shopping for pleasure

Greenwich Market - Greenwich

2008-03-15T11:18:00.002Z

Old and older junk - everything you need, from clothes to furniture, to nick knacks.

Jenners - Princes Street

2008-03-10T11:17:00.005Z

For a house of Fraser establishment, Jenners was a bit of a disappointment. It's one of those instances where a new building seems to be crammed into an old building without any consideration for the old architecture. Inventory was OK, but not up to usual House of Fraser variety and quality. Getting rid of the very large tourist tat department would be a big improvement.

48 Princes Street
Edinburgh

0131 225 2442

Monsters at Harvey Nick's - St. Andrew Square

2008-03-09T11:51:00.003Z

I love monsters, weird window displays and Harvey Nick's, so this is a winning combination.

Harvey Nichols
30 - 34 St Andrew Square
Edinburgh
EH2 2AD

0131 524 8388

2008-03-09T11:17:00.002Z

Bookshop Row - Grass Market

2008-03-06T08:00:00.002Z

The owner of Armchair Books looks and acts like an old anarchist. He was sitting in the back unabashedly smoking, surrounded by his alternatype employees who were sitting on the floor, sorting books. When I asked him the price of a book, he admonished me to barter with him, then gave it to me for an even lower price.

Open 24 Hours

2008-03-05T19:27:00.003Z

The English version of 24-hour shopping.

Upper Edmonton
London
N18 3HF

The Conran Shop - Marylebone

2008-03-02T00:28:00.006Z

I love the Conran shop. Supposedly, it is stocked with nicely designed product at all price ranges. I have my doubts about the lower end of their price range -- there doesn't seem to be one, so I haven't ever bought anything here. I like to look, though.

The Conran Shop Marylebone
55 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 5HS
020 7723 2223

Intense & Funky - Wood Green

2008-02-25T22:00:00.005Z

Despite its weird name and appalling window displays, this shop on Wood Green High Road has a very nice collection of Men's and Women's wear. The store's strength is the men's collection, ranging from high-end street labels to designers such as Vivienne Westwood, to old classics, such as Levi's big Es. Similar designers are sold for women, but the collection isn't as broad. However, there is a nice selection of shoes and bags.

136 High Road, Hornsey
London, N22 6EB
020 8881 8377

Gay's the Word - Russell Square

2008-02-24T23:00:00.004Z

One of the few independent gay & lesbian bookshops left in London.

Gay's the Word
66 Marchmont Street
London
WC1N 1AB

Main Street - Rye

2008-02-19T22:20:00.005Z

Village shopping, especially in Medieval towns like Rye, that cater to tourists, is sometimes disappointing, sometime very nice. Rye falls into the nice category because there are a lot of antique and junk shops. The antique shops are overpriced, but the junk shops are lovely. They range from little holes in the wall barely large enough to turn around in, to two floor emporiums filled with manufacturers premium items from the past 50 years.

Ah Ha Ha Ha - Grassmarket

2008-02-16T23:28:00.005Z

The sign alone is worth a visit. However, the inside is so crammed with jokes, novelties, toys and magic tricks that it's sure to bring out the 10-year-old in anyone.

99 West Bow
Edinburgh, EH1 2JP, United Kingdom
+44 131 220 5252

The Stables - Camden Town

2008-02-03T22:26:00.006Z

Still one of the best places to buy old tat. The Stables gets points for merchandise, historic provenance and atmosphere.

Stables Market
Camden Town
London

Laduree - Burlington Arcade

2008-02-02T12:46:00.004Z

Everything works in this small, French Aladdin's cave of a sweet shop, the golden walls, the lovely macaroons, and the beautiful little boxes to take them away in.

71 - 72 Burlington Arcade,
Mayfair,
London,
W1J 0QX

(020) 7491 9155

Hatchards - Piccadilly

2008-01-31T22:23:00.006Z

Official bookseller to the Queen. Now owned by HMV.

187 Piccadilly
London, W1J 9LE

020 7439 9921

Pinocchio - Old Town

2008-01-30T23:27:00.003Z

A cute name and shopfront for a puppet shop. The specific focus saves it from being just another shop with wooden toys.

96 West Bow
Edinburgh, EH1 2HH
0131 225 6547

Thistle Do Nicely - Old Town

2008-01-28T23:12:00.003Z

Just a little gift and tat shop near the castle, but I love the name.

1 Upper Bow
Edinburgh
EH1 2JN

Bicester Village

2008-01-25T22:23:00.006Z

This is a nice day trip out of London by train. Surrounded by stereotypical beautiful English countryside, this is the poshest outlet mall I've ever visited. Prices are not as cheap as the name "outlet mall" implies, but merchandise is top quality, high end. Retailers at the village include: Wedgewood, Temperly London, Tod's, Anya Hindmarch, Mulberry, Tse.... You get the picture

Bicester Village
50 Pingle Drive
Oxon
OX26 6WD
England
(0) 1869 323 200

Gamleys - Mount Pleasant Road

2008-01-24T20:39:00.005Z

Toy stores seem to fall into two categories: Mega-marts that sell only the big brands, guaranteed to sell, or cutesy shops that sell quaint dolls, wooden toys, and whatever the owner has a penchant for. Gamleys is a small chain of toy shops that actually has things children like. Large brands include a good collection or Playmobil, Selectrix, and Mattel, but many other small brands are sold here as are a good collection of books and toys for older children, like train sets and action figures.

