A Small Business Gift Guide This Holiday Season

Summary

Podcast Title: All Of It
Episode: A Small Business Gift Guide This Holiday Season
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Caroline Weaver, Founder of The Locavore Guide
Release Date: December 2, 2024
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes

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Introduction

At the outset of the episode, Alison Stewart warmly welcomes listeners to "All Of It," WNYC's show dedicated to exploring culture and its myriad consumers. She introduces the day's primary focus: a comprehensive guide to local small businesses perfect for holiday gifting. Emphasizing the importance of supporting local commerce, Alison sets the stage for an engaging discussion with Caroline Weaver, the founder of The Locavore Guide—a resource aimed at connecting New Yorkers with unique, local shops.

Promoting Local Shopping with Caroline Weaver

[00:16] Alison Stewart:
“Thank you for spending part of your day with us. I'm really grateful you are here.”

Alison introduces Caroline, highlighting her initiative to encourage listeners to opt for local shopping rather than defaulting to large online retailers. The conversation underscores the value of keeping money within the community to bolster local economies and discover one-of-a-kind gifts.

[02:22] Caroline Weaver:
“I started it because...sponsored ads on Google make it harder to find local shops. I wanted to create a resource that was unbiased and easy for New Yorkers to discover local businesses.”

Neighborhood Highlights and Top Picks

Caroline Weaver takes listeners on a virtual tour of various New York City neighborhoods, spotlighting standout local businesses perfect for holiday gifts.

1. The Bronx: Cherrini Coffee and Gifts

[02:52] Alison Stewart:
“Cherrini Coffee and Gifts on Arthur Avenue specializes in coffee-related items and unique Italian imports.”

• Products Highlighted:
  • Moka pots
  • Roasted coffee beans
  • Imported Italian groceries
  • Pocket Coffee: “Little chocolates with a shot of espresso inside—perfect for hostess gifts.” [03:33]

Atmosphere:
“A fun shop with beautiful porcelain and an authentic Italian experience.” [03:02]

2. Astoria: Newtown HQ

[04:54] Alison Stewart:
“Newtown HQ is ideal for pop culture gifts, especially for teens, offering games, toys, and local artist stationery.”

• Featured Items:
  • Blind boxes (originally a Japanese concept)
  • Handmade home goods from local artists
  • Unique stickers

Owner Insight:
Cindy, the Mexican owner, emphasizes showcasing Mexican artists’ work. [05:37]

3. Inglewood, New Jersey: Ariel’s Gallery

[06:17] Alison Stewart:
“Ariel's Gallery offers handcrafted silver jewelry, hand-blown glass vases, and custom framing services.”

• Special Mention:
  “They framed a doorknob from a house in Ireland—a perfect way to create memorable gifts.” [06:36]

4. Brooklyn: Amano Brooklyn

[07:35] Alison Stewart:
“Amano Brooklyn is a gift and home decor shop adjacent to Brooklyn Clay Ceramic Studio, featuring local artists’ work, candles, cards, and pastries from Balthazar Bakery.”

5. Manhattan: Various Local Gems

• Spitfire Cheese Shop:
  “A cozy cheese shop on 8th Ave and West 55th with a great selection and knowledgeable staff.” [16:29]

• Grand Bazaar Market:
  “Located on Columbia Avenue, offering vintage clothes, specialty products, and unique fragrances from around the world.” [16:38]

6. Greenpoint, Brooklyn: Brooklyn Craft Company

[09:49] Caroline Weaver:
“A modern craft supply store that goes beyond traditional supplies, perfect for both crafters and gift seekers.”

• Highlights:
  • Unique embroidery scissors
  • DIY craft kits
  • Bright, welcoming atmosphere with knowledgeable staff

7. Park Slope: Rider Gift

[17:50] Caroline Weaver:
“A curated gift shop with handmade items and niche neighborhood merchandise, avoiding overwhelming selections.”

