Janie's Life Changing Baked Goods

East of 96th, between a pair of century-old walk-ups and a glossy new condo, Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods operates from a corner storefront with muted brick and dirty white trim. Today the bakery lays claim to 2118 2nd Avenue in Yorkville, offering carbohydrate wonders six mornings a week. Cinnamon buns so tall they barely fit the rack; sandwich loaves sliced thick for hurried hands; cupcakes wrapped in spun-sugar swirls; and, on request, custom cakes that disappear faster than weekend brunch reservations. Parking—or the lack thereof—is the one thing that can spoil the stroll, but the espresso stops plenty of stomachs mid-block before they fade away. Dial (646) 861-1280 and hope someone picks up through chatter of coffee beans and parchment tears. The stretch above 96th still feels like the old neighborhood even as glass towers loosen the soil again. To keep your bearings straight, pull up the quick map before weaving north.