You know the saying, “The cobbler’s children have no shoes”? It always struck a chord with me. Although my maternal grandfather was, in fact, a cobbler, Mom has made up for it in (Kate) spades. And ballet flats. And mules. And kitten heels. But during the holidays, I can relate to his proverbial dilemma. This time of year, I’m so busy shopping and saving for this column that I often put off my own list until the last minute.
In other words, ShopGirl’s family has no gifts. What I’m saying is, if you’re one of those people who waits until the week before Christmas to finish your shopping, you’re pushing it, but you’re far from alone.
And it’s possible to find something more exciting than socks and a tie if you know where to look. The following is a list of some of my favorite destinations:
For the truly unique: Metropolitan Soul, 25 Hammond St., Bangor, 992-4147. The artist in your life needs an antique ink roller used to print textiles in Asia, right? And that funky, fair-trade star made out of a Coke can would look perfect on your sister’s tree. Here, you’ll find an abundance of gifts under $10, too, such as the pictured glass heart and vase.
For kids: Too Much Fun at the Maine Discovery Museum, 74 Main St. Bangor, 262-7200. There is an amazing array of fun, educational gifts in this tiny space. Even better? A holiday sale that offers 40 percent off everything. A perfect combination.
For stocking stuffers: Yo Mamma’s Home, 96 Main St., Belfast, 338-4884. You can stock up on fun, kitschy goodness such as bacon-strip adhesive bandages, Jesus pens (for the religious write) and Pylones eyeglass cases. Truly a stocking-stuffer destination.
For gardeners: This is a toss-up between Greencare (Route 2, Hermon) and Brambles (Main Street, Belfast). The former offers more orchids and succulents than you can shake a stake at, as well as festive holiday bulbs such as paperwhites. The latter is a hybrid gift shop and gardeners paradise — truly a destination, especially on a dreary day.
For cooks: Rooster Brother, 29 Main St., Ellsworth, 667-8675; and the Natural Living Center, 209 Longview Drive, Bangor, 990-2646. I spent nearly an hour at Rooster Brother last weekend and would’ve been happy if I had stayed another hour. Top-of-the-line merchandise and great service. NLC is perfect for stocking stuffers, natural beauty products (Kiss My Face lavender lotion!) and all of the hard-to-find ingredients you’ll need for your holiday recipes.
For the woman who has everything: Bath & Body Works, Bangor Mall. Yes, the idea of braving the mall on the week before Christmas is horrifying. But with cute, unexpected (and inexpensive) stocking stuffers such as Foot Petals Sole Stoppers, which give her traction even in crazy stilettos, and the ridiculously soft Lambie ballerina slippers, it’s worth it.
For the fun of it: It’s hard not to find something you’ll love at Molly’s (115 Main St., Winterport, 223-8838). During a recent visit, I picked up paper beads made by a collective in Africa — a portion of proceeds benefit community development projects. I also grabbed a gorgeous scarf and nearly fainted when I saw the $11 price tag.
For hostess gifts: Bangor Wine & Cheese (86 Hammond St., Bangor, 942-3338) and State Street Wine Cellar (195 State St., Bangor, 262-9500). Don’t stop with a bottle of wine. You’ll be a hit at holiday parties if you bring along a little something extra, such as a decadent cheese or a gourmet nibble from these wonderful shops in Bangor.
For a little bit of everything: The Grasshopper Shop, Bangor and Ellsworth; Rebecca’s (43-49 Main St., Bangor, 945-3588) Need cards? Check. Stocking stuffers? Yep. Maine-made gifts? Got ‘em. In fact, there’s very little you can’t find at these Bangor destinations. They’ll even wrap your gift for you.
ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329, or by fax to 941-9476. For exclusive online shopping tips, visit http://shopblogbdn.blogspot.com/.