Jeff Rudell
Google
In romantic comedies there is often that one character, usually "the best friend," who comes from Brooklyn, is quirky, colorful, has impeccable taste, and is dripping with charisma. Big Night is THAT character in store form.
The place is no bigger than Carrie Bradshaw's shoe closet and is chock-full of nearly as many delights: housewares, placemats, the perfect pasta bowls (and a great cookbook to help you prepare it). There are fancy stemware options and bar tools next to sundries like dishtowels, pasta sauces, and a cooler stocked with beverages (if you happen to be passing on a warm afternoon). They have a surprisingly deep array of hostess gifts, greeting cards, candles, and kitchen gadgets, too.
When I was there Quin and Claire were at the register, and they had a ton of suggestions, ultimately pointing me toward the perfect gift: a minimalist vegetable peeler that would be right at home in MoMA's design collection.
They host frequent in-store pop-ups (they were demonstrating skincare products when I was there) and the vibe is always welcoming and fun. They also have another store (their first) in Brooklyn, but it's even smaller!
(Side Note: Some of us remember when the village was bustling with shops like this—before they all went out of business or were replaced by one of the many Marc Jacobs shops. So, add "nostalgic" to the list of adjectives that apply here.)