The birth certificate may read New Jersey, but the origin story of Karl-Anthony Towns, the seven-foot star for the New York Knicks, extends to New York City.
Growing up in nearby Piscataway, N.J., Mr. Towns and his parents would routinely make the 37-mile commute to the city to experience parks, museums, New York Yankees games, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and, of course, to watch the Knicks — the favorite team of his mother, Jacqueline Cruz — play at Madison Square Garden.
“To now be playing in that kind of place is pretty cool, to see life coming in a full circle,” Mr. Towns, who was traded to New York from the Minnesota Timberwolves in October, said in a recent phone interview.
Mr. Towns, 29, has been one of the most dominating forces in this young N.B.A. season, averaging 24.7 points, a league-leading 14 rebounds and 3.3 assists for a (24-12) Knicks team which, as early January, is third in the Eastern Conference. He is already a fan favorite in the five boroughs, recently earning the nickname the Big Bodega, a clever play on his size, and his New York and Dominican roots.
“You know you’re stepping into holy ground,” he said of playing at the Garden. “It’s called the Mecca for a reason.”
His tenure so far in New York has not been all business. Mr. Towns and his girlfriend, the model Jordyn Woods, enjoy eating their way around Manhattan, stopping at Nobu Downtown or the Corner Store in SoHo, or grabbing postgame takeout at Joe’s Pizza, Little Ruby’s Cafe on Mulberry Street or his guilty pleasure, Empanada Mama.
“Shout-out to Big Mama, holding it down at night,” Mr. Towns said.
Here are five of Mr. Towns’s favorite places in New York City (sadly, no bodegas).
1. Yankee Stadium
Just as nostalgic as the Garden for Mr. Towns is another iconic city sports cathedral, Yankee Stadium. Some of his most cherished childhood memories are of the outfield bleachers of the old Yankee Stadium with his parents, wearing pinstripe uniforms and eating popcorn (still his go-to snack at the ballpark).
“They didn’t have a lot of money, but my parents made life special for me with the money we did have,” Mr. Towns said. (His mother died in 2020). His favorite moment at the stadium? When the Yankees legend Bernie Williams tossed him a baseball, which he still possesses, from the outfield in the early 2000s.
During this year’s playoff run, Mr. Towns was a fixture at the stadium, though with slightly better seats. “To watch the Yankees go to the World Series this year was a real treat as a fan,” he said, “and I’m really proud of my Yankees.”
2. The Polo Bar
“Polo Bar is the definition of classic,” Mr. Towns said of the Midtown celebrity hot spot from the all-American fashion designer Ralph Lauren, and one of the toughest reservations in town (30 days in advance is recommended). Part of the appeal and experience is the distinguished décor: the brown saddle leather seats, stained wood-paneled walls and equestrian artwork. “Whatever you imagine a Ralph Lauren Polo restaurant or bar would look like is exactly what he did, and he did it at the highest level,” Mr. Towns said.
With Ms. Woods and his agent, Jessica Holtz, Mr. Towns recently dined at the Polo Bar, and he ordered the chicken paillard and Dover sole. “The service and the food is excellent and everything is nicely branded,” he said.
3. Comedy Cellar
Under the bright Comedy Cellar sign and down the stairs of an unassuming building in the West Village, comedy royalty like Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer and Dave Chappelle are known to show up on any given night.
Mr. Towns, who has been frequenting Comedy Cellar since his early years with the Timberwolves, appreciates both the art of stand-up and the character of the room: the low ceilings, the small crowds and the signature red brick backdrop.
“It’s intimate, like it’s kind of like a pub with a stage in it,” he said. Pub prices too — $14 cover charge on weekdays and a two-drink minimum.
The cool kids don’t just shop in Williamsburg or SoHo. Dover Street Market, which sits on the border of the NoMad and Murray Hill neighborhoods, is a seven-floor retail oasis of hypebeast brands, exclusive collaborations and runway-level looks with prices that have commas.
Mr. Towns, who listed Marni, Comme des Garçons, Rick Owens and Balenciaga as some of his top designers at the store, also respects its curated art installations that include textured walls and pillars. “Different cuts, different patterns, maybe outside-of-the-box-thinking of fashion,” he said. “I really like that.”
On a recent visit, Mr. Towns carved out time to grab a coffee at the colorful Rose Bakery on the store’s ground floor and indulge in a little shopping. Among his purchases: Mirror perfume, a collaboration between Comme des Garçons and Kaws, and a pair of Vomero 5 sneakers, an exclusive Nike and Dover Street Market collaboration, which he gave as a gift to Ms. Woods.
5. Altro Paradiso
Trendy but not trendy, Mr. Towns is drawn to the quiet coolness of Altro Paradiso, a neighborhood spot in SoHo by the restaurateur Ignacio Mattos (who also owns the local favorites Estela and Lodi).
“I feel like most of the time you can just walk in and you don’t have to make such a crazy reservation,” said Mr. Towns, who noted the Italian-inspired Altro Paradiso has “good space” and creative pastas like the strozzapreti al pesto.
Mr. Towns — like most New Yorkers — is still exploring and discovering the restaurant scene. “Pick the place based on the vibe of the people you’re with,” he advised. “Would you want to go to a Yankees game with a bunch of Mets fans?”
Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation.
