Specialty shopping in USA
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Mary Jane’s Emporium
By ‘Mary Jane, ’ they’re not referring to shoes. This is an essential stop for smokers of legal tobacco products, including finer brands of cigarettes not sold at your basic corner store. Also, a variety of apparatus for the smoking of unsanctioned herbal products and such is sold here. All right, it’s basically a head shop.
reviewed
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Victorian Vogue & the Costume Shop
For vintage and drag, from fabulous to outrageous, stop by the wonderful Victorian Vogue & the Costume Shop, which also rents costumes and has fun kids' stuff too.
reviewed
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B
Sideshow: The Old Curiosity Shop
In the tradition of rummage stores of earlier times, this shop aims not just to sell you stuff, but to dazzle you as well. It does so simply by stocking oddities you'd expect to encounter in a sideshow tent (two-headed ducks, skulls of mythological creatures, and other mind-bending items). You can also buy magician's supplies, snazzy decks of risqué playing cards and a bevvy of other guilty pleasures from another age.
It's owned and operated by Elizabeth Anderson, wife of actor Harry Anderson (himself a magician).
reviewed
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C
Whimsic Alley
Muggles love this magical store at 2717½, superbly designed to invoke visions of Diagon Alley, where Harry Potter and friends seem to be waiting just a portkey away. Flip through Hogwarts sweaters and capes at Haber & Dasher, find your wand at Phoenix Wands, or just poke around nooks overflowing with Harry Potter memorabilia and literature on piratology, dragons and wandmaking.
reviewed
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D
Civil War Store
If you're looking for old 'Dix' bills printed by the short-lived Confederacy, then duck into this tiny shop. It's about as big as a walk-in closet, and it will take but a few minutes to assess the wares. The shop also carries a minimal selection of ancient firearms, in case you've been challenged to a duel and don't object to the possibility of a weapons malfunction.
reviewed
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E
Bare Essentials
Pros swear by BE for business attire. It’s heavy on theme wear – lots of cheerleader and schoolgirl outfits. Next door, Bad Attitude Boutique makes custom-made corsets and bustiers, goth fetish wear and burlesque fashions, while neighboring Red Shoes stocks knee-high boots, stripper stilettos and glittery platforms.
reviewed
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F
Andrew Smith Gallery
There are few finer photography galleries in the country. That's right, in the country. Walking through these doors is like walking into a time capsule of the most transcendent and illuminating gelatin-silver and platinum printers who have ever lived. Contemporary photographers are not slighted, though, in favor of dead (er… classical) ones.
reviewed
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G
Dream Dresser
The girls come here for bachelorette gifts, or so they say… This racy exotica boutique has been around long enough to be considered locally legendary, and it has all you'll need in the leather and lace department. There's a bunch of whips plus giant dildos, a selection of strap-ons and other toys for nights behind closed bedroom doors.
reviewed
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H
American Girl Place
Little girls go ga-ga for this make-believe toyland where they can take their plastic friends to lunch or afternoon tea at the café or a revue-style show, get photographed for a mock American Girls magazine cover at the photo studio or give them a makeover in the doll hair salon. Make reservations early for the café and the show.
reviewed
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American Automobile Association Mid-City
Supermarkets, gas stations, tourist offices and convenience stores all sell maps, but the best are those published by the American Automobile Association , which has numerous branches around town, including one in Mid-City. AAA's Central & Western Area map is the single most useful map.
reviewed
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American Cyclery
If you’ve been lusting after a banana-seat Stingray, you might find one here. The oldest indie bike shop in SF, American Cyclery carries contemporary mountain and hybrid bikes as well as the occasional vintage model (the owner’s a collector). Though the shop hosts events and rides, alas, there are no rentals.
reviewed
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K
Babeland
This women-owned store quite literally puts 'babes in Toyland' but don't expect the PG variety. Neatly arranged between candy-colored walls are dildos, handcuffs, strap-ons, vibes and other tools to tickle your fancy – or whatever. All staff are 'sex educators' happy to advise on how to play.
reviewed
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L
Hollywood Book & Poster
Budding screenwriters know this hardscrabble shop is the place to purchase blueprints for future success – hundreds of TV and movie scripts all for sale between $10 and $15. If you bring one they want but don’t have, they’ll barter. Rare movie posters and life-size Elvis cutouts also available.
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M
Shop Therapy
None attract more attention than Shop Therapy. Downstairs it's all patchouli and tie-dye clothing, but everyone gravitates upstairs, where the sex toys are wild enough to make an Amsterdam madam blush. Parents, use discretion: your teenagers will want to go inside.
reviewed
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Flight 001
Get ready for take-off at this stylish store designed to look like an airplane cabin. All the predictables are there – luggage to locks to guidebooks – plus some fun but handy items like pill towels that inflate in water, single soap sheets and cool lomo fish-eye cameras.
reviewed
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O
Ghurka
Take the hassle out of buying luggage with a visit to this specialty store that crafts carry-on and full-sized bags out of high-quality leather and other materials. Most bags also have nifty rollers that pop out of nowhere and other thoughtful additions that make organizing a breeze.
reviewed
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P
Hula Supply Center
For 60 years, Hawaiian musicians and dancers have come here to get their kukui-nut lei, calabash drum gourds, Tahitian-style hula skirts, nose flutes and more. Kapa-print aloha shirts and Hawaiiana CDs, DVDs and books are nifty souvenirs for nondancers.
reviewed
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Q
Livinggreen
'It's not easy being green' opined Kermit, but after a trip to this eco-superstore we beg to differ. From natural-fiber rugs to Tassajara bamboo furniture to nontoxic paints and cleaners by Ed Begley, you'll find everything you need for your eco-lifestyle.
reviewed
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R
Montecristi
The classic Santa Fean hat is a steal at around US$550 but maybe you're more of a Trail Boss, a bad boy/bad girl hat for around US$1200. But you're not really outfitted until you've chosen just the right sterling silver concho hatband (starting at $125).
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S
Best In Show
Your dog would be one proud puppy in that crystal collar and your cat tickled pink by the fuchsia faux-fur kitty couch. Give them George Bush squeak toys to chew or catnip-infused bubbles to chase, and they'll be blissed out like hippies c 1967.
reviewed
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Hatch Show Print
One of the oldest letter-print shops in the US. Using old-school cut-blocks, Hatch began making posters to promote early vaudeville and circus shows. The company has produced graphic ads and posters for almost every country star since.
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Five and Dime
Though some parts of town are rather shabby, downtown is a surprisingly upbeat mix of restored buildings, county offices, restaurants and antique shops, such as the Five and Dime inside an original Woolworth's building.
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Written Word
Pick up something special for the writer in your family here. The store sells beautiful handmade paper sheets, unique journals and greeting cards, along with custom-designed stationery and old-fashioned fountain pens.
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Music Store
The East Village stop for new and secondhand instruments of all tenors and tones. Repairs are done on-site for most instruments, and you can pick up accessories and sheet music.
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Myers Luggage
You'll find everything from currency converters, travel Scrabble games and luggage from affordable replacements to top-end Louis Vuitton bags at this local shopping institution.
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