Shop-Local Gift Guide (Part 9)

The final round! I hope this series has inspired you to shop local—not just at the holidays, but all year long.

Let There Be NeonBRANDED MERCHANDISE
Many shops and restaurants sell T-shirts, tote bags, mugs, and other branded items: They’re great gifts for fans of the businesses. A few places I spotted on this gift crawl: Let There Be Neon, Valley, Everyman Espresso, Mysterious Bookshop, Raccoon Lodge. Similarly: Tribeca Citizen T-shirts!

BOOZE
A bottle of something thoughtfully chosen is nearly always welcome. My go-tos are stickies (as Australians call dessert wines and the like) and, as stocking stuffers, minis of offbeat liquors. I presume you know the wine/liquor store nearest you; go high-end for stickies and less so for minis.

SWEETS
A cake from Baked, chocolate-covered almond cookies from Duane Park Patisserie, a cookie sampler from Tribeca Treats, a stollen from Arcade Bakery, a panettone or those delectable almond/fennel seed biscotti from Grandaisy, something unexpected from Takahachi Bakery, Houseman‘s fruitcake, chocolates from Fika….

Houseman fruitcakeSPAS AND SALONS
How could anyone be unhappy about a gift card for a massage or other treatment at i-Plaza or Tribeca Beauty Spa? Or a mani-pedi at Tenoverten or Sweet Lily? Or a soak session at Aire Ancient Baths (below)?

courtesy aire ancient baths nyFITNESS
Tribeca may have more fitness options per capita than any neighborhood in New York City: There’s spinning, yoga, Pilates, boot camps, gyms with personal training, Cross-Fit—all of which make for good gifts, if safer for the person who is definitely into fitness than the person who is not. (You don’t want to send the wrong message….) But I’m going to highlight a few options that you really won’t find everywhere: Jump Life (trampoline fitness), Barre Tribeca (ballet barre–based workout), Aqua (underwater stationary bikes), and City Pole (pole dancing).

FLOWERS
When in doubt, flowers: Mel Furukawa, Flowers by Yasmine at Le District (who also has pretty vases and scented candles), Langdon Florist, Floratech, Élan Flowers.

 

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