Interactive Call-In Segments

Throughout the episode, Alison and Caroline engage with listeners who call in to promote their small businesses. These segments provide diverse insights into various local enterprises:

• Maria from Inglewood, NJ:
  “Ariel's Gallery offers handcrafted silver jewelry and custom framing.” [06:17]

• Catherine from Brooklyn:
  “Amano Brooklyn features local artists' work and a cozy cafe with pastries and coffee.” [07:35]

• David from Manhattan:
  “Community Wine and Spirits in West Chelsea offers an extensive selection of wines, spirits, and custom class offerings.” [08:17]

• Monica from Brooklyn:
  “Mo Neimans is a kids' brand offering organic onesies, blankets, and animated music videos.” [12:03]

• Ari from Ridgewood:
  “Body Who Studios provides unique fitness classes like aerial hammock and circus sideshow performances.” [12:55]

• Jasmine from Staten Island:
  “Lauren Beauty is a one-stop shop for all beauty needs on Staten Island.” [13:42]

• Rachel from Greenpoint:
  “Press Modern Massage offers premium massage services across multiple NYC locations.” [14:15]

Each caller succinctly presents their business, often including what makes their offerings unique, thereby enriching the episode’s tapestry of local commerce.

Special Segments and Highlights

Crowd-Sourced Recommendations

Listeners are encouraged to share their favorite local shops via calls or texts, which Caroline confirms are being added to a searchable database at wnyci.org/slapshoplisteners. [08:28]

Unique Gift Ideas

Caroline emphasizes the trend towards experiential gifts over material items, noting:

[29:14] Caroline Weaver:
“Experiences are a trending gift choice because they’re consumable and create lasting memories.”

Self-Gifting and Practical Gifts

Alison shares her personal experience of shopping for Christmas card supplies at City Papery, highlighting the practicality and necessity of certain local businesses during the holiday season. [29:40]

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode winds down, Alison and Caroline reflect on the diverse range of local businesses showcased, reinforcing the importance of supporting small enterprises during the holidays. Caroline Weaver discusses the challenges of compiling "The Locavore Guide 2025," detailing her extensive cataloging process from her database of 14,000 shops.

[25:31] Caroline Weaver:
“Pillowcat Books in the East Village specializes in animal-themed and vintage books, offering unique finds like a 90s Miss Piggy Cookbook with celebrity recipes.”

The episode concludes with heartfelt thanks to Caroline and the participating small business owners, leaving listeners inspired to explore and support their local communities this holiday season.

Notable Quotes

• Caroline Weaver:
  “Instant coffee is not the same as it used to be.” [04:27]

• Alison Stewart:
  “If someone knows, give us a call.” [16:29]

• Caroline Weaver:
  “The Companion for and curator of the myriad culture this city has to offer.” (Paraphrased from podcast description)

• Caroline Weaver:
  “The varied perspectives and diversity of experience is what makes New York City great.” [System Description]

Key Takeaways

• Support Local: Emphasizing the economic and cultural benefits of shopping locally, especially during the holiday season.

• Unique Gifts: Highlighting the availability of unique, high-quality gifts that reflect the diverse culture of New York City.

• Community Engagement: Encouraging listeners to engage with their communities by discovering and supporting small businesses.

• Experiential Gifting: Promoting experiences as meaningful and memorable gift options over traditional material items.

Final Remarks

"All Of It" successfully weaves together personal insights, business highlights, and listener interactions to provide a rich and engaging guide for holiday shoppers aiming to support local businesses. By featuring a broad spectrum of shops across various neighborhoods, the episode not only promotes economic support but also celebrates the cultural diversity that defines New York City.

Transcript

[Alison Stewart]

Listener supported WNYC Studios.

[Caroline Weaver]

This is all of it. I'm Alison Stewart live from the WNYC studios in soho. Thank you for spending part of your day with us. I'm really grateful you are here. On today's show, we'll speak with rapper and producer Lyrics Born, whose latest and possibly final album is titled Goodbye Sticky Rice. He joins us for a listening party. We'll also talk about the 25 most influential cookbooks with Kurt Solar. He's the editor at large of Tea, the New York Times style magazine. And Gloria Adam is here to talk about her new memoir. It's titled Gather Me A Memoir in Praise of the Books that Saved Me. That's the plan. So let's get this started with shopping locally. Cyber Monday. Who said Cyber Monday? Now that Christmas and Hanukkah are just three weeks away, we are suggesting that you forego your desire to hit click on the websites of some big name stores and do a little local shopping. Or if you can't get out, maybe you can buy online from a local vendor and get it in the mail. Joining us now with a few suggestions is Caroline Weaver. She is the founder of the look of War Guide. It's a book and website dedicated to local stores and how we can use, quote, our regular errand as a reason to get out and engage with your surroundings and visit neighborhoods you've yet to explore. Caroline, welcome to the studio.

