Present sense: Queens

Astoria

Astoria  |  Long Island City

Candy Plum
Aunt-and-niece duo Nada Madara and Cynthia Puhalovic fill every inch of this one-room, pink-hued indie designer boutique and consignment shop with chic items. Rummage through the racks for handmade totes sewn from vintage fabric by Testa ($40–$70), private-label throw pillows ($15–$25), Liliputians’ cheery children’s clothing ($25–$40) and myriad styles of one-of-a-kind jewelry ($12–$100). 30-98 36th St at 31st Ave (718-721-2299)

Mimi’s Closet
If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of wandering through a big-box department store in search of gifts, drop in to Japanese designer Motomi Yamanobe’s minuscule storefront, where you’ll find a smattering of ultrafemme clothing and accessories from emerging labels. A former assistant at Issey Miyake, Yamanobe fills the aqua-shaded boutique with adorable dresses ($110–$320) from her own Motomimi line, as well as Kyoko Honda dainty quartz-and-ruby rings ($80). 21-10 31st St at 21st Ave (718-726-0971)

Site
Feather friends’ nests with playful modernist housewares and novelties from this decorcentric space, located in a former garage across the street from Kaufman Astoria Studios. A graduate of the New York School of Interior Design, owner Mackenzi Farquer offers budget-friendly items such as cozy laser-cut felt throw pillows ($15), lotus blossom candleholders ($32) and flocked skull-shaped piggy banks ($36). If you’re puzzled about what to give crafty types, pick up “Scarf Shake” and “Cap-puchino” knitting kits ($22) that are packaged in plastic drink containers. 35-11 34th Ave at 35th St (718-626-6030)