Best gift shops: Astoria

By Time Out editors Sun Dec 9 2012

100 best gift shops

Inside Astoria

Inside Astoria

Site

SITE

  • Price band: 2/4

Since 2007, Mackenzi Farquer has elected to stockpile atypical accoutrements in her design store—and as a graduate of the New York School of Interior Design, she boasts a well-practiced eye for what’s in style. The merch is divided into three sections: vintage, handmade and “just well-designed,” and you’ll find everything from sleek Saarinen tables and hand-drawn typographic posters to come-hither aprons, as well as handmade silver jewelry by Brooklyn designer Jessica DeCarlo. Keep an open mind here; you might walk in searching for a unique a coin necklace (by Betsy & Iya), but you could easily walk out with a set of vintage ice-cream parlor chairs instead.

  1. 35-11 34th Ave between 35th and 36th Sts
More info
Inside Astoria

Inside Astoria

  • Price band: 2/4

Andrew Purdom opened his home-goods shop three and a half years ago, and he’s filled its shelves with items that span from reasonably priced glassware by Stölzle (a German crystal company, $10–$12) to $100–$200 pieces of furniture, like shelving units and accent tables. The majority of the stock focuses on gifty goods like handmade jewelry, a wide selection of scented candles, cookbooks (Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook) and quirky tomes published by Chronicle, including Citi Field, a pop-up about the Mets’ new ballpark.

  1. 28-07 Ditmars Blvd, (between 28th and 29th Sts)
More info
The Little Soap Shop

The Little Soap Shop

  • Price band: 1/4

Clean up your act at this 200-square-foot “soaperie,” which got its start in owner Vivian Dritsas’s kitchen after she took a soap-making class in 2005. Here, vegan, all-natural products abound—including lip balm, organic shower gel, soy candles and, of course, handmade soap— created on the premises with Dead Sea minerals and coconut and olive oils. Dritsas also creates custom orders, which she can ship directly to you, as well as party favors and centerpieces for bridal showers and other events.

  1. 22–07 36th St, (at Ditmars Blvd)
More info
Share your thoughts
  4. * mandatory fields