The specialty shopping districts of New York City—devoted to goods as diverse as flowers, buttons, and diamonds—are intriguing, sometimes intimidating, yet can provide some of the best shopping in the world.  Some offer bargains, others a staggering variety, some pride themselves on customer service, at others…fuggedaboudit! With the Curious Shopper’s Guide in hand, you can find yourself—before the sun comes up—buying flowers elbow-to-elbow with the poshest party planners in the city; then journey down to the Lower East Side where dusty undergarment shops dating from the turn of the century cater to both hard-to-fit customers and the neighborhood’s bustier-wearing hipsters. Author Pamela Keech navigates these quirky enclaves, pointing out the best, the most unique, the wholesalers happy to sell retail, and the personality and protocols of each, along with the fascinating histories of how each of these districts came to be.

• Hyman Hendler and Sons is now located at 21 West 38th Street, down the block from the original location; the phone number is unchanged.

• Tinsel Trading Company has moved to 1 West 37th Street.