Alison Stewart (3:26)

So you have the update to the book and you have your Instagram and your TikTok page, and it helps you really kind of keep on top of everything. Explain that a little bit. What we will see if we go.

Host/Interviewer (3:35)

To your Instagram page.

Caroline Weaver (3:36)

Yeah. So I make a lot of content to help New Yorkers find shops more easily. I go on missions to find specific things. I cover really niche categories of shops to demonstrate that shopping local is a really engaging and fun and it's a lifestyle, and it's not as hard as people think it is.

Alison Stewart (3:54)

One of the things that your book has got a whole bunch of stuff.

Host/Interviewer (3:57)

In the beginning, and we're talking about.

Alison Stewart (3:58)

A little bit each week. But in the book, you notice trends and you notice two trends.

Host/Interviewer (4:02)

From 2025, you wrote everything is vintage.

Alison Stewart (4:07)

Did you see an increase in vintage stores?

Caroline Weaver (4:10)

Vintage stores are by far the fastest growing category in our database. My online database is unbiased and houses 14,000 shop listings. And so we're constantly tracking what's opening in New York City. And vintage stores are still booming. There are so many new vintage stores opening.

Host/Interviewer (4:25)

Is it cloth? Is it furniture?

Alison Stewart (4:27)

Is it both?

Caroline Weaver (4:29)

It's mostly clothing, though. We're seeing more and more that sell objects in home goods as well, which I think is really interesting.

Host/Interviewer (4:36)

The second trend you noticed is called back to basics. That sort of shopping in real life is a real thing.

Caroline Weaver (4:44)

Yeah, shopping in real life is a real thing. And a lot of shops are going analog with the way that they are communicating what they sell. They're doing physical catalogs. They are using analog media. It's a really cool trend. There's a shop on Atlantic Avenue called Outline who kind of start, in my opinion, kind of started this trend. They took all of their clothing off their website. They have no E comm, and they started making the most beautiful catalog instead.

Host/Interviewer (5:09)

Oh, that's exciting. All right. There are a couple of rules in the book. This one says, put your phone away when you walk into a store. Why?

Caroline Weaver (5:20)

Ooh. If you ask anybody who has ever been a cashier in a store recently, this is their number one complaint. When people are actively on the phone while checking out, facing an actual person. I think it's a Respect thing. Show them a little bit, a little bit of respect. Say hello, do your transaction efficiently, and then take your phone call when you go outside.

Host/Interviewer (5:38)

And the other thing you mentioned about the phone is ask before you video. Why is that an important thing to do?

Caroline Weaver (5:46)

I think that the fact that we are making videos online all the time now has kind of made us think that everything is public and that it is. You can treat anything as the public, which is absolutely not true. When you're in somebody's store, you're in their space and they might have something special that they don't want everybody to know about. They might not feel comfortable on on camera themselves. And it's, it's just most shops will say yes, they're happy to have you video. But I just think it's good, it's good etiquette to ask first.

Host/Interviewer (6:14)

My guest is Caroline Weaver, the author of the look for Guide to shopping nyc. She's our ride along for our series go local a guide to keeping your money in your community this holiday season. Today we're talking about Staten island listeners. We want you to call in. Do you have a store you want to shout out on Staten Island? A place where you can go to get a gift or something special? As we wait for more calls to get in, let's get into your list. We're going to Steph's Creativity corner. It's at 7305Amboy Ave. And it's run by Steph Coco. It really seems like it's a special place to pick up something for kids.

Caroline Weaver (6:52)

Yeah, it really is. And it's really the only independent toy store on Staten Island. And she does really cool personalized gifts too, which is really special. If you're looking for something with a name painted on it, if you're looking for some sort of gift basket that you can't get anywhere, it's a really special shop.

Host/Interviewer (7:09)

What kind of toys are available there?

Caroline Weaver (7:11)

Oh, well, she sells a lot of. A lot of the popular. I think she specializes in shops or in toys for children like under age 12. So it's pretty young stuff. But popular brands, things you might not find elsewhere. A lot of things for a lot of interest.

Host/Interviewer (7:27)

And like you said, a lot of them you can get monogrammed or you can get them made out to your children. Yeah, that sound great. Let's talk to Julia is calling from Staten Island. Hi, Julia, thanks for calling, all of it.

Julia (7:42)

Hi, thank you so much for having me on.

Host/Interviewer (7:45)

What do you want? What business do you want to shout out?

