Stella Niche

Sometimes, after a long day of sitting in a cubicle in my office, the thought of hopping right onto a stuffy, overcrowded bus for 20 – 30 minutes is just too much to bear — I have to get some fresh air and visual stimulation before I can force myself to embark on the journey home. On days like that, Stella Niche is just the right thing to cleanse the palate between the workday and the long-​awaited evening.
A smallish gift boutique, Stella Niche carries high-​end candles and soaps, jewelry, scarves, handbags, and wall dcor, plus a few odds and ends like teacups and linens. The prices are fairly high, but their items are high-​quality and well chosen — the candles are strongly fragranced and prettily packaged, and there are several pieces of jewelry there that I covet, including a lovely Peruvian-​opal-​and-​fossilized-​stone bracelet (don’t buy it!). It is possible to find a nice gift here for under $ 20, but most of the items will run you more like $ 20 – 40.
The atmosphere is inviting and genteel, and remarkably quiet, given that it’s on a busy street. The owner is pleasant and friendly, and very willing to open up cases for you and talk about the items, even if it’s obvious that you’re just browsing. While many of the items seem geared towards somewhat older women — not Red Hat or anything, but more like fortysomethings who enjoy gardening and tea — there are a few trendier things, like the set of dessert plates with a metallic chandelier design.
Stella Niche would be a perfect place to swing by after work if you need to pick up, say, a quick hostess gift or a generic birthday gift on your way to a party. You won’t find anything especially innovative or one-​of-​a-​kind here, but their stuff is nice and the soothing, tranquil ambience alone is worth checking out after a wearying day at the office.