Did the holiday season sneak up on you, too? Unlike organized gift-givers, we're less likely to start planning for Hanukkah immediately after Yom Kippur, and prone to cramming all of our Christmas purchases into Christmas Eve. Fear not, fellow shoppers. Instead of succumbing to the annual bout of anxiety, we've compiled a list of hassle- and line-free places to pick up something for everyone on your list: from your newest sister-in-law to your hard-to-shop-for great aunt. There are only five more shopping days left, people. We're here to tell you how to make them count.
See also: Jackalope Ranch's Ultimate 2013 Holiday Gift Guide
Designer duds from HUB Clothing It's hard to overestimate how excited Phoenix's fashionable are to have retailer HUB Clothing take up residency in the storefront recently vacated by local design destination Hard Goods Co.
Need stocking stuffers? Look no further than paper goods from Terrapin Stationers. A set of 15 calling cards are $8.50, with double-take-worthy phrases like "Don't say no just think about it," and "You're the fucking man." Not the average business card.
For the less abrasive, there's menswear from D by D, like the street wear-inspired chic quilted rider jacket for $279. The boutique also sells styles from Brian Lichtenberg, an LA-based designer making a subtle but far-reaching splash on the celebrity circuit. An ironic "Féline Meow" sweatshirt (a play on designer Céline) will run you $105, while black-and-white "Homies" tote is a cool $40.
The store is doing flash sales through Christmas Eve -- and any of its fashion-forward items are fair game. Keep an eye on the company's social media sites (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for daily steals like 20 percent off outerwear.
Homegrown hits via Stinkweeds
Whether your younger brother is into old-school gangster rap or grandfather still reminisces about classic jazz, Stinkweeds is a no-brainer for music lovers.
Located at Medlock Plaza on Camelback Road just west of Central Avenue, the record store features both new and used CDs and a variety of LPs. Worried your recipient missed the record player resurgence? Buy one there from $120 to $150. Can't find what you're looking for? Head in this weekend and order it, with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve, when they'll be open until 5 p.m.
Stinkweeds is owned by Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona and boasts a selection of homegrown hits, from The Haymarket Squares and Saddles, to Bisbee's Nowhere Man and Whiskey Girl -- whose own devastating romance this year made headline news.
The shop is also a box office, where in-the-know concertgoers buy tickets for shows at intimate venues like Crescent Ballroom and Rhythm Room. Choose wisely: If you play your cards right, this could be a gift for you, too.
Sweets and treats from Smeeks Religious overtones and family traditions aside, the holidays tend to be about one universal, commercial truth: overindulgence. Whether its gift-giving or a glass of eggnog too many, adults are prone to overdoing it during December.
For kiddos, it's candy, and Smeeks at UNION Biltmore has quite the selection. With containers of Pop Rocks, Bazooka bubblegum and candy cigarettes decorating the shelves, even a Scrooge shopper will feel like a kid again. Local goodies include Tracy Dempsey Originals (handcrafted marshmallows and peanut brittle) and Goodytwos toffee. For parents buying stocking stuffers but fearing the inevitable sugar rush -- or a big bill from the dentist come spring -- the sugar shack also sells novelty items, like fake moustaches, harmonicas, and yo-yos.
Sweet-toothed shoppers better hurry. Smeeks and Frances at UNION, both owned by Georganne Bryant, will close up shop at the end of the month. Gift cards will also expire on the 31st, so skip buying a certificate and head straight for the caramel.
Zephyr Bike Frame from The Heavy Pedal Cyclist-inspired clothing brand The Heavy Pedal presents a solution for both riders and those who want to appear active. (New Year's resolution, anyone?) The duo recently set up shop in downtown's warehouse district, so you no longer have to rely on snail mail to get street swag.
Skip the sleigh and deliver big this year with the Zephyr bike frame ($649.99). The smooth, welded ombre-esque design features two color options, blue and pink. The frames should arrive to the warehouse by Monday, December 23, just in time for true procrastinators.
Out of your price range? Consider bike kit jerseys and bibs ($69.99 each) or Jack Daniels whiskey water bottles ($11.99), ideal for hydration on the road. And you can't go wrong with the crew's mainstay apparel, like men's logo sweatshirts for $58.99 and women's baseball tees at $29.99.
Looking to give to someone not on your list? The store is accepting donations of blankets, sweatshirts, and gloves through Sunday, December 22, before they ride off -- on bikes, of course -- to bring the items to area shelters.
Book cover frames from Lawn Gnome Publishing While its façade blends in with the rest of Fifth Street in downtown Phoenix, the interior of Lawn Gnome Publishing looks straight out of an indie film. Shelves are stocked with stacks of books, both contemporary fiction and classics dating back to 1851. The organization is based on handmade signs, not the Dewey Decimal System, but proves charming instead of chaotic.
Personal preference varies per book lover, but Lawn Gnome's handmade frames are cute crowd-pleasers, whether the recipient is into Walt Whitman or Danielle Steel. Employees rescue used books, damaged beyond readability, and create colorful, unique frames from the covers. These crafty presents are $5 each, an arty, adult version of that popsicle-stick picture frame from kindergarten.
Lola Gammut earrings at Nostra Style House
We're used to snatching up these tasteful designs by Karina Nino de Rivera through her Etsy store, Lola Gammut, but for instant gratification Nostra Style House does the trick. The storefront on Roosevelt Row mixes new pieces with vintage looks, presenting a modern collection for street savvy women.
Lola Gammut is but one of a slew of hometown lines with pieces in the store, an ideal place to browse for your little sister or favorite co-worker. Nino De Rivera's jewelry is modestly priced from $22 to $30. Her work incorporates gold, wood, acrylic, and clear plastic for contemporary dangling artwork -- sometimes asymmetrical, always pretty. Prices for other items throughout the store, from coats to tanks, range from $20 to $250, so you can stretch a dollar without compromising style.
Loyal to the Soil Ts at Bunky Boutique Downtown clotherie Bunky Boutique doubles as a one-stop shop for nearly everyone in the family, from babies to brothers-in-law.
For local lovers on your list, the store boasts the original line of Phoenix love products. You know the style: an outlined drawing of the Grand Canyon State with a small, hand-drawn heart where the Valley of the Sun should be. The line, Loyal to the Soil, offers everything from adult T-shirts ($36) to onesies for little ones ($26). Pick up a scarf ot sweater to complete the outfit. We're partial to this fur-collared piece from Flying Tomato ($32) and the lightweight grey-brown scarf ($32).
Items tend to run true to size, but if you're apprehensive about estimating, pick up a pair of TOMS sunglasses ($119-$139) or candles from Capri Blue. The boutique offers both the standard Volcano fragrance of tropical fruits and sugared citrus and the company's holiday Orange Clove version, both $30.
Bunky borders on Giant Coffee, and you might want to grab a cuppa while browsing -- with everyone left on your list you'll need it.
