FEATURES – November/December 2008

Ultimate Holiday Shopping Guide

Ready To Check Some Names Off Your List? We Found The Best Gifts In Hampton Roads During These Stress-Free Sprees.

By Jessica Carlson, Amy Johnson and Ashley Schaefer

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It’s that magical time of year again: mischievous mistletoe and sweetly spiked eggnog, crackling fires and freshly cut pine trees and, you guessed it, another dreaded year of holiday shopping. This time though, we avoided the annual mall madness by spending a jolly day grabbing up unique goodies from the local shopping centers all around Hampton Roads. From specialty cigars and designer handbags to tiny toy soldiers and chocolate-covered apples, we tirelessly trudged (OK, jubilantly skipped, we admit it) from one specialty store to the next to find you top-notch shops with the best finds for every good boy and girl on your holiday shopping list. So yank on your Santa hat and follow our sleigh ride from one stress-free shopping spree to the next. We guarantee it will make for one very merry Christmas.

Shop Hot Spot: The Town Center, Virginia Beach

Hit the town for some holiday shopping at The Town Center of Virginia Beach, a mix of high-rise buildings peppered with eclectic boutiques, modern bistros, and apartments and hotels. Located directly in between downtown Norfolk and the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, The Town Center poses as the perfect middle man, offering high-end retailers and restaurants in a laid back atmosphere.

Best place for men
Dick’s Sporting Goods
4621 Columbus St., Suite 100. 757-493-6400. www.dickssportinggoods.com
For the athletic man on your holiday shopping list, Dick’s Sporting Goods is the place to go for everything from free weights to hunting rifles to golf club covers. This two-story shop also carries all sorts of gear and apparel that will have your honey talking the talk and walking the walk. Best Find—Cross your fingers for snow this year and get your man a red, black and gold snowboard with skulls by Burton Deuce, $359.

Best place for women
Caché
4549 Main St. 757-493-2934. www.cache.com
While not unique to the Hampton Roads area, Caché is most definitely unique in appealing to a large audience of fashion-conscious women, from young professionals to early-retiring CEOs. We drooled over a variety of sportswear, party dresses and eye-catching accessories. Best Find—Cap-sleeve, boat-neck, knee-length dress with belted waist in orchid by Caché’s Contour Collection, $148.

Best place for kids
The Honey Tree Children’s Boutique
209 Central Park Ave. 757-493-9959
A local favorite for quality children’s clothes, shoes and toys, this charming boutique offers up darling party frocks, unique playthings like German-made blocks and dolls from France, and cozy customized baby blankets. The friendly, experienced staff added to our pleasant experience and readily pointed out best-sellers to ease our shopping trip. Best Find—Matching red corduroy jumper/dress (for girls) and romper (for boys) with detachable buttoned appliqués that switch the outfit from holiday to year-round, $66–$78.50.

Bargain finds
The Town Traveler
4539 Commerce St. 757-961-7535
Tucked next to the new Westin Hotel, The Town Traveler is anything but your average hotel gift shop. While it still carries many of the requisite sundries, owner Shirley Camenzind goes above and beyond the expected by carrying eclectic gifts for the traveler and local shopper alike—all catering to a reasonable budget. From modestly priced jewelry to Virginia-made goodies and calming candles, you won’t leave empty handed. Best Find—Heirloom-style wooden trick box from Poland, the perfect combination of old world charm and new world technology, starting at $25.

Lunch break
Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro
189 Central Park Ave. 757-490-WINE. www.sonomatowncenter.com
Give yourself an early holiday treat with a lunch break at Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro. With contemporary spins on paninis and sandwiches, all served with your choice of soup or salad and chips for less than $10, you simply can’t go wrong. And don’t forget to take a peek at the extensive wine list ... after being so good all year, you know Santa wouldn’t mind.

High-end options
Blanc
196 Central Park Ave. 757-671-1234
A must-see shop, whether you’re looking for gifts or treating yourself for the holidays. Blanc is a new theory in home boutiques boasting a mix of glamorous accessories, handmade soaps and candles, beautiful glassworks, and stunning home furnishings and décor. And while some items are just as expensive as they appear, we were thrilled to discover an abundance of deals and steals as well. “It’s all about high prices and low prices, and always beauty,” says owner Deborah Probyn. Best Find—Lalique crystal perfume bottle with graceful woman in flowing skirt, $650. 

Something for everyone
The Royal Chocolate
164 Central Park Ave. 757-557-6925, www.theroyalchocolate.com
Chocolate covered pretzels, caramel popcorn, gourmet chocolate-dipped apples ... no, this isn’t Willy Wonka’s—this is the homemade, rich, sugary-sweet deliciousness that is The Royal Chocolate. Anyone with working taste buds is sure to delight in the wide assortment of premade holiday gift baskets, boxes and towers. Or hand pick (and sample!) some goodies yourself to customize the perfect gift basket for the chocolate lover on your list. Best Find—A basket chock full of homemade chocolate in every form imaginable—including three gourmet dipped apples, $55–$105.

Most unique gifts
Stanley Adams
4546 Main St. 757-497-8888
Sick of giving the same old gift card every year? Show someone just how special they are with a one-of-a-kind gift from Stanley Adams. Known particularly for a wide selection of wedding invitations, this boutique carries much more with everything from occasion gifts to stationery to knick-knacks and trinkets. Best Find—Give a gift that lasts for years to come with a wooden fireside advent calendar, available in different shapes, sizes and holiday-related themes by Traditions by Byers’ Choice Ltd., $75. 

Parking tips
While you may have a tough time finding parking on the streets in The Town Center, there’s always sufficient parking in one of the two free parking garages, located on either side of Main Street.

For the rest of our ultimate tips on holiday shopping in Hampton Roads, pick up a copy of the November/December 2008 issue wherever magazines are sold.

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