I've recently made some friends in Italy and Spain and would like to send them a small, fun gift from time to time. Do you have any ideas?

A Goyard St. Louis tote from Barney's on Madison Ave.

I bought really cute espresso cups from Fish Eddy on Broadway around 18th-19th St., they had the NYC Skyline on them.

I love Fishes Eddy. They have some really cute plates and glassware. I also saw the cutest umbrellas the last time I was there. (I would have bought one, but if you have ever read "Howard's End," you will know why I didn't.)

You could also go across the street to ABC Carpet and Home; they have some terrific small gifts on the first floor.

Something from Kate's Paperie, perhaps, sweetie darling?

Rugelach from any deli, but especially Zabars and the like. Yum.

Good suggestions. Thanks. Any others?

Anything from Pearl River Mart!

I've never been to the USA but speaking as a European, I would be delighted to get some Chocolate/sweets from the good ole USA, i'm sure they would love little things like that

Another vote for Fishes Eddy.

Also, Tiffany's has a nice little sterling silver key chain with a classic NYC checker cab. Not that expensive and certainly easy to ship.

The Tiffany key-chain is $95.00 + Taxes. Perhaps something more on the traditional souvenir side.

Something from the NY Public Library Book Store: http://lshop.stores.yahoo.net/, The Met Store, or a store logo tote from Saks or Bloomingdale's. Even some chocolates from a Soho chocolatier shop or a bottle of Long Island wine: http://www.vintagenewyork.com/winebar.html
Kate's Papperie is a good suggestion too!

Dean & Deluca was a great store for gifts (upscale coffee shop/grocers). It is primarily a NYC store, but can be found sporadically across the US. There is a huge store in SoHo and a smaller one in Rockefeller Center.

How about a NYC Subway T-shirt, or a wristwatch of the #1 line (it has the Times Square stop on it). They are easy to carry home in your luggage. My friend in Italy loved the one I gave her last year. And I love the one my Paris friend gave me of the Paris Metro.

Sometimes I think people confuse what would mean something to them having been to a place, with what another person would want. I remember when friends with us in London bought "Mind the Gap" t-shirts for everyone. No one back home appreciated the "joke" as they hadn't been there.

Isadore, did you love what you got because you had been there? If you had never been to Paris, would you still "love" a Paris metro t-shirt? (or maybe you haven't been to Paris?)

I'm curious how thrilled a person would be with a store logo bag or other momento from a store they've never even been to.

Not meaning to offend, just curious if that's true. I know that those things would mean nothing to me if I hadn't been there myself.

Yes, I've been to Paris, and my Italian friend has been to NYC.
And then perhaps any souvenir from a place the receiver has not been to would mean nothing other than just a gift. Maybe that's really all they want - a gift. Asking their friend to spend time away from their vacation to get them a gift is selfish IMO.

If they're friends, you absolutely must know a great deal more about what they'd like than strangers on this board.

If they're not friends, but you're misusing the term to describe casual acquaintances, I'd think twice - and then again - before sending them anything.

The best piece of advice earlier than this is lucielou's.

I was in Soho at the gugheim soho and they had a nyc poster and other items in the gift shop that were different but really cool. Good for showing the artsy or different nyc side.