Meredith P.

Zipper

A small, trendy selection of pricey gifts for the home, spa, and personal accessories, kid's stuff. Select modern furniture. Good for the special occassion or if you're in a pinch, but not always a reliable place to shop.

Bookcourt

A friendly bookstore with a decent selection of bestsellers, surprise hits, and local favorites. Hardcover and paperbacks and all genres. Even a kid's section in the back. Helpful staff and an occassional book reading/signing make it a pleasure to visit.

Smith & Vine

A wide variety of wines in every price range -- a special table of excellent $10 and under wines. The owners are super knowledgable and friendly and it's clear they love what they do. It's a neighborhood store but it's so superb that it feels like a European experience. Highly recommended. Open on Sundays.

Home Spa

Very laid back but the service is a bit all over the place. Just when you get used to one massage therapist, they leave. So it's a bit of a crap shoot. Not as expensive as Manhattan spas and certainly not as snobby. Friendly staff. A good mix of treatments and they seem to specialize in massage.

Area Emporium & Spa

It's not as upscale and fancy as Manhattan spas but the service is excellent. Competitive prices and a good variety of treatments available. Located in a fun Brooklyn neighborhood, to boot.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers

Although big conglomerates are basically evil, if you need a book and don't want to waste time looking for it, this is your best bet. Plus, books are often on sale. All in all, it's a customer friendly store and sometimes you can't beat that.

PROS: good books at good prices
CONS: It's a chain store

Jutta Neumann

Very artsy vibe. Handmade and custom made items: bags, shoes, belts. Artists on site. Worth the visit and worth the price if you dig the sort of hippie look.

The Green Onion

Lovely clothes for babies and young kids but at a steep price. Really annoying owner who makes you want to walk out without buying anything. But it's a good place to buy a newborn gift.

PROS:
CONS: Rude owner

Living On Smith

Quality design products from established brands. Small selection of clothes, shoes, handbags. Fancy soaps and kitchen products. Snobbish sales folks and hardly ever any sales.

Crush

Hip, trendy items including clothes -- vintage and new -- accessories and gifts. Expensive for what it is but worth the visit because of novelty items. Caters to younger crowd. Don't expect much help from the staff.