Best of Arts and Craft Stores

Finding an Arts and Crafts store in Vienna is like trying to find a Billa cashier who can actually smile.   UNLIKELY!

After a year here and no Chenille stems or wood blocks I found Mastnak and got my glitter on!   Until recently I couldn't remember the name of the store, I just programmed in Neubaugasse 31 into my handy dandy GPS and off I would go.

You walk in downstairs and it looks like a cheesy gift store with the requisite "I'm not old, I'm experienced" trucker hat and edible underwear.   Like I said, cheeeesy.  

But walk up the winding staircase and click your heels in delight.   What shoes do for some women, glitter glue does for me.   Rocket ships go off, bells ring in my head, flowers float by and euphoria sets in.   I'm not going to lie, a gorgeous pair of Louboutins thrill me as much as the next girl, but rows and rows of acrylic paint, finger paints, textile paints bring me lasting happiness.    The possibilities are endless and the imagination can take flight.

Like my favorite bookstore, Shakespeare & Co in Paris, there is no order and you can find the most beautiful beads tucked in between a cardboard birdhouse and wood letters.   With crafts as it is with life, the unexpected turns are often the ones that delight us.   Creation is rarely the result of order.  

However, if you have one kid hanging off your leg and wiping the snot of the other one, then take it easy on yourself and just click on http://at.opitec.com/opitec-web/st/Home or http://winkler.turbo.at/shop_at/index.php.

Use babblefish to translate the page and off you go.   It's easy, there is tremendous choice and comes right to your door.

Go create!
Smiles,
Ruchika

Mastnak
Neubaugasse 31
1070 Vienna
Ph.  01-523 27 58
Mo - Fr 8:30 - 18:30
Sa 8:30 - 17:00

Winkler Schulbedarf
http://winkler.turbo.at/shop_at/index.php

Opitec Hobbyfix
http://at.opitec.com/opitec-web/st/Home

Best of Cake Decorating Stores

Definitely not Willy Wonka fun, this sad, broken and poop brown store looks nothing like what I would imagine a cake decorating store to look like.   And Grumpy and Dopey run it, but never mind, because just being surrounded, enveloped, by the sight and smell of that much sugar makes you Happy!

Before we get to the cups and the cakes of it all, let's just take a moment to raise our eyebrows to the sad and pathetic attempts at kids cakes in Austria?   There is a reason the birth rate is declining - the sperm looks at the egg, and the egg looks at the sperm in the womb in Austria and says "no thank you" before swimming their separate ways.

The reason - MARZIPAN.   Yuck!   Which kid wants marzipan on their cake!   Yuck!

At Bon Bons, a cornucopia of sugar concoctions lies at your disposal.   There are a few things on the shelf but the real treasure lurks behind the counters.   You can get a rainbow array of food colorings, sprinkles, cake toppers, sugar gel pens and more.  

I love sugar pens and have then out at every party.  Kids love writing on each other and licking it off!  

They have stunning cake toppers (it'll cost ya) and give two days they can also make custom toppers based on your designs.

There is no reason to subject your child to an Austrian cake when you can bake a fluffy American one with yummy buttercream icing and princess sprinkles!

Enjoy!
Ruchika

Bonbons Lebkuchen Tortendekor
Wollzeile 26
1010 Wien

Best of Father's Day Gifts

Panic! Don’t. You have time. In Austria Vater’s Day is on June 14 and if you’re celebrating the American one it’s June 20th. I’ll opt American to buy me some more time!

Skip the tie, the frame with a picture in it, the wallet, skip the clichés and go straight for something he’ll truly love.

I have a great batting average (I don’t have a clue as to what number that would be, but I thought guy speak would be appropriate here) with concert tickets. Try for someone new, upcoming, because they are full of wonder and giving it their all, or someone old because you know they are just doing it for the passion of it.

There are some great ones coming up in Austria –


1. Elton John – I’ve seen him and he puts on a great show
2. Leonard Cohen – The best concert I’ve ever been too
3. Abba Gold – J.O.K.I.N.G. sigh that would be my dream!
4. Eric Clapton – Mind blowing in concert 

5. Rod Stewart

6. Norah Jones
7. Jethro Tull
8. MARK KNOPFLER - from Dire Straits who sings two of my favorite songs…Love Over Gold and Why Worry. I’ll be at that one for sure!

Go to www.oeticket.com to buy them or you can buy tickets at any Bank of Austria if you have an account there.

OR…there is always Beers from Around the World.

Go to Bohle on Wollzeile for all things gourmet Austrian. It’s a deli, but they carry beers from around the world and have it packaged in a very cool tool box. You can choose the beers from the countries he loves to create a custom gift.

You could design a beer and tapas tasting evening for him. Pair the Japanese beer with sushi, the Mexican beer with nachos, the Austrian one with a wiener. Oh cancel that thought! The thought of eating a wiener after sushi just made me sick. Just give him the beer!

BÖHLE
Wollzeile 30
A-1010 Wien
http://www.boehle.at/bier.htm

OR…if your man is fancy, book the Jazz evening at Palais Coburg in their Winebar.

