Our favorite spots to ShopSmall + ShopLocal

Why and where we get the best gifts without going too far from home.

We've been #shoppinglocal and supporting #shopsmall since way before it was a hashtag, so we thought we’d share with you some of our favorite local spots.  

There are so many amazing shops in the area but these are the places we (Robin and Elizabeth) shop for gifts most often with out straying too far from our homes in Irvington and Hastings with a few others scattered around Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

Cheese ornaments at Bloomy Cheese & Provisions in Dobbs Ferry. 📸 fizzlepoppuppets

Dobbs Ferry

Bloomy Dobbs - Jess Galen knows cheese! Located in the former butcher shop. Perfect for cheese but also a great selection of gifts like olive oil, vinegars, pasta, cookbooks, napkins, tea towels and just in: super adorable cheese ornaments!  Bloomy is our number one collaborator for our Cheese Tasting events. Newest shop added to our list, but an old friend.

Picture Book - Pop up in-residence at Hudco, Picture Book is an independent bookstore thoughtfully curated by Dobbs Ferry resident and art world veteran, Sara Davidson Johns. She has a knack for stocking every “It” book you didn’t even know you needed. Super easy and fun to shop for art books, kids books, new fiction, cookbooks, and more.

Rivertown General - Another new go-to spot. Sustainable, equitably-created “I didn’t know I need this” essential goods. They stock homewares, dry goods, and a great selection of non-alcoholic aperitifs (a fave of Elizabeth’s). You’ll find a gift for everyone (including your pet)!

Irvington

Eileen Fisher Lab - Irvington resident Eileen Fisher’s headquarters are right by the waterfront in a beautiful, loft-like space. The Lab always has a sample sale going on, with true one-of-a-kind production samples, up-cycled clothing and repurposed products, such as coasters, bags and tops made from recycled clothing. Perfect gift for mom, sister, aunt, friend or yourself.

Seasons - Yes, the flowers are sensational like its store in NYC. More times than we can remember we’ve also found the ideal set of glasses and picture frame when we needed that last-minute gift. 

The Observatory Shop in Hastings

Hastings 

In2Green - Famous for beautiful sustainable blankets made from refiberized t-shirt fabrics, In2Green has become so much more. Robin’s last purchases there were napkins, earrings and a dog sweater. If she didn’t already own 3 blankets she would buy another. (Also everyone in her family has already been given one as a gift.)

Refill Room - Have you been on one of our tours? If so, you know that each guest receives a hand sanitizer in a GLNY branded bottle. We get our peppermint-scented sanitizer from The Refill Room. Bring in any refillable container and fill it up with soap, shampoo, and other liquids to do your part in reducing plastic packaging waste.

The Observatory Shop - Even if you don’t know what you want, step inside The Observatory Shop and “You’ll think of something” as the wall hanging says (see pic above). Not just a knitting and yarn store, they carry jewelry, scarves and bags. Robin’s last purchase was a learn-how-to-knit box — you pick the yarn and they will curate it with a very easy pattern to make a chunky scarf.

By The Way Bakery - Technically a food shop, but because sweets make the most delicious gifts we can’t not include. And in our opinion, they sell the best classic chocolate cake ever.

Lemon Terrace Florals - The monthly “Lil Cutie”  subscriptions have Elizabeth’s apartment looking bright and joyful. Owner Nik loves creating wild bouquets, using flowers sourced locally whenever possible. Other gift options include candles, bath salts, and ceramics.

The Good Witch Coffee Bar - You can always find Elizabeth here sipping a Lavender London Fog tea and and eating the signature Kimchi cream cheese everything bagel. The latte art is phenomenal. Shopping options include seasonal gifts like ornaments, chocolates, and of course specialty coffees and teas. Owner Joanna also hosts local pop-up vendors and events on weekends with a special emphasis on supporting female makers and causes. 

Transom Bookshop in Tarrytown

Tarrytown

Transom Bookshop - Newcomer bookshop. We can never have enough books, especially bestsellers and page turners, where Robin bought 4 beach reads last summer.

Shaylula - If you are looking for your next favorite scarf, then go to Shaylula. A mix of new and vintage affordable jewelry, purses and accessories. 

Pleasantville

The Village Bookstore - I guess you could say we have a thing for books… Grab a book for your favorite reader before a movie at Jacob Burns Film Center (another fave spot in Pleasantville). 

Chappaqua

Squires - Lots of inventory! It always seems like it’s bursting at the seams with men’s, women’s and kid’s clothes and shoes. True, most things can be found cheaper online. But if you want real personal service and a huge selection, this is the place. Robin’s last purchase was a Patagonia vest to keep her dad warm.

Scattered Books - We love that we have not just one independent bookstore on our list but four! What distinguishes this shop from the others is the bunnies. Not sure why, but they have a thing for live pet bunnies. They are always hopping around the store.

Great Stuff - Small, family-owned chain of women’s clothing. Robin always finds that perfect sweater or t-shirt in the back sale section.

Poughkeepsie 

EBStyle - We started following EB Style on Instagram a few years ago and make it a point to stop by every time we’re heading upstate. You’ll find affordable versions of what’s in style right now, like those belt straps for purses that everyone seemed to suddenly have at one point, plaid shirt-jackets and lots of jeans! (Currently favoriting the wide leg flare!) There is a men’s version called Depot 35, but we've yet to explore.

The Hillsdale General Store

Hillsdale

The Hillsdale General Store and The Home Chef. Located right across the street from each other and run by one of the people behind The Hillsdale Workshop Experience, a collaboration of Hudson Valley neighbors who lead workshops in their areas of expertise. The Home Chef hosts cooking classes with well-known cooks like Justin Chapple, Alexandra Stafford, and The Dynamite Shop’s Dana Bowen. They also sell a rainbow of Le Creuset, kitchen utensils, table textiles and have an amazing cookbook selection. 

Across the street, The Hillsdale General Store sells a little of perfectly-curated everything. With an eye for detail and a knack for design, the shelves are stocked with things that don’t go out of style—products you’ll still be happy to have for many years. Think vintage glassware, puzzles, games, Barbar ski sweaters, candles, picture frames, and penny candy. We love the real general store vibe.

We love to shop small, so please let us your favorites and we will post on instagram and add it our next edition.

Happy Gifting!

Robin + Elizabeth

P.S. Instagram feeds listed below!
@bloomydobbs
@picturebookny
@rivertowngeneral
@eileenfisherny
@seasonsflowersnyc_official
@in2green
@theobservatoryshop
@bythewaybakery
@lemonterraceflorals
@thegoodwitchcoffeebar
@transombookshop
@shaylula
@thevillagebookstorepville
@squiresny
@scatteredbooks
@shopebstyle
@shopdepot35
@hillsdalegeneralstore
@hgshomechef
@justinchapple
@alexandracooks
@thedynamiteshop
@dana_bowen