Gifts and Collectibles

As with everything in New York City [1], gifts of all colors, types, and sizes can be found. Evolution Nature Store (120 Spring St., between Greene and Mercer Sts., 212/343-1114) is an odd natural history store where you can pick up a giraffe skull or wild boar tusk. Along similar lines, Maxilla & Mandible (451 Columbus Ave., near 81st St., 212/724-6173) offers a most unusual assortment of skulls, skeletons, bones, teeth, beetles, butterflies, seashells, and fossils.

A long-time East Village [2] favorite is Surma (11 E. 7th St., between 2nd and 3rd Aves., 212/477-0729), a one-of-a-kind shop selling Ukrainian crafts, books, and records. And for offbeat souvenirs and postcards, step into Alphabets (115 Ave. A., between St. Mark’s Pl. and 7th St., 212/475-7250). Abracadabra (19 W. 21st St., near 5th Ave., 212/627-5194) features an enormous number of rubber Halloween masks and wacky gag gifts.

In the science and technology realm, Hammacher-Schlemmer (147 E. 57th St., near Lexington Ave., and at other Midtown [3] locations, 212/421-9000) features the world’s most imaginative and expensive high-tech gadgets. Star Magic (1256 Lexington Ave., between 84th and 85th Sts., 212/988-0300) sells a fascinating selection of space-age gifts, including science kits, mobiles, prisms, kaleidoscopes, and books.

The museum stores are also particularly good for gifts. Try the MoMA Design Store (44 w. 53rd St., 212/708-3167) for interesting design driven pieces. The New York Historical Society (170 Central Park West at 77th St., 212/873-3400) has a particularly good selection of New York–themed items and the Shop @ Scandinavia House (58 Park Ave., at 38th St., 212/847-9737) offers all things Scandinavian.

In Grand Central Station [4], look for the New York Transit Museum Store (Shuttle Passage next to the Station Masters’ office, 212/878-0106), where you can find all sorts of subway-themed items and memorabilia. In Greenwich Village [5] you’ll find a full range of NYPD- and NYFD-themed items at The Firestore (17 Greenwich Ave., off W. 10th St., 800/229-9258).