Want a unique NYC gift from the financial district.

October 26, 2007 9:11 AM

I'm heading to NYC (financial district) on business next week. I'll only be there for 3 days, but my wife's birthday is immediately following. What should I buy locally for her birthday?

Important details:

I won't have a ton of spare time, and I'm not too familiar with the subway system (I can usually figure out a way to use it to get to work from my hotel, but that's about it).

So I would like the store to be in walking distance from bowling green. I can walk a mile or two in my work shoes.

She's a software engineering type professional (carries a laptop & so on). So I had a thought of messenger bags for her laptop? I looked at some stores, but none I could find were that far south?

I'd like something.. New Yorkish. Something she could get and say "Oh, you got this in New York?" So not a book, or electronics.

posted by ceberon to shopping (17 comments total)

You might try Century 21. Its right across from the WTC.
posted by blaneyphoto at 9:21 AM on October 26, 2007

The Museum of the American Indian is right there.
posted by sweetkid at 9:25 AM on October 26, 2007

Shredded currency from the Federal Reserve? Nothing says "I love you from NYC" more than a pack of confetti that used to be money. You might have to do their public tour to get the packet, though.

If you want a messenger bag, I suppose you can go to a Manhattan Portage store. Here are some Google Maps results:
Manhattan Portage

The closest one is in Tribeca/Chinatown. Take the 1 Train from Rector Street a couple of stops up to Canal Street or somesuch.

I'm not sure how uniquely New York that would be, since I'm pretty sure you can buy Manhattan Portage stuff from elsewhere in the world. (Well, here's their website) But it does say "Manhattan".
posted by chengjih at 9:30 AM on October 26, 2007

Yeah, I'm sure I can buy most things online, but I figure if I actually buy it while I'm in NYC, it means a little more :)

Beyond the messenger bags, is there anything else people would consider NYCish? There's New York strip steaks, but I don't think those would keep well.

Chocolate? Any fancy NY Chocolate shops? Nothing says happy birthday like a lot of expensive chocolate?
posted by ceberon at 9:38 AM on October 26, 2007

The Black Hound. The store is on 2nd Avenue and 11th Street. Take the 4 or 5 from Bowling Green to Union Square.

There's also this listing of NYC chocolate stores at about.com.
posted by chengjih at 9:43 AM on October 26, 2007

Take a cab to the MoMA store? Tons of great stuff there.
posted by barnone at 9:52 AM on October 26, 2007

Or a quick run down to Greenwich -- Mxyplyzyk is great for cool gifts like that. Flight 001 is right there too (same street). Tons of great gifts for travelling professional types.
posted by barnone at 9:56 AM on October 26, 2007

Tiffany's just opened up on wall st.
posted by remthewanderer at 10:31 AM on October 26, 2007

Mariebelle is a great chocolate shop downtown with pretty and distinctive truffles and nicely wrapped bars. My favorites are the dulce de leche, lavendar, and manjari.
posted by rmless at 10:48 AM on October 26, 2007

Forgot the link! Mariebelle
posted by rmless at 10:48 AM on October 26, 2007

For chocolate-y satisfaction, I'd recommend Jacques Torres, but neither of the two locations--DUMBO/Brooklyn (by subway, F to York St.) and SoHo/Manhattan (1 to Houston St.)-- are all that close to Bowling Green, but if you are willing to take the subway or your walking radius is in fact 2 miles, it just might sneak in.

The MoMa store at 81 Spring St. in SoHo, (6 train to Spring St.) does have some very interesting gifts.
posted by andrewraff at 11:15 AM on October 26, 2007

Black Hound is great, as is MoMA store, really any shopping around Soho and Nolita is good if you know her taste. There are some stores in and around NYC whose only USA outlet is in Manhattan.

I also endorse Tiffany's, Mxyplyzyk, and Flight 001.

I'm partial to Kee's chocolates over Jacques Torres, but only marginally, and Kee's doesn't travel well.
posted by kathryn at 11:50 AM on October 26, 2007

Oooh Mariebelle. Their Aztec hot chocolate is so so so yummy. Get me some!!
posted by barnone at 11:58 AM on October 26, 2007

nthing something from tiffany's...that little blue box will knock her socks off, even if it's just a cheapo pendant.
posted by thinkingwoman at 1:23 PM on October 26, 2007

How about a nice scarf, chosen with the assistance of a knowledgeable boutique owner? Or some jewelry, or a watch? I'd expect there'd be a variety of more interesting clothing accessories available in NY, even near the financial district (disclaimer: I've never actually been to NY).

Come on; get her something nice that she can keep forever. If she's not into jewelry/watch/scarf, you could probably find a cool little box, or a desk set / pencil cup, or a shirt (you do know her size, yes? If not, ask someone who would know), or silk something wearable.
posted by amtho at 1:45 PM on October 26, 2007

Second the Tiffany's box. If I recall correctly, they have several drool-inducing bracelets in silver for about $100. Gads I love those.

http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/CategoryBrowse.aspx?mcat=148204&cid=287458&search_params=s+5-p+1-c+287458-r+101323338-x+-n+12-ri+-ni+1-t+
posted by eatdonuts at 4:02 PM on October 26, 2007

Tiffany's.
Or start her a collection of something touristy, like snow globes, and get the first one from NY.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 4:31 PM on October 27, 2007