The Library Shop at the NY Public Library
www.thelibraryshop.org/index.html

The MET Store: www.metmuseum.org/store/

A store logo tote bag from Saks, Bloomingdale's or Macy's.

Funky magnets from a funky card shop in Chelsea or the Village areas.

If you are taking the gifts back with you: designer chocolates from a Soho shop or a NY State wine (www.vintagenewyork.com/winebar.html).

Another thought might be a food that is closely associated with NY.

H&H will ship bagels worldwide.

You can ship black & white cookies worldwide through William J. Greenberg (expensive).

Or what about a gift basket from Zabar's?

It would be helpful to know something about the "friends" (ie age, m/f, interests) and what you mean by time to time. Are you talking about birthday gifts?

Maybe some chocolates from Jacques Torres?

www.mrchocolate.com

5 years later and I'm still looking for ideas on this for new friends and acquaintances I see repeatedly during my travels.

I'm thinking a trip to the Yankee store might bring some ideas.

Anyone else?

There is a NY subway store in Grand Central - and also you can get thing on line. They have practically everything you can think of - as long as you're talking about token gifts - not real ones.

I think nytraveler has the right idea. I almost always send my friends overseas something subway-related. Go to the Transit Museum Store and look around. Or go to the Metropolitan Museum store. They do have a lot of NYC-related items that are fairly high quality.

Chocolates don't travel well, particularly long distances.

How about the NYC CityStore located in the Municipal Building (1 Centre St). http://a856-citystore.nyc.gov/

These are great suggestions. I was thinking something like a subway-token charm or cufflinks. I'm going to pop in at Grand Central and the Muni Bldg.

Thanks, all!

Keep in mind shipping costs. I recently mailed a package under 4 lbs to France and cost was nearly $30.

Fishs Eddy has some fun nyc centric things including some fun totes and dish towels.

The store at the NY public library is a great idea. I frequently ransack its clearance shelves, but I also love the little totes it sells that fold up into nothing and hold a lot of stuff. Some come with the Library Lions on them, others have a map of the subway system. They weigh next to nothing, so the shipping costs will be zilch.

How about one of those touristy stores where you can get little Statues of Liberty, World Trade Center, ESB, street signs of famous streets etc.

I wound up buying this from the City Store: http://a856-citystore.nyc.gov/1/Gifts/32/Jewelry-and-Accessories/724/Leather-Token-‘Weekend’-Wallet
My friend seems to love it, so I'm very happy too.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

I bought a canvas tote with the Strand Bookstore logo on it when I last visited there to buy a book of poetry for a friend. The book and tote made a great birthday gift.

Key chain or ashtrays with the statue of liberty. Scarves with the subway map. Tote bags from one of the museums.

Subway map scarves are a good idea.