Spring St. (South Side, between Greene St. and Broadway)

The John Varvatos store at 122 Spring St. is impressively intimidating, even though I find the fashions a big laughable in their goofy, brooding intensity. The sneering, urbane, tough-guy look is an uncomfortable mash-up. This is actually a view through the open door, since this space doesn't feel like it was originally created to be a retail location.

Here's the long Spring St. side of the John Varvatos shop, with all its narrow display windows.

John Varvatos display window #1.

John Varvatos display window #2.

John Varvatos display window #3.

John Varvatos display window #4. Come on, isn't there something silly about painted tires, scarves, sunglasses, and a man-bag all mixed together?

John Varvatos display window #5. I know I always keep my moisturizer perched on an old tire.

A unique SoHo gem, Evolution at 120 Spring St. has one of the most fascinating and intriguing storefronts in the whole city. I've gone in there occasionally to buy really surprising birthday presents, like a fetal shark in a jar for my brother, and a fox skull for my ex-boyfriend's father. I love staring in that window at the curios from the natural world.

At 118 Spring St. is the rather mysterious Jenny B. I couldn't even find a website for them. The display is simple and functional, keeping a clean emphasis on the straightforward shoes and boots themselves.

The flagship store of Burton is at 106 Spring. The windows are busy and messy, but it does fit their rough-and-tumble Xtreme sports aesthetic. I guess you could even call these displays "shredded".

Another shredded display from Burton, this time with a pithy slogan.

And here's the Burton credo on their door.

A very cool, youthful, trendy storefront from Ben Sherman at 96 Spring St., with just the right level of '80s retro styling.

Two more of the Ben Sherman window displays. It certainly feels like he's got his finger on the generational pulse with this storefront.

More cool Ben Sherman.

The doorway of the Ben Sherman storefront. He had me up until that Member's Only-style jacket just inside the entrance.