i always like to find a single brand that i can just trust for everything. night cream, face wash, shampoo. you get the idea. given that i am not the most obsessed person on products (though i have gotten a little fancy with my mom’s top skin saver product shiseido since her skin looks amazing and my face needs lots of help after way too many sunburned days when i thought it was fun to look like a lobster). so my usual choices have been a little predictable with kiehls and some additional supplements from c.o. bigelow (great value). a few years ago, i found a new obsession, and i actually got the idea when someone at bigelow’s recommended malin+goetz.

i had been trying to find something for j that he might be willing to use, wasn’t too metrosexual, and would be a huge step up from the guest soap he seemed to think would be ok for his face. after holding out for a few months, when he finally started using malin+goetz’s grapefruit face cleaner (one of their best sellers), he was hooked and we’ve become fans since. designed for women and men, malin+goetz’s products emphasize natural ingredients and many of them are hypoallergenic. the malin+goetz collection includes conditioners, shampoos, facial cleansers, moisturizers, body wash, lotions, body scrub, shaving creams and acne treatments, as well as sunscreens with spfs of 30 and even some perfumes. as an apothecary, they carry tweezers, brushes and combs and tootbrushes (not sure i need an $8 toothbrush but maybe there are some special features i need to talk to my dentist about). and they have some travel amenities like pill towels - basically a fancy face wipe and small sized bottles of their products. malin+goetz also has few more unusual “party” scents like the cannabis candle (described as “sexy green cannabis and spicy extracts blend for their uplifting intoxication and general aphrodisia” — hmm, maybe not really for us), a rum bar soap and a mojito soap set.

while malin+goetz products can be purchased lots and lots of places all over the country and even internationally, they have just a few free standing stores, two of which are in new york. the shops are well designed with great style mixing the super white, clean and medical with warm walnut panels and the original tin ceiling. at the upper west side shop, which just opened, the architect craig konyk retaining the character of this former dominican barbershop with its nooks and crannies, and they also kept the old signage “la gran esquina barbershop”. with the great packaging and graphics and within reach pricing, it is almost impossible to visit malin+goetz without bringing something home which is usually a good thing. malin+goetz, 117 seventh avenue between 20th and 21st streets, 212.727.3777 and 455 amsterdam avenue at 82ndstreet, 212.799.1200, both in manhattan, new york.

maybe this is true in all cities, but in new york for the more utilitarian things there seem to be areas where these items are concentrated. for example, the wholesale flower market (smaller than it was) is located in the 20s off of broadway, the lighting district can be found along the bowery close to chinatown and the restaurant kitchen supplies just above the lighting district. and then, there seems to be the paper and office supply district concentrated along 18th and 19th streets between 5th and 6th avenues. as i used to work nearby, i got to check out all the shops including sam flax, print icon and a.i. friedman among others.

of the bunch, i think that my favorite is paper presentation (which had been called paper access, so maybe ownership has changed — the stock seems to be the same). this vast store, running from one side of the block to the other, really has nearly every item related to paper that you might ever possibly require. they have every color, shape, size and texture of paper, labels and envelopes under the sun, at decent prices, as well as a vast variety of other stationery related things that you might need such as the fun tape pictured above, ribbons, storage boxes, stickers, pens, pencils etc…

paper presentation also has a printing service but i have never used them for that so don’t know the quality and i expect i might be a bit more fussy in that department (just waiting for when i can justify greenwich letterpress). what i do know is that paper presentation is super utilitarian and if you have some kind of paper need it is more than likely that they can satisfy it (and just a note that their website seems to have only a fraction of what they offer at the store). paper presentation, 23 west 18th street between 5th and 6th avenues, manhattan, new york, 212.463.7022.

i have been coming to the city bakery ever since i moved to new york when they had this teeny tiny depressing little spot on 17th street that was always chock full of people and incredible treats. they have since moved to 18th street into a much bigger and more pleasant space but with all the same great food and more. and even though it was a little crazy, since i didn’t live anywhere nearby, back in 2001 i moved my office further downtown. i did not do this because i realized how close we would be to the wonderful madison square park (though i later totally appreciated the side perk of those early no-line shake shack days), but mostly so i could hop on down to the city bakery whenever i was in the mood, which of course was all the time. my favorite treats include their dense peanut butter mound cookies and the small flaky sugar cookies, and every now and then i would indulge in their now famous pretzel croissant. in the summer time, i am especially fond of their really tangy, gazpacho (i cannot get enough of those cornbread croutons), and all the great offerings in their appealing salad bar made with goodies from the union square greenmarket.

recently i visited the city bakery’s sister sustainable project, the birdbath neighborhood green bakery in the west village (there is also one in the east village), where they try to be as green as one can possibly be. while birdbath had some of the core treats i come to look for at city bakery, the selection was limited and probably appeals more to vegans than the rest of us. a few years ago, the city bakery also opened up a shop in los angeles which i have yet to try but i am sure would be a destination when we head west next which hopefully will be soon. the city bakery, 3 west 18th street between 5th and 6th avenues, manhattan, 212.366.1414. birdbath neighborhood green bakery, 7th avenue south at charles street and 223 first avenue near 14th street, manhattan.