I'm thrilled to be here.

So listeners, where did you shop this weekend? Are you a shop owner? You can give us the elevator pitch for your store. And honestly, did you buy something for yourself this weekend? We want to hear about all of it. 2124-3396-9221-2433-WNYC. You can call in or you can text to us at that number. 212-433-962-2433. WNYC. Where did you shop locally this weekend? Okay, that line I took from your website of thelokavore.com when you started the locavore. When did you start it? How did you hope people would use it?

I started it because it just with the way that sponsored ads work on Google, it's getting harder and harder to find actually local shops. You end up on the eighth page of Google or you're used to people on TikTok shouting recommendations at you. And so I just wanted to create a resource that was unbiased, that was an easy way for New Yorkers to find actually local shops.

Such a great website, by the way. All Right, let's dive into your list. We're going to go start in the Bronx. I don't know if this is cerni or cerne. It's coffee and gifts. How do you pronounce it?

I took beginners Italian. I believe it's pronounced Cerrini.

Cerini. All right, Cherrini Coffee and gifts. What is cherrini? What kind of atmosphere is it like inside?

Oh, it is a really fun shop on Arthur Avenue and they specialize in coffee things. So you can go there to get a really beautiful moka pot. You can get roasted coffee beans. You can get a variety of really hard to find imported Italian grocery items and gifts. They have beautiful porcelain. What I go there for is Pocket Coffee, which is Pocket Coffee. Pocket Coffee is a Ferrero product that is an Italian. Italian product. So it's difficult to get here. And it is. They come in little boxes. It's a great host gift. They are little chocolates that have a third of a shot of espresso in them.

[Alison Stewart]

Woo.

[Caroline Weaver]

Like that already.

They're so much fun to pass around after dinner. And this is one of the only places in the city that sells them.

It's interesting. A Yelp reviewer usually Yelp is like, I'm mad at. But it was five stars across and it said when you're looking for an espresso machine, quality Italian coffee, authentic imported specialty products, or just an immersion experience, Czerny is worth a visit. So what kind of gift can I get for someone who's just really into coffee?

Well, you could go there and get a little set of espresso cups. You could get a specific type of. You could get little spoons, something that they sell there that I like to buy. They have these little. You see them in Italian grocery stores in Italy, but these little kits that have a tiny, tiny nutmeg grater and a nutmeg.

Ooh, that sounds really good. I bet they also have good instant coffee. I know people don't call it instant coffee, but it really has come far when you think about it.

Oh, yeah, it really has. Instant coffee is not the same as it used to be.

All right, the cherini Coffee at 2334 Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. All right, we're gonna head to Astoria New Town hq. You said it's good for pop culture gifts, especially great for teens. What would I find here that's sort of on the budget? So you have a budget, you have to stick to it. And what's something I could find here that I don't have a budget? I Could just spend as much as I want.

So. Newtown HQ is so much fun. It is full of games and toys and stickers and stationery by local artists. Cindy who owns it, is Mexican, so she makes a point of selling the goods of other Mexican artists. And the thing that a lot of people go here for though are blind boxes.

I heard this. What is a blind box?

Okay, so a blind box is. I believe it's originally a Japanese thing. Sunny angel is the most popular one, but they are toys that are themed and they come in little boxes and it's a surprise which one you're gonna get. So you choose the type and the series and then you open it up and it's a surprise. And they're usually around $10. And it's just for younger people especially just a really silly and fun and easy gift.

Oh, that's great. For 10 bucks. What if I have a little bit of more to. What do you think?

Oh, well, you know what? I don't even know what she sells at her highest end. There are some really cool artists made homegoods there. Yeah. So you can hit a lot of age groups as well. Great stickers as well.

We got some text that says, hello, I am a New York based clothing designer made and designed in New York City. We also sell local soap makers. It's called Nomia N O M I A and it's at 650 Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. Thanks for making the call. Shopping local tips. Look for schools, Hosting Makers Markets. PS122, Mamie Fay Elementary School in Astoria, Queens has won this Sunday. Let's take a couple calls. Maria is calling in from Inglewood, New Jersey. Hi, Maria.

[Alison Stewart]

Hey, good afternoon. How are you today?

[Caroline Weaver]

We're doing well. What are you going to recommend?

