As the holiday season approaches, you are probably already stressing over what to buy your girlfriend or your brother.
You may think that within the next four weeks you need to spend hours in downtown Chicago or at Old Orchard Mall searching for the perfect gift, but a variety of stores in Evanston sell unique items appropriate for siblings, parents, grandparents, friends and significant others.
So here’ s your guide to a few fun gift ideas — for where to look, see the Key to Stores that follows at the end of the listing.
Siblings
• North American Bear Company- Bear Muff, $18.50 (10)
• Chunky twig crayon, $3.50 (10)
• LaDoux (slippers) with pompoms $27.00, (10)
• Hand-knit gloves, $29.95 (1)
• Touchabubbles (bubbles that don’t pop), $3 (6)
• Flipomania Flip Books, $5 (6)
• Things to Do Cards. Fifty-two ways to play, 52 rainy day activities, 52 relaxing rituals, 52 alternatives to TV, etc. $6.95 (6)
• Gingerbread house kit. Gingerbread and candy provided. $20 (4)
Parents
• The Complete Crumb Comics. Reprint from R. Crumb, legendary cartoonist of the ’60s and ’70s. $18.95 (3)
• Mark Roberts Collection Jepetto Gift Box. Ornament or decoration box with jester face and bells. $45 (8)
• Gourd dish with beads made in South Africa, $18.50 (8)
• Exclusive Blends Sampler: Christmas Blend, Caffe Verona, French Roast, $22.95 (9)
• Exclusive Blends Pack. Hat, Sumatra coffee, mud, CD; $22.95 (9)
• Hand-knit Scarf, $50 (2)
• Set — The Family Game of Visual Perception, $12 (6)
Friends/Significant Others
• “Just in case you need an excuse to party” poster (Example: “December 15: Christone Jorgenson became the first person to have a sex change operation, 1952), $5.99 (3)
• “The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel” By Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht. $14.95 (3)
• Taste of Tazo (Chai Tea Set), $12.95 (9)
• Drink Mix Trio — Eggnog, Hot Cocoa, Apple Cider; $12.95 (9)
• Holiday tumbler. A 16 oz. mug in snowman, gingerbread, candy cane or snowflake pattern. $12 (9)
• Hand-knit hat, $35 (2)
• Incense holders, $6 to 12 (5)
• Incense (20-pack), $2.50 to 3.50 (5)
• “Spells and Charms” by Nicole Pulford, $14.95 (5)
• “Seuss-isms — wise and witty prescriptions for living from the good doctor,” $7 (6)
• Blue Daisy Make Your Own…bubble gum, glycerine soap, bath fizzer, $12 (6)
• Shakespeare’s Chocolate Rose, $3.50 (4)
• USA flag pin, $12.50 (1)
• Mickey and Minnie Retro Toy Collection (stuffed toy), $24.50 (1)
• Omni Spa Manicure and Pedicure Gift Certificate, $38 (7)
Grandparents
• Decorative pill boxes (art deco designs from Spain), $20-40 (8)
• Decorative copper wire and bead eggs made by the Zulu Cooperative in Natal, South Africa; $38.50 (8)
• Learn to Knit (book and kit), $19.95 (2)
• Holiday — Taste of Starbucks Blends (Colombia, Christmas, Guatemala, Sumatra), $12.95 (9)
• Beaded eye glass chain, $5 (6)
• Custom-made candy baskets and gifts, from $5 (4)
Key to Stores
1. Asinamali
1722 Sherman Ave.
866-6219
2. Close Knit Inc.
622 Grove St.
328-6760
Contact: Gwynne McClure
3. The Comix Revolution
606 Davis St.
866-8659
Contact: Rob Jeremias
4. Joan’s Sweet Shoppe & Coffee
1549 Sherman Ave.
475-2080
Contact: Joan Herron
5. Kamala Perfumes
640 Church St.
424-1963
Contact: Dana Gass
6. Mostly Handmade, Inc.
1622 Orrington Ave.
864-0845
Contact: Rita or Lloyd Allison
7. Omni Spa at the Orrington
1710 Orrington Ave.
475-3632
8. The Pursuit of Happiness
1524 Chicago Ave.
869-2040
Contact: Brian John Smith
9. Starbucks Coffee
1724 Sherman Ave.
492-0490
10. Wild Child
612 Davis St.
475-6225
