Grifted Boutique

by Ashley Eldridge Stuffed Mao Zedong dolls and candy wrapper curtains beckon from the windows of the Grifted shop on Beijing's famed Nanluoguxiang. Inside, irreverence reigns. Barack Obama, decked out in a Superman suit (all the more fitting post-Nobel), nestles up against Fidel Castro and miniscule Napoleon dolls. (The little dictator doesn't come full-size.) Bedazzled Buddhas and reindeer pandas dot pre-cut squares of wrapping paper. …

Phaidon’s NYC Pop-Up Store

Opening next month, Phaidon's first stand-alone store will debut in NYC's Soho neighborhood and stay open through January 2010. With their full range of titles on art and culture, as well as their Wallpaper* City Guides and cookbooks, award-winning children's books and stationery, the 2,500 square-foot boutique makes getting their goods easy with same-day delivery in Manhattan and concierge service. Other goodies include collector's editions …

The Frozen Fountain Boutique

Opened by Cok de Rooy and Dick Dankers in 1992, Amsterdam boutique The Frozen Fountain showcases both Dutch and international talents. Interspersed among classic design pieces from well-known design companies such as Vitra and Foscarini, the store features pieces produced specifically for the store by locals and up-and-coming designers alike. (Click on images for enlarged view.) The space hosts exhibitions of new talents twice a …