[Alison Stewart]

Ariel's gallery is on 20 North Dean street in Englewood, New Jersey. They've been there for over 20 years serving the community. He has handcrafted silver jewelry, very moderately priced jewelry as well. Hand blown glass, glass vases. We have one that's over four feet tall and he does custom framing.

[Caroline Weaver]

So if you want to create a.

[Alison Stewart]

Memory, he can frame anything. We did a doorknob of a woman brought back from her house in Ireland and she reframed the doorknob. I mean we could frame anything. It's so fun there.

[Caroline Weaver]

And that's Ariel's gallery in Inglewood, right?

[Alison Stewart]

Yep, yep. 20 North Dean Street. You want the phone number?

[Caroline Weaver]

No, people can find it.

[Alison Stewart]

Okay, thank you very much. Have a fantastic holiday season, everyone.

[Caroline Weaver]

Okay, bye. Bye. Bye. Let's talk To Katherine from Brooklyn. Hi, Catherine.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi, Allison. How are you?

[Caroline Weaver]

I'm doing okay.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm calling to tell you about Amano Brooklyn. It's a gift and home decor shop. We carry a lot of work by local artists. I'm right next to Brooklyn Clay Ceramic Studio and so I get a lot of artists whose work I sell in there. We have lots of candles, cards, gifts, and we have a little cafe where we sell Irving Farm coffee and Balthazar Bakery pastries and Colson pastries.

[Caroline Weaver]

Great. Thanks for the shout out. Let's talk to David who is calling from Manhattan. Hi, David. Thanks for calling, all of it.

[Alison Stewart]

Hey there. I just want to say I just got done listening to Brian and you and Brian have to be two of the world's greatest treasures. I love the show. I own a wine spirit store in West Chelsea on at 140 10th Avenue between 18th and 19th. We opened about a year ago. We have lots of different kinds of champagnes, wines, spirits, imported glassware from Italy, both handmade for cocktails and wine glasses. We have wine books, we have subscriptions, we have classes. So lots of gifting options at our store.

[Caroline Weaver]

Love it. Thank you. So what's it called, by the way, the name?

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks. It's Community Wine and Spirits and you can find us at 10th Avenue between 18th and 19th or on the web@communitywine spirits.com.

[Caroline Weaver]

Love that. Thank you so much.

Can I interrupt for a second? Fabulous store. And also, can I confess something? I intended to include it in this edition of my guidebook and I forgot. So I promise you, I love your website though. Thank you. I promise you your store will be in the 2026 edition. It is high on my list.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, that's awesome. Excellent. Thank you so much. I appreciate you.

[Caroline Weaver]

Thanks, David. We really appreciate it, everybody. Our colleague Brian Lair invites listeners to call in and share their small businesses. We add them to our map as a searchable database. You can find it at wn nyc.org slap shop listeners. You can add your small business there as well. Brian's gonna be talking about this on his show tomorrow, so be sure to tune in. We'll make sure he gets some of these suggestions that are people are sending our way. My guest is Caroline Weaver, the founder of the look of War guide. We're talking about local shops, a way to keep your dollars inside New York City. Where did you shop this weekend? Maybe you're a shop owner. Give us the elevator pitch for your store. Honestly, we want to know what did you buy yourself over the weekend. Give us a call. 212-43396. Okay, we're going to get back to your list. We're going to go to Greenpoint, Brooklyn Craft Company at 165 Greenpoint. A very modern craft supply shop. When you say modern craft supply, what do you mean?

Well, this isn't the type of craft supply store that we probably all visited with our grandmothers. There are no doilies. There are no little, I don't, yeah, I don't know.

Cutesy stuff.

Cutesy stuff that nobody actually wants. It's a really cool craft shop and I feel like most people know somebody who's really crafty. It's the kind of place to go if you want a gift for a crafty person, but you yourself are not a crafter. You can go there. You can buy a really cool kit. You could purchase a class for them to go to. They host a lot of classes. You could find a really wonderful little pair of embroidery scissors. There are all sorts of things there for people who craft and people who don't.

I thought it was interesting that they show you a class on how to make a tote bag. We here at Public Radio appreciate the tote bag. What's the vibe inside?

It's a very bright and colorful shop and it's very welcoming. The people who work there are so knowledgeable. It's the, it's the opposite of like going to Michael's or Hobby lobby with your, with your mother.