It’s gorgeous and Bartender Benny will mix fancy drinks and recommend a Cuban from their Humidor. Slink back, drape your leg over his and watch him smile.

This magic spell can only be cast on Saturday evenings so book now.

OR…if your man is in between Al Bundy and James Bond, then head to Palais Coburg on a Monday evening for some Garden Grilling.

They have live music, a wood grill and open air. Enjoy.

Palais Coburg Residenz
Coburgbastei 4
1010 Wien, Österreich
Telefon: +43/1/518 18-0
www.palais-coburg.com

OR…if your man is an intellectual or just likes to read on the toilet you can get him a year subscription to TIME magazine delivered to your mailbox for 49.95 Euros. Click below. 

http://www.time.com/time/europe/custserv/ti_newsstand.html

For a subscription to the International Herald Tribune write to subs@iht.com. You can also get a yearly subscription for 20,000 points through miles and more.

For a subscription to Conde Nast Traveller go to https://www.subscription.co.uk/custservice/csorder.asp?m=85&pub_id=24

Don’t forget the sentimental winners like handmade childmade cards, breakfast in bed, and handprint frames! And nothing beats letting him sleep in :-)

Best of Fabric Stores

Komolka! Not the one in the first district, but the one at Mariahilferstrasse and Neubaugasse. It is 4 floors filled with all sorts of material from the cheap leopard print (great for Halloween costumes) to jute, felt, cotton, satin and the rest. The basement, marked Keller, has all sorts of fabulous stuff on sale. There are also trimmings, buttons and the rest.

Oh, but don't expect friendly service. The frump in the front pissed me off, but Catherine was with me and kept me smiling.

And if you get a chance there is the largest 1Euro store next door. All sorts of 1 Euro goodies to buy. Great present boxes upstairs of all sizes!

Enjoy!
Smiles,
Ruchika

http://www.komolka.at/
Mariahilfer Strasse 58
1070, Vienna
Tel: 01 523 71 84
Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 18:00

Best of Christmas Decoration Stores

Ok, this is my favorite store for any and every occasion or just to browse. It ain't no ABC Carpet and Home in NYC, but oh I do feel all happy inside walking in and walking around. There are 3 floors of beautiful things for the home. And at Christmas you could not find a place better to invest time and money in.

It's not cheap. However, I wrap up everything and save it for next year and the year after etc. I just realized that I have yet to mention the name - BLAULICHT.

It's the perfect place to find the perfect something for someone special. And things move fast. I had wanted to get these wooden crates with NYC written on it for my NYC obsessed husband but I went back 2 weeks later and they were gone.

And if you like setting a beautiful table for dinner, then the napkin rings here are to die for and I love to mix and match them. Not sure what to get your husband for his birthday, you can't fail with their beautiful picture frames with you in it :-) I bought my husband a travel desk here and he raves about it to this day.

I haven't purchased this yet, but before I leave Vienna I will get one of their magnificent doll houses, more to fulfill my childhood fantasy than Aiyana's.

If classic is not your style and you prefer contemporary/modern, then across the street is BLAULICHT with a plethora of mod design furnishings.

And a big reminder - it's 3 floors of fun so don't forget to take the stairs up!

Enjoy!
Smiles,
Ruchika

Blaulicht
Marc Aurel Strasse 3
Vienna, 1010
01-532 41 36
Opening Times
Mo-Fr 10-19, Sat 10-18

Best of Party Decoration Stores

One major pet peeve of mine is the lack of stuff to make for an awesome birthday party, or halloween party or any theme party your brain can imagine. So after two years here Catherine came to my rescue with Witte!

I have driven by this place a million times and the Linke Wienziele right at Naschmarkt and never seen it. That's because it's so unlike a party place on the outside - BORING. But once inside you are swept up with balloons, and costumes and all sorts of decorations. It's a one stop shop and I didn't even know they got that concept in Austria.

Normally I run from place to place to get balloons, and snippets of decorations and costumes. No more. And they have a ton of stuff for halloween.

So don't just make do with Toys R Us or order from the States and pay ridiculous taxes (as I have), go to Witte.

Smiles,
Ruchika

http://www.witte.at/
Jux Witte
Linke Wienzeile 16
1060, Vienna
01-586 43 05

Opening Times
Monday to Friday 9 - 18 hr.
Sat. 9 - 17 hr.

Best of Gift for Small Children

If you are headed home for the holidays and want to take back something unique for that special niece or nephew back home that is MADE IN VIENNA then head to Herzilien Wien.

They have adorable tees for boys that are great quality and really cool for under 30 Euros. I particularly love the matching pjs they have that make for a great father's day gift. And their dresses...ohhhh, their dresses! They take inspiration from the dirndl but are modern and cool. There is really nothing I don't love in the store! And the owner speaks English.

Herzilien Wien

Wollzeile 17

1010, Vienna

Tel. +43 676 6577106

www.herzilein-wien.at

www.wollzeile.com/herzilein-wien

info@herzilein-wien.at

Opening Times:

Mo-Fr	10:00-18:30
Sat	10:00-17:00