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This petite greeting card shop offers relief from sappy Hallmark sentiments and over-the-hill jokes. Neat rows of artistic hand-printed cards from a slew of independent presses span the store's pale blue walls, like Flaunt's mulberry paper collages, eco-friendly letterpress designs from Two Piglets, and Mudlark's floral boxed sets. The store's namesake Cat Fish line features the widest variety, printed with minute, hand-glittered illustrations by co-owner Loi Luc, a former graphic designer. The two narrow aisles can become congested around Mother's Day and the holiday season, when shoppers fresh from the street's row of boutiques congregate, but most days the crowds ebb quickly as buyers pop in and out on their way to baby showers and birthday dinners. The store also stocks last-minute gifts, like Luc's illustrated organic cotton onesies for infants, Mary Jane patterned baby socks from Trumpette, and colorful journals. — Lauren Murrow

Cat Fish creates custom invitations for weddings, baby showers, and events, as well as holiday card sets. By appointment only.