Upper Playground

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This venue is closed.

This San Francisco–based streetwear chain opened its first East Coast location in October 2008, bringing screen-printed T-shirts, embroidered hoodies, and street-art-inspired home accessories to the East Village. Sprawling illustrations adorn the walls of the long, skinny space, and apparel is stacked along store-spanning shelves. The T-shirts, hoodies, and hats for both sexes are artist-focused, featuring elaborate designs by illustrators like Sam Flores, Aiko, and Billy Bronze as well as streetwear brands like 12 Grain and superFishal. Most merchandise is decked with the brand’s signature walrus logo, and many incorporate edgy themes like skulls or smoking guns. Roomy backpacks and messenger bags are screen-printed in neon shades, and even the collection of shower curtains and throw pillows are splashed with zebra stripes, animated animals, or abstract drawings. Hip-hop tracks blast overhead as browsers linger over coffee table books by contributors like Brooklyn-based photographer Boogie and painter and printmaker Maya Hayuk. — Lauren Murrow