The Evolution Store, New York

When CNN Money began looking for places to showcase in their segment on exotic gifts, they went straight to The Evolution Store. That’s because the shop, a staple of the SoHo arts scene since 1993, specializes in quirky gifts, decor, and toys that can surprise even the person who seemingly has it all. The staff curates a stock of biological specimens, fossils, and curiosities from paleontologists, private collectors, entomologists, and great-grandmothers’ purses, creating an ever-changing supply of natural history artifacts that add a unique flair to living rooms and supervillain lairs. The shelves are bursting with sights that almost seem surreal, showcasing actual skeletons standing next to dinosaur teeth, medical models, and preserved butterflies in the bustling shop. The Evolution Store’s items are so revered that the staff also rents out specimens by the day, allowing movie-makers to create realistic scenes for hunting lodges with the shop’s bear-skin rugs.