It seems the chain is getting smaller as more shops are being closed every year.

43 Mount Pleasant Road
City Centre
Tunbridge Wells
(0)1892 525322

Bluewater - Greenhithe

2008-01-22T23:31:00.005Z

Paco Underhill talks this mall up in his book, Call of the Mall, so I expected much, much more. Shopping is very high street, nothing particularly high-end but a wide variety, but many things are done right. There are things to keep children entertained, including remote control boats, play structures and a creche. Mall food is plentiful, including the only Crispy Creme I've seen in the UK where donuts are made on the premises.

There's a very large problem: no air conditioning. Is this being environmentally correct? Perhaps, but it doesn't work with in a place that is encased in glass. It certainly doesn't work in such a crowded environment, and Bluewater is extremely crowded.

Bluewater
Greenhithe
Kent
DA9 9ST

0870 777 0252

Brent Cross Shopping Centre - Brent Cross

2008-01-20T11:56:00.003Z

No, this is not an airport parking lot. It's the outside of Brent Cross Shopping Centre.

Butler & Wilson - South Kensington

2008-01-13T11:39:00.005Z

I don't know much about this shop except that I like crown on the roof.

189 Fulham Road
London SW3 6JN
Telephone: 020 7352 3045

Nearest Tube: South Kensington

Shopping for Clothes - Sainsbury's - Harringay

2008-01-08T07:35:00.004Z

Shopping list:

green beans
milk
stretchy jersey top

Shopping for clothes at the grocery store, no matter how convenient, still feels a bit weird. I suppose it's the same as buying clothes at Costco, but I wouldn't do that either. Where do you try anything on?

4 Williamson Road
Green Lanes
HARRINGAY
London
N4 1UJ
Tel: 020 8809 6065

The Corner KTS - Hackney

2008-01-07T06:54:00.003Z

Need a bookcase of a new speaker case? Wood cut to all shapes.

415 Kingsland Rd
London, E8 4AU
020 72499200

Selfridges Food Hall - Oxford Street

2008-01-05T20:06:00.005Z

American-style Cupcakes

Some of the best American-style cupcakes I've had in London.

Selfridges London
400 Oxford St
London
W1A 1AB

Hand and Lock - Westminster

2008-01-04T23:55:00.005Z

Hand embroiderers to the Queen. This proves that almost anything can be bought in London, for a price.

86 Margaret Street
London W1W 8TE

0207 580 7488

Agent Provocateur - Soho

2008-01-02T23:29:00.006Z

Where Victoria's secret and even Fredrick's of Hollywood only teases, Agent Provocateur takes it all the way. Lingerie here is prettier, sexier, and certainly better made.

6 Broadwick Street
Soho, London, W1F 8HW

020 7439 0229

Mobile Police Station - Oxford Street

2008-01-01T21:44:00.006Z

There's a new piece of traffic parked on Oxford Street for the after Christmas sales, a police trailer. This mobile police station was set up to process shoplifters and deal with the problems caused by unruly crowds. I wish it was parked permanently on my street.

Paul Smith - Covent Garden

2007-12-31T21:21:00.004Z

Another nice holiday window. Understated, but nice.

40-44 Floral Street
Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DG

020 7379 7133

Post Christmas Window at Ted Baker- Covent Garden

2007-12-30T11:45:00.017Z

This is a nice variation on Ted Baker's Christmas window, for the after Christmas sales.

9-10 Floral Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 9HW

020 7836 7808

Disenchanted - Oxford Street

2007-12-29T11:00:00.001Z

The slogan's just a little bit too long, the design's not quite up to the quality of the rest of the decorations on Oxford Street. Wait, it's an add for Enchanted. Shame on you Disney! Double shame on the Oxford Street Merchant's Association!!

Santa Baby - Oxford Street

2007-12-28T20:10:00.003Z

Selfredges

Marks and Spencers

Instead of wasting time on elves and Christmas villages, some stores get straight to the point: New Years frocks for those who'd rather ornament themselves.

Christmas at Heals - Tottenham Court Road

2007-12-27T21:17:00.001Z

You would think that Heals would have a better selection of Christmas ornaments. The after Christmas sales are pretty good, though.

The Heal's Building
196 Tottenham Court Road
London W1T 7LQ

020 7636 1666

Worst. Shopping Day. Ever. - Oxford Street

2007-12-26T08:51:00.000Z

This photo was taken at Selfridges on Boxing Day. Debenhams was even worse. At one point, I was stuck in a stairway were the people going up the stairs collided with the people going down, in such a way that we were all jammed up and no one could move. Scary! Even worse, the escalator was so overburdened that it blew up (when I was on it). People kept crowding onto the escalator, despite the billowing smoke that smelt like a burning vacuum cleaner belt. The fire brigade was called.

If the crowd doesn't convince you that shopping on Boxing Day is a bad idea, here is a photo of the merchandise. The observant will notice that some of this is from several seasons ago. Espadrilles in winter, anyone?

I had to do it once, but never again. In a city like London, where every brand has it's own boutique, there really is no need to brave the crowds, even for the allure of the yellow bag.

