2022 Shop-Local Gift Guide: Unique Among the Unique

This neighborhood has a few shops that are not only one-of-a-kind in the city, but in the region. You can shop your whole list within steps of your door. Plus scroll down for a list of local framers, to gift something truly personal.

KORIN
57 Warren St | West Broadway and Church)
I could do all my shopping at Korin, and in past years I have.
••• Korin now sells their own loose tea by Kettl, and make-your-own teabags if you brew by the cup ($15 and $15). Pair it with a cast iron kettle. ($27)
••• The house brand hammered steel knives are as beautiful as they are effective. For right handers only (the blade is asymmetrical) but there are plenty of options for southpaws. $149 and $159

RE: AL
165 Hudson | entrance on Laight | open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 7p
The wonderful jewel box of a store by Tribecan Al Abayan is filled with unique treasures that are uncategorizable.
A wall hanging in woven organic cotton is beachy AND urban at the same time. $210
The pine cone candlesticks in polished or not bronze, for the season. $435
And because everyone needs a fish bottle opener. $20

DARLING MOON FLOWER | CAFE ATELIER
112 Hudson | N. Moore & Franklin
••• For a really fabulous gift, treat your favorite to one of Alice Kil’s flower arranging or candle making classes. Check her website for the schedule (we just missed several for Thanksgiving arrangements). $60 – $220
••• Her homemade candles are charming. $15 for the pine tree (and there are lots of others)

MYSTERIOUS BOOKSHOP
58 Warren | West Broadway and Church
The independent bookstore is a rare find. Celebrate it.
••• It’s always murder season on Warren Street. Death & the Conjurer by Tom Mead will come with a free Christmas story by the same author, a MB tradition that goes back 30 years. $26 plus $20 for the tote.
••• The store is leaning into the “locked room” theme this year, and has a few of those in their yearly collection of mystery stories. Plus if it’s a hit, you can do this every year. $18 or $28 for the hardcover.

OK UNIFORM
253 Church at Leonard and Franklin
*The* pitstop for chefs and construction workers, there’s always something fun for civilians in this place.
••• The Cookman’s chef pants from Japan are trending. $40
••• Who needs a trend? The Tribeca branded varsity jacket in black or green is an evergreen. $33

CHURCH STREET SURPLUS
Celebrating 50 years, the store has collections of military items from around the world.
••• Air Force M-65 field jacket liners in two different lengths are perfect for NYC winters. $55 and $65
••• A “kit for personal protection of citizens” from Yugoslavia, since it’s a nice sentiment and since everything looks cooler in a different language. $25

FOUNTAIN PEN HOSPITAL
10 Warren | Broadway and Church
In it’s 76th year, the shop has every kind of pen imaginable, some at prices that go well into the quadruple digits.
••• Esterbrook has been making pens since the 1940s. You can spend just about any amount, but these start at $148
••• The vintage pens are only in Tribeca. $125 – $500

PEARL RIVER MART
452 Broadway | Howard & Grand
The one honorary Soho mention on this list: the famed Chinese emporium moved during the pandemic from Walker to one block north of Canal.
••• The silk quilted jacket happened to match the soles of my pal’s boots from 180 The Store. $135
••• The Chinese takeout handbag has room for your chopsticks and then some. $36

SHINOLA
177 Franklin | Greenwich and Hudson
Based in Detroit, the watchmaker always has the craftiest gifts.
••• The waxed canvas totes are a new item for them, and they are perfect. In olive too. $350 for the foldover, $495 for the tote and there’s an overnight bag too.
••• Only Shinola would think to partner with Parker Brothers for a classic take on a classic. Scrabble set for $395

ROSE BOX
186 Franklin | Greenwich and Hudson
The freshcut, freeze dried roses last for at least a year and can be custom ordered.
••• There’s a new line for the holidays in gold and red, and we were taken with the very-Liberty lemon theme. $129-299 depending on the number of blooms.

TRIBECA PAINT
217 W. Broadway | White and Franklin
Tribecan Andy Scheman is the third generation owner of our last remaining hardware store — and he has great gifts for the practical sorts.
••• Hot toddy season alert: I have given these as gifts several times and they are a hit. Plus you can drop them from 500 feet. The Stanley two-quarter. $50
••• The Child Chia Pet — where all things ’70s and ’20s converge. $27

PHILIP WILLIAMS POSTERS
122 Chambers | West Broadway & Church
A Tribeca stalwart, the poster museum has thousands of vintage wall art, but also smaller printed collectibles.
••• The staff will help you scroll through these on the computer and find your street: giant pages from the New York Atlas of Manhattan from 1931-1963. $200
••• There’s a New Yorker cover for everyone. I dug out a bunch of ski scenes plus a NY Mets cover from 2006. $25

CITY STORE
1 Centre at Chambers
The official gift shop for NYC, city agency logos are printed on everything from socks to hoodies to mugs.
••• This is a real stop light glass, sold as a serving platter. Guess what: it comes in two other colors. $25
••• Tribeca Josh Bach has ties for downtowners who love NYC.

PAMPER UR PETS
177 West Broadway | Worth and Leonard
This is our only store left dedicated to the fur babies and it is well stocked with treats.
••• Let your pup join the party with these squeakers in all sorts of bad habits. $17.
••• I just installed this catnip-infused self-groomer on the corner of a cabinet. It’s not pretty, but it’s a hit. $11.

PAPER SOURCE
211 W. Broadway inside Maman
A pitstop for all things paper, plus lots of gifts.
••• If you love wrapping more than shopping, as I do, the papers here will satisfy. $6 to $9 per sheet
••• The felt pompom garland for Hannukah will liven up a doorway or table top. $20

…………………….

FRAME SOMETHING SPECIAL
For my anniversary last year I framed a piece of art that my daughter did when she was 3; she is now 15 so that piece of paper had been rattling around here for all those years. I am thrilled I finally did it. So use the holidays as an excuse to bring something beautiful out of storage. Here’s a list of our local framers:

L & O Framers
Founded more than 30 years ago at 140 Duane

Gill & Lagodich
Fine period framing with antique frames and reproductions

Steven Amedee
Custom picture framing and design services

GK Framing
Fine art framing + Reflectel mirrors that hide TVs

Trilogy Photo
Custom framing services and ready-made frames.

Cloud Gallery
A variety of framing from art to acrylic mounts

ROOQ Tribeca
Custom framing, including same-day services

…………………………….

MORE GIFT GUIDES:

UNIQUE AMONG THE UNIQUE
THREADS FOR GALS
THREADS FOR GUYS
BAUBLES!
KIDS!
TEENS!
FOR THE HOME
GOOD EATS

 

Comment: