On paper, it sounds like a hipster's wet dream: vintage vinyl records being sold alongside designer vinyl toys (hence the name). If that's not cool enough for you, the retail space also doubles as a gallery for youthful contemporary art.
It can get kinda pricey, even for those of us with a local professional salary, but if you earn in dollars, you'll probably get a little more for your bucks.
Definitely worth a look for the artwork alone, even if you happen to be broke at the time.
This specialty comic and toy store isn't hard to miss: just look out for green facade, designed by artist Leeroy New to resemble alien mucous. And what's inside is even more noteworthy. There's a well-curated selection of indie comics (Filipino-made and otherwise) on the ground floor. Niche appeal toys (limited edition action figures and designer vinyl) and a small t-shirt selection are available in the space upstairs. Lovely manager Chez will negotiate custom orders, within reason.
The name of this second-hand bookstore is a play on words: it comes from "ukay-ukay" (which loosely means "rummage sale" in Filipino). It's quite an apt moniker -- the titles are loosely organized, but you'll really need to dig around for the perfect find. In the end, it's totally worth it: you just might find a pulp classic, cult title, or discarded best-seller -- sometimes for even PHP50 (approximately US$1) or less. The store also hosts poetry readings and even the odd intimate gig.
Even if you don't have love of the shopping, the size of this mega-gallery in fact a value for a visit. Glorietta is the embodiment of the paradise of the shopping. There are more good stores, cinemas, restaurants and bars than in most of the towns.
