MY NY: Rock Kim Gordon’s 5 Fave NYC Spots

Kim Gordon has certainly made a lot of noise in her life—first as a Toronto college student experimenting in heavy metal, later as a forming member of '90s alt-rock legend Sonic Youth, then producing records for Hole and co-directing music videos with Spike Jonze. Which is why we weren't surprised that the singer with more labels than J-Lo (vocalist, muse, actress, producer), has an art exhibition that opened here on Thursday called "The Noise Paintings" that shows off her more than considerable talents as a visual artist. With pieces emblazoned with the words "Slow Listener" and "16 Bitch Pile Up," scrawled in dripping ink, the canvasses are more like personalized graffiti homages to noise bands than anything else. In celebration of her NYC show, this stylin' rock chick shares her fave places to grab buttered radishes or cheap reads when she's not on stage or behind the easel. Now that's a "Kool Thing."

1. John McWhinnie at Glen Horowitz Bookseller: "I like atypical galleries. It's in a brownstone, it's part book store, and I'm having a show there." 50 1/2 East 64th Street (between Park and Madison avenues); 212-754-5626

2. Penine Hart: "They have interesting ceramics and paintings as well as French-flavored antiques." 100 Kenmare Street (at Mulberry Street); 212-226-2602

3. Prune: "I love their deviled eggs and the fact that they serve radishes with butter. The fish and bone marrow are amazing. It's small and personable!" 54 East 1st Street (between First and Second avenues); 212-677-6221

4. Housing Works: "It's great for deals on books and I love that it's in my neighborhood. You can go there for coffee, too." 126 Crosby Street (at Jersey Street); 212-334-3324

5. Acne: "I love their clothes. You can get something special but it's still casual and flattering, tomboyish and sexy. The stuff has a lot of breadth to it." 10 Greene Street (between Canal and Grand streets); 212-625-2828