Save it, you holiday-shopping haters. We don't want to hear you whine about how you've got no time and the stores are too crowded. No more excuses. The jig is up. Because, hey, you still gotta eat, right? Well, here's the ultimate in multi-tasking - grab a bite and shop. That's right, bah yumbug.
We're a little food-centered right now, what with this being the biggest eating day of the year. Plus, Tucson boasts an amazing number of dining establishments that also have shops, everything from the Blue Willow's got-everything entryway to the well-mannered charm of Chantilly Tea Room & Gift Boutique's tea-themed trinkets. Yeah, yeah, we know you can breeze into practically any coffee shop and pick up a mug and pound of coffee to give as a gift and that plenty of eateries sell packaged gourmet foods, but our emphasis is on restaurants selling a variety of stuff for those lucky peeps on your holiday list.
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Our suggestions, in no particular order
• Cracker Barrel, 8400 N. Cracker Barrel Road, off Interstate 10 and Cortaro Road, www.crackerbarrel.com. Country-quaint remnants - from lanterns and rustic metal soda signs circa the 1930s - hang from the walls and ceilings at the compact, sprawling Old Country Store. This place has a little bit of everything, from the rocking chairs ($99.99 and $149.99) lining the wooden patio out front to Christmas ornaments (starting at $4.99). ASU and UA clothing, vintage TV shows on DVD ("The Love Boat," "Wagon Train," "Silver Spoons"), lotions and balms, soaps and candles (Yankee Candles and Fireside Woodwick Candles, with prices starting around $18). Best buys: Fat candy canes in several flavors, including traditional peppermint ($2.49) and Basket Case Headband Hoops ($9.99).
• Chantilly Tea Room & Gift Boutique, 5185 N. Genematas Drive, 622-3303, chantillytearoom.com. The indoor gazebo decorated with glittery butterflies is enough to make little girls' (and big girls') hearts go pitter-patter. The very lady-like goodies include vintage teacups and lots of lace, on doilies, towels and aprons. Chantilly sells plenty of teas, of course, along with tea-infused chocolate and even its own packaged scone mixes. Best buys: a pack of elegantly decorated writing paper and envelopes ($10.25) and a play tea set packed in a green gingham fabric-lined picnic basket ($39.95).
• El Charro Cafe downtown, 311 N. Court Ave., 622-1922, www.elcharrocafe.com The legendary Mexican restaurant has an eensy gift area, really just a row of shelves, tucked along the wall of its coffee shop. Here you'll find small trinkets like Mexican party favor yo-yos, Frida Kahlo press-on tattoos ($1.50) and, of course, bottled El Charro salsas ($6). Best buys: real Mexican vanilla ($3) and metal crosses ($10.25).
• The Hungry Fox Restaurant & Country Store, 4637 E. Broadway, 314-5895, www.thehungryfox.com. The word "country" tells ya what ya need to know. No fancy-schmancy things here, but more down-home treasures like votive candles, bookmarks and cards, and plenty of ceramics, from teakettles to cupcake-shaped plates. Best buys: imprecise measuring spoons reading "dash," "smidge" and "pinch" ($12), and NFL logo pillows ($4).
• Mr. Head's Art Gallery and Bar, 513 N. Fourth Ave. Yes, it's a bar, but there are menus from nearby eateries for ordering takeout. So there. Shopping while drinking might seem like a bad idea, but Mr. Head's features a lot of cool, locally made art encased in its curving acrylic bar - and all the proceeds go to the artists. The bar display case boasts an eclectic assortment, from knitted caps to walking sticks and all kinds of jewelry. Best bets: Silver bracelets ($75) and darling mini-paintings on easels ($17).
• 17th Street Market, 830 E. 17th St., 792-2588, www.seventeenthstreetmarket.com. You can get prepared foods here - right inside the door there's a fridge with pre-made sandwiches - so we say the grocery store counts. Plus, it's got an incredible variety of items - housewares, gifts and clothing from around the world, even CDs. There's also 17th Street Music, a store stocked with more CDs and unusual musical instruments like plastic boomwhackers and a guitar that we're pretty sure was crafted out of a dog bowl. Best buys: Brightly colored ukuleles ($29) and glass flowers ($5.99).
