For those who love to shop, this is the most wonderful time of year.
For those who don't, well, the season is about as fun as a root canal.
We belong in that first camp, of course. Anti-shoppers, you just might join us, since the Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair gets under way Friday. Plus, Tucson is home to lots of great, locally owned 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 First Arizona, a nonprofit organization working to strengthen communities and local economies by supporting locally owned businesses throughout the state. Arizona's chapter is the largest and fastest-growing in the United States, she said. Tucson's chapter has about 250 businesses and is expanding quickly.
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"The biggest message we're trying to get out - be aware of how your money can work for you," DeMars said. "For every $100, $45 stays here in our community. If you spend it at a chain, it's only $13. It ends up being dollars that keep people employed; these dollars go toward police and fire departments, into libraries and parks. We're not asking people to spend any more money."
Consumers sometimes assume that local is more expensive, but that's not necessarily the case, DeMars said. Plus, locally owned stores tend to offer better service, DeMars said. "They need you to come back," she said.
The group's website, localfirstaz.com, offers a business directory as well as a list of stores with online shopping. You can even download a free iPhone app that alerts you to special deals.
To help you get your shop on, over the next four pages you'll find 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 find high-end leather handbags from sought-after lines like Elizabeth and James, and Rebecca Minkoff; as well as jewelry, shoes and accessories such as belts and silver belt buckles.
• Landmark Clothing & Shoes, 876 E. University Blvd., 622-3706, www.landmarkclothingandshoes.com This store truly earns its name, since it dates back to 1959. Aimed at the college crowd, Landmark sells casual clothing for men and women. Labels include Lucky Brand Jeans, Reyn Spooner Hawaiian shirts, and sandals by Reef 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 to kick-around-on-the-weekend clothes, but each offers different lines. The Campbell location carries high-end Diane von Furstenberg and Haute Hippie, as well as casual Michael Stars knitwear. The boutique just added shoes, and it has everything from dainty ballet flats 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, www.bohemiatucson.com Furniture, clothing, bags, art - the store is filled with unique, because pieces are crafted by mostly local artists. You could easily spend hours combing through the shelves and racks. Check out the bangles and key chains made from license plates, and the fun neck-warmers knitted out of chunky yarn and fastened 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 with handcrafted décor made locally. Yummy scented soaps, sunflower seeds in painted glass bottles along with beaded key chains, jewelry and a large selection of children's books round out the offerings.
• Mast, 299 S. Park Ave., in the Lost Barrio behind Tooley's Cafe, 1-520-720-0299. From vinyl records to whatever inventive creations pop out of the four owners' heads - such as necklaces made out of compasses - Mast promises a unique gift-buying experience. The store carries lots of locally made items, including handmade holiday cards as well as moccasins in metallic colors for women and children. Maja Nostrant is the featured artist, and her pieces, which include ornaments, start at $10.
Kid at heart
• Lulubell Toy Bodega, 35 E. Toole Ave.; 622-5858; www.lulubelltoys.com So it's not your average toy store. Yes, you can find cute stuffed bears and bunnies - along with a plush roast chicken, organs and grenades. Collectors will drool over the artist-designed, limited-edition vinyl toys, T-shirts and other apparel, as well as gallery pieces.
• Heroes and Villains, 4533 E. Broadway, 321-4376, heroesvillains.marvelretailers.com This is the place for comic fans of all ages. The focus is on newer stuff, but you can find back issues along with toys exclusive to the comics market and games including 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 sells toys, treats and necessities such as leashes and food bowls. It offers a selection of adoptable animals, so you can even find a buddy for your dog or cat. Profits from the store go to the Humane Society for the animals' care.
• Dirty Dawgs, 2510 N. Campbell Ave., 777-6045, www.dirtydawgs.biz OK, so just tell Dogbert the Wonder Hound that you'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 him down. Hey, a little doggy deception is perfectly acceptable when your best bud is starting to smell skunk-like. The in-store special until 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-less bikes for beginning riders. Dino enthusiasts will go gaga over the toy set that lets youngsters dig around for bones and then put them together. Our favorite feature: drawers that are dedicated to tiny, inexpensive treasures.
• Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle's Toys, 4811 E. Grant Road, 326-0188, www.tiggytoysonline.com How can you not love a place that offers you a sprinkling of fairy dust when you walk in? Toys range from fanciful to artistic and everything in between. We love the game section because many are set up on display, and employees are happy to offer advice and even play a round with you. The store also has a great selection of non-annoying kids' music.
• Kid's Center, 1725 N. Swan Road, 322-5437, www.e-kidscenter.com This small store is tightly packed, from floor to ceiling, with musical toys, books, lots of good stuff for babies and an entire wall dedicated to Playmobil toys. The stuffed animals and 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 who loves to entertain at home - pick out furniture, gadgets and gizmos, linens, cutlery, even gourmet treats.
• Native Seeds/SEARCH, 3061 N. Campbell Ave., 622-5561, www.nativeseeds.org Beautiful baskets and crafts, along with baking mixes and seasonings, are for sale at this spot with a unique mission - the nonprofit organization is dedicated to conserving, distributing and documenting ancient crops and preserving knowledge about their uses.
Artsy
• Details Art & Design, 3001 E. Skyline Drive; 577-1995, www.detailsart.com This shop offers selections of contemporary craft production pieces as well as one-of-a-kind art. Check out the selection of Mata Ortiz pottery, fun clocks and an array of Judaica, including saguaro-rib dreidels and mezuzahs.
• Paloma Art Gallery, 4747 E. Sunrise Drive, 577-9224, www. palomaart.com Whimsical is the name of the game here, from colorful home accents such as ceramics to - our favorite - recycled garden art made out of things like World War II helmets. Cutest lady bugs and turtles ever.
Outdoorsy
• Summit Hut, 605 E. Wetmore Road at First Avenue, 888-1000; 5045 E. Speedway, 325-1554, www.summithut.com Yes, this is the place for the serious adventurer, since it sells hiking boots and equipment. But Summit Hut is plenty playful, too - Lego headlamp, anyone? It keeps selling out. The Lego lantern is cool, too. You can even buy water tablets flavored like wasabi or bacon. Speaking of bacon - surprise - this is one of the best places to score silly stocking stuffers like bacon-flavored lip balm. It also offers local-flavored items such as saguaro- and javelina-shaped cookie cutters. The Christmas tree ornaments are not to be missed.
• Miller's Surplus, 406 N. Sixth Ave., 622-4777; 1537 S. Craycroft Road, 790-8700, www.millerssurplus.com If you have someone on the shopping list who prefers MREs over M&Ms in ye ol' stocking, you can find 'em here, along with camouflage netting and assorted military stuff. There also is plenty of camping, gear from kitchenwear to fold-out chairs. And you don't have to be a survivalist to appreciate the selection of cool canvas bags and duffels in all sizes.
Environmentally conscious
• Pop-Cycle, 422 N. Fourth Ave., 622-3297, www.popcycleshop.com Fun - that's the best way to describe this Fourth Avenue haunt. The focus is on "up-cycling," with the cutest monster-adorned bags, scarves and beanies. A wide variety of handmade Christmas ornaments made out of recycled materials, of course, graces the shelves, along with out-of-the-ordinary jewelry made of records, soda cans and even pool balls. You could lose hours in this place.
• Nurturing Nature, 5420 E. Broadway in Williams Centre, 790-5910, www.nurturingnaturegoods.com The focus here is on recycled, recyclable, organic or made-through-fair-trade items. You'll find coin purses made out of recycled tires, Bingo-chip necklaces, along with organic-cotton baby clothes. We heart the Lifefactory glass water bottles encased in silicone sleeves (they come in baby-bottle versions, too) and the Ben's Bells ceramic pieces, made locally and part of a project to promote kindness and community.
• Toque de Pasión, 3000 E. Broadway; 881-0411, www.toquedepasion.net This boutique with a fair-trade bent features global goodies like inexpensive bracelets crafted by a Kenyan fair-trade cooperative out of flip-flops washed up from the ocean. Slips of paper offer background on items like the mesquite-pod jewelry. 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-baby Little Giraffe blankets (they come in adult size, too). The assortment of sweaters and frilly dresses will have you "awwwwing" from one end of the store to other. Don't miss the fun bibs that turn into instant costumes once they're slipped on.