Christmas at Paperchase - Tottenham Court Road

2007-12-24T21:21:00.001Z

One of the best selections of Christmas ornaments in London, It's also a good place to buy artificial trees in unnatural colours.

213-215 Tottenham Court Road
London, W1T 7PS

020 7467 6200

Christmas at Habitat - Tottenham Court Road

2007-12-23T20:49:00.001Z

Christmas at Debenhams - Oxford Street

2007-12-22T09:27:00.001Z

A few nice ornaments are available at Debenhams. Overall the selection is like the rest of the merchandise at the store. A bit pricey, considering it's middle of the road.

34-348 Oxford Street
Marylebone
London, W1C 1JG

084 4561 6161

12 Days of Christmas - Covent Garden

2007-12-21T23:25:00.001Z

This appropriately named Christmas market at Covent Garden offers all sorts of prepared food, fresh fruit and veg and, of course, gingerbread men and Christmas pudding.

Ted Baker - Covent Garden

2007-12-18T22:36:00.003Z

Cute Christmas Window.

House of Fraser Christmas - Oxford Street

2007-12-17T07:50:00.001Z

Understated, but nice. The House of Fraser x-mas ornament section fits well with the overall theme of the store.

318 Oxford Street
London, W1C 1HF

Macys Open 24 hours - Manhattan

2007-12-15T00:21:00.000Z

Macys, Manhatten is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week this holiday season. See the full story here..

This brings to mind the Christmas that I was a student teacher and worked at Macy's, San Francisco, to supplement my meagre income. I worked the Christmas ornament department, called Holiday Lane. I called it Holiday Shantytown.

All day, every day, I picked up broken ornaments and repackaged the houses from Santa's village ripped apart by shoppers who, if they liked what they found after tearing apart the packaging, would pick up a pristine, unopened box to buy. Never mind that the whole village was already set up on display. The only time I could get the mess under control was during the short lull that led up to closing. Later as the shopping frenzy heated up, we had to clean up after closing.

The power went out once and shoppers refused to leave the store. In fact, they were mad that the cash registers didn't work and we couldn't ring up their purchases by flashlight.

151 W. 34th St.
New York, NY 10001

212.695.4400

John Lewis Christmas - Oxford Street

2007-12-10T09:09:00.002Z

Ornaments at Heal's - Tottenham Court Road

2007-12-08T19:58:00.001Z

These ornaments are pretty enough, but mostly plastic. I'd expect more from a store that positions itself as an arbiter of style.

The Heal's Building
196 Tottenham Court Road
London W1T 7LQ

020 7636 1666

Covent Garden's Winter Wonderland - Covent Garden

2007-12-07T06:26:00.001Z

The Market Hall at Covent Garden, decked out in Christmad finery.

Black Sunday - Oxford Street

2007-12-04T23:00:00.001Z

December 1st is the English equivalent to the day after Thanksgiving in America. It's the official first day of the holiday shopping season. Oxford street is closed to vehicles and the crowds take over.

Angels Fancy Dress - Covent Garden

2007-11-30T22:21:00.001Z

The day before Halloween, the lines are out the door at Angels Fancy Dress in Covent Garden. Angels specializes in costumes for rent offering a vast selection, but the store also carries a good selection of wigs and accessories for sale.

119 Shaftesbury Avenue
Covent Garden, London
WC2H 8AE

020 7836 5678

Fashion Statement or Soviet Kitch?

2007-11-27T22:50:00.002Z

Perhaps something could be both? When I lived in the US, I used to occasionally wear Union-Jack themed clothing, but it's not something I would do in England, even if is was constructed in non-traditional colours, or designed by Fake of London. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it just seems too patriotic.

It's no surprise that Soviet Kitch is becoming chic. In Russia, It's obvious why this somewhat irreverent fashion was not allowed, during the Soviet regime, but are Russians far enough removed from the history for it to take off now? This article in the NY Times says it is so.

Gap - Canterbury

2007-11-26T06:47:00.001Z

Yet another chain store in a cute, historic building.

1-3 The Parade
Canterbury
Kent CT1 2JL

The Apple Store - Regent Street

2007-11-18T19:22:00.001Z

The Apple Store glows like a beacon in the night. Earlier this month people queued all night in the rain and the cold for the iPhone. It's supposedly cheaper in France, but does that mean you have to buy your phone service in France too?

235 Regent Street
London, W1B 2EL
020 7153 9000

House of Fraser - Cheltenham

2007-11-13T23:23:00.001Z

Cavendish House is the oldest department store in Cheltenham, dating back to 1823 when the town was a close rival to Bath as a holiday spa destination. Because it did not suffer the widespread destruction to housing during WW2 that London did, Cheltenham is said to have the most intact Regency period buildings in the UK. Unfortunately Cavendish House, now owned by The House of Frasier, does not reflect this.

The quality and selection of merchandise is good, though, exactly what you would expect to see at the House of Frasier.

Promenade
Cheltenham, GL50 1HP
0870 160 7233

Shutting Up Shop - National Portrait Gallery

2007-11-11T23:23:00.001Z

Shutting up Shop is currently exhibited in the basement of the National Portrait gallery. Lush photos, shot on a large format camera, from a book of the same title show small shops when they were in business and after. Perhaps because it was raining outside, perhaps because a gallery attendant reprimanded me for taking this picture, it left me a bit melancholy.

