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Lotus Clothing and Jewelry Design, 19 S. Spokane St. © Diane B. Reed |
After an enjoyable and stress-free shopping trip to downtown Walla Walla on Black Friday, I'm reminded that holiday shopping can be a festive experience. No unruly crowds and no lines, just a bevy of happy people (some wearing Santa hats) greeting folks they pass on the street. And we're lucky that we have wonderful small businesses that carry a wide range of gift possibilities including one-of-a-kind items, vintage, and hard-to-find items. With competitive prices and generous discounts, what's not to like?
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Jessica Valentine of Door No. 2, 32 S. Colville © Diane B. Reed |
One of the things I really enjoy about writing the column is the business people that I meet when I cover their new endeavors. To a person they are enthusiastic, friendly and are opening their businesses here because they just plain love Walla Walla and they see opportunity. I hope Walla Walla will love them back so they'll be successful.
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Vintage Pyrex at Pickers Paradise, 37 W. Poplar © Diane B. Reed |
These new businesses join a growing WW retail community that includes wonderful bookstores, wineries, clothing boutiques, jewelry stores, and places to buy records, toys, games, home decor, baked goods, and gourmet foods. And there are lots of restaurants and pubs where you can take a break from shopping.
The holidays can be stressful if you focus on fighting the crowds to buy the latest fad item. Thinking outside the box (stores) is a wonderful way to enjoy shopping and pick up some gifts that are sure to make a hit.
Hope to see you in Walla Walla! Come on by, the shopping's great!
Diane, that "vintage Pyrex" shot brought back memories! I had a casserole much like one of those for many years. It always bothered me that the lid didn't fit well. I probably left it at the thrift shop when we moved from PA. Now I find it's "vintage"!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Pyrex, we saw a demonstration of glass-bending at the Museum of Glass on Nov, 18th. The young artist (didn't quite catch his name, H. tho't it was "Clinton," I tho't it was "Dexter"--but maybe that was because he was so dextrous) was bending Pyrex pipes (about 3/8" thick)into various shapes, using a propane torch. He said Pyrex was a medium glass, neither hard nor soft. It has boron in it. It had been around for a while before someone at Corning glimpsed its commercial use & patented it.
We had actually gone there to see a Paul Stankard exhibit, & were privileged to meet the artist. PS operates on a very small scale, often a sign of a rigid, enclosed personality. But PS turned out to not only look, but act, like Santa Claus--friendly, all-encompassing, kind to young "Dexter" & even to the somewhat grubby "glass tech" who was taping D's elec. lines to the floor. Chatted with all the on-lookers, seemed to be a genuinely nice person. Such is life in Tacoma: mini-adventures at every turn!