NYC Shopping - Places I Hope Tourists Don’t Find out

10.21.09 |

I know it’s selfish, but I am happiest when my favorite stores have just enough customers to be doing well, but are not so busy that they’ve gone past the tipping point. The moment I throw a tantrum and disown a store is when the tourists come and take over. They come in hoards to fill retail spaces to the brim, sometimes arriving in tour buses that are bigger than the shops themselves! If you ever feel like me, then here are some places that can still make you feel special about living and shopping in New York City.

Blue Tree - There are design stores and then there are design boutiques. Blue Tree is one of the latter. Located in the Upper East Side’s Carnegie Hill neighborhood this tiny store is filled with remarkable items, from handmade jewelry to one of a kind Lucite boxes. Many items are a bit pricey, but an added bonus is the occasional star sighting since Kevin Kline’s wife, actress Phoebe Cates, is the owner of this place.

Sabon - I randomly discovered this fragrance store after a trip to the Museum of Modern Art. Now it’s a required stop every time I’m doing anything in midtown Manhattan. They have a wonderful selection of fragrances for the home, grooming products for men and women, and even an organic line of scrubs and creams. They’ve expanded into several neighborhoods in the city, so look for the one closest to you (stay away from mine!).

Kinokuniya - This Japanese bookstore is just across from Bryant Park, where Fashion Week happens every year. Yet it’s never crowded, and it has the best selection of stationery I’ve ever seen. If you like Japanese design from the traditional to the cartoonishly cute, this place has got it. Great place to get gifts for people of all ages - and much of their inventory of books and products is in English in case that’s a concern.

Levain Bakery - Whether you go there to get a gift for a housewarming party or to treat yourself, this bakery is renowned for its rich and buttery cookies. I personally go for the chocolate peanut butter, but no matter what it is, if you get it warm from the oven it is to die for. It’s hidden away on a side street in the Upper West Side, so my fingers are crossed that no tour buses come by anytime soon.