Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Amsterdam Directory

There's more to shopping in Amsterdam than Guda and coffee candy... Do keep in mind that many stores are closed on Mondays and just as many open pretty late - between 11am and 1pm.

For vintage clothes & accessories
Designer items at JUKTA, Bilderdijkstraat 194
Ancient hats, corsets and clothes at 1953, Staalstraat 2

For health and beauty
A fab selection of cool cosmetics SKIN COSMETICS, Runnstraat
A futuristic pharmacy (pic): APOTHEEK, De Lairessestraat 40
All-natural Dutch beauty products and spa at SABON, Kalverstraat 34

Pia's favorite place for luscious chocolates
PUCCINI, Staalstraat 17

For Design items
EGG, Leliegracht 6
DROOG, Staalstraat 7
THE FROZEN FOUNTAIN, Prinsengracht 645
, where I got my cool silk Logo Scarf, ideal for a typography lover...
DE POSTHUMUS WINKEL, Sint Luciënsteeg 23 for fun stamps such as the Bee and the Dog Paw ones I got (see pic).

For a Dance Class
Amsterdam Dance Center, Bellamystraat 49-51

At the Waterstone's on Kalverstraat, I chose a Dutch novel in English: Mulisch's The Assault; the son of a Jewish mother whose family died in the Holocaust and an Austrian father who was a Nazi collaborator, Mulishch writes about WW2 with a precision and poignancy that are unique.
I also bought the children's classic The Silver Skates, which I had loved when I was a little girl - has anyone read it?

17 comments:

Laura Neulat said...

A good shopping (and dance) list, thank you!

Laura in Paris said...

Puccini for chocolates, it's a deal!

Fifi Flowers said...

Thanks for the Amsterdam travel photos... learning about new places... FUN!

marie said...

sounds like you're having a nice time!
i havn't read that book.. i love to see it though :)

J Elaine said...

The scarf is perfect for an adorer of typography AND The Economist. How cool!

Imelda Matt - The Despotic Queen of Shoes said...

i love (yet hate) that you can hop a train and be in Amsterdam at a whim :(

Anonymous said...

oh all good!!! and what nice photos...(i like buying books as a souvenir when i am somewhere...as well...)
nancy

mansuetude said...

that novel sounds fascinating. is it well written/translated?

Anonymous said...

ooh puccinis! if only we had a chance to meet up there mary-laure for a chocolat chaud! thanks for the mention :-). All your suggestions are perfect, and since I am hoping to get back into dance again soon, I will try this place you have suggested, thank you! have a safe journey home, 'tot ziens'! px

Mary-Laure said...

NANCY - ah, yes, I always come back with luggage heavy from all those books I bought...

MANSUETUDE - Mulisch's book is extraordinarily well written. Some sentences, so unsentimental and beautiful, I will never forget. Such as "Within the darkness, there was a second darkness" or "The world stopped at my skin".
It's also structured like an excellent thriller (for the suspense) or a Greek tragedy (for the feeling of inevitability).
I can't judge the translation, as I speak no Dutch, but the book doesn't seem to be translated, the English sounds very natural, so I guess that's good.
I strongly recommend it!

PIA - next time, I hope...

mansuetude said...

just ordered it. i watched Vonnegut's Night Mother last week and have been haunted by ideas of self "identity" and the propaganda of (how to say) taking political sides; perceptions of self/other. this should add. thanks.

Ella Gregory said...

I have never been but it sounds like a really interesting place.

MISS GLITZY said...

Thanks for the shopping list, I'll stop by next time I'll be in Amsterdam. Did you see the tiny shop of Hester Van Eeghen, she's a shoe designer (Hartenstraat 1)?

Mary-Laure said...

MANSUETUDE - I can't wait to hear your impressions of that book. It's a masterpiece, in my opinion.

MISS GLITZY - no, I didn't know of that store, what a pity! I'll make sure to go next time, thanks for the address.

Mod and Mint said...

Before i moved to NY, i used to live in Amsterdam, i love NY but i do miss A'dam! Thanks for bringing me back with your photos! Just discovered your blog, i'll put it on my bloglines so i'll find my way back soon!

ryder said...

cool blog

Hila said...

Thanks for posting about this book Mary-Laure (and for letting me know)! I'll have to find a copy now because I want to read it.