DeLuxe

The vinyl toy craze may have slowed down a bit but one of my favorite stores Kid Robot is still going strong. This Haight Street haven has the best selection of limited edition vinyl toys around. They used to carry lots of Asian blind box toy editions but these days most of those are their own brand. Also, they have plenty of limited edition vinyl figures displayed in cases lining the store walls. They now have stores all over the country but I’ll always love the store that started it all.

Kid Robot
1512 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
415.487.9000

I knew when I moved to Berkeley in 1997 that they had many great record stores — all within a few blocks of each other. That’s what made the arrival of Amoeba Records so surprising. From day one it was the best record store I’ve ever seen. They carried everything including all the obscure and import stuff I never could find elsewhere. Their San Francisco store is bigger but since I’m living in the East Bay I usually end up here. They also have extensive DVD offerings in addition to the music. Online shopping is convenient but I still enjoy the browsing experience. Their buyers always have something on the shelves that I want — but just didn’t know it existed.

Amoeba Records
2455 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704
510.549.1125

I was sorry to see the 33 Grand Gallery leave Oakland’s uptown neighborhood but fortunately a great new store/gallery opened up in the same location: Industrielle. This place has a great blend of products from housewares, art objects, clothing by local designers to fine art. I’m particularly fond of the artwork of David Seiler who has shown there and done live portrait events there on Oakland Art Murmur nights. This is the gallery where I got my Spinnin’ Bebe Jesus painting (oil on wood paneling mounted on a lazy susan). This place is worth checking out and does a great job of supporting local artists and craftsmen.

Industrielle
33 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612
510.271.0633

I first learned of Fabric8 through their online store which sold all kinds of independently made t-shirts and other artist designed objects and clothing. Two years ago the owners opened a retail store in the Mission. The store not only sells all the stuff on the website but also sells art from a number of local artists. I’m particularly fond of the painted wood block buildings designed by Sirron Norris. They’re open on evenings and weekends only so check the hours before you head on down. If you can, I highly recommend you go when they’ve got a live painting event. Olivia, the owner, sometimes invites all the artists down to paint, and you can buy the freshly painted art right on the spot.

Fabric8
3318 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
415.647.5888

Nathan and Co is just what the southern end of Piedmont Avenue needed. Nathan, a watch designer by day, opened up this little shop to sell housewares, upscale bath products, cards, jewelry, and anything else cool and fashionable you can think of. He certainly lives up to the “deliciously modern” that is the store’s motto. We’ve purchased many gifts here for friends and family.

Additionally, we’ve built up quite a collection of mercury glass decor for our house including some nice candlesticks and some decorative pieces for our dining room. As Jeff Lebowski would say “they really tie the room together.” I’m also a big fan of the scented candles and soaps carried here — always something unique I can’t find elsewhere. Nathan and Co is the best.

Nathan + Co
3820 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611
510.428.9638

I was kind of disappointed when News Hunter turned into Smoke Hunter. It was a good newsstand but, as it exists today, it’s a smoke shop only. Along came Issues which turns out to be an ideal newsstand. Not only do they carry every magazine I want (except Straight No Chaser which they’re still trying to locate a distributor for), they also carry a fine selection of vinyl and t-shirts. The owner
has good taste in musuc with lots of jazz and other not so easy to find titles. I also got myself a new Cramps t-shirt — the one I had from when I was 16 doesn’t really fit me anymore.

Issues
20 Glen Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611
510.652.5700