Julia (7:48)

So I Want to shout out? Nothing new Thrift shop. It's on the south shore of Staten island and Arctic Hill Road. I actually worked there on and off for a long time. She changed locations a bunch, but it's an amazing local business. She gets donations from the community, but also she has new products that are amazing gifts like jewelry and keychains and just like really great gift shop type things. And the owner, Jody is just an amazing, incredible community figure and I have nothing but love for that place. She's helped me through a lot of times in my life and also just is a great local business to support.

Host/Interviewer (8:21)

Thank you so much for calling. Let's talk to Leslie calling from Staten Island. Leslie, thanks for calling all of it.

Leslie / Kathy (8:29)

Hi, I am a customer of the Everything Goes Cafe which is just a short walk from the ferry, 10 minutes from the Staten island ferry. And I drink coffee there. They have fair trade coffee, very delicious and different kinds of teaspoons. And I shop for books for my nephews there and have a wonderful time looking at all the books. And.

Host/Interviewer (9:06)

It sounds great.

Leslie / Kathy (9:07)

Yeah. And they have. Yes, it's, it's wonderful. And there are little, little things that they have for gifts also that are.

Host/Interviewer (9:18)

You know what, I'm going to actually dive in here for a second because this is on your list as well, Caroline.

Caroline Weaver (9:23)

It is. I also love the Everything Goes Bookstore cafe. They actually are the only Staten island stockist of my guidebook. So if you want to pick up a copy, you can do that there. It is such a special little store. They have a really eclectic selection of books and it's really community focused. So you can go there and hang around for a couple of hours and talk to people and have a coffee. It's really great. And up the street they have a store that sells clothing and furniture and home things and they have some incredible, incredible vintage there. It's really fun to go pick through.

Alison Stewart (9:53)

If you go to Everything Goes Book Cafe, I was on their website. It looks like it's more of a com, as much of a community hub as it is a bookstore. Would you say that's true?

Caroline Weaver (10:00)

Oh, it really is. And they, they do events there and it's, it's an amazing community of people.

Alison Stewart (10:05)

Our next one on your list, by the way, that is at 208 Bay street and everything goes furniture is at 17 Brook Street. You said there's furniture there. Do they sell clothing too or just.

Caroline Weaver (10:14)

They do clothing, furniture, home goods, all sorts of things. It's a huge store.

Alison Stewart (10:18)

The next one up on your list is holiday beverage at 4569Amboy Avenue. And you write, you can find a good craft beer on Staten Island. This is a good place to find it. Tell us about holiday beverage.

Caroline Weaver (10:30)

Yeah, it's an old school beer distributor and they have a really impressive selection of local brands. They have seasonal things. So if you're having a party and you need to stock up on something that's special or something that's interesting, that's a great place to go.

Host/Interviewer (10:42)

Let's talk to Dean from Staten island. Hi, Dean.

Alison Stewart (10:46)

Thanks for calling, all of it.

Host/Interviewer (10:49)

Hey.

Leslie / Kathy (10:49)

Hello.

Alison Stewart (10:50)

Hello.

Dean (10:50)

I just want to tell you about. I want to remind everyone that one of the hubs of St. George in Staten island, right near the ferry and right near the Enoteca Maria, which was the nonna's movie, is a very important St. George theater. And if people could buy tickets or give people tickets to go see the shows to support this. It's 95 years this year. It's this beautiful mix of baroque, fully restored theater. There's nothing like it. And they donate. They're a nonprofit. They donate all the space to the civic and lots of groups. They do programs for children so you can. Anyone can get something there as for a show or for children's theater interest and have a great experience.

Host/Interviewer (11:41)

Thank you so much for calling in. We've got a whole bunch of texts.

Alison Stewart (11:45)

This one says, give a gift of.

Host/Interviewer (11:46)

A trip to the Chinese scholar garden, a hidden gem on Staten Island. Of course, a ride on the ferry is always a treat.

Caroline Weaver (11:53)

Yes, that garden is amazing. It's in Snug Harbor. You could spend an entire day there.

