BEST SHOP FOR LOOKING FEDORABLE
JJ Hat Center 310 Fifth Ave, porkpiehatters.com. Hats don’t just keep you warm or hide a bad hair day. A chapeau can complete your look. JJ Hat Center has a friendly, fashion-forward staff dedicated to keeping your noggin covered in an array of styles, colors and fabrics.
BEST PLACE TO MAKE A LIFELONG COMMITMENT
North Star Tattoo 74 E 7th St, northstartattoo .com. Whether you’re replicating a Dali painting or a shark with sunglasses holding a beer can, you need an impeccably clean tattoo shop with skilled artists. North Star Tattoo has an impressive artist roster with equally talented guest inkers stopping by to put needle to skin, leaving you with art that lasts a lifetime.
BEST HOLLA! FOR YOUR DOLLAR
Jack’s 99 Cent Store 110 W 32nd St, jacks99world.com. Celebrate your victory after scrounging through couch cushions, old jackets and dirty jeans to find change. Not only does Jack's have ridiculously cheap snacks, but there are also housewares, bedding and random goodies to keep you fed, clothed and entertained for just a handful of crumpled singles.
BEST SHOP TO DO IT YÜRSELF
Ikea 1 Beard St, Brooklyn, ikea.com. Ah, Ikea, the place where everyone feels like an interior decorator. Or a disgruntled but eventually accomplished handyperson. It’s easy to spend hours browsing Ikea’s vast aisles of stylish yet skinflinty furnishings. You don’t need a tool belt to put stuff together, but you’d look über-hött wearing one.
BEST GOODS TO SPICE UP YOUR LIFE
Kalustyan's 123 Lexington Ave, kalustyans.com. When a recipe calls for an exotic ingredient you’ve never heard of, Kalustyan's can save the day. Their shelves are stocked with a mind-boggling range of herbs, spices and pantry staples. Stop by the deli on the second floor and grab a bite before you leave.
BEST UNISEX CLOTHES
Uniqlo 546 Broadway, uniqlo.com/us/home. Uniqlo is the trendy-yet-thrifty answer to the question: “What will I wear today?” The Japanese chain's shelves are filled with affordable, basic pieces that don’t conform to genderspecific norms.
BEST PLACE TO PUT THE NEEDLE ON THE RECORD
Academy Records 12 W 18th St, academyrecords. com. Audiophiles, rejoice! Expand your vinyl horizons looking through the impressive inventory at this Chelsea shop. Academy Records' bins overflow with classical, jazz, avant garde, underground, soul, rock and more. Best of all, your purchases won’t break the bank.
BEST SHOP FOR REVAMPING YOUR CHOPS
Father Sebastiaan’s Fang Shop 104 4th Ave, fathersebastiaan.com/fangshopnyc. Upgrade your grill with Father Sebastiaan’s custommade, personalized, high quality fangs. Now when you get bitten by love, you can bite back. Aw, Sookie Sookie now!
BEST MIRACLE ON 34TH ST.
Macy's 151 W 34th St, macys.com. The Herald Square flagship location of the country’s most famous department store is gigantic. You’ll find classic pieces to add to your wardrobe, along with countless accessories, appliances, home furnishings and so on. As you check things off your holiday shopping list, stop and sit on Santa’s lap while you’re there.
BEST ECO-FRIENDLY FURNISHINGS
Urbangreen 236 E 78th St, urbangreenfurniture. com. Beautiful, high-quality furniture crafted with cutting-edge, green technology. When you’re ready to upgrade your living space—but want to respect Planet Earth and take pride in what you’ve purchased—this shop should be first on your list.
BEST UPCYCLED GIFT SHOP
Sustainable New York 139 Avenue A, sustainable- nyc.com. This emporium of all things environmentally sound, organic, fair trade, recycled and upcycled is phenomenal. Where else can you find a bowtie made out of used MetroCards or a purse made from a repurposed sari? BEST VINTAGE BLING
Pippin Vintage Jewelry 112 W 17th St, pippinvintage- jewelry.myshopify.com. When you want vintage charm without spending your life savings on a ring or necklace, get thee to Pippin. The boutique displays a stunning selection of costume jewelry as well as antique furniture and décor.
BEST SHOP FOR TRAVELING BIBLIOPHILES
Idlewild 12 W 19th St, idlewildbooks.com. This specialty shop is emblematic of why it’s so important to support indie bookstores. Unlike the big chains, Idlewild focuses on travel guides and world literature. Service is personalized for both frequent flyers and armchair explorers. In addition to the selection of books in French, Spanish and English, the shop offers language classes. Vive la difference!
BEST POP UP SHOP
Artists and Fleas at Chelsea Market 75 9th Ave, artistsandfleas.com/projects/markets. What’s not to love about a place where you can find wearable art and chat with the people who made it? You’ll find artisan-made jewelry, accessories, wall art and much more—all in a bustling shared space inside Chelsea Market.
BEST RANDOM FINDS
Film Biz Recycling 540 President St (basement), Brooklyn, filmbizrecycling.org. Filmmakers out to buy or rent props for their latest masterpieces will find almost anything they need here. Wigs? Check. Vintage couch? Check. Chandeliers? Mais oui. It’s not just for budding prop masters either; if you’re just looking for something quirky to explore, it’s worth the trip.
BEST ECLECTIC ACCESSORIES
Treehouse Brooklyn 430 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, treehousebrooklyn.com. This Williamsburg shop carries local jewelry designers with an Art Decomeets- steampunk bent. It has a lovely selection of vintage clothing, in addition to featured designs from independent artists.
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