New York City is a shopper’s paradise, especially at Christmas. Streets are lined with stores jam-packed with merchandise for the holidays, so why does it seem that we can never find the perfect gift for that hard to buy for friend or relative? Woman Around Town has scoped out the city and found great shops offering something fabulous for everyone on your list. Even Santa would approve.
Mxyplyzyck
Don’t even try to pronounce the name of this West Village shop (which references a Superman villain), just step inside and marvel at all of the quirky offerings. Everyday household items are transformed into art objects like an electronics charging station that looks like a patch of grass, soaps in the shape of sushi rolls (left) and a set of Russian nesting dolls that turn into measuring cups. Whether you want to pick up a secret Santa gift for an office mate or something fun for your crazy aunt, you’ll definitely find it here.
Mxyplyzyck 125 Greenwich Ave, 212-989-4300; 10 Columbus Circle, 212-823-2545
MoMa Design Store
Our out of town relatives are already jealous that we get to frequent amazing museums whenever we feel like it. Give them a piece of the action by buying them something special from one of The Museum of Modern Art’s renowned stores. Transcending the typical museum gift shop, the MoMa Design stores keep their shelves stocked with modern home goods that (naturally) have an amazing design influence. Items like a sake set shaped like bamboo branches or a chic olive oil pourer (right) will be unexpected surprises under the Christmas tree.
MoMa Design Store, 44 W 53rd St, 212-767-1050; 81 Spring St, 646-613-1367
A&G Merch
There’s always that impossible-to-shop-for person on your list that already has everything cool under the sun. Instead of gifting them with the typical bath and body set, pick up something at this Brooklyn spot that is full of offbeat gift items from cool indie designers. Bypass the pricey furniture section in favor of affordable felt cutout placemats, plaid throw blankets and a wooden tape dispenser (at left).
A&G Merch, 111 N. 6th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Site
If you took all of the coolest shops on Etsy and merged them into one storefront, you’d get something akin to Site. Owner Mackenzi Farquer seeks out plenty of local and handmade giftable items like a pair of earrings made from brass skeleton keys for your niece, a cupcake printed apron (right) for your aunt or chalkboard wall decals for your hipster cousin.
Site, 35-11 34th Ave, Astoria, Queens, 718-626-6030
Sustainable NYC
For the do-gooders on your Christmas list, you can’t go wrong when shopping at this East Village spot. Everything about the store (including the solar-powered sign out front) is green from a great selection of hard to find eco beauty products to home goods like soy candles (left) to yummy agave chocolates. If Christmas shopping tuckers you out, treat yourself to an organic cappuccino in the tiny café, Ciao for Now, in the back of the store.
Sustainable NYC, 139 Avenue A, 212-254-5400
