Age Old Question - Hookah Retailers In Nyc

[L'Oignon]

First off, I was formally known as Onion, but for some reason I cant log in anymore. Inactivity probably. I've been on a bit of a hookah hiatus for a while (although I usually had monthly sessions) due to the cold weather and my lack of bowl grommet (I almost lost it so many times but it looks like I finally did it).
But now the weather is warming up and I figured out how to make a decent grommet out of a paper towel so I'll be hookah'ing on the deck with my friends more often.

So as it were, my friends and I are planning a good ol' roadtrip down to NYC in june. Being that shisha is crazy expensive in Canada and all I've got left is AF Strawberry (which I'm admittedly getting tired of), I've decided to seize the opportunity to pick up a healthy amount of shisha. Apparently you're allowed to take a pound of smoking tobacco per person across the border, so I think I'll have more than enough opportunity to get stocked up with the 5 of us.

I did a search for New York and Manhattan but most of the threads are getting around to 1-2 years old so I thought I'd make another one since things have probably changed since then.

So anyone familiar with the area, where is a good place to buy shisha? The place we're staying at is on Amsterdam by central park between 102nd and 105th St W.
The major sites we've planned to see so far are times square, ground zero, the moma, the met, with others after and in between. So if you know any places that are close to any of these, or just good retailers in general, that'd be great.

Also, whats the age for buying tobacco in the states? Is it 21? I'm going to be turning 21 the week after we get back but the one guy will be 21 by then.

[kornkitten42]

First off, I was formally known as Onion, but for some reason I cant log in anymore. Inactivity probably. I've been on a bit of a hookah hiatus for a while (although I usually had monthly sessions) due to the cold weather and my lack of bowl grommet (I almost lost it so many times but it looks like I finally did it).
But now the weather is warming up and I figured out how to make a decent grommet out of a paper towel so I'll be hookah'ing on the deck with my friends more often.

So as it were, my friends and I are planning a good ol' roadtrip down to NYC in june. Being that shisha is crazy expensive in Canada and all I've got left is AF Strawberry (which I'm admittedly getting tired of), I've decided to seize the opportunity to pick up a healthy amount of shisha. Apparently you're allowed to take a pound of smoking tobacco per person across the border, so I think I'll have more than enough opportunity to get stocked up with the 5 of us.

I did a search for New York and Manhattan but most of the threads are getting around to 1-2 years old so I thought I'd make another one since things have probably changed since then.

So anyone familiar with the area, where is a good place to buy shisha? The place we're staying at is on Amsterdam by central park between 102nd and 105th St W.
The major sites we've planned to see so far are times square, ground zero, the moma, the met, with others after and in between. So if you know any places that are close to any of these, or just good retailers in general, that'd be great.

Also, whats the age for buying tobacco in the states? Is it 21? I'm going to be turning 21 the week after we get back but the one guy will be 21 by then.

I dont know about stores, but age of majority for smoking is 18 years old in the states.

[wuonice]

it's 18 in the states

[L'Oignon]

Really? Wicked. Looks like I'll have no problems then.

Also - if you do know of retailers, it would also be helpful if you knew generally which brands they sold. I'm trying to avoid nakhla since I can actually buy that up here.

Thanks!

[web250]

it's 18 in the states

It's not 18 in the US.

It's state specific. It's 18 in New York. It's 19 in some states ie: New Jersey

[SafeSearchOff]

Yeah down here i nnew jersey its goold old 19 (blech)

anywho L'Onion, i'm glad i decided to log on for once today... i should be of service. if you use the search tool i made a topic about this around 4 or 5 months ago, with a nice detailed map and such, so look it up.

generally the good smoke shops tend to be around 9th st. and 6th ave. theres a few nice places in there.

edit: sorry, don't really know of any good smoke shops up there
how long you staying? my brother's girlfriend lives right up near there so ill ask her, but as far as i know most all of the action is in the village. Edited May 14, 2007 by SafeSearchOff

[L'Oignon]

I'm in the clear then.

Oh ya, I believe we're also going to see NYU (I want to see a couple locations from Ghostbusters. Yeah, I'm a big nerd) so I figure theres got to be some places close to the campus. I found a directory thing that pointed to stuff on a google-map but they all looked like restaurants. I'm looking for more of a retail-type establishment as I figure they'll probably have more stock and better prices.

edit: ^^ Safesearchoff - ah, thanks. Ya, I'm completely unfamiliar with the geography of the city. I've got a couple friends who have been before so they're more familiar with the districts and things Edited May 14, 2007 by L'Oignon

[SafeSearchOff]

heres my old post:
http://www.hookahforum.com/index.php?showt...hl=village+best

two updates to that map though.
1: on that big map, the area south of there too i have discovered some shops, one is called "the blue nile". it's got some nice selectiong
2: my favorite store as mentioned in that post, "The Village Best" (its a little hard to identify, if you're walking around down their its next to a church and an american apparel store, it has no sign and is under some construction scaffolding) I've found out hides Al Waha under the counter out of site.

and keep an open mind when walking through downtown manhattan... all the places you find shisha you will find bongs, bowls, etc. its new york. theres alot of no-good doers Edited May 14, 2007 by SafeSearchOff

[Sonthert]

There was a widespread corruption of user data...it made alot of user's data go Kablowie! Send a PM to Adrock, the Root Administrator.

[L'Oignon]

bah, I dont mind. I wasnt really attached to the old one, and this one has a nice little touch of french

[3rooker]

18 with the exception of Alabama, which is 19.

[discodancer]

shisha international
171 West 4th st

they r all about the shisha, mu'ussel, and other accesories. expensive, but worth a trip in there. this is NOT a cigar shop or market that happens to sell shishas. so you won't be dissapointed. the prices are high for a reason... HAGGLE LIKE CRAZY!

but like safesearch said, most r in the village... or in "little egypt" (astoria).

[L'Oignon]

shisha international
171 West 4th st

they r all about the shisha, mu'ussel, and other accesories. expensive, but worth a trip in there. this is NOT a cigar shop or market that happens to sell shishas. so you won't be dissapointed. the prices are high for a reason... HAGGLE LIKE CRAZY!

but like safesearch said, most r in the village... or in "little egypt" (astoria).

Do you have an idea of which brands/sort of things they stock?

I was thinking of buying a new pipe in NYC but I figure the less things I have that look like drug paraphenalia going over the boarder, the better Edited May 18, 2007 by L'Oignon

[SafeSearchOff]

All the stores I've been to in the village hoard Afzal like no friekin' other, its the easiest shisha to find in NYC. My favorite place (for a reason) carries Al Waha... woot!

[MAKCuMG]

I live in NYC and am heading to the village tonight or tom. night =).

Like safesearchoff said, afzal is here to stay...but, i can let you in on a few brand specific stores i know of. Shisha international's prices are insane. They have nothing but afzal and nakhla. Most places here only carry those two brands.

The place on Ave of americas between west 4th and 5th i think (next to american apparel) has al-waha if you are interested (its nasty IMO). The guy there seems like a nice person and may give you a good deal.

Theres one place here (as far as I know), that carries Havana for $5 per 50g box. Its 2 blocks away, on west 3rd and ave of americas. Its right when you come out from the subway. Has a bunch of magazines on the store front, but also a prominent looking hookah. People there arent very knowledgale, except for an older gentelman who helped me, but they do have a selection.

ill be doing more searching in the next few days, pm me for my cell number so when you are here, i could maybe help you find what you are looking for.

Max