All right, that is Brooklyn Craft Company in Greenpoint. Here we're going to look at 20 sided store in Williamsburg, 280 Grand Sit Grand Street. It's a store that sells games. What kind of games?

Well, they sell tabletop games, they sell board games, but they especially sell card games. And you can go there to buy really cool dice for Dungeons and Dragons, which people are always into. You can buy all of the packs of Magic, the Gathering cards, but you can also get card games for kids. You can get after dinner card games. You can get like icebreaker card set. They have a lot of cards by indie game makers. It's not just the big brands. They have hundreds and hundreds of types of cards. You can get tarot cards. It's a one stop shop for cards.

One of them games cracked me up. It says monikers is a dumb party game that respects your intelligence.

That sounds fun. I would play that.

Exactly. Let's talk to Monica from Brooklyn. Hi, Monica.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi.

[Caroline Weaver]

Hi. Tell us about what's going on.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi, my name is Monica Escobar Allen. I founded the Mo Neimans, which is A kids brand based on my meeting doodles from my full time job.

[Caroline Weaver]

So your meeting doodles you made into a side hustle is what you're telling me?

[Alison Stewart]

Yes. Yes. And then eventually my boss was like, you should do something with that. So I quit and I now freelance to keep the bills paid. But hustle with my little project.

[Caroline Weaver]

We love it. What's the name of it?

[Alison Stewart]

The mo Meemans. M o m e m a n S Monica. It comes from my name. Yeah. And we sell organic baby onesies and blankets and I've even written some songs that I have a couple albums on Spotify and all the streaming platforms. And I animated some music videos on YouTube.

[Caroline Weaver]

Wow, you sound really busy. We appreciate you sharing it. Thanks so much. Let's talk to Ari, who's calling in from Ridgewood. Hi, Ari.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi. How are you today?

[Caroline Weaver]

Doing well.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, my wife and I run body who studios. It's b o d y h o o and we are circus sideshow performers. So we teach from a different point of view. We have pilates machine classes, yoga flows and aerial hammock classes. And we feel like movements of celebration. So diverse people of all kinds are welcome and we have a great community. We have classes, we have workshops, but we offer a party. You can book a party to do. Try aerial hammock with your friends, have some champagne afterwards. And we are right off the l stop in Ridgewood, New York.

[Caroline Weaver]

Thank you, Ari. Let's talk to Sylvia from Manhattan. Hi, Sylvia, I'm on the radio.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi.

[Caroline Weaver]

Hi, Sylvia.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi. So I'm on the phone with my daughter Jasmine. We have a small family owned business on staten island and Jasmine is in charge. So Jasmine, take it away. Hi.

[Caroline Weaver]

Okay, Jasmine, give me your elevator pitch.

[Alison Stewart]

My elevator pitch? You caught me off guard, mom.

[Caroline Weaver]

For Lauren beauty.

[Alison Stewart]

Okay? It's your one stop shop for all your beauty needs.

[Caroline Weaver]

There you go. Thanks. That's on staten island, by the way. Rachel from Greenpoint. Hi, Rachel.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi. My name is Rachel beider and I own Press modern massage, which is a local chain with locations in union square, Columbus circle, Williamsburg and greenpoint. And it is the best muscle melting massage you will get in New York city.

[Caroline Weaver]

That's an elevator pitch if I've heard one. Thanks so much for calling, Rachel. My guest is Caroline Weaver, the founder of the locavore website and the guide. We're talking about ways to keep your money locked local this holiday season. She's put together this great list for us. All right, let's go to crown heights. Oh, boy. This is another one for me, Marche Rudy.

That's correct. You nailed it.

So first of all, tell us about the owners of this shop.

Oh, so the owners of this shop are from Senegal and it's. It's going to. This place is like going on a little mini vacation. It is so fun. You can go there and buy your gifts and also have a delicious lunch. You can get a facial, you can get your nails done. It is a truly a one stop shop. And they sell tons of beautiful clothing by independent designers, a lot of home goods, clothing, skincare products imported from Senegal. They also make their own line of beauty products with black beauty in mind, but also for everybody. They have amazing skincare products and their own line of nail polishes. You can find something for everybody there and you'll be sure that you won't be able to find it anyplace else. It's very special.

Mercado Central in Carroll Gardens. Their slug line is. Our products come from the heart of Spain, not just from a particular region, but from a collective passion for food. What kind of food can we find there?

