La Sirena

Profile

This crowded, festive shop off Bowery supplies vibrant accessories, art, and home furnishings from Mexico. Spanish for “The Mermaid,” La Sirena’s stock presents vivid depictions of fantasy and folklore, from masks and whimsical paintings to shelves overflowing with Day of the Dead crafts. A small army of grinning skeleton figurines in garb ranging from sombreros to wedding gowns fills tall bookshelves. The yellow walls are covered in ornaments, decorative mirrors, tapestries, and trinkets, and clothing lines strung overhead are hung with floral totes and handbags. The wares envelop small tables and spill over into baskets on the floor, creating a narrow aisle down the center of the store for browsers. Postcards of the Virgin Mary, Lucha Libre jewelry, colorful strands of beads, tiny painted animal figurines, and woven hats mingle in the inviting space—it’s not unusual to see an eager shopper kneeling among baskets on the floor, sorting through giftable baubles and embroidered garments. — Lauren Murrow