The National Portrait Gallery
2 St. Martin's Pl
London, WC2H 0HE
020 73122490

Space NK Men - Soho

2007-11-08T23:08:00.001Z

The only Space NK exclusively for men. It's in Soho, of course

10 Broadwick Street
Soho, London, W1F 8HW
020 7734 3734

Mulberry - Greenwich Village

2007-11-03T22:54:00.001Z

One of the nice things about Mulberry is that they're not offensively branded with a logo visible from across the street, like so many bags are today. Perhaps this is the reason there don't seem to be many fakes around. Not trendy, but stylish and beautifully made, these bags could worn for a few years, which makes their cost-per-use quite sensible. That is, unless you decide to by the studded leather model, complete with attached cat-o-nine-tails.

387 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10014O

Friar's - Canterbury

2007-10-28T20:07:00.001Z

The cutest used car dealer ever.

4-5 The Friars
Canterbury, CT1 2AS

Tel. 01227 462977

Boots - Canterbury

2007-10-21T09:32:00.001+01:00

While some may find it appalling to find a Boots in a Tudor building, I find it quite fitting. Isn't that what Canterbury Tales is all about, the commerce and trade that sprung up around the pilgrims?

10 The Marlowes
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2LE

Hot Topic - San Bruno

2007-10-20T09:53:00.001+01:00

It's about the music, or so they say.

This is one of those stores targeted towards teenagers that sells individuality through heavily branded merchandise. Much of what they sell is music oriented. It is a good place to buy a band t-shirt, but shelves are also filled with Nick-knacks, toys and other clothing covered with wry sayings references to TV, movies and popular culture. It's a combination of the type of merchandise found at Urban Outfitters and Spencers Gifts.

Overall, a good gift shop for teens and the occasional old person who's looking for a Ramones t-shirt.

Tanforan Mall
San Bruno, CA 94066
650.553.5100

Hard Wear - Islington

2007-10-16T22:13:00.001+01:00

A catchy name for an Army/Navy surplus store.

70 Essex Road, Islington
(Angel Tube)
London , England N1 8LT

Cheltenham

2007-10-14T09:07:00.001+01:00

There's nothing much remarkable about the shops in Cheltenham. It's got the usual shops seen on every high street, plus a few department stores like The House of Frasier and M&S. What's special is the setting. Cheltenham is a historic spa town in Gloucestershire that has been a health and holiday spa resort since 1716. It's also the site of the annual Cheltenham Festival of Literature.

As this photo suggests, many of the main streets are closed to traffic on the weekends, making the shopping district particularly pedestrian friendly.

Jubilee Place - Canary Wharf

2007-10-12T20:38:00.001+01:00

Nice Signs

Formula Foam - Upper Clapton

2007-10-11T22:34:00.001+01:00

Open to the public - NOT!

There are times when you may need a piece of foam to pad a window seat, reupholster a chair or add a layer of comfort over a dodgy mattress. It's times like these that you appreciate a specialty supplier. I was in need of a piece of foam. Formula foam was in the neighborhood, so I stopped by one morning. I walked down the alley, past a couple of workshops and a mechanic to what looked like a foam warehouse. The door was blocked from the inside. So I thought, "Oh well, it must be wholesale only," and started to walk away.

A man came out, "Do you want something?"

I explained what I wanted.

"Wait a minute," he said.

I waited outside for 15 minutes. Did I mention it was cold? Finally, I was led in to a back room with a man at a computer. After some discussion he looked up a price on the computer that made my eyes pop out.

It wasn't exactly wholesale either. I left and bought my foam on eBay.

Upper Clapton
end of yard
London, E5
020 8442 9327

Jessica Simpson Hair - At a Top Shop Near You

2007-10-10T22:02:00.001+01:00

Is there any limit to celebrity products? Does Jessica Simpson really want people walking around in bad extension with her name on them. What's next, Amy Winehouse tattoos?

James Selby - Holloway

2007-10-06T18:06:00.001+01:00

James Selby is a charmingly weird old department store. Unlike Liberty which is graciously old, James Selby just seems like it hasn't been redecorated since the 80s. It's a bit like a DIY project that's been added to bit, by bit over the years with none of the new construction matching the old. The merchandise follows the same principle. Upstairs, shoppers can buy sewing notions, polyester granny smocks and aprons, low end Wedgewood lines, Pyrex, and linens. A nice range of linens is offered from practical no-iron percale to sheets and pillows by Monsoon. On the ground floor, clothes are grouped into boutique-like clusters. Evans has a section, so does Monsoon, so does Top Shop. Cosmetic counters in the front sell everything from Fashion Fair to Corres.

386-400 Holloway Road
London
N7 6PR

020 7607 2466
Nearest Station Holloway Road

Holloway Market - Holloway

2007-10-04T21:16:00.001+01:00

If you have to buy nets, it seems must more appropriate to buy them from a stall at the market, from a bloke who sounds like he belongs on Eastenders, than to buy them at John Lewis from a woman who has mastered the art of talking without moving her mouth.

