New York Gifts?
July 1, 2011 1:59 AM Subscribe
Hi
I am visiting NY city October-November 2011. Last year I brought back to Australia the Staples 'Easy' button for the 4 people I managed as gifts. That was a great success!!
This year I manage 20 people. I need distinctively New York gifts, under $5 each, light to pack, suitable for office workers.
Any ideas?
Refrigerator magnets with NYC scenes, keychains, Statue of Liberty foam crowns. Baseball hats.
posted by mareli at 5:20 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by mareli at 5:20 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Man, you're really planning ahead!
The New York Transit Museum has a lot of small, inexpensive gifts, and it's a really fun museum to visit besides. They have tons of subway-themed magnets for under $5, subway shot glasses, token keychains, system map pens, etc.
They're a dollar more than your price limit, but these tote bags from Fishs Eddy are super New Yorky and also useful.
At most any newsstand in Manhattan, particularly in subway stations, you can get C. Howard's Violet Candies for very little money, which I personally think are a little weird but very tasty, and which are native to New York state and hard to find in other places. They might make a good secondary gift to go with something else -- I believe they cost less than $1 per pack.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 6:28 AM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
The New York Transit Museum has a lot of small, inexpensive gifts, and it's a really fun museum to visit besides. They have tons of subway-themed magnets for under $5, subway shot glasses, token keychains, system map pens, etc.
They're a dollar more than your price limit, but these tote bags from Fishs Eddy are super New Yorky and also useful.
At most any newsstand in Manhattan, particularly in subway stations, you can get C. Howard's Violet Candies for very little money, which I personally think are a little weird but very tasty, and which are native to New York state and hard to find in other places. They might make a good secondary gift to go with something else -- I believe they cost less than $1 per pack.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 6:28 AM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
I (heart) NY t-shirts or coffee mugs are the classic, and extremely cheap in the many souvenir shops in midtown Manhattan.
Agreed, but if you know how to haggle you can get a ton on NY-branded crap at next-to-wholesale prices in Chinatown. The midtown vendors are, for the lack of a better word, spoiled from tourists who accept whatever prices the vendors choose. The Chinatown guys, on the other hand, are up for a fight if you are and you can get them down pretty low.
posted by griphus at 6:36 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Agreed, but if you know how to haggle you can get a ton on NY-branded crap at next-to-wholesale prices in Chinatown. The midtown vendors are, for the lack of a better word, spoiled from tourists who accept whatever prices the vendors choose. The Chinatown guys, on the other hand, are up for a fight if you are and you can get them down pretty low.
posted by griphus at 6:36 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
I agree that the Transit Museum has distinct NYC-themed stuff that doesn't look chintzy. There's a store in Grand Central Station, which is central to everything.
posted by mkultra at 7:24 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by mkultra at 7:24 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Not really suitable for individual gifts, but you could always stock the coffee station in your department with hundreds of these. (You can find ceramic versions that are suitable for individual gifts, but they tend to be over your price limit.)
posted by dersins at 8:27 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dersins at 8:27 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Second all of the above, good ideas. Also: the Transit Museum in Grand Central I think still carries coasters that are made from actual NYC subway maps. We've given them as gifts and use them at home here in NYC - good design, lightweight & durable.
posted by mark7570 at 8:40 AM on July 1, 2011
posted by mark7570 at 8:40 AM on July 1, 2011
Consider getting one thing for the office instead of 20 individual tchotchke gifts.
Is there a place nearby that delivers New York style pizza or bagels? Have that delivered in the middle of your trip. It's a "hey there, I'm thinking of you guys!" You can arrange it in advance and there's no shipping/hauling/duty tax.
posted by 26.2 at 12:52 PM on July 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Is there a place nearby that delivers New York style pizza or bagels? Have that delivered in the middle of your trip. It's a "hey there, I'm thinking of you guys!" You can arrange it in advance and there's no shipping/hauling/duty tax.
posted by 26.2 at 12:52 PM on July 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
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If you need something lighter, what about a key ring or a church key/bottle opener? Both are plentiful herebouts and available in all kinds of cool local and keepsake designs.
posted by Sara C. at 5:18 AM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]