Photographs by Davies + Starr

1. Wendy Isaacson makes her heart-shape art pieces with Durham’s water putty, wood pulp, and a secret amount of tap water (“Special Delivery,” $48 at Heart Art, 132 W. 18th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-620-3840).

2. Break out that old crab-salad recipe, best served on a crustacean-adorned melamine plate ($3 at West Elm, 112 W. 18th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-929-4464).

3. It’s cute, sure, but the chile-shape computer mouse also fits the curvature of your palm ($33 at A.I. Friedman, 44 W. 18th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-243-9000).

4. A department store in miniature, Utowa carries accessories like this straw clutch along with clothes, cosmetics, and flowers ($65; 17 W. 18th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-929-4800).

5. The rare piece of kids’ furniture without polka dots or plastic (children’s wooden chair, $128 at ANC Home, 10 W. 18th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-366-1162).

6. Signed first editions of Orhan Pamuk’s Snow and Kurt Vonnegut’s Bagombo Snuff Box ($300 and $150 at Skyline Books, 13 W. 18th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-759-5463).

7. Like your mom’s oven, but with high-powered burners and delayed-start baking (Northstar, $3,700 at Krup’s Kitchen & Bath, 11 W. 18th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-243-5787).

8. The paper press in Print Icon’s front window actually churns out custom-engraved invitations (from $35; 7 W. 18th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-255-4489).

9. For a mid-shopping snack, try the love child of the pretzel and the croissant ($3.50 at City Bakery, 3 W. 18th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-366-1414).

Related:

• Archive: “Best Bets”
• Articles by Wendy Goodman
• Table of Contents: May 26, 2008 issue of New York | Subscribe!