‘Tis the season to be giving! With our first snowfall of the winter already in the books, we are excited to kickstart the holidays and look for gifts for family and friends. The neighborhoods are full of cool goodies and hidden treasures, so there’s bound to be something for everybody on your list!
With retailer Toys R Us closing its doors earlier this year, shoppers can look no further than Nest Egg Kids to find great toys, puppets and plush animals from the U.S. and around the world. This toy store has educational puzzles, wooden blocks and eco-friendly toys that are geared toward children, from newborns to eight-year-olds. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Nest Egg Kids also has tabletop games (including air hockey and foosball – $45 each) and eco-friendly play dough made from fruit and veggies in an olive oil base. It is open daily Mondays through Saturdays (10 am-6 pm), and Sundays (10 am-5:30 pm). 109 Atlantic Avenue • 718-625-2088 • nesteggkids.com
Need some cute stationery before you hand-write your holiday cards and send them through snail mail? Kwohtations is a one-woman handmade stationery company and letterpress print & design studio, based right here in Brooklyn. Owner and artist Janine Kwoh makes cards, prints and other curiosities that reflect and celebrate a diversity of identities and life experiences. She also believes that humor is key to savoring the good times and surviving the hard ones. Kwoh prints each card one at a time on an antique printing press and then paints them in by hand, so that each one is truly handmade and unique. You can learn more about Kwohtations and see the full selection of products at kwohtations.com, and can direct custom inquiries to info@kwohtations.com.
Who doesn’t love a good, fresh cup of coffee? Though Kings Coffee closed its location at 37 Carroll Street, you can still purchase decaf, espresso and Americano blends – in 8.8-oz or 17.6 oz bags ($9 and $18 respectively) – online. The coffees used to create Mister Joe’s blends are 100% Arabica, and each coffee is roasted individually in Brooklyn to ensure optimal quality and taste. kingsroasters.com
Collyer’s Mansion is your one-stop-shop for home decor, including holiday-themed, embroidered pillows ($92-$236) and table runners ($248), stockings ($64-$88) and tree ornaments. They also sell eco-friendly furniture, handmade jewelry, original artwork and vibrant textiles. It’s open daily 10:30 am-7 pm. 179 Atlantic Avenue • 347-987-3342 • shopthemansion.com
Swallow is a unique gift shop that sells artsy housewares and a variety of jewelry crafted with precious and semi-precious stones. Shoppers are sure to find interesting knick knacks and stocking stuffers here as well, including vintage skeleton keys ($13 for small sizes and $20 large sizes) and animal stamps. The store is open daily from noon until 7 pm. 361 Smith Street • 718-222-8201 • dearswallow.com
Those who love history AND Gowanus are in for a real treat at the Gowanus Souvenir Shop. It is a “small-town tourist and antique books and map store rolled into one” that’s dedicated to the long history and complex story of the Gowanus Canal. It sells typical tourist gifts – including but not limited to t-shirts, temporary tattoos, postcards and shot glasses – and Gowanus Canal-themed home goods. They also have signed copies of Joseph Alexiou’s “Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal” in store and online for $29.95. Various maps of the neighborhood are printed to order and range in price from $60 to $140, with or without frames. The shop is open Tuesdays through Sundays (10 am-6 pm). 567 Union Street • 424-888-2869 • gowanussouvenir.com/
For those who enjoy listening to vinyl because it has a better sound or reminds them of memories from yesteryear, the Record Shop in Red Hook has got you covered. Music lovers can browse and purchase used and new records from every genre imaginable. Just in time for the holidays, the shop has holiday records from the likes of Ray Charles ($25), Perry Como ($5), Run DMC ($10), The Beach Boys ($8) and more. It also has modern-day artists, like Adele and Artic Monkeys ($20 each), original motion picture soundtracks, and a section devoted just to The Beatles. It’s open Wednesday through Sundays, noon – 7 pm. 360 Van Brunt Street • 718-855-0360
Duman Home, which has a brick-and-mortar on Court Street, offers national and locally made home essentials and high-end linens, bathroom goods and glassware. For those looking to spice up their homes with pretty and/or holiday smells, they also sell candles and diffusers from Thymes, Voluspa and Vance Kitira, which are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and scents. Duman Home is open seven days a week (10:30 am-7:30 pm). 213 Court Street • 718-576-3331
Know somebody who just cannot keep his/her nose out of a book? Books Are Magic, an independent book store in Cobble Hill, is the place to go and find new releases (even signed copies!) best sellers and beloved classics. Plus, you can sport “Books Are Magic” through t-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, mugs and tote bags. Business hours are Mondays through Fridays (10 am-9 pm), Saturdays (9 am-9 pm), and Sundays (9 am-7 pm). 225 Smith Street • 718-246-2665 • booksaremagic.net
Rustic-modern boutique Woods Grove sells vintage and new gifts from around the world, including jewelry, clothing and barware. For fans of celebrities, musicians and influential icons – like Mr. Rogers, Tupac, David Bowie and Betty White to name a few – you can find their faces on glasses ($14) and in the forms of wooden magnets ($6), pins ($5) and keychains ($6). Woods Grove is open every day 10 am-7 pm. 302 Court Street • 718-858-4851 • woodsgrovebrooklyn.com
Chilly temperatures got you shivering in your snow boots? Try Rae’s First is your destination for discounted men’s and women’s winter apparel, including down jackets, sweaters, scarves, gloves and more. Try Rae’s First will be open until December 31 with the following business hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays (noon-7 pm) and Sundays (noon-5 pm). 430 Court Street • 718-935-9573
Modern Anthology offers a curated selection of vintage furniture, home and personal accessories, plus well-crafted clothing for men. You can also showcase your Brooklyn pride with neighborhood pennants ($28), like DUMBO, Cobble Hill, Coney Island and Red Hook! The store is open seven days a week: Mondays through Thursdays (11 am-7 pm), Fridays and Saturdays (11:30 am-7:30 pm), and Sundays (noon-6 pm). 123 Smith Street • 929-250-2880 • modernanthology.com
Kempton & Co. is the go-to store for high-end accessories and leather goods that can complement your outfit of the day, any day of the year. Stocking stuffer ideas include key clips ($30) and mini metallic rain gold drawstring pouches ($24) that are ideal for carrying AirPods or jewelry. It’s open every day from 11 am to 6 pm. 392 Van Brunt Street• 718-596-2225 • kemptonandco.com
Top photo taken by DeGregorio
Author
George Fiala has worked in radio, newspapers and direct marketing his whole life, except for when he was a vendor at Shea Stadium, pizza and cheesesteak maker in Lancaster, PA, and an occasional comic book dealer. He studied English and drinking in college, international relations at the New School, and in his spare time plays drums and fixes pinball machines.
