If you don't have a custom stamp, you don't have a business.

Kittens and cannoli are inside this letter.

For the month of December, Feed Me will be featuring a daily holiday gift — usually suggested by Emily, sometimes suggested by someone else. In addition to this advent calendar-style gift guide, there will also be the occasional Christmas surprise.

There’s a stamp store on East 11th Street.

caseysrubberstamps

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It’s called Casey Rubber Stamps. When you walk in, you’ll feel as if an avalanche of rubber stamps are about to fall on you (about 5 people can fit in the store at a time), but they won’t. What will happen is that a soft cat named Ratty will push his head and body against you as you sort through initials, and ink pads, and stars, and illustrations of spiders. Girls in Brandy Melville tank tops are hard at work laser cutting and working printing presses in the back of the store, while the store’s owner John Casey sits at his computer and talks to customers. I spent a lot of my early 20’s in this neighborhood and would make a habit to always stop outside and try out the stamp pads. What I found out a few years ago is that you can also make custom stamps — an excellent gift.

I’ve gotten loved ones stamps of their signatures, illustrations I’ve drawn for them, and logos of their businesses. Who knows how much they use them, but everyone knows a desk becomes a desk with a stamp and ink pad in the drawer.

Here’s what I’d do: order someone a custom stamp, bring them to pick it up, and as you’re walking out, make a right. If you walk a few more steps, you’ll land at my favorite Italian bakery which has been in the neighborhood since 1894, Veniero’s. They’re open late, until like 10pm I think. I like bakeries that are open late that will serve you espresso and cannoli into the night, big AA vibe to them.

If you don’t live in New York, you can also buy custom stamps and stamps from their catalog online. I guess you can also get national delivery for Veniero’s as well on GoldBelly, but I can’t speak to that experience.