Gen Art alum Leong Ong of ONG grew up in a small town outside of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. These days, the 2006 Fresh Faces designer calls New York City's East Village his home. We've asked Leong for the inside scoop on some his favorite spots in the city—read on to discover the stores, restaurants, and bars this fashionista loves right now.

What are some of the best kept shopping secrets in New York?
You have to go to Poppet on 9th Street and 1st Avenue for the amazing vintage clothing. There's also Toy Tokyo on 2nd Avenue between 7th and 8th Street. I love a good toy store!

What is it about New York that inspires you?
Downtown! The mix of cultures, the accessibility to pretty much anything, the way it is composed of a bunch of villages—the West Village, East Village, Soho, Midtown, NoLita, Tribeca, Chinatown—and how they fit (or don't) together. It truly is the city that does not sleep. On the flip side, you can easily escape to nature by taking a day trip to the ocean or going upstate into the mountains to chill out.

What are your favorite places to grab a bite?
If I want something cheap, Nyonya. They serve excellent and authentic Malaysian food. I am Malaysian, and nowhere else has come that close to the food from home in my thirteen years in New York. If I'm going to eat something more high end, I love Pure Food & Wine on Irving Place. Everything is raw and organic, delicious and satisfying. There's nothing "raw" tasting about their food.

Where would we usually find you out on a weekend night?
I don't go out too much but when I do—The Phoenix on 13th Street in the East Village. It's my friendly neighborhood grimy gay bar, complete with a pool table. For a more swanky night, I also love Angel's Share. It's a bar on 9th street and 3rd Avenue that has fantastic cocktails with a Japanese spin. And it's very intimate. They don't take parties over four.

Is there a local musician who you think is poised to make it big?
Shy Child from Brooklyn. Think new rave. They have a full-length album coming out in May.

Tell us about your favorite day in New York.
The Blackout of 2005. I loved just walking around my neighborhood, popping into the local bars and restaurants, and watching everyone out on the streets and the cyclists whizzing around in groups. It was pretty cool. In fact, I think we should have one every other year. Except for the fact that I'm sure a lot of businesses suffered.

RANDOM TANGENT:
Before starting ONG, Leong Ong was a Senior Designer at Ralph Lauren, working on the Black Label, Blue Label, Golf and Rugby lines.

Similar Topics:Designer's Guide, Fashion

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