Gift ideas from our trip to NYC just before Christmas? I would love to bring home some souvenirs for the unlucky ones staying home (husband and teenagers). Also want to get something special for my sister-in-law who loves New York!
Any favorite souvenirs you have that remind you of New York City? Not looking for expensive.....just trying to think of things unique to New York area!

If you can still buy them, subway tokens for your key chain.

The Transit Museum in Grand Central has great T-shirts. (Don't buy any T-shirts from street vendors or the junky souvenir shops in the Times Square area. They're cheap....and you get what you pay for!)

buying knockoffs in chinatown (Canal Street)is fun for teenagers

Ah yes, a wonderful civics lesson for the teenagers--first-hand experience in buying illegally manufactured merchandise.

NYC has a shoip. You can find information here: https://www.nycitystore.com/index.asp . I was always fond of "The Legend Lives" t-shirt....

There's also a web site with some interesting stuff here: http://www.everythingnyc.com/

The Transit Museum in Grand Central has a LOT of other MTA related merchandise. It's in the hallway with other shops just west of the Grand Concourse.

Christmas ornaments! They're everywhere in Times Square businesses. Not that that will gladden the heart of a teenager--ha! That's always the dilemma when I go on a trip--what to bring the teenagers. Pretty much Hard Rock New York t-shirts or ESPN Zone stuff if you have boys. I've given up being educational and usually bring back CD's or something like that. As far as your sister-in-law, what about a painting from a street vendor? We bought a marvelous 11x14 painting from a vendor near the Metro. Museum of Art that's one of our favorite memories of New York and it wasn't expensive, if I remember correctly.

Marita,
I forgot something. If your teens watch Letterman, get them a t-shirt or souvenir from the Hello Deli around the corner from the Ed Sullivan Theater. That's the one souvenir my teen son wanted and the deli was closed when we got there! That was on a Saturday in the summer of 2001--not sure what his hours are now.

Teenagers might like a shirt from CBGB

manhole cover

Definitely visit Canal Street in Chinatown for all kinds of interesting things, both "illegal" and not-so-illegal. Last week I saw high-quality "Burberry" scarves for $10. Don't forget that everything is negotiable.

The best blocks are west of Mulberry to Broadway.

Enjoy!

How about something really unusual. I bought lovely soap from Sabon. I think it is actually nicer than Lush. http://www.sabonnyc.com/

Henri Bendel sells these really pretty snow globes that would be perfect for a teenage or grown-up girly-girl. They also have really pretty ornaments, and cute candy sets.