I love the cards, the books, the gift wrapping paper, the jewelry, the soaps... pretty much…read moreeverything they stock in here. If you are looking for something unique and quirky, this is a wonderful shop to visit. They'll even gift wrap your items for you. Another Newtown gem. A must visit anytime I'm in the neighborhood.

Where else can you find quirky book titles…read more(http://yelp.com.au/biz_photos/qUwMo_ehjAcq3QRu58nfAQ?select=3BfrHgYU-JPUd8VE63urDQ), a stack of journals (http://yelp.com.au/biz_photos/qUwMo_ehjAcq3QRu58nfAQ?select=hq1Rm0TOTs-eUpeU3_Du_Q) and colourful homewares by Mud (http://yelp.com.au/biz_photos/qUwMo_ehjAcq3QRu58nfAQ?select=RpBmC-yA9LUS7TJBS2zYlQ) all under one roof? As far as I'm concerned, nowhere else. Pentimento in Newtown has got it all. Pentimento is one of those places I go when I need to buy a gift of some description for that friend who already-has-everything-and-is-so-darn-hard-to-buy-for. Unique and eccentric, you can guarantee to find a present that no one else has thought of - 'The Moustache Grower's Guide', anyone? There are things that will make your friend laugh, inspire them to create, give hints on their travel destination or provide them with something beautiful to display in their home. Whatever the case, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you don't know what to buy someone (or perhaps you would like a self present), wander through Pentimento, it is sure to stimulate some original ideas.

I know I'm going to sound like a girl when I say this, but...I love pretty little, shiny things!…read moreThat's why I can never stroll past Abode without a cheeky browse at whatever they have in there. It's hard to define what this store is about, it has home-wares but it also has plenty of awesome novelty gifts. I'll admit I am guilty of walking in there, buying a present for a friend and then falling so in love with it that I keep it. I'm a horrible person, I know, but you try it! You'll go bonkers for all the gorgeous, funny and random things in there. Whether you feel like adding something quirky to your home, buying a card for a loved one or getting a present for someone, you'll find it in Abode. Just make sure to give yourself at least half an hour in there, I guarantee you'll keep getting side tracked.

Abode is the home of pretty things! This is the sort of shop you could browse in for hours trying…read moreto decide on the right card or gift for someone. The wooden floors, non in-your-face staff and quirky Things make this a really welcoming place to hang out in. Much like a place called Abode should be really. I don't see the point of greetings cards that aren't tailored to the person being greeted, and Adobe has a great selection of fun/arty/beautiful cards on top of the wide array of unique gifts for another person (or yourself of course). If you're looking for the likes of a unicorn lamp to a Dali-esque "melting clock" or just have no idea what to get your funky friend for their birthday, Adobe is a damn good place to start.

I don't know what I would do without this shop.... The shop I secretly call "The Everything Store"…read morebecause, well, they have everything. Here is a little list of the items I have purchased at Glebe Discounts (and for next to nothing, at that!) 1) Measuring cups 2) Travel sized flashlight 3) Fruit printed plastic serving tray 4) Eco friendly lightbulb 5) Cans of Pepsi Max ($1 each) 6) Electrical tape 7) Cloth laundry basket 8) Plastic laundry basket (when the cloth one ripped) 9) Party hats 10) "Happy Birthday Dad" card written in Chinese to give to my Canadian friend Rob 11) Fake floral arrangement (because every house needs some style) 12) Hand soap 13) A hammer 14) A sweet little Spongebob backpack It you ever need anything and you're not sure where to get it, hit up the Everything Store.... I would be willing to bet money they have it there.

Hmm... how would I describe Glebe Discounts? I wouldn't exactly call it a dollar store, though…read moreeverything inside is rather cheap. It's definitely not a supermarket. Nor a hardware store. Whatever you wanna call it, Glebe Discounts carries numerous items that you would typically find in the aforementioned stores. It is overflowing with pointless nick-nacks and doo-dads, but somewhere inside this mess, you'll be able to find some really nifty and useful items for a very low price. In the past, I've bought random things like light bulbs, laundry hampers, Kleenex boxes, and home cleaning products. I never really come here when I'm searching for something in particular. I always drop by and sift through the eclectic inventory to see if I find something I never even know I needed. Glebe Discounts is that kind of store. Don't expect it to be organized or even remotely navigable. Still, you should be able to find some pretty sweet deals.

Alfresco Emporium is a speciality retailer of lifestyle and dining products supplying well known…read moreand highly respected homeware brands including glasshouse candles, Bormoli and Ecology. They also have an amazing range of fresh flowers for sale that are handpicked by an experienced florist. And to the back of the store is a pleasant 'hamptonesque' type of cafe with Brassiere bread, sandwiches, sweets and great coffee though the service is painfully slow in all the times I visit. Today I am on a hunt for vintage milk bottles to use as flowers around my home and success I have them. I decide once getting them I may as well start the Christmas shopping and I'm starting with the Ecology cheeseboard with drawers. Beautiful store with beautiful objects.

