When the bustle at Bloomingdale’s overwhelms, or the mall isn’t Manhattan enough, gift-seekers in the Big Apple

hit the bricks streets for inspiration. NY Resident hand-picked eight charming boutiques and independent stores not to miss on a quest for the perfect present:

HOME
Property Furniture at 14 Wooster St. is the brainchild of a set designer (Stefan Beckman), and an interior designer (Sabrina Schilcher) that stocks pop furniture for every imaginable space. Wares range from kid-friendly poured-plastic gummy bear lamps ($100), to space-age, indoor/outdoor chairs imported from Italy (Hara chairs, $2,400 must order 12 business days in advance), and timeless classics like a mother of pearl caviar set ($200).

BOOKS
Antiques Roadshow could shoot an entire season within the four hallowed floors of books and collectibles at 116 E. 59th St. The sister-owned store has been selling the finest in first editions, new books, maps and prints for nearly a century. Treasures in stock this season include: a first-edition of Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, in red morocco leather ($1,400), a custom-framed Mark Twain autograph and portrait of the author ($975), and a map of the United states circa 1951 featuring black and white illustrations of George Washington, a buffalo hunt and Benjamin Franklin ($150).

ART
Paintings and sculptures may not travel well. But one visual medium that packs and ships easily is the artists’ book. Printer Matter, at 195 10th Ave., offers books and other published items (posters, cards, catalogs even software) made by cutting edge visual artists and authors. In stock this season are works by the iconic Jasper Johns with Riva Castlemann (“Technics and Creativity: Gemini G.E.L.” $250), Yoko Ono (“A Box of Smile” $1250) and spare, elegant works by the enduring Lawrence Weiner (various, $12-$650).

TRINKETS
Gomi on 443 E. 6th is constantly throwing a green party. All goods here are natural, fair-trade or made from recycled material. Tucked in amongst the picture frames, and apparel made from repurposed packaging and textiles, are a menagerie of knit stuffed animals. Made by Pear Tree Studios in New Hampshire out of spent sweaters, and by Kenana Knitter Critters, a fair-trade business in Kenya, of all-natural wool, Gomi’s menagerie contains piglets, penguins, bunnies, ducklings and kangaroos, both hand-sized and hug-able ($10-$60).

ACCESSORIES
Beauty expert Jenn Cohn Falik has appeared regularly on shows from Tyra Banks, to The View, recommending top products for the jet-set and made-over. Her top-secret source for high-end gifts is the boutique at Cornelia Day Spa. “They have the most impeccably edited collection of clothing, jewelry and vintage accessories. This is an incredible place. You really cannot find these things in other boutiques or other cities.” Take the elevator to the 8th floor of 663 Fifth Ave. to explore a range of luxury items including: diamond-dotted napkin rings ($6,000), massive, hand-poured candles in porcelain tumblers ($70), cashmere gloves with satin detail ($300).

MUSIC
Academy Records at 12 W. 18th St. specializes in jazz and pop CDs, with a sizeable collection of classical music on vinyl to boot. Just north of Union Square, the shop also stocks hard to find new releases, rarities, and a favorably priced collection of used rock and pop CDs. Because Academy Records caters to the sophisticated ear, its staff are well-versed in all genres stocked there, with attentive and friendly, not snobby attitudes. An excellent 30-day return policy, and bargain bin (comprised, mostly, of independent releases by New York jazz players) make Academy a hard place to leave without buying at least a taste of some new sound, be it a classic (like Count Basie’s “88 Basie Street,” $20, or REM’s “20 Years of…” anthology, $10) or brand new work.

TOYS
From the latest board games, to the most charming standards (like a rocking horse, or a pint-sized guitar) Kidding Around at 60 W. 15th St. stocks high-quality, and unique toys for kids of all ages. The store is spacious, warmly lit, and filled with try-me style product displays. Most impressively, Kidding Around steers clear of TV-character licensed goods, and movie-marketing vehicles disguised as toys, favoring, instead, puzzles, games, plush toys (even some infant-safe furniture). Price span a great range as well, from a fancy Victorian Dollhouse ($200) to a durable, steel 40x microscope ($80) to a Baby Black Bear Puppet ($12).

GADGETS
Shutterbugs, and gizmo-geeks flock to New York’s largest camera and video equipment “superstore,” B&H Photo at 420 Ninth Ave. for the latest and greatest gear. This retail landmark is jam-packed with studio quality lights, wide-angle lenses and cameras that combine old world quality glass with new digital trappings. But it also sells a great array of audio gear, like MP3 players from Creative Labs (512 megabyte player $52) and home theater “kits,” that turn a living room into the cinema (the B&H Home Theater System 1 $580). The gadgets sold here are discounted from manufacturers’ suggested retail prices typically, which can be hard to believe when many trip in 4-digit territory (like the Hasselblad H2 auto-focus, SLR camera $800, or ATN Night Cougar 4 1X4th night vision binoculars $11,400).