Chinatown

Today, not thinking that it was the day before Thanksgiving, I went shopping in Chinatown. My mom sent me some money this week, so I finally had money to start Christmas shopping. I've never gone overboard on gifts (well, I bought my mom a set of serving plates for $70 when I was 13... I still have no idea how I got the money), most of my presents consist of putting together packages of knick-knacks, useful items (like socks) and handmade items. In past years I've totally had to scramble - it's really hard to find things for cheap in little Michigan towns.

Chinatowns are basically like one big dollar store: it has a bunch of mass-produced crap that you don't know you need until you see it. I spent about $20 today and got Katie covered, something small for my mother and grandmother, and even some things for myself.

+ 3 "pashmina" scarves ($10)
+ 1 neko bank ($2)
+ 2 Hello Kitty coloring books ($1.50 each)
+ 1 sheet of stickers $2
+ 1 origami pad $3
+ 1 custard bun (60 cents)
+ all of the change in my coinpurse to a homeless man

I have a love/hate relationship with the New York City Chinatown. I think it mostly has to do with being spoiled by the Toronto, which is supremely better. The most in depth I've been in Chinatown is when Neal and I went last year and I fruitlessly kept searching for San-x items, and of course Canal Street, which for the most part annoys me with all of the knockoff handbags and the tourists who come to gawk at the residents. ("Look, Helen! It's someone who's not white!") But today I searched a little more thoroughly, and realized that the southern tip of Mott Street is the Chinatown I'd been searching for. Cute bakeries, stereotypical junk shops (yes, I do need eight different sizes of the same neko bank) and best of all, several stationary stores! I even found one that sold mostly Sanrio items, and even a few San-x, even if they were a bit overpriced.

Chinatown, you have not failed me!