In person birthday gift shopping in San Francisco?
August 29, 2024 6:29 PM Subscribe
Need a 30th birthday present for my sister who works in the therapy / social work / mental health field. I need to buy it tomorrow and fly across the country with it (so nothing too huge or messy). Where’s the best place to shop for a gift in person? Within SF only please.
Most of the details are above but a little more detail… she is preparing to adopt a child with her partner, has a brain injury that makes it difficult to smell or taste (so candles and food aren’t always the best idea), and doesn’t like a lot of clutter. I’d like it to be meaningful and maybe something artistic or one of a kind, so I’d like to be able to browse until something hits. She lives in a cold climate.
I spent some time shopping last weekend (not in the city) and came up empty handed. Book recommendations and places to shop for one of a kind art or pottery come to mind, but anything else that seems appropriate would be great! I’ll be writing her a letter / card as well.
Most of the details are above but a little more detail… she is preparing to adopt a child with her partner, has a brain injury that makes it difficult to smell or taste (so candles and food aren’t always the best idea), and doesn’t like a lot of clutter. I’d like it to be meaningful and maybe something artistic or one of a kind, so I’d like to be able to browse until something hits. She lives in a cold climate.
I spent some time shopping last weekend (not in the city) and came up empty handed. Book recommendations and places to shop for one of a kind art or pottery come to mind, but anything else that seems appropriate would be great! I’ll be writing her a letter / card as well.
Best answer: The Zuri clothing company has a shop on Fillmore. Their dresses are legendary, but they also have lovely home goods, including items for children.
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:46 PM on August 29
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:46 PM on August 29
Best answer: Book recommendations
infinite city [g]
and places to shop
topdrawer (there are a few locations)
anything else that seems appropriate
book binders museum
posted by HearHere at 6:59 PM on August 29 [1 favorite]
infinite city [g]
and places to shop
topdrawer (there are a few locations)
anything else that seems appropriate
book binders museum
posted by HearHere at 6:59 PM on August 29 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Ferry Building is actually a great place for this. Fog City Flea Trading Post has tons of local crafty arty things. There's also a Heath Ceramics and a bookstore.
If she likes fun clothes, Nooworks. They have lots of kid and adult clothes in the same prints if you know the size of the child and want to get a matching set.
Rare Device is a gift store whose aesthetic is pretty much "30 year old woman". Park Life is similar.
If you don't get any suggestions you like, there are lots of boutiques on Valencia between 16th and 20th.
posted by umwelt at 7:24 PM on August 29 [4 favorites]
If she likes fun clothes, Nooworks. They have lots of kid and adult clothes in the same prints if you know the size of the child and want to get a matching set.
Rare Device is a gift store whose aesthetic is pretty much "30 year old woman". Park Life is similar.
If you don't get any suggestions you like, there are lots of boutiques on Valencia between 16th and 20th.
posted by umwelt at 7:24 PM on August 29 [4 favorites]
Best answer: MM Clay, their stuff is really high quality! We have MM Clay bowls which besides being beautiful are immortal. If you strike out there and need to keep browsing, you can go from there to Hayes Valley which has a lot of high-end boutiques. Or you can walk a little further to Valencia Street and Nooworks as suggested above, which as you continue up to 24th is great: City Art Gallery has a rotating cast of local artists with reasonably priced art and it is right near Dogeared Books, an independent bookstore with a wide selection of books (especially nonfiction).
If you are nearer the Richmond, Clement Street has Green Apple Books, which is pretty huge and suited for browsing (even now that it is only the size of one building instead of two). There are some galleries around there but I don't know what's good these days.
posted by peppercorn at 7:32 PM on August 29
If you are nearer the Richmond, Clement Street has Green Apple Books, which is pretty huge and suited for browsing (even now that it is only the size of one building instead of two). There are some galleries around there but I don't know what's good these days.
posted by peppercorn at 7:32 PM on August 29
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posted by vunder at 6:41 PM on August 29 [3 favorites]