MoMA

Museum/ Attraction: MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)
Website: http://www.moma.org/; web store
Atmosphere: fantastic design shop and specially bookstore
Drool-worth items: Damian Evans Index Chopping Boards ($70)
Logo items: A wide range of products including postcards of famous exhibits
Haul: Muji pen, Italian composition book


Comments:
I have been to both Midtown locations (across the street from each other at the museum) as well as the SoHo location of the MoMA design store and it never gets old. This is the premier place to shop for beautifully designed objects, often so practical you will never understand how you lived without them and many quite reasonable. While many of the items sold both in the stores and online can be found elsewhere (example, the iconic ‘New York City Coffee Cup’; note: the original designer of the ubiquitous paper version of this NYC stable passed away recently), having so many wonderful things under one roof makes it that much more enjoyable. One of the interesting aspect of shopping at the MoMA store vs, say, one of the many other NYC design-centered shops around town is the fact that since it does cater to tourists, more people are browsing around and all and all, engaged with the design. Those in NYC know how often peering into to an empty and cold looking design shop can be a major turn off. After all, if it’s empty, it must be either really expensive or not worth it, right?

Part of my relationship with the MoMA store is that I, personally, can’t stand the actual MoMA itself. I have practically no interest in ‘modern art’ and have failed to embrace the concept of design as being anything other than ‘living’. I absolutely want to sit in your Louis Ghost Arm chair under the Phrena hanging lamp thank you very much, not just look at it behind some barrier. Good design is meant to be held, used, and loved, not admired from affair.

So, what else can I tell you about the store? Books! Love it! With a respectable little sale section for your design references on the cheap. All manner of items, some fabulously expensive and many well priced, including a range for the budding child-artist in your home. I also like the fact that they carry a limited selection from one of my favorite design stores, Muji (note: if you are in SoHo, walk a few extra blocks to go to the actual Muji store. Worth it, I promise. Just touching the paper brings me to my happy place). I generally find the jewelry selection pretty hit or miss and the scarves either super boring (yes, yet another Coonley Playhouse design item) or not practical. House wears and office supplies are really where it’s at; it’s a great go-to place for weddings, birthdays, hostess gifts, holidays etc.

South Street Seaport Museum

Museum/ Attraction: South Street Seaport Museum
Website: http://www.southstreetseaportmuseum.org/ (no online store site)
Atmosphere: Small selection of themed items near ticket counter
Drool-worth items: Thomas Paul octopus engraving on a large cotton shawl ($65)
Typical logo items: A t-shirt
Haul: nothing

Comments:
I have never been inside the South Street Seaport Museum, but since it is an open-air site mixed with conventional retail and dinning, I have passed through it on numerous occasions. Recently, while passing by, I was lured to step foot in the little storefront where you also buy tickets for the enclosed exhibits and the ships docked around the site. What caught my eye were two large gauzy nautical-themed shawls in the window. What’s this? Tell me more!

The store it’s self is small, with items, as you would expect, aimed at the nautical nature of the site. It has the overall feel of a ticket booth staging area but, having said that, had a nice little range of products: something for everyone within in a very browse-worthy 15 minutes or less. Well represented were an assortment of books about ships, early NYC history (including of the Seaport) and a small selection of NYC-themed items. Plenty of kid-centric items, including crafts and age-appropriate books. I was pleased to see it was blessedly free of pirate fare (at least that I noticed since I just took a quick spin around the store). Going the pirate route would have seemed a no-brainer to the buyer but also would have shown a certain amount of laziness. History is fascinating and there are far better ways to try and lure kids (I hope!) into learning about history without glossing over murder, theft, and, yes, pillaging.

I was also impressed that they had a nice (if small) collection of decor items such as modern plate settings with bright sea creatures and some very-on trend nautical items such as rope bracelets and enamel bracelets with semi fore and sailing motifs. In summary, with what little they were working with, I felt the store buyer did a great job of hitting all the right marks.

All and all, I didn’t personally pick-up anything (though I suspect that octopus shawl will haunt me in my dreams if I don’t get it- I found it online too along with many of the other wonderful décor items by Thomas Paul) I do see myself being more inclined to pop in every now and again to see what’s new. I personally suggest adding more fashion items, like bags made out of repurposed sail cloth and more jewelry like anchor necklaces and charms.

PS- Nearby is a permanent Body Worlds exhibit . I have previously been to one of the much larger traveling exhibits and can say A) well worth it and B) gift shop heaven! Review of this exhibits gift shop will be forthcoming.

An Introduction

I love museum gift shops. It has been a trait long commented on by the people in my life and one which I embrace fully. I am also a great critic of them. Many times I have wandered a store looking for a specific postcard reproduction, or wistfully seeking a miniature version of an obscure statue. Not everything can be as popular as the Venus de Milo by still, I am often wondering as to how the decisions are made as to what to offer and why. There is something about a gift shop that can perfectly encapsulate the larger museum going experience outside even of the standard critique of ‘commercialism’, to the point where I have been known to forego the exhibits themselves to see if there is anything new on the offer.

So it has come to this; I have decided to start a mini review of some of my adventures in gift shops, be it in person, online, or how ever I find them. Enjoy!