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Is there anything more annoying than a croissant that is more like a bun? (Yes. —Ed.) I’ve always been fond of the croissants at La Colombe, but then they were taken up a notch. It turns out they’re now from François Payard Bakery on Houston. Treat yourself soon.

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We all know by now that bars should have hooks under them, but only at Bread Tribeca have I seen hooks with latches—so your coat or bag won’t fall (or be snatched). Brilliant.

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I’m consistently impressed with SP’s Nuts and Candy, on Church (you may know it as We’re Nuts About Nuts). A couple weeks ago, we had hazelnuts from there that were way better than ones from the supermarket, and lately we discovered that the prunes are excellent, too. Shopping at SP’s can be a funky experience—the staff does the scooping, and they’re not always chipper—but it’s worth it.

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The Kaffir Jimlet at Macao Trading Co. is made with Plymouth gin that’s been infused with kaffir lime, lime juice, and agave nectar, and I’m obsessed with it, despite feeling like an ass whenever I say “Jimlet.” In summer they need to make a version with tonic water or soda and serve it on the rocks. (Photo courtesy Loungerati.)

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At the party for the Adeline Adeline/Kate Spade collaboration, a company called Memorable Elements—don’t try saying that after a Kaffir Jimlet—had a set-up where you posed for photos that got turned into a flip book right then and there. I regret not doing one (but I was alone and didn’t have the huevos feel like being silly).

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The butternut squash pizza at Grandaisy Bakery is dee-licious (so dee-licious that I took a bite before remembering that I had meant to photograph it).

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I may find Mr. Chow a bit over the top, but I do love how drinks at the bar are served on embossed paper coasters, complete with scalloped edge (and what might be spermatozoa?). In fact, I liked mine so much I stole it.

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A salad and a savory soufflé at Capsouto Frères: the perfect rainy-day lunch.

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WORLD JOURNAL BOOKSTORE
• World Journal is a good source for stocking stuffers like sheets of stickers ($1) and all kinds of Hello Kitty paraphernalia.

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TRANSIT
• Slip-on Converse sneakers with trompe l’oeil laces ($40).

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CHURCH STREET SURPLUS
• I hadn’t realized that Church Street Surplus has a wide range of vintage clothing, not just army/navy stuff, and it’s all very teen-friendly (backpack $20).
• Firefighter’s coat ($450).

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T&T PLASTIC LAND
• Give ‘em the world: Inflatable transparent globes come in various sizes; the 16-inch one is $11.

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OK UNIFORM
• It’s never to early to introduce your kids to role-play ($10).

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APEXART
• New York magazine had a great idea: Fill local tote bags instead of stockings; what you lose in holiday charm, you gain in space. Apexart’s totes are free and come in several colors.

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BIRDBATH
• I haven’t tried Birdbath’s granola ($5), but I bet it’s tasty.

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KIDVILLE
• When I saw My Foodie ABC ($9), I thought half-jokingly, A is for arugula? No, actually, A is for alfajor. And C is for chanterelle. Maybe Y is for yikes?
• A bunny with an apple ($50). Cute!
• An array of stocking-stuffer barrettes. The large letter ones are $13.

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SP’S NUTS & CANDY
• Part of me envies people whose stockings used to contain things like oranges and nuts. (Is this something I remember from Little House on the Prairie?) Nowadays we can get anything at any time, and so much of what we buy ends up as landfill. But what’s not to like about freshly roasted nuts? You’d want to put a ribbon on them, of course.

Previous installments in the 2010 Shop-Local Gift Guide:
• Chambers and Reade
• Hudson
• Harrison and Worth
• Duane
• Warren and Murray

IN THE NEWS
••• “Tribeca residents refusing to roll out the welcome wagon for a trashy new neighbor filed an appeal Wednesday against a judge’s decision to let the city build a sanitation garage and salt shed in the neighborhood.” (DNAinfo) Um, it’s not just Tribecans—in fact, it’s mostly Hudson Square residents….
••• SP’s Nuts and Candy on Church (bet. Chambers and Reade) might be the last nut roaster in town, says the New York Times. Noted in the article: The closing of the Bazzini store.
••• While shopping for blankets for the New York Times, interior designer Brad Ford checks out Stella.
••• Broadsheet Daily looks at the progress being made on Pier A.
••• The New York Post drops in on FiDi resident (and Blaue Gans restaurateur) Kurt Gutenbrunner, whose first cookbook is slated for publication in 2011.

courtesy Broadsheet Daily

COMING UP
••• To protest the possibility that the 9/11 “terror trials” would be held in lower Manhattan, the Civic Center Residents Coalition is holding a press conference tomorrow (Friday) at 12:30 p.m. at Columbus Park, across Worth from the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Federal Courthouse.
••• On Saturday from 1 p.m to 3 p.m., there will be a ”Bollywood Skate” at Battery Park City Ice Rink, complete with Indian music, samosas, and chai. (Broadsheet Daily)