Well, first of all, they boast that they have the largest selection of tinned fish in New York City, which I believe to be true. They have so many tinned fishes, but they also do amazing gift baskets. If you want to do a gift basket that's more interesting than like Harry and David, go to Mercado Central. They'll hook you up with something really, really special with stuff that you actually want to eat. Or amazing olive oil. I think that's a really cool host gift. Tie a really beautiful ribbon around a fancy bottle of olive oil and bring that instead of wine.

I was going to say a certain celebrity who puts out a list every year spied their. I think they're potatoes. Potatoes fritas. We won't say who it is, but in case you don't want to get that because I'm sure they're selling out. What else? You can get olive oil. What else?

Olive oil. You can get tinned fish. You can get ham. You can get charcuterie things. You can get cheese. You can get. Yeah. All sorts of jarred things.

[Alison Stewart]

It's.

[Caroline Weaver]

Yeah.

All right, let's get to some text. Yes, it is possible to show shop local in midtown Manhattan, a lovely new cheese shop called Spitfire opened recently on the corner of 8th Ave and West 55th. Great selection of delicious cheeses and wonderful advice from knowledgeable proprietors. They also sell delicious sandwiches and coffee drinks in a comfortable, comfortable, bright, welcoming atmosphere. We also have Grand Bazaar Market, Columbia Avenue, Columbus avenue in West 77th. Vendors of vintage clothes, specialty products, purses, jewelry. One really great artist called Barlow are there. This says, I have a friend who insists that eating at McDonald's is shopping local because the franchise owner lives in his town. Is he correct? I don't know. If someone knows, give us a call. Here's another wine store just moved to the upper east side. Love my new neighborhood wine store. McCabe's expert staff. Real community place. Love the weekend tastings. Third and corner of 77, Midtown Manhattan is a gem for unique fragrances. Scent, elate incense from around the world, some as cheap as eight bucks. Essential oils, perfumes, crystals and stones, candles, bracelets and more. Even just walking in is a sensory experience. At 313 West 40A street, we are getting some great suggestions. My guest is Carolyn Weaver, the founder of the locavore. Let's. We'll get more calls on the line. Let's keep going with your list rider gift. You know that this gift store has a sharp curatorial eye. How would you describe their sensibility?

So it is a gift shop that is not overwhelming. You don't walk in and feel like there are 1000 things to look at. The owner, Alma, does a really amazing job of choosing local brands to sell and also just really beautiful handmade things. They're wonderful little gifts for kids that are like the kind of stuff that aren't going to annoy the parents of the kids you're giving them to. Nothing plastic, nothing that makes noises, nothing obnoxious. Just really, really beautiful stuff that you know you're getting a good price. You know, it's probably made locally and you just don't have to think very hard about it, which is what I like about it.

I understand they have three different locations. Is that the case?

They have two. They have two in different areas of Park Slope. One of them is relatively recently opened. And they also sell really cool, like very niche neighborhood merch, which is a new thing that a lot of gift shops are doing. They'll like make beautifully designed merch for their neighborhood.

All right, we're going to go to Staten Island Everything goes bookstore at 17 Brook street, it says on its website a well organized treasure trove of unique, affordable, mostly used merchandise. What can I get there?

Well, everything goes is the only independent bookstore on Staten island and it is a whole lot of fun. They host events, they have a cafe, and they have a really eclectic selection of secondhand books and records. It's a really fun place to go if you just kind of are buying for somebody who loves books and you don't really know what you're looking for.

All right, let's take some more calls. Sonali in the West Village. Hi, Sonali. I hope I'm pronouncing your name right.

[Alison Stewart]

Yes, you are. Hi, my name is Sonali. I'm the founder and CEO of Smally, a hand painted silk hair accessories brand where all of our pieces, from scrunchies to hair headbands, are designed as one of a kind art pieces. We're each. Each piece is hand painted with designs inspired by impressionist art. And Swally is spelt S O I E L I. And you can find all of our pieces [e-mail] or on our Instagram.

[Caroline Weaver]

Love it. Thanks so much for calling in. Let's talk to Calvin and Canarsie. Hi, Calvin. Thanks for calling all of it.

[Alison Stewart]

Hey, what's up? How's everything?

[Caroline Weaver]

We're doing great.

How about you?

How are you?

[Alison Stewart]

I'm doing unbelievable.

