Shop local this season
For those who love to shop, this is the most wonderful time ofyear.
For those who don’t, well, the season is about as fun as a rootcanal.
We belong in that first camp, of course. Anti-shoppers, you justmight join us, since the Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair getsunder way Friday. plus, Tucson is home to lots of great, locallyowned stores to keep you far, far away from heart palpitation-inducing encounters at overcrowded malls.
If ever there was a time to shop local, this is it.
Allow Lisette DeMars to clue you in.
DeMars is the Tucson membership coordinator for Local FirstArizona, a nonprofit organization working to strengthen communitiesand local economies by supporting locally owned businessesthroughout the state. Arizona’s chapter is the largest andfastest-growing in the United States, she said. Tucson’s chapterhas about 250 businesses and is expanding quickly.
“The biggest message we’re trying to get out – be aware of howyour money can work for you,” DeMars said. “For every $100, $45stays here in our community. If you spend it at a chain, it’s only$13. it ends up being dollars that keep people employed; thesedollars go toward police and fire departments, into libraries andparks. We’re not asking people to spend any more money.”
Consumers sometimes assume that local is more expensive, butthat’s not necessarily the case, DeMars said. plus, locally ownedstores tend to offer better service, DeMars said. “They need you tocome back,” she said.
The group’s website, localfirstaz.com, offers a businessdirectory as well as a list of stores with online shopping. You caneven download a free iPhone app that alerts you to specialdeals.
To help you get your shop on, over the next four pages you’llfind a list of some local stores, organized by the type of gift-getters on your list.
The fashion-conscious
• Loop Jean Co., 7047 N. Oracle Road in Casas Adobes Plaza,219-9785, loopjeancompany.com. Premium denim for guys and gals,including Oprah fave CJ by Cookie Johnson. You can also findhigh-end leather handbags from sought-after lines like Elizabethand James, and Rebecca Minkoff; as well as jewelry, shoes andaccessories such as belts and silver belt buckles.
• Landmark Clothing & Shoes, 876 E. University Blvd.,622-3706, landmarkclothingandshoes.com this store truly earnsits name, since it dates back to 1959. Aimed at the college crowd,Landmark sells casual clothing for men and women. labels includeLucky Brand Jeans, Reyn Spooner Hawaiian shirts, and sandals byReef and Teva.
• W Boutique, 4340 N. Campbell Ave. in St. Philip’s Plaza,577-3470; and 7049 N. Oracle Road in Casas Adobes Plaza, 877-8790.Both spots feature everything from fancy duds tokick-around-on-the-weekend clothes, but each offers differentlines. the Campbell location carries high-end Diane von Furstenbergand Haute Hippie, as well as casual Michael Stars knitwear. Theboutique just added shoes, and it has everything from dainty balletflats to sexy, over-the-knee boots from Cynthia Vincent, Kooba,DVF, and Elizabeth and James. Over on Oracle, W stocks Velvet,Corey Lynn Calter and Chan Luu scarves, which are popular.
One of a kind
• Bohemia, 2920 E. Broadway and 417 N. Fourth Ave., 882-0800,bohemiatucson.com Furniture, clothing, bags, art – the store isfilled with unique, because pieces are crafted by mostly localartists. You could easily spend hours combing through the shelvesand racks. Check out the bangles and key chains made from licenseplates, and the fun neck-warmers knitted out of chunky yarn andfastened with an oversized button.
• Crizmac Art & Cultural Marketplace, 1642 N. Alvernon way,323-8555, crizmac.com inside the bright-as-the-sun yellow building,you’ll find folk art from different countries, along withhandcrafted décor made locally. Yummy scented soaps, sunflowerseeds in painted glass bottles along with beaded key chains,jewelry and a large selection of children’s books round out theofferings.
• Mast, 299 S. Park Ave., in the Lost Barrio behind Tooley’sCafe, 1-520-720-0299. From vinyl records to whatever inventivecreations pop out of the four owners’ heads – such as necklacesmade out of compasses – Mast promises a unique gift-buyingexperience. the store carries lots of locally made items, includinghandmade holiday cards as well as moccasins in metallic colors forwomen and children. Maja Nostrant is the featured artist, and herpieces, which include ornaments, start at $10.
Kid at heart
• Lulubell Toy Bodega, 35 E. Toole Ave.; 622-5858;lulubelltoys.com So it’s not your average toy store. Yes, youcan find cute stuffed bears and bunnies – along with a plush roastchicken, organs and grenades. Collectors will drool over theartist-designed, limited-edition vinyl toys, T-shirts and otherapparel, as well as gallery pieces.
• Heroes and Villains, 4533 E. Broadway, 321-4376,heroesvillains.marvelretailers.com this is the place for comic fansof all ages. the focus is on newer stuff, but you can find backissues along with toys exclusive to the comics market and gamesincluding Dungeons & Dragons.
Four-legged friends
• Pawsh, at 2905 E. Skyline Drive in La Encantada, 327-6088,Ext. 154. the Humane Society’s adoption outpost and store sellstoys, treats and necessities such as leashes and food bowls. Itoffers a selection of adoptable animals, so you can even find abuddy for your dog or cat. Profits from the store go to the HumaneSociety for the animals’ care.
• Dirty Dawgs, 2510 N. Campbell Ave., 777-6045,dirtydawgs.biz OK, so just tell Dogbert the Wonder Hound thatyou’re going to Dirty Dawgs to buy some gourmet goodies and a toy.And then, after he’s excited about his new stuff, you can scrub himdown. Hey, a little doggy deception is perfectly acceptable whenyour best bud is starting to smell skunk-like. the in-store specialuntil Dec. 23: buy any dog toy and get a free dog wash.
Pint-size present-openers
• Mildred & Dildred, 2905 E. Skyline Drive in La Encantada,615-6266, mildredanddildred.com Dedicated to imaginative play,Mildred & Dildred has everything from infant toys to pedal-lessbikes for beginning riders. Dino enthusiasts will go gaga over thetoy set that lets youngsters dig around for bones and then put themtogether. our favorite feature: drawers that are dedicated to tiny,inexpensive treasures.
• mrs. Tiggy-Winkle’s Toys, 4811 E. Grant Road, 326-0188,tiggytoysonline.com How can you not love a place that offersyou a sprinkling of fairy dust when you walk in? Toys range fromfanciful to artistic and everything in between. We love the gamesection because many are set up on display, and employees are happyto offer advice and even play a round with you. the store also hasa great selection of non-annoying kids’ music.
• Kid’s Center, 1725 N. Swan Road, 322-5437,e-kidscenter.com this small store is tightly packed, from floorto ceiling, with musical toys, books, lots of good stuff for babiesand an entire wall dedicated to Playmobil toys. the stuffed animalsand puppets are soft and incredibly lifelike.
Foodie
• Table Talk, 6842 E. Tanque Verde Road, 886-8433; 7876 N.Oracle Road in Oro Valley, 219-8232; 7707 E. Broadway, 733-6052,tabletalk.com this place is one-stop shopping for the person wholoves to entertain at home – pick out furniture, gadgets andgizmos, linens, cutlery, even gourmet treats.
• Native Seeds/SEARCH, 3061 N. Campbell Ave., 622-5561,nativeseeds.org Beautiful baskets and crafts, along with bakingmixes and seasonings, are for sale at this spot with a uniquemission – the nonprofit organization is dedicated to conserving,distributing and documenting ancient crops and preserving knowledgeabout their uses.
Artsy
• Details Art & Design, 3001 E. Skyline Drive; 577-1995,detailsart.com this shop offers selections of contemporarycraft production pieces as well as one-of-a-kind art. Check out theselection of Mata Ortiz pottery, fun clocks and an array ofJudaica, including saguaro-rib dreidels and mezuzahs.
• Paloma Art Gallery, 4747 E. Sunrise Drive, 577-9224, palomaart.com Whimsical is the name of the game here, from colorfulhome accents such as ceramics to – our favorite – recycled gardenart made out of things like World War II helmets. Cutest lady bugsand turtles ever.
Outdoorsy
• Summit Hut, 605 E. Wetmore Road at First Avenue, 888-1000;5045 E. Speedway, 325-1554, summithut.com Yes, this is theplace for the serious adventurer, since it sells hiking boots andequipment. But Summit Hut is plenty playful, too – Lego headlamp,anyone? it keeps selling out. the Lego lantern is cool, too. Youcan even buy water tablets flavored like wasabi or bacon. Speakingof bacon – surprise – this is one of the best places to score sillystocking stuffers like bacon-flavored lip balm. it also offerslocal-flavored items such as saguaro- and javelina-shaped cookiecutters. the Christmas tree ornaments are not to be missed.
• Miller’s Surplus, 406 N. Sixth Ave., 622-4777; 1537 S.Craycroft Road, 790-8700, millerssurplus.com If you havesomeone on the shopping list who prefers MREs over M&Ms in yeol’ stocking, you can find ‘em here, along with camouflage nettingand assorted military stuff. There also is plenty of camping, gearfrom kitchenwear to fold-out chairs. And you don’t have to be asurvivalist to appreciate the selection of cool canvas bags andduffels in all sizes.
Environmentally conscious
• Pop-Cycle, 422 N. Fourth Ave., 622-3297, popcycleshop.comFun – that’s the best way to describe this Fourth Avenue haunt. Thefocus is on “up-cycling,” with the cutest monster-adorned bags,scarves and beanies. A wide variety of handmade Christmas ornamentsmade out of recycled materials, of course, graces the shelves,along with out-of-the-ordinary jewelry made of records, soda cansand even pool balls. You could lose hours in this place.
• Nurturing Nature, 5420 E. Broadway in Williams Centre,790-5910, nurturingnaturegoods.com the focus here is onrecycled, recyclable, organic or made-through-fair-trade items.You’ll find coin purses made out of recycled tires, Bingo-chipnecklaces, along with organic-cotton baby clothes. We heart theLifefactory glass water bottles encased in silicone sleeves (theycome in baby-bottle versions, too) and the Ben’s Bells ceramicpieces, made locally and part of a project to promote kindness andcommunity.
