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The Flatiron District, north of Union Square, stretches from about 17th Street up to 29th Street, and between 6th Avenue and Lexington. This is one of the buzziest areas in New York, brimming with both large and small stores. Come here if you want to shop the big chains minus the Midtown tourist crowds.
The dishes, china, and glassware for resale come from all walks of crockery life, including corporate dining rooms and failed restaurants, so you never know what you might find. Fishs Eddy also sells its own lines of dishes and kitchenware, which have both classic and whimsical looks. The shop is a great place to pick up New York–theme gifts such as mugs and trays.
Named for the pre-1960s JFK Airport, this travel-inspired bookstore is one of the last of its kind in America. It stocks guidebooks, novels, and children's books grouped by destination, and it runs foreign-language classes, ranging from Arabic to German. If those chairs look familiar, it might be because you huddled in one during a layover at the American Airlines terminal.
If you love bright, cheerful patterns, make a beeline to the Marimekko flagship. This 4,000-square-foot store is primarily white, so the colorful merchandise pops. Everything from pot holders and shower curtains to coats and dresses is available here in the Finnish brand's bold signature prints. If you're feeling crafty, pick up a few yards of fabric to create something of your own.
The funky (Elvis-print rompers, CBGB onesies) mixes with the old-school (retro cowboy-print pants, brightly colored clogs, Bruce Lee T-shirts) and the high-end (Lili Gaufrette, Kenzo, Boo Foo Woo from Japan) at this casual, trendsetting store for kids.
