If all things macabre, ghoulish and peculiar are required from a shopping trip, Obscura Antiques and Oddities should be at the top of the list of stores to visit in NYC. Obscura has enjoyed recent fame after being featured on the TV show Oddities, so there are often people there who want to see what was shown on TV.
This makes for a more diverse crowd than is usually found in antique stores; in fact, Obscura has become much more of a tourist attraction than a haven for serious dealers and buyers. But this does not detract from the quality of the goods on sale, when mummified heads and hands, stuffed two-headed calves, and bone dice are among the items of interest!
Obscura Antiques and Oddities is about a 45-minute walk from Times Square, although public transportation is available in the general area. There is nothing else of note in the area, except maybe the Evolution Store, which is an 11-minute walk away, and the 90's old school clothing and toy store "Mr. Throwback", which is only three blocks away.
It feels a bit cramped in there - the space is small, and with only a handful of people in there, customers will be elbowing each other. However, the owners of Obscura Antiques and Oddities are quick to chat with each customer, making sure that everyone is welcome and that no question goes unanswered.
Prices are on the high side, and it is difficult to find a cheap, novelty item to keep as a souvenir. At least $20 is needed for the smaller items and T-shirts, and more than $200 should be budgeted for more unique items.
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