Host/Interviewer (11:59)

This says snug harbor cultural center in botanical. You can take Staten island ferry and you can take the bus. Also a great opportunity to see the buildings. This one says, hi, Staten Islander here. I wanted to shout out fresh kills Barbershop. It's in west Brighton and I've been taking my son there since he was a child there. They are a great space. Giving incredible cuts then. And they have old arcades in the back for people to play. It's a real sense of community. Shout out to Jackie, who is wonderful with my anxious, talkative child. We are talking about staten island, listeners. Do you have a store you want to shout out on Staten Island? A place where you can get a gift or something special. Food, toys, jewelry. We're asking you to recommend your favorite place this holiday season. Our number is 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc. We're asking where you like to spend your money on Staten Island. 212-433-9692. My guest is Caroline Weaver, the author of the locavore guide to shopping in New York city. We'll go back to your list. You put down gifted, which is at 7,717 Forest Avenue. It's so interesting.

Caroline Weaver (13:12)

On went to their.

Host/Interviewer (13:13)

Their Instagram page and it said, a charming gift for every season. What kind of things will you find at gifted?

Caroline Weaver (13:19)

That's a really good way of putting it because it is a very pretty little gift shop and they really focus on seasonal items. So if you want. If you're. It's great, actually. I would go there for a host gift is what I would recommend. Yeah. Because if you're going to somebody's house for dinner and you want to bring them something pretty to display in their home through the Christmas season, that's the place to do it. They have gorgeous things for setting the table, for decorating your home, and for giving as a host gift. It's a pretty store.

Alison Stewart (13:43)

I looked at it and I thought, I bet this place smells good.

Caroline Weaver (13:46)

Oh, yeah, you know, it smells like fantastic fancy candles.

Alison Stewart (13:48)

I was about to say, what can I get there? That smells good.

Caroline Weaver (13:51)

Yeah. Fancy candles, lovely hand soap.

Alison Stewart (13:54)

It's a good place. Your next stop is the gift shop at historic Richmond town that's at 441 Clark Avenue. Tell a little people about historic Richmond town.

Caroline Weaver (14:07)

So historic Richmond town is this amazing living history village and you can go there and visit all these buildings. There's, I think, more than 20 buildings on the premises and learn about life in the early days of Staten island. And it's really cool because you also can learn about traditional craft. I went there on a mission for a video series I do called Caroline finds it to learn about broom making, about making a natural fiber broom, the, I guess, the historically accurate way. And in their shop, I think this is low key. One of the coolest places I've been to recently. In their shop, they sell all the things that they make on the premises that these people who have these skills make. And so you can get traditional Victorian tinsel, which is made from pieces of tin. It's so cool. You can get these gorgeous brooms. You can get butter stamps. The things. I think that's what they're called, the things that you can make, like decorative butter with. You can get beautiful tin pictures. They have a lot of Christmas ornaments and decorations. It's a really cool place.

Host/Interviewer (15:08)

My favorite thing I saw in there.

Alison Stewart (15:10)

Was the mortality fan.

Host/Interviewer (15:12)

Have you seen this, it's a woman's.

Alison Stewart (15:13)

Fan she's supposed to use, and it says a colonial woman's mortality fan, also known as a moral compass fan, which.

Host/Interviewer (15:20)

Was an 18th century hand fan decorated.

Alison Stewart (15:22)

With moral codes of the times to remind young ladies of proper behavior. Wow.

Caroline Weaver (15:29)

It's hilarious. That's so funny. That is a really, really unique gift.

Alison Stewart (15:33)

Also, I believe Christmas in historic Richmond town.

Host/Interviewer (15:37)

They're having it. It's coming. Happening on December 6th and 7th from 12.

Alison Stewart (15:42)

Also call these places to make sure.

Host/Interviewer (15:45)

They'Re up and running. But their historic Christmas town, His Christmas pageant. That's what I'm trying to say. Christmas pageant is happening on December 6th and 7th. Okay. Yes.

Alison Stewart (15:57)

We have time for two more Hiptronics comics. Am I saying that right?

Caroline Weaver (16:01)

Hypnotronic comics. Yeah.

Host/Interviewer (16:03)

All right, I'll let you say that.

Alison Stewart (16:05)

Tell me a little more about Hypnotronics comics.

Caroline Weaver (16:08)

Yeah. This is one that's actually easy walking distance from the ferry. And it is a really cool old comic book. They have classic comics. They have collectible toys. They have games. If it's. It's a really cool place to go if you have somebody in your life who loves comic books or you just want to explore toys you haven't seen anywhere. Really cool collectibles.

Host/Interviewer (16:26)

We got a Texas says problem baker on Castle on Avenue has the most incredible cookies. We also got a shout out that says shout out to the Staten Island Children's Museum. Wonderful for a gift for grandchildren. Let's talk to Kathy on line one. Hey, Kathy, thanks for calling all of it.

