While the weather outside’s been spiteful, the gifts inside Rye retail shops are delightful… So let us shop, let us shop.
By Robin Jovanovich and Tom McDermott
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While the weather outside’s been spiteful, the gifts inside Rye retail shops are delightful… So let us shop, let us shop.
At Great Stuff, we found Parisian scarves in every color — some so beautiful they looked like paintings. For those forever preppies, a shirt/sweatshirt combo by John Eshaya with a handmade wool scarf by Sophie Digard is a look she’ll love.
For something to keep him or her warm, head to Parkers, where all things from Barbour and North Face await. We think he’d like the wide whale corduroy shirts and Berber fleece from True Grit. Wrap her in any of the woolen neck warmers on the front table. And for that precious pup, there’s the Barbour raincoat. Seeing is believing. For the stylish worker, a Boconi leather computer or iPad case or tote by Boconi, is just the thing. Think Love Italian Style.
At Le Beastro, where many good dogs are groomed, our pup was wild about the Lamb Chop plush toy, the Christmas cookies that are wheat, corn and soy free, and the wild boar that squeaks everywhere you tug him. Okay, so Christmas came a little early for one special dog.
This is the last Christmas for Twig Antiques, which has been our home away from home for decades. They have a lovely variety of treasured ornaments and china and glass to make every holiday table bright.
For those who are nutty about the season, Nest Inspired Home has carved wood nut holders, with squirrels in the holding pattern. While you’re there, don’t miss the colorful glass egg timers, the leather jewelry boxes. For that wonderful someone, Nest’s walls are filled with striking framed photographs by Rye’s Stefan Radtke and Cathrine White.
A Canon SX Powershot (fits in a purse or pocket), Nikon J3 (which you can attach zoom lenses to), or Fuji Instax Mini 8 (like the old Polaroid) under the tree will help any family have a picture-perfect Christmas. Rye Camera Shop stocks them all. A great last-minute gift is one of their collage frames, which after the holidays owner Anja Porto will help you make great memories with.
Choo choo over to Walin & Wolff for the latest selections from Jimmy Choo, as well as Michael Kors and Stuart Weitzman. They also carry a variety of velvet ballet slippers, in which she’ll feel royally comfortable.
York Antiques has a set of mid-19th century silver musical figures from Hanau, Germany, that will bring charm and delight the classicist in your life.
You can giclée all the way at Gallery 52, but the first thing you need to know is that it is now located at 81 Purchase Street, where it continues to offer art in a variety of styles to fit discerning eyes.
The gallery is showing a number of works create by giclée, a method of fine art digital printing on very refined inkjet printers. The process allows artists to make extraordinarily high quality prints of originals at affordable prices without sacrificing quality. Anne Packard is one of several artists shown at Gallery 52 using giclée on canvas in her paintings “Three Boats,” “Along The Cape,” and others. The shop also offers P. Miner-Sutherland’s horse racing-themed paintings, and a stunning yachting scene by D’Antonio.
There is no better gift than a book and Aly Powers, who provides invaluable “editorial assistance” to Arcade Books owner Patrick Corcoran, has several recommendations for lovers of fiction. Among her favorite reads in the past year are “Tell the Wolves I’m Home” by Carol Rifka Brunt, “Tenth of December,” a collection of stories by George Saunders, and “The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P,” the debut novel by Adelle Waldman. (For more gift book ideas, turn to B6 for consummate reader Whitney Clark’s suggestions.)
If “he’s” reading this, “she’d” love the Rag & Bone red velvet smoking jacket or the off-the-shoulder white and black dress by Malene Birger at Angela’s. She doesn’t have any hopes of getting the vintage Chanel bag or necklaces (Lucite with gold overlay), but she wants you to know she appreciates their timeless beauty as much as she appreciates nearly 40 years of marriage…
Oh, to be a child again. At Learning Express, we picked up a LEGO City Advent Calendar, so we are prepared next year. To keep active kids busy, there’s a Fold & Go Trampoline. For busy fingers, their most popular item, for ages 8 and up, is the Rainbow Loom, which puts rubber bands to good use.
Santa Rocks. At least he does at Candy Rox, where you can get candy canes and marshmallow Peeps to adorn a tree, mantle, banister, and stockings hung by the chimney with care. Do they have chocolate Santas? Enough to make Rudolph’s nose stay bright with envy all night. They also have a large assortment of candy by the pound, including several kinds of jelly beans.
Tweens, however, do not live by jelly beans alone, which is why owner Val Stone and her elves stock ribbed beanies by Neff and others, as well as and Keep in Touch gloves for the constant texter – is there any other kind?
The “Celfie” Elfies are at Lester’s, along with many other brands, all of them of the moment, especially if those moments are being lived by 7-14 year-old girls.
That means Ts and beanies, jeans, Homie’s sweatshirts, and caps by Brian Lichtenberg. Stylish dresses, skirts, and tops from Un Deux Trois, including a bowed party dress.
Nobody’s more au courant than Zara Terez, with colorful leggings, tops, and headbands. The shop by City Hall also offers palazzo and harem pants.
And the boys? Choose from a selection of Zephyr team caps or ready-for-stocking NFL/NBA/MLB team watches and phone covers.
Has your dog been hiding when it’s time for a walk? Maybe it’s that worn or outré collar or leash. Pet Pantry will put an end to that petrifying experience with its wide range of colors and sizes.
Or, perhaps a new stretch fleece will do the trick. All of these should fit in that pet stocking, probably the biggest one hanging from the mantle.
Yes, Virginia, paper lives at The Rye Stationer. Made those resolutions yet? Booked your new yoga classes, or your child’s astoundingly complicated sports schedules? Gather all those little pieces of paper and scrambled notes at the end of your 2013 Filo-Fax and get to this shop at the back of 82 Purchase Street and plan away.
And to all, we hope there are a few surprises in your stocking and under the tree.