Waitrose - Canary Wharf

2007-10-03T22:04:00.001+01:00

Any Waitrose is a nice grocery store, with good produce but the Canary Wharf shop is the best Waitrose I've been to, so far. It's even better than the company's new jewel in the crown below the flagship John Lewis on Oxford Street. Unlike the Oxford Street food hall under John Lewis, The Waitrose at Canary Wharf is nicely laid out with large aisles, and a huge selection of everything, from artisanal organic cheese, to Duncan Hines cake mixes, to long life milk. If you're hungry, you stop for a snack at the the deli or the sushi bar. Need to buy a new outfit, a mini John Lewis is upstairs.

Canada Place
Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London
E14 5EW

020 7719 0300

Smash and Grab Robberies

2007-09-30T20:35:00.001+01:00

Luxury goods have become so expensive in London that robbers are blatantly smashing their cars through to front windows and doors of boutiques and making off with whatever they can grab. Here's a robbery caught on tape.

Target at Selfridges - Oxford circus

2007-09-25T23:30:00.001+01:00

Target has mastered cheap chic.

Selfridges is just chic.

So when Target sets up a boutique in Selfridges selling the line Alice Temperley designed for their Go International collection, it makes me wonder it they're trying to reach out into a more exclusive market. Perhaps their "fashion for all" philosophy is on its way out?

On a more positive note, perhaps this is Target's first foray into the UK market & the company is positioning itself early so as not to be seen as just another ASDA. I read in the Financial Times that Target has been having troubles with ownership of it's bullseye logo in the UK and Europe. Perhaps the time is ripe for Target to open a shop in London? Watch this space for future developments.

Primark - Hackney Central

2007-09-19T10:31:00.001+01:00

I have a love/hate relationship with Primark, love because I love cheap trendy clothes, hate because I hate myself when I buy cheap disposable clothes made by exploited workers in third world countries.

This is a typical shopping day at Primark, Mare Street. Need I say more?

365-371 Mare Street
London
E8 1HY
England
0208 9852689

New Trimmings

2007-09-14T20:56:00.001+01:00

The selection is adequate. The prices are not great, but it is a one stop shop for trimmings, sew on decals and patches, zippers and buttons.

10-12 Winsley Street, London, W1W 8HQ
Tel: 02076 370307

Canary Wharf Mall - Canary Wharf

2007-09-11T21:47:00.001+01:00

This sign graces the doors of all four shopping malls that make up the mall at Canary Wharf. It's a WiFi zone; good that seems progressive. No rollerskating or smoking is allowed; that makes sense. What about the other symbol? No hard hats? No site clothing? Am I the only one who thinks this is horribly classist? Shame on you Canary Wharf!

Fry's - Palo Alto

2007-08-28T22:55:00.001+01:00

Fry's has long been known as a mega-store for geeks. Every electronic device imaginable is available here, generally cheaper than anywhere else. If cheap isn't cheap enough, Fry's also sell reconditioned electronics and kitchen appliances.

If you're still not convinced this is geek heaven, take a look at the large Anime porn section.

340 Portage Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650.496.6000

Double Punch - North Beach

2007-08-27T00:56:00.001+01:00

Most of the things sold at Double Punch can be found at Giant Robot, Kid Robot and Super 7, but the prices at Double Punch seem a little better.

1821 Powell St
San Francisco, CA 94133-2809
415.399.9785

IKEA - Emeryville

2007-08-24T21:39:00.001+01:00

After years of clever marketing, and now, the developments of Flatpack homes, IKEA has turned more into a lifestyle than a furniture retailer. IKEA has mastered the art of aspirational shopping. If you buy one of their MDF shelf units, you too could live the contemporary modern lifestyle showcased in the sample apartments set up in the giant shops, complete with the square footage. They're sort of like showhomes without ceilings, except there are two problems:

1) The sample apartments don't have ceilings or doors, so they look much bigger than your own home of comparable square footage.

2) The fake apartments are built around the standard-sized IKEA furniture, creating a custom built-in look.

Unfortunately, most houses don't come in IKEA standard sizes. Perhaps the flat pack houses do?

House of Foam - downtown Palo Alto

2007-08-21T22:51:00.000+01:00

Specialization usually makes good shopping, if you're interested in whatever it is the shop is selling. In this case, it's foam. House of Foam, as the name indicates, sells all types of foam, from egg crate sound insulation, to padding for furniture, to pillow stuffing, to foam mattresses. It sure beats visiting every Home Depot and fabric store in the area, looking for the one specific type of foam you need. The staff are friendly, with the type of specialist knowledge you'd expect.

150 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650.327.4300

Fresh from Debenhams - Brick Lane

2007-08-16T22:22:00.001+01:00

Sometimes the best parts of a market are the guerrilla booths that pop up selling everything from handmade earrings, car boot closet clearings, and this vendor specializing in new housewares, "fresh from Debenhams."

Shops Without Names - Camden Passage

2007-08-15T21:14:00.001+01:00

This little shop along Camden Passage, in Islington, stocks a nice selection of ceramics from the 60s and 70s. When my shopping companion said, "Look, those pieces are so Johnathon Adler," the proprietor responded:

"You Americans and your Johnathon Adler. Sod Johnathon Adler! Who do you think he copied from?"

Magma - Clerkenwell

2007-08-14T23:01:00.001+01:00

Magma stocks magazines and books on art, photography and design. Art is subjective here. One book that caught my eye focused on people standing in line, another showed a series of empty plates with vestiges of the meal that was just on them. The strength of the shop is the magazine and journal selection mainstream favorites share the shelves with a nice selection of indie publications.