We went for high tea last Tuesday. Having been in the cafe…read moreindustry for 11 years I had some reasonable expectations. Unfortunately it was not what we were expecting after having high tea at Newport. Service was slow and reluctant, we had to ask for tea and then ask for milk...after having to ask for the cakes to be served. I thought for 4 people spending $140.00 we could reasonably expect better service and attention. The food was lacking, when it became clear there was arancini (from lunch menu for $9.90) cut into 4 and served warm. Then the frittata (again from the lunch menu) cut into 4 and served warm. After having to book for high tea I would have expected something a little different to the usual fare being served. We would not go again.

Although this is not a store that you will enter often, when you do, you will find that there are…read morethings you want to get, though you never thought you needed. After going to a dress-up store that offered a rental for $80, I walked along oxford street to find some inspiration (not that type of inspiration) and entered Smart Dollar to see what they had. I was after a Mexican cowboy outfit, and found exactly what I was looking for, it was $21.95, and although it said 'keep away from fire' I bought it, and survived the night. I left the store with shot glasses, 10 for $3.00, straws, plastic cups, napkins, and other great party supplies. They also had a great array of kitchen supplies that I will think about going back and getting, as I'm keen to see what the quality will be like.

I don't get the dollar store concept around here. There are many other places in the world where…read moreone can step into a dollar store and expect that each and every item inside costs one single solitary dollar, and no more. Even though that doesn't seem be the way in this Darlinghurst variety shop, I can still appreciate a bargain when I see one. With an array of random odds and ends, this catch-all shop is a good place to look for that strange item you don't know where else to find. With Halloween approaching, the novelty of a store like this goes way up. Need some devil horns? What about a fairy wand? Smart Dollar has these items, as well as all the other cliche spooky necessities. I personally purchased a quad pack of craft glitter for $2.50. But trust that it took every single bit of will power to not walk out of there with a japanese lunch box and a 10 pack of pocket tissues.

Visiting a souvenir shop usually means seeing some tacky statues and shirts that only tourists will…read morelike. But for a one-of-a-kind experience, most tourists and even a lot of locals go to Souvenir World to get souvenirs and gifts for all occasions. Aside from the usual products like boomerangs and mugs, Souvenir world has the widest variety of products that will rival any department store in Sydney. From cute Koala bags to stylish kangaroo fur shoulder bags, they have something great for everyone. They even sell some health & beauty products that might catch your eye! So if you're in just visiting or looking for that special gift for someone, Souvenir world is the best place to go to.

Good place to buy souvenirs at some of the best prices in Sydney despite being so close to the…read morerocks and the opera house

A buzzing place in Chinatown near the rail stop. Ground floor a bazaar and another section an array…read moreof restos. Upper floors are in mall-like and second fl great Asian supermarket .

A very large Asian indoor market located in downtown Sydney, it reminded me very much of the Korean…read moreshopping malls located in multi-level buildings that were very popular in K-Town LA 10 years ago. But unlike in LA where they are not frequented, Market City was definitely hopping on a Friday afternoon. The vast majority of retail stores are Far East Asian (Chinese and Korean). There are grocery stores located in the bottom floor, along with beauty stores. There are also stand alone carts selling various knick knacks. It was worthwhile perusing them, and my brother ended up buying quite a few things.

Apart from selling books, which it does and does quite well, Gleebooks also plays host to various…read moretalks and events which take place in the upstairs room of the Glebe Point Road shop. They hold book launches, established authors in conversation and every Sunday they host a book club, as well as, on the first Saturday of every month, a stand up comedy show. Wit Large, a stand up evening billed as "Smart Comedy for Smart People" is a night that has come out of a desire for comedians to longer have to tell jokes over the uproar of a drunken conversation, the clatter of cutlery or the various "witty" repartee of an inebriated audience member on their bucks party. The show also aims to keep its humour either brow or higher, and their website claims that each act is screened first to avoid sexism, homophobia and lazy or energetic racism. Each show comes equipped with a theme, such as, "Medicine", "Music" and "New Arrivals" and various professional comedians, some local, and seem even on the International level. The night was engineered by stand up comedian Dave Bloustein, who hosts each performance, and Carrie Hardie, the shows producer. Tickets are $15 each, and the night utilises the book shop well, as during the intermission, you're free to browse the paperbacks and hard covers that paint the walls surrounding the stage. Wine and beer is available.

I had seem this place out of the corner of my eye as I was wandering arouind Glebe previously, and…read moreI decided to come back and check it out a bit later on that day. I was lucky because I get inside about five minutes before he closed, so I got a good opportunity to look around. I have to be honest and say that as bookshop it wasn't one of the best that I have been to, and the stock didn't really impress me as much as it could have impressed me. Mind you, it stocks new as opposed to second-hand books, which is probably why it didn't grab my attention as much as a second-hand bookshop does (namely because secondhand bookshops always have something interesting inside, and tend to have that musty, used book, feel about it). Mind you, I did find a couple of interesting books, but still, with what is next door, it doesn't really jump out at me.