Floratech

Profile

Michael Collarone is famous in Tribeca as Mikey Flowers, a downtown fixture since the early eighties doing business at his current location since 1991. His many corporate clients keep him busy delivering potted bromeliads, ivy, lilies, and paintbox-bright arrangements of fresh cut florals. Formations of orchids are often displayed in his small corner storefront window, along with sprays of hydrangeas or pots of other seasonals. Inside, a wall-length cooler is filled with pert roses, stems, and flowering shrubs. This isn’t really a place for browsing, though; most of the action takes place in back, where orders get filled. The shop straddles the divide between urbane cool and people-pleasing charm, providing kaleidoscopic floral designs as well as understated, hand-tied bridal bouquets. Sweethearts may want to check out Mikey’s special arrangements, known collectively as The Five Bouquets of Love, which have names like the Stomach (�for when you've gone on a few dates and you're so excited you get that funny feeling in your stomach�), the Doghouse, and Marry Me. — Jack Robertiello