117-119 Clerkenwell Road
London, EC1R 5B

Kings Mall - Hammersmith

2007-08-11T23:13:00.001+01:00

Here's another example of a housing estate built on top of a mall. It's not great, but there's a good selection of medium to low-end shopping, including the largest Primark I've been in yet. Mothercre, Iceland, Superdrug, New Look, Evans and all the usual suspects are represented. Surprisingly, Habitat has a small shop in the mall too.

Here's the view from the top floor of Primark. Convenient.

King Street
Hammersmith
London
W6 9HW

Battersea Boot - Battersea

2007-08-10T23:05:00.001+01:00

Some displays at the boot are better than others.

Brunswick Centre - Bloomsbury

2007-08-09T23:25:00.001+01:00

On the surface, Brunswick Centre looks nice. Filled with upmarket chains including Waitrose, Oasis, Hobbs, Boots and Baby Gap, the shopping is certainly better than what is usually offered on housing estates.

It hasn't always been this way. Brunswick was one of those modernist experiments architects were fond of in the 1960s. Patrick Hodgkinson designed it as a private development, part shopping centre, part cosmopolitan housing, but no one would buy the flats. They were small, many considered the vast concrete structures ugly, and the money ran out before the buildings were painted. The developers kept the shopping centre and sold the residential part of the building to Camden Council to use as council housing. Under council management, the building mouldered. So did the shopping centre.

In 2002 renovation started. It took four years to renovate and fill the abandoned shops to current standard.

I have to wonder, though, is it just putting makeup on a pig?

The Brunswick
London
WC1N 1BS

R.D. Franks - Westminster

2007-08-07T00:19:00.001+01:00

London has everything, if you know where to look. R.D. Franks is a prime example. Almost every magazine relating to fashion is sold here, from mainstream offerings like Vogue to the more obscure, such as Street, Fruits and Fantastic Man. There's also a good collection of pattern making and textile books and publications by Gap press. Surprisingly, though, Japanese look books are not sold here.

5 WINSLEY STREET
LONDON
W1W 8HG
020.7636.1244

Somerfield - Battersea

2007-08-05T00:05:00.001+01:00

This giant housing estate at the back end of Battersea has two pubs and a huge Somerfield on the grounds. Somerfield is the only grocery store in London that I've noticed employees following customers around (myself included) to make sure they don't shoplift.

Wink - Noe Valley

2007-08-04T00:39:00.001+01:00

Wink sells, cute eclectic gifts for all occasions, or even for yourself. Shelves are artfully arranged with toys for the person who has everything, from cloth dolls fashioned to look like they are made out of pieces of poop, to Gamma Go clothes and nick knacks, to nice design-oriented household items and gifts for babies, both the human and the four-legged variety. The cards are beautiful, and stocked with a wide range of interesting occasions. The staff are friendly.

4107 24th St
San Francisco
CA 94114
415.401.8881

Teitel Brothers - Arthur Avenue

2007-08-02T22:52:00.001+01:00

An authentic Italian-American market that's been run by the same family for the past 100 years. To relieve the cramped space in the always crowded shop, displays of hardy staples like olive oil, cheese, and canned tomatoes spill out onto the sidewalk.

2349 Arthur Avenue,
Bronx, New York

718.733.9400

Tiger - Hammersmith

2007-08-01T23:56:00.001+01:00

Tiger is stocked with random knick knacks, toiletries and kitchenware that could be found at Big Lots, but they seem nicer here, probably because of the quirky Scandinavian merchandising. Just like IKEA, shoppers wend their way through a maze of beautifully displayed wares. Instead of furniture, the products are note pads, kitchen towels, small toys and household items sold at bargain basement prices.

41-42 Kings Mall, King Street
Hammersmith, London W6

Reject Pot Shop - Camden Town

2007-07-31T22:26:00.001+01:00

The name implies this shop is dirt cheap. It's not, but there are some good deals to be had on seconds of , Portmeirion stoneware and serving platters.

56 Chalk Farm Road,
Camden
NW1 8AN
020.7485.2326

Battersea Boot - Battersea

2007-07-27T20:28:00.001+01:00

What's this line for?

The best boot in London. Ever.

But who would by those bears dressed up in Harley outfits? Bears? Leather Daddies? I suppose it shows there's something for everyone.

Speaking of useless items that other people may find strange, here's a sample of recent things I've bought here in the past two months. Keep in mind, I rarely pay over £2 for anything:

A light up globe from the 70s
An antique sampler
A glass casserole dish from 1953, commemorating the coronation
Beano, Beezer, & Dandy Annuals in near-unread condition
A set of blue pyrex from the 50s
Glass cannisters from the 1940s, made in Italy & the UK (50p each)
A shelf from the Tate
A crockpot
A "mod" lampshade from the 70s
Various books, knick knacks and soaps

It's well worth the 30p admission

Every Sunday at:

Battersea Technology College
Battersea Park Rd (A3205)
Battersea

Forbidden Planet - Shaftsbury

2007-07-24T22:32:00.001+01:00

Forbidden planets is a superstore for nerds with well-paying jobs. I use the term "nerd" in admiration, especially if they are paid enough to be able to shop here.

