We’ve tricked you. What appeared to be the usual enjoyable exercise in reader participation was this week a shameless probe to find out where in Kyiv we can find something besides a matryoshka of Michael Jordan and a colored egg to bring back to the parents this year.
Mission accomplished. Response wasn’t overwhelming by any means, perhaps because good gift shops don’t exactly hit you in the face in Kyiv. But we received enough original responses to get us off Andriyivsky uzviz for once in our lives.
Since the feedback helped us, hopefully it will help you, too. Readers helping readers … I just may lose control of my emotions.
This week’s narrow winner was previously on our radar, but at least it wasn’t Andriyivsky. Kristina, which the Post last year named the best place to buy Christmas ornaments, took home the top prize. There are actually two Kristina outlets, a larger store off Maidan Nezalezhnosti at 4 Kostyolna, and a smaller shop near metro Universytet at 2 Pyrohovo.
Commentary on Kristina was scant, so we’ll defer to our article last year to give you a taste of what’s in store:
“There are no crowds or lines. Entering a Kristina store is a special holiday experience in itself. It feels like entering a Christmas fairytale. Or a mall in the United States.”
Kristina is also known for its alluring smell and high prices. But who said originality was cheap?
The runner-up was Andriyivsky. The uzviz is actually a fine choice, if not the most original one. “You can purchase almost any gift that one could possibly want and know the money spent is going to industrious, hard-working people,” as one reader put it. But the gift selection gets old if you’ve been here for a few years.
A couple places we know little about received votes. Farfor and Fiance on Khreshchatyk was mentioned by a few people. And Troeshchyna rynok was said by one former left-bank resident to be the one place in the capital where you can get everything in the same place (“CDs, shapkas, cigarettes, vodka, wooden gifts, Ukrainian sport suits, futbalkas, etc.”).
Another good suggestion, if you’re around this weekend, is the IWCK Bazaar (See Pick of the Week, page 10).
As a couple readers pointed out, you need not wander too far to find the quintessential Ukrainian gift: vodka. “The nearest vodka store” was the third most popular response.
High-rollers might take this man’s suggestion: “The gift to purchase is a round-trip ticket to somewhere warm and sunny for a minimum of a fortnight.” You might want to complement that gift with something from the sex shop on Maidan, as one reader suggested. What you buy will depend on whether you plan on going along or not.
If your financial situation is not so rosy, take this man’s suggestion instead: “The best place for a gift for me is McDonald’s; I collect the paper tray inserts.”
Results
1. Kristina
2. Andriyivsky uzviz
3. Vodka stores
4. Farfor and Fiance on Khreshchatyk
5. Troeshchyna rynok
6. Tsum
Others receiving votes: Roksolana, IWCK Charity Bazaar, sex shop off Maidan, Ukraina dept. store, travel agencies, Petrivka market.