[Caroline Weaver]

Excellent. Tell me about your business.

[Alison Stewart]

My name is Calvin Senator. I'm the executive chef and owner of Caribbean restaurant Trinity Jam bk. My wife is Jamaican. I'm Trinidadian. We serve up some of the best home cooked food Caribbean style that you could find. Fresh made daily. So you guys can come out and visit us.

[Caroline Weaver]

Love it. Talk to Dean. Hi, Dean.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi, my name is Dean Senja. I'm down in Point Pleasant beach, so a little bit out of the way from a lot of what you're covering.

[Caroline Weaver]

That's okay.

[Alison Stewart]

But a listener. First time caller. I have a store called Globetrotter. It's a retail store, but I actually address it as a piece of conceptual artwork and an art installation. And I've been backpacking around the world for the last 45 years. We practice a form of business called fair trade cottage industry. We don't do factory work. We work directly with the people. It's old world materials and all indigenous native handicraft. I also do antiques and we have pottery, jewelry, furniture, sculpture, giftware from around the world. And like I said, it is a retail store, but it's really an art installation and it's something to be experienced in a lot of ways. We don't really have an online presence in any way.

[Caroline Weaver]

What's it called again?

[Alison Stewart]

And it's a labor of love.

[Caroline Weaver]

What's it called, Dean?

[Alison Stewart]

It's called Globetrotter and we were covered a couple years ago in Jersey's best magazine. And if you put in Globetrotter, retail store shatters retail store, Jersey Shore retail norms. I'm actually really nervous. I've never been on the phone.

[Caroline Weaver]

It's all good for radio. It's all good. Dean, thank you so much for calling in. We appreciate it. Let's go to Edge in Brooklyn. Hi Edge.

[Alison Stewart]

Hey. I am the owner operator of Edgeworth Customs. We've been open for a year and a half roughly. We are a PEV repair shop doing e scooters and e bikes. We are, we are up to code with the fbny. We also sell. Everything we sell is UL certified so they're all safe. We also are a custom shop so we have like very unique, one of a kind things that I make in the shop myself.

[Caroline Weaver]

Love, love it. Thanks so much. We are talking ways you can shop locally with Caroline Weaver. We'll have more with Caroline and we'll take more of your calls after a quick break. This is WNYC Studios is supported by GiveWell. When you make a big purchase, say a car or a new mattress, how do you make sure that you're making the right choice? GiveWell provides an independent resource for a different kind of purchase. A donation. Over 100,000 donors have used GiveWell to donate. First time using GiveWell. When you go to givewell.org and pick podcast and enter WNYC at checkout, you can have your donation matched up to $100 before the end of the year or as long as matching funds last.

[Alison Stewart]

Don't you love it when you find a new podcast you really like? Well, let me recommend one. It's called Something youg Should Know. I'm Mike Carruthers, the host and in every episode you'll hear fascinating information that will make your life better from top experts. Recently we've done episodes on why you have the personality you do, the science of luck and the psychology of a restaurant menu you're going to like. Something you should know. We have literally thousands of five star reviews. Look for something you should know wherever you get your podcasts.

[Caroline Weaver]

All of It. This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. My guest in studio is Caroline Weaver, the founder of the Locavore Guide. She's also the founder of this book, The Locavore Guide 2025. Before we go any, I have to ask you, putting this together must have been quite a challenge. How did you start? Where do you start with a book like this?

Well, I started with my personal favorites and with my own database when I walk around New York City to catalog its shops, I have 14,000 shops in my online database and I flag the Ones that I find the most interesting as I go. And so I had something to start with and I tried to fill as many categories as possible. There's some pretty niche things in here.

But what's an example of a niche thing?

Well, there's a really amazing snow sports shop in South Brooklyn. It's the only one in the section. Many people probably know this, but there's a typewriter shop, there's a trophy shop in here. There are all sorts of shops.

All right, well, let's get back to your list. We've got pillowcat books in the East Village. And I have to admit I went on this website and I bought something for someone. Tell us a little bit about Pillow Cat books.

It is a wonderful, cozy, tiny little shop that specializes in animal themed books. And it's not just like Peter Rabbit or like Pete the Cat or books that are for kids. It's also really esoteric, really niche vintage books. There are a lot of vintage, like Japanese books. There are a lot of vintage Snoopy. There's. They almost always have copies of the Muppets Take Manhattan, like the old vintage one. I bought a Miss Piggy Cookbook, a celebrity Miss Piggy Cookbook from the 90s recently where there is a Toni Morrison rice recipe.

