this holiday seasons’s top 5 cool stores to check out…

If you’re like me, you probably haven’t even started shopping for those people on your gift list. If you’re also like me, you might actually take pride in finding cool and thoughtful gifts for friends and loved ones. So here are a few places that have some really fun, cool, unique, original, and fresh products that would make great presents:

#5 – AC Gears – Originally they just sold cool headphones and the like, now they also sell fun robotic gizmo’s from Japan (i assume). i like to think of it as a little bit of Harajuku Schoolgirl shopping district in NYC.

#4 – MoMa Store – sure this isn’t so original, but i bet you didn’t know that in addition to some great replicas or memorabilia from the museum they also have some genuinely awesomely designed timepieces and jewelry. in fact, one of my favorite watches is from the MoMa Store.

#3 – Flight 001 – hip, well designed travel accessories… everything from toiletry bags to cool luggage tags. sounds a little dorky but i bet when you travel a lot you start realizing how cool it would be to actually have useful good looking travel things because my HS gym duffel isn’t looking so hot anymore.

#2 – Muji - the japanese organization/homeware/clothing retailer (think container store + uniqlo) finally opened a store in NYC’s SoHo, and damn do i love those japanese… they’re so efficient with their designs. They have a lot of really cool desk organization items as well fun kitchen accessories. personally, i actually like their clothing.

#1 – Nau – my favorite store, though i’ve never ever step foot in one (that’ll change come January) – luckily their online store is pretty damn slick. Nau is eco-conscious adventure clothing with good design and a nice urban style. The prices aren’t half bad either.