Leslie / Kathy (16:46)

Okay. I'm Kathy. I live in Brooklyn now, but I live most of my adult life on Staten Island. And I think a wonderful store to go to, and it's reasonable. And everything for unique items is everything goes. Yeah, they have, like, vintage clothing. It's on 17 Brook street, and I think that's their main location. They used to have. They have another store that's a bookstore, and they have a third store room that's a.

Host/Interviewer (17:25)

That they're doing, but they're doing well.

Alison Stewart (17:26)

You know, it's so funny.

Host/Interviewer (17:27)

Kathy, we met. That was one of the ones that we mentioned earlier. It's interesting. We've gotten a couple of different mentions of everything. They must really mean a lot to the community.

Caroline Weaver (17:36)

There's nothing quite like it in all of New York City, really. I think for people who don't live in Staten island, it is worth the trip. For the furniture alone. Their prices are incredible. They have so much inventory. It is really a delightful place.

Host/Interviewer (17:48)

All right. This is one that I'm kind of excited to talk about. I know you like them and you've talked about them a lot, but I'm gonna make you talk about them anyway. Frag farm at 227 Main St. Explain to people what Frag Farm is.

Caroline Weaver (18:02)

Okay. Frag Farm is, I think, probably the most specialized specialist on Staten Island. It is a store that specializes in rare coral, which they grow and sell. They ship it all over the place, and it is amazing. I mean, I'm not an aquarium person, so I don't really know the ins and outs of aquarium coral, but they have really, really bizarre specimen there. And when you're in there, it's dark and they're just like, glowing. It is so cool. I made a deck or a product that's Shops of NYC trading cards. And Frag Farm has a trading card. And I think it's my favorite one because they're just like glowing in the photo. It's so cool.

Host/Interviewer (18:39)

Tell them about the trading cards.

Caroline Weaver (18:40)

Oh. In conjunction with the new edition of the guidebook, we photographed 100 shops in all five boroughs and made baseball style trading cards for them. So you buy them in a pack of 10 and you don't know what you're gonna get. And it's classic shops. It's real deep cuts. It's all sorts of shops all over the city.

Host/Interviewer (18:57)

I want to go back to Frag Farm. Do I have to go in there knowing a lot or are these people experts?

Caroline Weaver (19:04)

Oh, no, they are experts. You don't have to know anything. That's the best thing about shopping local is these people in these shops know everything about the thing that they're selling. You don't have to do any research. You just have to ask questions.

Host/Interviewer (19:16)

Are they okay with questions if you go with your own? I mean, you might have the silliest question and might be a little frightened to ask.

Caroline Weaver (19:22)

No, don't be intimidated. People who are experts and who have shops that are open to the public love talking about this stuff. They don't want you to feel intimidated. They want to talk about it with you.

Host/Interviewer (19:32)

All right, this is a hard question. Should I expect to spend a lot of money at Frag Farm?

Caroline Weaver (19:40)

Their prices range depending on how rare the coral is. But no, I mean, I also, to be honest with you, I don't really know what coral is supposed to cost. So in general, with independent retail shops, you can trust that they're charging what they need to charge. Their prices are fair, they're honest. They're not playing the loss leader. Game like big retailers are. And you can typically trust that they are charging fair prices.

Host/Interviewer (20:04)

And one of the things in your book, but you wanted people to know that they're doing a little more specialty, is plum paperies.

Caroline Weaver (20:10)

Yeah. Yeah. It's a really lovely little stationery shop and they do a lot of invitations and custom things. And it's on a stretch along a train track with lots of other little businesses. That's a nice area to go walk around.

Host/Interviewer (20:21)

And Its address is 57 New Dorp Plaza. We finished. We're done with Staten Island. If you want to check out this segment, they should go to our webpage. Later on we'll have transcripts, get all of our listener suggestions and all of Caroline Weaver's suggestions. The Locavore Guide to Shopping NYC thank you for joining us.

Caroline Weaver (20:44)

Thank you for having me.

Host/Interviewer (20:45)

We'll see you next week on the way.

Alison Stewart (20:48)

Bruce Lee was a global star whose legacy had shaped his Asian identity around the world. He's the subject of a new book called Water Mirror Echo. Jeff Chang wrote it. It's our choice for full bio and it's next.

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