Oh my gosh in it.

It is amazing. And it was $25. It's a really, really special little shop.

Okay, say that one more time. A Miss Piggy cookbook.

Yes, it is a Miss Piggy cookbook from the 90s that is recipes of other celebrities.

Oh, my goodness. I did not expect to hear that today. Let's talk to Andrew in Brooklyn. Hi, Andrew.

[Alison Stewart]

How to do, how to do Andrew? I'm Hop Along Andrew. Howdy do all. I'm Hop Along Andrew and I play cowboy music for urban cowpokes of all ages. And so it's a live show thing. But I've made this wonderful coloring book and of course a CD&T shirts and all that which are available at shows and on my Etsy store.

[Caroline Weaver]

All right, do you want to give us your website?

[Alison Stewart]

Sure. It's at Hop Along Andrew and Hop Along Andrew on the web. And I perform all over, mostly Manhattan and Brooklyn.

[Caroline Weaver]

Andrew, thank you very much for calling in. Let's talk to Alice in the East Village. Hi, Alice.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi. Hi. Wait, I'm just trying to get my phone off speaker. Sorry. Yeah, so I calling because there's something called the Brooklyn Cat Cafe. I think it's in Brooklyn Heights. It's easy to look up. I didn't have time to look it up before I got on it has something called kitten parties. So you pay them a certain amount of money per person and you hang out with kittens for half an hour and it's just unbelievably fun. They have all sorts of things there. They have movie night with cats. That's all sorts, you know, not just that, but the kitten parties are definitely the elevator pitch. Go there for a kitten party, take somebody as a surprise who loves kittens, and it's just so much fun.

[Caroline Weaver]

Excellent. Thank you for calling in, listeners. We want to know where you shop this weekend. Locally, are you a shop owner? Give us the elevator pitch for your store. And honestly, did you buy yourself something that you wanted this weekend? We want to hear from you. 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC you in and join us on air or you can send us a text. My guest is Carolyn Weaver, the founder of the locavore guide. All right, what else on your list? We have Laura Lombardi on the lower east side. What does she make?

Laura Lombardi is a jewelry designer and she makes everything on the premises in her shop. And what I like about this brand is that it's really cool jewelry. You can get it for like a teenager. You could get it for a fashion girl. You could get it for somebody who's really in the know about fashion. But it's timeless enough that you'll keep wearing it and it's a good price point. Most of the things sold there are around 100, 120, 130 dollars. And they do replating, which is really great because you can buy something, it tarnishes and then you can just go back and get it replated.

What's interesting listening to our callers is a lot of people were calling in suggesting experiences for people. Do you find that that seems to be a new thing? Not new thing, but a trending thing.

It is definitely a trending thing because I think these days especially people are so aware of the amount of stuff that they have. And it's a much safer bet to give somebody something that is consum or something that is an experience. And especially in New York City, you can learn to do anything. Here you can find any experience. And so it's a really great, really creative gift option.

All right, what did you, did you buy something for yourself? Self gifting? Did that happen for you this weekend? It happened for me.

Oh, I don't know that I did any self gifting, but I did go to get the things I need for my Christmas cards, which I do it at City Papery on 18th Street. You can get your cards printed there. You can buy your envelopes, you can buy all your gift wrapping things, or you can buy the pens you need to address the envelopes. It's the only place I know left in Manhattan, at least where you can do all of that in one place.

One place. You know, I love to needlepoint, and my favorite is bad bitch needlepoint. And she had this. I can't say it, but it's gorgeous. And I bought it. It says bleep it. Let's go to Martha's Vineyard.

Oh, that's good.

My sister and my niece live there. So I sent it to everybody and they said buy it. So I did. My guest has been Caroline Weaver, the founder of the locavore guide. Thanks to everybody who called in with their suggestions. And Caroline, thank you so much for joining us as well.

Thank you for having me.

I'm Ira Flato, host of Science Friday. For over 30 years, our team has been reporting high quality news about science, technology and medicine and news you won't get anywhere else. And now that political news is 24 7, our audience is turning to us to know about the really important stuff in their lives. Cancer, climate change, genetic engineering, childhood diseases. Our sponsors know the value of science and health news. For more sponsorship information, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.