The basement houses comic books, graphic novels, sf fantasy, dvds, videos and games. Stock includes a fairly good range of new comics, and a few back issues, both American and UK issues. Unlike many comic book stores, they don't bag most of the comics. Books include trade paperbacks, graphic novels, as well as art books and sci-fi and Fantasy. From easy reading choices like Terry Pratchett to more literary, non-formulaic sci-fi and horror. A good selection of Manga includes Japanese-language selections.

The ground floor lures customers in with pop art, designer vinyl, limited distribution direct market toys and mass-market goods, such as Simpsons and Nightmare Before Christmas collectibles.

FORBIDDEN PLANET
179 Shaftesbury Avenue
London
WC2H 8JR
020 7420 3666
info@forbiddenplanet.com

Hours: Mon to Weds and Fri to Sat 10.00am to 7.00pm, Thurs 10.00am to 8.00pm, Sun 12.00pm to 6.00pm

179 Shaftesbury Avenue
WC2H 8JR
020 7420 3666

Labour and Wait - Shoreditch

2007-07-23T23:32:00.001+01:00

The proprietors of Labour and Wait say that, whenever possible, they collect items that are made in the traditional way. Stepping into this shop just off Brick Lane is, indeed, like stepping back in time. Nice, solidly made household goods, like kettles, teapots, even tins of string reflect this commitment to quality.

18 Cheshire St
London, E2 6EH
020 77296253

Greenwich Market - Greenwich

2007-07-20T22:55:00.001+01:00

This is a great market for arts and crafts. I'm not talking about potpourri cozies with dead flowers glue on them, this is the real meaning of the word craft: lovely hand-crafted things by artisans and craftsmen. The usual suspects, pottery, jewelry and knitted clothing sit side-by-side with turned wood bowls, blown glass and textiles.

Greenwich Town Centre
Thurs & Fri: Antiques & Collectables: 10.00am — 5.30pm
Sat & Sun: Arts & Crafts: 10.00am — 5.30pm

Museum of Childhood - Bethnal Green

2007-07-19T21:04:00.001+01:00

Toy shopfronts from the 1900s to the 1980s. Play shopping has trained children early for at least 100 years.

Joy - Greenwich Village

2007-07-18T23:05:00.002+01:00

A nice little gift shop chain started by former knitwear designer Joy Bates. It's a bit like a low-rent Urban Outfitters, for shoppers a little older than Urban's demographic, but with less emphasis on clothes and more on gifts, a great place to buy a last-minute gift, or something for someone at the office that you don't know well. You can pretty much close your eyes and pick up anything in the shop and it's sure to be better than something grabbed at Woolies during your lunch hour.

9 Nelson Road
Greenwich, London
SE10 9LB
02082 937 979

Neil's Yard Dairy - Borough Market, Covent Garden

2007-07-17T10:49:00.001+01:00

Once at Fairway Market, Long Island, a women at the cheese counter told me that Neal's Yard Dairy did not make cheese, but simply distributed it. I didn't know what she was talking about. After all, if they don't make cheese, why are they called a dairy? I put it down to ignorance on my part and didn't think anything else of it until I visited Neil's Yard Dairy, at Borough Market.

At the shop, I found out that Neil's Yard used to make cheese, and still do, under another branch called Neil's Creamery. In addition to making cheese and yogurt, the cheesemaker bought matured cheeses and sold them. The owners of Neal's Yard noticed that these cheeses often tasted differently when they were sold from when they were bought. They split their cheesmaking business off and devoted themselves to collecting quality English cheeses and aging them to perfection. That's what the cheeselady at Fairway was talking about.

6 Park Street, Borough Market,
London SE1 9AB
(0)20 7645 3554
Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm
Sat 8am to 5pm

17 Shorts Gardens, Covent Garden,
London WC2H 9UP
Tel +44 (0)20 7240 5700
Mon-Thurs 11am to 6.30pm
Fri-Sat 10am to 6.30pm

Starting Early - Shopping for Children

2007-07-16T23:19:00.001+01:00

Shopping is not the typical subject for a board book, but that's exactly what Judith Wilske and André Erlen have written about in a nice little piece of propaganda for children, My First Shopping Book, the why do you shop book for children.

Take a look at the ten golden rules, according to Wilske & Erlen:

1. Shopping is important!

2. Don't let anyone stop you; your desires are important!

3. Always take enough money with you!

4. Don't go to shops with unfriendly staff!

5. If you like something, buy it!

6. When in doubt, buy it anyway!

7. Never wear second-hand clothes. Buy them yourself!

8. Refuse any home-made gifts!

9. Buy things your friends can't afford!

10. Insist on being able to shop on Sundays too!

If I didn't think it was a joke before, the excessive use of exclamation points proves it.

Borough Market - Southwark

2007-07-13T08:52:00.001+01:00

The Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market at Embarcadero used to be one of my favorite Saturday morning activities when I lived in San Francisco. I cried the last time I went there, knowing I'd be moving soon and despairing of ever being able to shop from such variety of fresh organic fruit and veg ever again.

So, naturally, when I heard Borough Market compared to the Embarcadero Farmers' Market, I jumped on the bus.

