Jun 4, 2025

Diallo Cap USA New York

Team logo wear

""Diallo Cap USA" in Harlem, New York, is where you should go to get baseball caps. You can hold, feel and try on caps from among hundreds, maybe thousands."

The New York Knickerbockers (now the moniker of Manhattan's NBA basketball team, the 'Knicks') were the first baseball team to don baseball caps, in 1849. Since then the world is crazy for this invasive style, supplanting almost all others including the historic designs of most of the world's military, police and even overgrowing the US Navy's white cotton Gob caps.

For any group that wants to convey a team or military "all for one and one for all" motif, baseball caps are rigueur.

You can buy online for bupkis but you must select from tiny images that tell you nothing about the feel of fabric, fit or true color.

Or, you can stroll 125th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, in Harlem, until you reach Diallo where you can hold, feel and actually try on caps from among many hundreds of examples. Maybe thousands.

I remember the way hats used to be --- 6 panel wool, sewn crown eyelets, leather or pure cotton sweat bands, and a felt logo stitched on.

Now, they come with a big gold sticker on the top side of the peak proclaiming something or other and a square tag dangling from somewhere around the backside.

Do not remove these labels --- they are part of the style.

What to do when you really need a St Louis Cardinal bright red wool cap and this is your last trip to the USA? Go the land of a thousand caps up on 125th Street.

It is not a chain.

Amsterdam
Antwerp
002-building
Art & culture
002-building
Art & culture
002-building
Art & culture

About this spot

West 125th Street 18

Standard cap:

US$

25

+1

2122227942

Find your way with 304 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our New York guide.

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in New York

35 Times, Toby Buonagurio

Subway art 10

"35 Times - Toby Buonagurio" in New York are small artworks in the Times Square subway station, maybe even 16 inches square, lit on the inside. Jazzy!

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 17, 2025

The Pythian Temple

R&R Shrine

"The Pythian Temple" in NYC was designed in 1927 for the movie 'The Knights of Pythias'; today, it's remarkable for much more than its beauty...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

A Gathering, 2001 - Muñoz & Martin

Subway art 13

"A Gathering, 2001" by Muñoz & Martin in the Canal Street train station in NYC 'enlivens the space & provides respite from the busy commercialism above'...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

Saiguette

Vietnamese counter/takeout

I first returned to the Vietnamese restaurant "Saiguette" in NYC for its light, rich, rejuvenating soups, but I also recommend the pork shoulder sandwich.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

Rucker Park

NBA caliber street basketball

"Rucker Park" in New York City is where big men and children come to play basketball, strut, defy, dominate make a name for themselves. You have to see it.

002-building
Art & culture
017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

Whirls and Twirls (MTA), Sol LeWitt

Subway art 3

The Subway Art in Columbus Circle New York City by Sol LeWitt is one of the pieces that make me feel I need to stop to take it all in...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

Subway Portraits, Chuck Close

Subway art 1

I took the Q train in New York and reached the 86th Street station, where twelve Chuck Close mosaic mesmerizing portraits adorn the walls...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

Music Inn

Instruments, custom & stock

"Music Inn" in New York City is run by musician, instrument designer & inventor Jeff Slatnick. There are musical instruments just everywhere in the shop...

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

The Return of Spring, Jack Beal

Subway art 7

"The Return of Spring - Jack Beal" in New York is a mosaic mural in the Times Square station in the IRT West Side Lin mezzanine. Is it really Wayne Gretzky?

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

Di Fara, Brooklyn

Pizza 1

"Di Fara" in New York is the best pizza pilgrimage one can go on. This local favorite makes a time-capsulized pizza restaurant. Its crust sets it apart...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

New York in Transit, Jacob Lawrence

Subway art 8

"New York in Transit - Jacob Lawrence", I've been passing this piece a lot lately. Nearby is a spot where musicians hang out, so it's nice to pause here...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

The Revelers, Jane Dickson

Subway art 6

"The Revelers by Jane Dickson" in New York's Times Square Subway Station is mostly located in the transfer corridors between the BMT and IRT Flushing line

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Jun 16, 2025

Heading to New York?

304 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

304 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

App Download Download our app

City guides by those who know the city in and out!

Our Locals' Favorite New York

Our team loves New York

Get to know our other Spotters from New York

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
false
0
false
63
Filters