Looking to buy Xmas gifts while in San Francisco
Nov 21st, 2004, 05:20 PM
#1
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Looking to buy Xmas gifts while in San Francisco
I usually buy various Xmas presents while on vacation to give my family unique gifts. I tend to buy four of my family members the same thing. For example, I bought them pottery from Morocco one year, cashmere scarfs from Scotland the next. I will be going to San Francisco in two weeks, which will be my last chance to buy things from outside of New York state. Are there any suggestions on what to look for or where to shop? Price range is around $25 a gift. I just can't think of a product that the city is known for.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Nov 21st, 2004, 05:38 PM
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Oh dear Kcapuani, I have been thinking of your question I cannot come up with a great idea either.
But questions, are family members all different ages, male and female? I would assume so but not sure.
$25.00 does not go far in SF in these days but one idea struck me.
ChinaTown? Maybe not all the same gift but possibly you could find gifts for all your family members there for $25.00 or less.
Hopefully other posters can give you some ideas.
But if you could post again regarding ages and male/female it would help with thoughts. It does sound like these four family members are adults??
Will look for your next posting.
But questions, are family members all different ages, male and female? I would assume so but not sure.
$25.00 does not go far in SF in these days but one idea struck me.
ChinaTown? Maybe not all the same gift but possibly you could find gifts for all your family members there for $25.00 or less.
Hopefully other posters can give you some ideas.
But if you could post again regarding ages and male/female it would help with thoughts. It does sound like these four family members are adults??
Will look for your next posting.
Nov 21st, 2004, 05:53 PM
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A cable car - made of wood or chocolate or ???
A baby redwood tree, maybe 4 inches tall, which you can plant in your own yard
Then, there's all the local wines and cheeses
Just a few suggestions!
A baby redwood tree, maybe 4 inches tall, which you can plant in your own yard
Then, there's all the local wines and cheeses
Just a few suggestions!
Nov 22nd, 2004, 04:01 AM
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There is a delightful store in San Francisco called Flax. Loads of neat stuff in all price ranges. Go to http://www.flaxart.com/ . They also do mail order, but a visit is in order if you're in the City....
Nov 22nd, 2004, 04:19 AM
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Excellent ideas - thank you! How silly of me not to think of wine. We will be taking a day trip to Sonoma so I can pick up a few bottles. And Flax Art is such a neat site. I'll definitely check it out when I'm in San Francisco.
Are there any restrictions on taking plants onto a plane? Hopefully not since I am flying within the US. I'd love to get a small redwood for my backyard.
Are there any restrictions on taking plants onto a plane? Hopefully not since I am flying within the US. I'd love to get a small redwood for my backyard.
Nov 22nd, 2004, 08:12 AM
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Japantown would be a unique place to shop. There are some nice gift stores with lacquer ware and such. Also Kinokuniya bookstore for calendars and notebooks.
The Castro! Esp. if your giftees have a sense of humour (the bawdy kind). Stop in at shops like Does Your Mother Know. There are also some clothing stores which feature some one of a kind men's shirts and tee-shirts.
If you are touring the Ferry Plaza, the food hall has some good bakeries and cheese shops. I'm thinking in particular of the one featuring French-style macaroons (made with almond paste, not coconut) with variety of fillings such as pistachio and mocha. I think I'll walk down there and sample them on my lunch hour today.
The Castro! Esp. if your giftees have a sense of humour (the bawdy kind). Stop in at shops like Does Your Mother Know. There are also some clothing stores which feature some one of a kind men's shirts and tee-shirts.
If you are touring the Ferry Plaza, the food hall has some good bakeries and cheese shops. I'm thinking in particular of the one featuring French-style macaroons (made with almond paste, not coconut) with variety of fillings such as pistachio and mocha. I think I'll walk down there and sample them on my lunch hour today.
Nov 22nd, 2004, 08:32 AM
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I like dovima's ideas.
Japantown has a wonderful paper store, maybe that's the one mentioned. Very unique things in the area.
Honestly, you buy Californa wine anywhere and Ghiradelli chocolate is in the supermarket.
Japantown has a wonderful paper store, maybe that's the one mentioned. Very unique things in the area.
Honestly, you buy Californa wine anywhere and Ghiradelli chocolate is in the supermarket.
Nov 30th, 2004, 10:56 AM
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My kids go crazy in this store called Super Tokyo on Clement. Lots of Japanese toys and Hello Kitty rice cookers and things. Also in that area are lots of gift shops that sell things like ceramic dishes to put sauces and things in, little sets that are $10 or so, and would be sold at a fine gift shop for much much more. That's what I would do.
Nov 30th, 2004, 11:08 AM
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If you were to shop in Chinatown and Japantown, you could put together several small items in a pretty container for around $25 per person: chopsticks and rests, sake sets, kimonos, exotic teas and spices, ceramics, etc. Throw in some Ghirardelli, maybe a cable car ornament, call it a Taste of SF, and you've got it made!
If you choose to do wine, try to make sure the bottles you pick aren't readily available all over the country, as so many California wines are. Dessert wines and ports would be an unusual category to focus on, and there are some great ones from CA.
Good luck!
If you choose to do wine, try to make sure the bottles you pick aren't readily available all over the country, as so many California wines are. Dessert wines and ports would be an unusual category to focus on, and there are some great ones from CA.
Good luck!
Nov 30th, 2004, 11:31 AM
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I'm amused by the idea of going up to Sonoma to pick up some wine. My experience has been that although I have bought many good wines at wineries in Napa and Sonoma, you can buy the same wines considerably cheaper at many, many wine stores in San Francisco (with a few exceptions).
Dec 3rd, 2004, 03:53 PM
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I agree with E. The selection in China Town is amazing. In addition to those mentioned there are beautiful linens, kooky trinkets and quite frankly some really wreird stuff.
It should be easy to put together a personalized basket of gifts for anyone.
Have a great trip!
It should be easy to put together a personalized basket of gifts for anyone.
Have a great trip!
Dec 16th, 2004, 11:35 PM
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I like easytraveler's recommendation for chocolate or wood cable cars and such. There's a great shop on Union Street between Fillmore and Steiner that makes their own chocolates and I know they make chocolate cable cars plus other neat items. Good chocolate, too (not the touristy, waxy Girardelli stuff). Reasonable, too. I also got a scarf at a place nearby called walker-something and it was handmade but very reasonable. Union Street is a great place to shop if you want to get away from the "standard holiday shopping" and the HUGE crowds downtown (I made the mistake of actually driving downtown, ugh!) Good luck...
Dec 17th, 2004, 01:19 PM
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Turn-it-on, your should've asked me instead of agonizing I don't buy Ghirardelli nor See's! In San Francisco, the city with so many choices and pro-choices, why would anybody buy these yucky chocolates when there are Italian chocolates at Macy's (Union square), Belgian at Cost Plus (Fishermen's - Pier 39 area), or Tiramisu-like russian candy (bird's milk) in numerous stores.
I don't buy Ghirardelli nor See's! In San Francisco, the city with so many choices and pro-choices, why would anybody buy these yucky chocolates when there are Italian chocolates at Macy's (Union square), Belgian at Cost Plus (Fishermen's - Pier 39 area), or Tiramisu-like russian candy (bird's milk) in numerous stores.
