Souvenir Hunter: NYC's Top 5 Tchotckes

by Keith Wagstaff - Citysearch Editor - 215 Reviews - 112 Lists

Updated: February 20, 2008

Down with snow globes and novelty key chains! We went beyond the cheesy souvenir shops to find some of the more unique New York mementos.

On this page:Personalized stamps ($15) from the United Nations, Subway map baseball ($25) from the New York Public Library, Tote bag ($8) from the Strand, MetroCard notebook ($5) from the MoMA Design Store, T-shirt ($28) from Brooklyn Industries.

Personalized stamps ($15) from the United Nations

  1. 1 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended United Nations
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    1st Ave, New York, NY 10017 (map)

    Your mom always said you would end up on a stamp! Sure, they're only good if mailed from the U.N. building, but there's nothing like receiving a postcard from yourself featuring your face on the stamp.

Subway map baseball ($25) from the New York Public Library

  1. 2 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended New York Public Library
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    5th Ave & 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 (map)

    Pocket-sized subway maps are so outdated. Avoid looking like a tourist with this fun MTA map/baseball, which Derek Jeter would surely use if he actually took the subway.

Tote bag ($8) from the Strand

  1. 3 4 Star Rating: Recommended Strand Book Store Inc
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    828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 (map)

    Nothing says "I've visited New York" and "I know how to read" quite like a tote bag from NYC's most famous bookstore. A bonus: The Strand carries totes in a plethora of different designs.

MetroCard notebook ($5) from the MoMA Design Store

  1. 4 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Moma Design Store Soho
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    81 Spring St, New York, NY 10012 (map)

    This tiny spiral memo pad has covers made of old MetroCards, perfect for writing down the many obscenities you'll hear while riding around New York's subway system.

T-shirt ($28) from Brooklyn Industries

  1. 5 Brooklyn Industries
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    161 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011 (map)

    Forget "I Love New York." Impress your friends back home with a T-shirt decked out with a cool Brooklyn design. Don't worry, they don't know the neighborhood's been gentrified.