• Toque de Pasión, 3000 E. Broadway; 881-0411,toquedepasion.net this boutique with a fair-trade bent featuresglobal goodies like inexpensive bracelets crafted by a Kenyanfair-trade cooperative out of flip-flops washed up from the ocean.Slips of paper offer background on items like the mesquite-podjewelry. Find clothing and even chocolate, too.
Darling grandchildren
• Angel Threads, 2905 E. Skyline Drive in La Encantada,299-3221. try to pull yourself away from the softer-than-a-babyLittle Giraffe blankets (they come in adult size, too). Theassortment of sweaters and frilly dresses will have you “awwwwing”from one end of the store to other. Don’t miss the fun bibs thatturn into instant costumes once they’re slipped on.
• little Bird Nesting Co., 426 E. Seventh St., just east ofNorth Fourth Avenue, 603-2694; littlebirdnestingcompany.orgThis new shop offers some gently used items along with treasuresfrom local artisans. Frilly, full tulle skirts and one-of-a-kindcrocheted pieces like sweaters and shoes make for unique gifts.
Great gifts – $40 and under
• Birdhouses – crafted from mostly recycled materials such asfaucet knobs and spoons – are irresistible. They come in fancifuldesigns and ooze charm. Starting at $40 at Bohemia, 2920 E.Broadway.
• A sturdy canvas shoulder bag rings in at a mere $9.99, and youget a lot of bang for your buck: snap pockets, a padded shoulderstrap and even a patch for a little pizzazz. larger sizes are alsoavailable. get one at Miller’s Surplus, 406 N. Sixth Ave. and 1537S. Craycroft Road.
• It’s officially called the Mighty Wallet. We call it flat-outcool. Made of a material called Tyvek, like the stuff of ExpressMail envelopes, the wallet is tear-resistant, water-resistant,expandable and recyclable, and it comes in crazy-cool designs. $15at Nurturing Nature, 5420 E. Broadway, in Williams Centre.
• Here’s some bling that doesn’t break the bank. Colorful SookieSookie rings are made of clay and embellished with crystals andbeads. They’re adjustable, so they’ll fit any size finger. $15 atOutside of Ordinary, 905 E. University Blvd.
• this travel-ready game doesn’t require a board or pencil orpaper. all you need for Bananagrams is the cute zippered pouch andthe 144 letter tiles inside. A round of the word game can be playedin as little as five minutes, and it’s good for age 7 and up.$15.95 at Mildred & Dildred, 2905 E. Skyline Drive, in LaEncantada.
• Tucson artist Annette Geistfeld puts quotes and sentimentsinside these teeny handmade books. Those pictured are $8, butlarger pieces are also available. At Details Art & Design, 3001E. Skyline Drive.
• Have you ever seen anyone in this town not carrying water?that desert necessity becomes a snappy accessory with anultra-bright acrylic cup. These 16-ouncers come with a matchingstraw, too. $11.95 at Chocolate Iguana on 4th, 500 N. FourthAve.
Takin’ shopping to the street
This the 41st year for the Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair,which takes place between Ninth Street and University Boulevardalong Fourth Avenue.
“It’s a Tucson tradition,” said Kurt Tallis, events andmarketing director for the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association.
More than 400 artists’ booths will be set up along the avenue,with arts and crafts ranging from fine art to more country-typecrafts. Some artisans have been setting up at the fair for morethan 20 years, Tallis said.
This year’s event also offers fair-goers the chance to gawk atand test drive the new all-electric Nissan Leaf. Free health checkswill be available at the Fourth Avenue underpass, Tallis added.
If you go
Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair
• when: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• where: between East Ninth Street and East UniversityBoulevard, along North Fourth Avenue.
• Parking: Metered parking is free on the weekend. Free shuttleswill run from the Pennington Street Garage downtown. plus the OldPueblo Trolley will ferry people from the UA parking garages, alsofree. Free bike valet parking will be available along the east sideof Fourth Avenue and Seventh Street.
• keep the pets at home: no animals are allowed.
• More info: fourthavenue.org/fairs/general-information
Where to find great stocking stuffers
• Chocolate Iguana on 4th, 500 N. Fourth Ave., 798-1211;chocolateiguanaon4th.com the little gingerbread-looking housecarries all kinds of goodies, cupcake-shaped stress squeezers,funny magnets, spy pens and a huge selection of packagedcandies.
• the Seasoned Woman, 5460 E. Broadway, in Williams Centre. Alsoa great spot to find that perfect hostess gift (pretty ornamentsand sparkly crystal sun catchers are two suggestions), the SeasonedWoman brims with trinkets from silver pocket tokens to cute, fuzzyanimal pens and mini-alarm clocks.
• Outside of Ordinary, 905 E. University Blvd., 624-2241. Youcan find stuff for any age – key chains, studded wrap bracelets,pens shaped like crayons.
One-stop shopping
Want to shop locally, but you’re not so big on traipsing aroundeverywhere to find the perfect, handmade thing? well, you can stillsupport local artists through online Desert Indie Designers, whichincludes Tucson-area people who make ceramics, jewelry and othercrafts. Find them atetsy.com/teams/5190/desert-indie-designers