near the National Gallery)
    Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6Z5
    (613) 789-6307

    Planet BD is a smallish shop, but carries books, ceramics and quite a number of other items that might interest collectors and fans. The staff seems very friendly and helpful. Planet BD also has a lot of Asterix-related ephemera.

  • St-Denis Champigny
    4380, rue St. Denis
    Montreal, Québec
    (514) 844-2587

    St-Denis Champigny is a very large general-interest bookstore that appears to have a Tintin fan on staff. They carry all the books, in French, and related printed material. They also have great posters -- mainly of the book covers -- on the second floor. This might have been the place that had the Tintin socks, too -- but that's carrying a good thing a little too far for me.


Tintin in cyberspace



Here are a few of my favorite Tintin sites. They'll lead you to many others.


 back to New York City


Oh, I suppose this material is ©1997, 1998, 1999 Shewi.
Most recently updated: 24 August 1999.