Started in 1276, Borough Market is London's oldest food market. It's known as London's Mecca for foodies. While it's unfair to compare the fruit and veg with local produce in California, it certainly lives up to it's reputation in shear variety and quality. The food isn't cheap, but everything is fresh, artisan-quality and delicious.

Free range and organic eggs of all types.

Cheese has it's own wing. Local British cheese makers sell their wares alongside their European counterparts.

For those who like Turkish Delight, there's plenty to choose from.

For those who eat meat, organic ostrich is one of the choices.

Speaking of meat, there's a whole section devoted to pig.

And meat pies.

And don't forget the fruit and veg.

Borough High Street
Stoney Street and Winchester Walk
London, SE1 1TL

Netto - Stamford Hill

2007-07-11T23:16:00.001+01:00

Continuing with my series of weird budget grocery stores, I was drawn to Netto by the cute logo I've seen on bags all over town. Their motto is, "Why pay more when you can pay less?" It seems straightforward enough. Shoppers have to pay for their bags, but the prices on everything else are cheap, cheap, cheap.

The layout of the store is very strange, and doesn't seem to follow any logical order. Soap, next to canned fish, next to bread, next to lightbulbs, and so on.... This is fine for those of us who like to shop by going up and down each aisle, not so good, though, for those in a hurry who like to run straight to the item they came for, then leave.

and what's with the strange gate system at the entrance?

158 Clapton Common
Stamford Hill
London, E5 9AG

The Urban Nest - Noe Valley

2007-07-09T21:52:00.001+01:00

French chic for household items and gifts. This shop is filled with lovely things like enamleware for children, clothes for babies that are not so cute that they're twee, yet not that "hip" urbane aesthetic that's beginning to get annoying. A great place to pick up lovely smelling candles and soaps and expensive dog gifts for those who have everything else.

3927 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94110

415.341.0116

Noe Knit -- Noe Valley

2007-07-07T23:03:00.001+01:00

While not the cheapest option, Noe Knit has a nice selection of good quality yarn. They also have cute wearable samples knitted up so shoppers can actually see what the yarn looks like. Unlike many similar shops, the staff don't shout at you if you touch the merchandise, something that's very important if you want to know what the yarn feels like before you knit with it. They also offer a whole calender of knitting classes every month. Overall, it's a lovely neighborhood shop with helpful staff.

3957 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94114, USA
415.970.9750

F-art - Bethnal Green

2007-07-01T08:27:00.001+01:00

Household objects are so artfully displayed, that you’d be tempted to call this shop an art gallery. In fact, owner and artist Steven Davids does just that. Contemporary art is displayed for sale and Davids regularly hosts gallery nights featuring local artists. Most of his shop, however, is filled with quirky, interesting objects reflecting popular culture of the late 20th century, easily accessible art, mass produced for a consumerist society. Product premiums and branded images from the 50s through the 80s appeal to a wide range of collectors, from those who like vintage Japanese toys and read Super Seven magazine, to those who trawl eBay. Since much of the stock is rare or vintage, it changes regularly. My favorites were: a vintage plastic Bibendum, the Michelin man, a large Japanese plastic statue of Astro Boy, a battery operated model of Godzilla, and a large mechanized monster toy from the 60s, complete with box.

24 Cheshire St.
Bethnal Green
London E2 6EH

020 7729 5411
Saturday 12:00 to 6:00pm
Sunday 10:00am to 5:00 pm
And by appointment

Heals - Tottenham Court Road

2007-06-30T22:42:00.001+01:00

I have been coveting a silver pouffe at Heals for a while now, so as soon as I got my first full month's paycheck I ran to the Tottenham Court store. It was still there, under a pile of sheepskin rugs and assorted pillows and bean bag chairs. No price. I wandered around looking for a sales clerk to help me, but they were all otherwise occupied with yuppie & middle-class looking couples buying sets of furniture or expensive textiles. Finally, I managed to flag someone down. She begrudgingly looked the price up - £120. I had the cash, so I plonked down my debit card. She picked it up, and said. "We don't take electron," then turned her back on me. That was it. She didn't ask for another card, of which I have too many. She didn't ask for cash, nothing. I though "electron" was another name for debit cards. Now I know better. When I left, I couldn't help but notice the irony of the sign wishing me goodbye.

Perhaps it's not ironic, just honest.

The Heal's Building
196 Tottenham Court Road
London W1T 7LQ

020 7636 1666

Rugby at Colette? - Paris

2007-06-25T22:47:00.001+01:00

Quintessentially American meets quintessentially French.

What's more American than Ralph Lauren? That would be Lauren's line for college co-eds, Rugby. Previously sold only in college towns and, of course, Manhattan, which could be argued is one giant college town, Rugby will soon be available at Colette, Paris's quintessentially French department store.

I'll be interested to see how the French put their own stamp on the line. A special edition polo has already been designed.

213 Rue Saint-Honore,
Paris, 75001
33(0)1 5535 3390

Favela Shop - Shoreditch

2007-06-20T20:19:00.001+01:00

If you need a bikini to go with your Brazilian, the obvious choice is a genuine Brazilian bathing suit from Favela in Shoreditch. Favela also sells sundresses, cute Brazilian-themed accessories and knickers.

12 Hoxton Street
Shoreditch
London N1
020 3222 0042