Walking down Forsyth Street I stumbled upon a tiny store front.  What I initially thought was an art gallery, turned out to be a store devoted exculsively to pencils.  Remember that smell of a new eraser and how exciting it was to buy a new pencil when you were little well, C.W. Pencil Enterprise will bring those memories flooding right back.  Pencils are displayed in every way in this adorable store; glass jars filled with pencils from all over the world: Japan, France, India, Tennessee.  You want scented pencils?  They have them.  Rainbow pencils, bi color pencils and pencils that look like cigarettes?  Go no further.  A framed pencil advertisement from the early 20th century proclaims “The world’s tallest building started with a pencil.”  They have an in store Testing Station which allows shoppers to try out dozens of pencils on a doddle pad before committing.  I left with a few new pencils that were wrapped up in a cute manila envelope and tied with string and when I asked for a business card I was handed a pencil with all the details.  LOVE that there are unique stores like this in New York!

C.W. Pencil Enterprise,  15 Orchard St. New York, NY

Le Labo,  is a beautiful fragrance lab with several locations throughout the city that was founded by Fabrice Penot and Edward Roschi who wanted to revolutionize the world of fragrances by creating unique scents that cater to the individual.  Each creation is bottled in apothecary-inspired packaging, labeled with your name and date, making your experience unique and personal.

Ok, so the other day I happened upon a precious “jewel” of a shop named Pippin Vintage Jewelry.  I was immediately transported to the seemingly cavernous, wondrous closet that belonged to my beautiful and elegant grandmother.  Besides the plentitude of exquisitely curated jewelry (no reproductions here-only original vintage authentically and lovingly collected from estate sales and auctions), they also sell belts, buckles and time-honored watches.  The only thing missing here is that distinctly synthesized essence of lavender and Chanel no. 5 that was my Nana.

Pippin Vintage Jewelry, 112 W. 17th St.

For those of you that like spicy food, who think the hotter the better, run don’t walk to the Heatonist.  This shop is New York City’s first and foremost destination dedicated to hot sauce.  A space to discover new and unique hot sauces (over 150) from around the world most of the sauces have a story behind them.  A hot sauce bar, equipped with tasting spoons allow you to try sauces before buying there is even a sauce sommelier who will direct you to what you are looking for.  Wondering what to get that friend that has everything?  They ship everywhere in the U.S.

Heatonist, 121 Whythe Avenue,  Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Set in 2000 square foot store located in Manhattan’s 10th Ave. retail corridor, STORY is a retail concept that takes the point of view of a magazine, changes like a gallery and sells things like a traditional store.  Every four to eight weeks, STORY completely reinvents itself – from the design to the merchandise – with the goal of bringing to light a new theme, trend or issue.

STORY, 144 10th Ave, New York, NY

Floor-to-ceiling shelves and cases spilling over with old time favorites, candies by color, assorted nuts and dried fruits have called these sweet hallowed grounds home since 1937.  You’ll marvel at the eye-popping, saliva-inducing variety of goodies that this”Nosher’s Paradise of the Lower East Side” has to offer including a giant gummy rat, how New York is that!  I’ll bet my newly filled cavity on it!

Economy Candy, 108 Irvington Street, New York, NY