I know there have been a few threads about this in the past but I'm interested in some things that may not have been discussed before and since things change so much in NYC, maybe there's a need to update the "must see" list.

I'm going to NYC next week and am looking for cool kaiju stores in the city (I already know about the regular haunts that have been around a few years like Toy Tokyo and Zakka (which i heard moved to Brookyln) places like Forbidden Planet i don't bother with anymore) but I'm wondering if there are new shops that have opened in the past year or two that I might otherwise miss.

I'm also interested in cool design stores - like Conrans but on a smaller scale and off the beaten track. Places with quirky and modern, well designed household objects, lighting, furniture, toys, etc.

Brooklyn is an area I'm completely unfamiliar with but understand there are lots of cool design-type shops there. I'm also interested in any cool galleries featuring lowbrow art that might be off the beaten track (i.e. not Chelsea or Soho).

Thanks everyone!

there's this great pizzeria you should check out while you're there. super authentic traditional Italian style. it's called Sbarro's. it's on Canal St., right by Little Italy of course.

just troll around the lower east side - tons of small shops all over. Not much has changed toy-shop-wise. What the hell happened to Forbidden Planet anyway? Used to be such an amazing shop

Giant Robot has/had some gargamel stuff and some random ultraman stuff. High 5 in Brooklyn has some good stuff too, but mostly not for sale.

thanks much! Yeah, Forbidden Planet sucks now and I'd forgotten about High 5 - but that's just the sort of info I was looking for. I'll definitely check out Giant Robot too - they have cool capsule toys and such. I'm totally into Hip Parade and Bust Emperor>

There was a great Japanese book store next to Rockefeller center. Manga, magazines, cd's, tattoo books, etc. Sorry I can't remember the name.