BEING A WORKING MOTHER, I was a very early adopter of online shopping, but nothing puts you in the holiday spirit quite like doing the real thing, especially in New York. The Upper East Side is one of my favorite places to browse—it’s one of the last neighborhoods in Manhattan that doesn’t feel like shopping in a mall. Here are a few of my favorite things from my favorite neighborhood stores.
Small Jean Roger Frog in Gold
Kate Brodsky of KRB has taste to the nines. Her shop is a decorator’s mecca but head there for holiday presents, too. This Jean Roger frog is a rock ’n roll take on an iconic preppy ceramic.
$425, krbnyc.com
The Ryan Ribbed Scarf Sweater by Brandon Maxwell
As the name implies, The Edit has a curated selection of very chic things. This chocolate brown sweater is a nice departure from New York black.
$1,600, editnewyork.com
Scallop Edge Placemats by Matouk
Beauty reigns supreme when you enter the recently opened House of Matouk just off Madison Avenue. Find the perfect color combination of these scalloped placemats for every grownup on your list.
$123 for set of 4, matouk.com
Silver Salt Cockle with Sterling Silver Spoon by Creel and Gow
A cabinet of curiosities, Creel & Gow has been wowing New Yorkers with style and taste for years. Who wouldn’t love to receive this silver leafed shell and spoon?
$135, creelandgow.com
Swirl Plate with Gold Leaf by Mizusaki Glass
Sara specializes in handmade Japanese ceramics but there is so much more to fall in love with. You can spend hours in this small shop and see something new every time you turn around. This delicate and unique plate is just right for serving candies or putting on a bedside table.
$280, saranyc.com
Horseshoe Crab Bottle Opener by Matt Hall
Sturdy but poetic, this bottle opener will appeal to the naturalist in your life.
$98, saranyc.com
Handmade Frog Doll
Phoebe Cates Kline’s Blue Tree has been around for 20 years and it’s nice to know there are still places to count on to surprise and delight. I love that these fashionable frogs are still handmade!
Wax Seal and Sealing Wax
Another pick from Blue Tree—a proper wax seal for the luddites and letter-writers in your life.
Sheep’s Milk Soap by Dr. Michael Palatin
The shop at Neue Galerie never disappoints with its stylish and interesting treasures that you won’t find everywhere else. These luscious Austrian soaps come in a pretty lilac box.
$40, neuegalerie.org
Neue Baby Bib
For the design-loving parents. Based on a Josef Hoffmann textile design from 1907 and hand-tailored by Kathe Williams.
$44, neuegalerie.org
Wine Stopper by Josef Hoffmann
Something you probably wouldn’t buy for yourself but that makes a very special gift.
$150, neuegalerie.org
Byzantine Earrings by Marie-Hélène de Taillac for Neue NOW
Delicate and statement-making all at once.
$3,150, neuegalerie.org
Miniature handmade table still life by Tiny Doll House
Filled with miniature treasures like this one, Tiny Doll House is a New York institution that you can get lost in for hours.
$245, etsy.com
New York Minute: Public Clocks That Make the City Tick by Matthew White
The Corner Bookstore is a dreamy old-fashioned shop at the corner of Madison and 93rd. I hope they have this book!
$23, bookshop.org
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