Double Punch - North Beach

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

Greenwich Market - Greenwich

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

F-art - Bethnal Green

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

Giant Robot - Haight Ashbury

Giant Robot is part gallery, part gift shop, and don't they have a magazine too? Toys, clothing, art, books, comics, this store is dedicated to Japanese pop art. If, like me, you love Tokidoki, this place is heaven. Of course, not everything is Japanese. Many books on street art, modern, fringe-type artists and architecture that meets the Japanese sensibility of the small perfect thing are sold here. The small, perfect thing is likely to be a tennis shoe, a clapped out kitchen in Hackney, a monster doll or an exquisite piece of art.

622 Shrader St
San Francisco, CA 94117
415.876.4773

Liberty - Oxford Circus

If you happen to be stuck in London with someone who does not appreciate shopping, Take him to Liberty of London. (Note my sexist use of the word “him.”) Liberty is a fantastic Tudor building that was built with the beams two ships. A couple of the nice architectural details include commemorative carvings honoring the Liberty employees who died in WWI & WWII. This should give you at lest an hour to shop, while your companion reads the memorials.

I love Liberty prints. Hankies, tote bags, anything remotely naff with a Liberty print on it, I own it. I get lots of compliments from librarians and well-heeled American grandmothers who happen to spot me blowing my nose or using a Liberty bag as a briefcase. The boutique on the first floor is devoted to these types of inexpensive (for Liberty) Liberty print gift items.

Of course Liberty print dress shirts are gorgeous and difficult, if not impossible, to find anywhere else, but it's not all prim and proper. Liberty stocks a nice range of art house labels for the fashion forward.

Regent Street
London W1
020 7734 1234