• Blue Willow, 2616 N. Campbell Ave., 327-7577, www.bluewillowtucson.com. Well into lunchtime, more than one customer was overheard asking, "Are we shopping or eating first?" The restaurant is every bit as famous for its gift shop, which has a heavy emphasis on the whimsical. Find everything from cute kitchen gizmos to farting greeting cards (one old guy could not get enough of those) to jewelry and a great assortment of kids' items like puppets, lunchboxes and scented pencils. Best buys: a hanging mobile to display your photos ($10.99) and fancy, metal fans; we're partial to the one shaped like an elephant ($80).
• Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, 742-6455, www.tohonochulpark.org. Three shops are stashed around the northwest-side botanical gardens, starting with the cozy La Fuente tucked into the Spanish colonial house adjacent to the Tea Room. Sneak in there while you wait for your Sunday brunch table and browse through the collection of prickly pear jams and syrups (starting at $4.50), Southwest children's books including Susan Lowell's "Josephina Javelina: A Hairy Tale," and handcrafted bric-a-brac including shiny etched glass spirit stones ($6). Best buy: Kokopelli cookie cutter ($4). Give it as a gift or take it home and bake a batch of quintessential Southwest cookies for your relatives back east.
• Chocolate Iguana on Fourth, 500 N. Fourth Ave., 798-1211, www.chocolateiguanaon4th.com. Grab a cup o' joe and a scone and then check out the great selection of knickknacks, mugs and espresso cups. Best buys: A giant gummi bear ($4.95) and supersized fridge magnets in designs including a cupcake and ice cream cone ($8.50).
• Yoshimatsu Healthy Japanese Eatery, 2660 N. Campbell Ave., 320-1574, www.yoshimatsuaz.com. The teeny store area is tchotchke heaven, featuring Japanese imports such as cat-shaped banks, dolls and molds to make clay sushi (although the box makes sure to mention that the clay is not included). Best buys: Japanese versions of Matchbox cars ($7.80-$15.80) and plastic sushi ($3.99 and up).
• Pastiche Wine Shop, 3025 N. Campbell Ave., 325-3333, www.pasticheme.com/wine. No surprise, there's a loooooooot of wine and wine-related accessories. You'll also find cookbooks and gourmet goodies like tea, peanut brittle, cheeses, even chocolates meant for pairing with wines. Best buys: Reidel wineglasses in all shapes and sizes and made for specific varietals ($14.99) and a sleek peppermill ($10).
• Maynards Market & Kitchen, 400 N. Toole Ave., 545-0577, www.maynardsmarket.com. Find plenty of made-in-Arizona items, from beer to olive oil, along with gifts for the eco-conscious, like grocery totebags and Vy & Elle bags made from recycled vinyl billboards. Best buys: a rustic rectangular stoneware dish ($24) and a collapsible picnic carrier ($39.99).
Other shopping options
Main Gate Square Holiday Boulevard Event
Starting at 11 a.m. Friday, Main Gate Square by the University of Arizona has its annual open house with live music, refreshments and even free wrapping at some stores.
At 6 p.m., the big guy - Santa Claus, not Sean Miller or Rich Rodriguez - holds a press conference and officially turns University Boulevard into Holiday Boulevard during Main Gate Square's last Bear Down Friday of the year. Santa also will be available for photos after the pep rally, which includes the Pride of Arizona Marching Band and Wilbur and Wilma. A great bonus - parking is free all day at the Main Gate and Tyndall garages located at Euclid Avenue and Second Street and Euclid and Fourth Street.
Pop-Up Shop: Taylored & Clarked
From 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 2-3 at St. Philip's Plaza, the pop-up shop - by stylist Paula Taylor, artist Clif Taylor and interior designer Darren Clark - offers contemporary menswear and vintage items along with designer clothing for women, furniture, handcrafted gifts and other goodies. You can even buy pieces from artist Ken Shorr.
St. Philip's Plaza is at 4280 N. Campbell Ave., at River Road.
Cathalena E. Burch contributed to this report.