it is amazing, but new york seems to have an endless supply of really excellent, really small and pretty affordable home stores scattered throughout the city. one of my favorite finds recently, which is not a find to many who are much more in the know in the design world, is apartment 48. there were lots and lots of things to love here and while the price range was a range there was still plenty within reach. the store has a wide range with accessories, some furniture, and kitchen, bath and kiddie items and also offers interior design services. i particularly loved one of their bestsellers, the hobnail pitcher (pictured above) made of bohemian glass from prague for $115. i was also super tempted by their melamine party and mixing bowls available in lots of bright colors from $10 up to $55, and i am also a big fan of the savon de marseille soaps and do indulge in the olive lavendar scent for our kitchen when i can get j to abandon the more ec0-friendly park slope coop versions which just are not as lovely. and if you want to see more about rayman boozer, the interior designer behind this shop who was really helpful when i visited, there are some great pictures of his own apartment floating around from when it was profiled in elle decor in 2006. apartment 48, 12 west 17th street at 5th avenue, manhattan, new york. 212.807.1391. (i found it a little tricky to find so just keep walking down the block if it is not at the exact address mentioned here).

until my recent tour up ninth avenue, i hadn’t really thought of chelsea as a home shopping destination, but between 19th and 21st streets, there are three excellent options for all sorts of home goodies. the first shop pictured above, nest interiors, is the most modern with lots of dark polished woods, black and gold pieces and gorgeous amber glass vessels. in general, the store seemed on the “male” side of things, if there is such a thing, with is in the darker, stronger variety with its bold colors and shapes. i really liked some of their knicknacks including a small owl lamp. the owners, lana sexton and henry stozek, are known to try to carry new york designers and to focus on small artisans. nest interiors has a great collection of lamps and i could have spent a lot of time exploring their numerous unique pieces including a big white owl sitting under a lampshade, a series of three circular black-rimmed convex mirrors and some great photographs and other art. nest interiors, 172a ninth avenue between 21st and 20th streets, manhattan, new york, 212.337.3441.

the next one down from next is la cafetiere which was the first one of these sweet little shops i discovered along this strip a few years ago. at the time, it was filled with a dazzling mix of colors, textures and fabrics, and the goods had also all been imported from europe. i was happy to discover that while the ownership and direction of la cafetiere has changed — less color and whimsy and more casual elegance - they are in fact still open despite some reports at apartment therapy to the contrary. la cafetiere now carries some beautiful silver, blankets and throws as well as all sorts of ceramic and other bowls, glasses, candlesticks and any other assortment of items to help beautify your home in that very southern yet elegant french way. la cafetiere, 160 ninth avenue between 19th and 20th streets, manhattan, new york, 646.486.0667.

finally, one block down is bon maison compagnie which is yet another shop for francophiles. bon maison is smaller and cozier than la cafetiere, and seems to carry a wider range of french home products including gorgeous-smelling candles and soaps (some from Provence), hand embroidered linens, frames, dishtowels, and etched glass pieces as well as some vintage items. and of course i left convinced that this was a great store because my beloved blue and white guinea hen was proudly featured in their outdoor window. bon maison compagnie, 140 ninth avenue at 19th street, manhattan, new york, 212.989.5858.

indulging in a fat witch is yet another of my long-time favorite treats, and even though they have been mentioned by oprah don’t be put off. the classic brownie is really good if you like fudgie but not too dense, and i also like the red witch which comes with dried cherries. i have not tried some of their other flavors which don’t sound as appealing ( a snow witch is all white chocolate and there is also a breakfast witch with oatmeal, walnuts and coffee).

i prefer the fat witch babies, at 1.5 ounces, they are a little more manageable and don’t make you feel like you need to go run an extra 10 miles. the tins are very cute for gift giving, and they’re a nice keeper for future cookie batches. fat witch bakery, located in chelsea market, 15th street and 9th avenue, manhattan, new york, 888.419.4824, and they say they will be opening a harlem location at 1753 park avenue in spring of 2009.

this particular sandwich is really just impossible to resist if you like cheese and bread, especially when they are warm and gooey. j and i have been obsessed with this combination for a very long time, probably ever since we discovered amy’s bread way back in the day when we lived on the upper east side. the spiced-up grilled cheese has been featured in bon appétit, among other places, and i think that the trick must be the mix of cilantro, chipotle chilies and molasses, but who knows because i have had it so many times and it is always consistently excellent. amy’s also has a nice variety of bread including tasty baguettes and rolls as well as their bread twists which used to be everywhere and seem to have fallen out of fashion but are still just as good. service at amy’s can be a bit tricky though i was pleased at my recent visit that they seemed to have stepped it up in terms of efficiency and friendliness but don’t be suprised if the only real reason to visit amy’s is this satisfying snack. sadly, their cutest store on lexington avenue is no longer open, so i would recommend visiting the chelsea market store or the one in mid-town (the bleeker street one is dreary). amy’s bread, chelsea market, 75 ninth avenue between 15th and 16th streets, 212.462.4338, and 672 ninth avenue between 46th and 47th streets, 212.977.2282. both in manhattan, new york.