• Little Bird Nesting Co., 426 E. Seventh St., just east of North Fourth Avenue, 603-2694; www.littlebirdnestingcompany.org This new shop offers some gently used items along with treasures from local artisans. Frilly, full tulle skirts and one-of-a-kind crocheted pieces like sweaters and shoes make for unique gifts.
Great gifts - $40 and under
• Birdhouses - crafted from mostly recycled materials such as faucet knobs and spoons - are irresistible. They come in fanciful designs and ooze charm. Starting at $40 at Bohemia, 2920 E. Broadway.
• A sturdy canvas shoulder bag rings in at a mere $9.99, and you get a lot of bang for your buck: snap pockets, a padded shoulder strap and even a patch for a little pizzazz. Larger sizes are also available. Get one at Miller's Surplus, 406 N. Sixth Ave. and 1537 S. Craycroft Road.
• It's officially called the Mighty Wallet. We call it flat-out cool. Made of a material called Tyvek, like the stuff of Express Mail envelopes, the wallet is tear-resistant, water-resistant, expandable and recyclable, and it comes in crazy-cool designs. $15 at Nurturing Nature, 5420 E. Broadway, in Williams Centre.
• Here's some bling that doesn't break the bank. Colorful Sookie Sookie rings are made of clay and embellished with crystals and beads. They're adjustable, so they'll fit any size finger. $15 at Outside of Ordinary, 905 E. University Blvd.
• This travel-ready game doesn't require a board or pencil or paper. All you need for Bananagrams is the cute zippered pouch and the 144 letter tiles inside. A round of the word game can be played in as little as five minutes, and it's good for age 7 and up. $15.95 at Mildred & Dildred, 2905 E. Skyline Drive, in La Encantada.
• Tucson artist Annette Geistfeld puts quotes and sentiments inside these teeny handmade books. Those pictured are $8, but larger pieces are also available. At Details Art & Design, 3001 E. Skyline Drive.
• Have you ever seen anyone in this town not carrying water? That desert necessity becomes a snappy accessory with an ultra-bright acrylic cup. These 16-ouncers come with a matching straw, too. $11.95 at Chocolate Iguana on 4th, 500 N. Fourth Ave.
Takin' shopping to the street
This the 41st year for the Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair, which takes place between Ninth Street and University Boulevard along Fourth Avenue.
"It's a Tucson tradition," said Kurt Tallis, events and marketing 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-type crafts. Some artisans have been setting up at the fair for more than 20 years, Tallis said.
This year's event also offers fair-goers the chance to gawk at and test drive the new all-electric Nissan Leaf. Free health checks will 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 University Boulevard, along North Fourth Avenue.
• Parking: Metered parking is free on the weekend. Free shuttles will run from the Pennington Street Garage downtown. Plus the Old Pueblo Trolley will ferry people from the UA parking garages, also free. Free bike valet parking will be available along the east side of Fourth Avenue and Seventh Street.
• Keep the pets at home: No animals are allowed.
• More info: www.fourthavenue.org/fairs/general-information
Where to find great stocking stuffers
• Chocolate Iguana on 4th, 500 N. Fourth Ave., 798-1211; www.chocolateiguanaon4th.com The little gingerbread-looking house carries all kinds of goodies, cupcake-shaped stress squeezers, funny magnets, spy pens and a huge selection of packaged candies.
• The Seasoned Woman, 5460 E. Broadway, in Williams Centre. Also a great spot to find that perfect hostess gift (pretty ornaments and sparkly crystal sun catchers are two suggestions), The Seasoned Woman brims with trinkets from silver pocket tokens to cute, fuzzy animal pens and mini-alarm clocks.
• Outside of Ordinary, 905 E. University Blvd., 624-2241. You can 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 around everywhere to find the perfect, handmade thing? Well, you can still support local artists through online Desert Indie Designers, which includes Tucson-area people who make ceramics, jewelry and other crafts. Find them at www.etsy.com/teams/5190/desert-indie-designers
