only in ny - visiting texans, need ideas

visiting bf's parents in el paso in a couple months. need ideas on gifts to give them that are quintessentially (but not too cheezy) NYC or brooklyn. no candy or chocolates because mom is diabetic. any ideas? i'm also trying to travel light so nothing too heavy/big.

counterfeit purses from canal street!

Fish's Edy has awesome plates with the bk bridge and nyc skyline and stuff (and mugs too!) Every household needs more serving plates and you can never have to many mugs (and they're pretty cheap.)

These are all cheesy, imo, but it's all I've got.

I heart NY tees (easy to pack) from all the street vendors in the city, esp. in Chinatown.

Subway tees or maybe a subway map shower curtain.

My mom likes prints/posters/artwork from local folks (like the folks at Union Square or outside the Met). A nice shot of an iconic Manhattan or Brooklyn local could be good--maybe Coney Island images.

Let us know if you think of anything cool.

A Metro Card or a an old time MTA subway token. Both can be bought at the Transit Museum on Livingston Street.

pictures with the naked cowboy

I always bring Brooklyn shirts from that place on 7th ave and 12th street to friends. They have a great selection and the prices are pretty good.

Main St Flushing NY or Fordham Road in the Bronx.

two very "real" neighborhoods you can't get in Texas.

I think either Fordham Road or Main St Flushing would exceed the permissible weight limits of checked items. Not that it wouldn't be fun to watch the kind of reception a relocated portion of Bronx would receive in Texas!

ok, I violated the heavy/big rule.

but, I followed the one about chocolates.

My ideas are free, you get what you pay for.

It's not a 'real' gift but I always bring people a bag of NY bagels.

It never fails to make people happy.

pile of chalk dust and broken glass vials - tell them you collected it from dead body outlines in the street.

coffee mugs that have the subway line you live off of. practical, user friendly, and they'll think of you every morning. awwww

NYPD, FDNY (or heck, why not DSNY, heh) t-shirts

***edited to add:

Oh wait..you are talking about parents, not others in the family (like kids).

The FDNY shirts that say "KEEP BACK 500 FEET" may be a more a funny gift for a kid, but t-shirts in general aren't something I'd give to someone's parents, so ignore that.

I should really read these things before commenting, hah.

I like the various ideas for mugs here, though.

EmmaViz wrote: coffee mugs that have the subway line you live off of. practical, user friendly, and they'll think of you every morning. awwww

also, everybody loves the ceramic coffee cups that look like the take out coffee cups from the MoMa design store.

I've given them to a few people and they always love them.

http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma/ProductDisplay_New York Coffee Cup_10451_10001_16678_-1_11470_11470_null__

obamanuts house

Subject: official NYC stuff

Well designed stuff and helps to support our city.

http://a856-citystore.nyc.gov

check it out!

Bialys. Most people outside New York haven't even heard of them. Get them at Coney Island Bagels and Bialys, not one of the local bagel stores. They freeze really well too, so you can get a couple dozen and they'll be good for a while.

if you want them to remember nyc or brooklyn with a unforgettable memory, talk them to a walking tour of east new york . a stereotype of brooklyn thats what everyone expects from brooklyn anyway.

my friends from other parts of the country still thinks brooklyn is like that.

armchair_warrior wrote: if you want them to remember nyc or brooklyn with a unforgettable memory, talk them to a walking tour of east new york . a stereotype of brooklyn thats what everyone expects from brooklyn anyway.

my friends from other parts of the country still thinks brooklyn is like that.

Armchair, I think the OP is looking for thinks to bring to Texas as a gift.

wow thanks for all the great ideas! i love the bagel/bialy suggestions but not sure how they will fare on the multiple flights. i think i am leaning towards this
http://www.sethkushner.com/brooklynites/

yes? no?

nyc merch is pretty ubiquitous but i really really love bk

good choice! :cheers:

Mail them a Juniors cheesecake.

Check out this book too:

In The Country Of Brooklyn

Carnivore wrote: Check out this book too:

In The Country Of Brooklyn

Round out the set with Motherless Brooklyn!
And bagels and bialys totally hold up, and are revelatory for people outside NYC.

bagels + brooklyn it is. thanks everyone!