City Walk: Last-Minute Christmas Shopping

If you are done with your holiday shopping, if you have wrapped all your presents and have just popped another tray of gingerbread men out of your oven, then Bah Humbug! 

Keep your smug, good-natured cheer to yourself. This column is for the rest of us: Those of us careening toward Christmas etc. in a panicked frenzy, wondering just what to buy the most hard-to-please gift recipients—our mothers. 

What could be worse? If your mother is like mine, she’s downsized (no clutter), she barely cooks anymore (no cookware), her eyesight is poor (no books), and she can’t eat chocolate. She’d be offended by the impersonality of gift cards, and while she’d like you to think she is the kind of person who would appreciate a charitable donation in her name, she's really not.

She wants loot. And she wants you to have thought about said loot more deeply than your children’s names. 

Hence, this month we multi-task. We walk, and we shop. So leave the dog at home, and bring your wallet. We can do this.

Start at the northeast corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Monterey. Peek inside : home of excellent hamantaschen cookies (triangular shaped butter cookies filled with jam). But don’t buy any yet. Reward yourself when you get back. 

Head north up Fair Oaks. You will be tempted to get a foot massage at Happy Feet, but again, resist. You have work to do. 

Stop first at . Your mom need not be a fan of taxidermy or steampunk (both of whom are catered to in this unique store) for you to find something special, such as an adorable owl-faced pocket watch ($40-$55), which will, no doubt, remind her of some of the men in her long life. But think: Is that someplace you’re ready to go with mom? 

No? Then continue north on Fair Oaks. Ignore the siren call of the and the . Remember, you’re holding out for hamantaschen. Walk until you reach  It’s more than just a grocery store, you know. They have that cute little restaurant and that—even cuter—little housewares store. If your mom still cooks, she might like a Santa Oven Mitt: A bargain at $13.99. 

Of course, the other side of Fair Oaks has options, too. So head back south on Fair Oaks until you reach Hope. Cross at the light so that you are on the west side of Fair Oaks. Head south. If your heart is made of stone, go ahead and look at the puppies in the windows of If your heart is not made of stone, hum and stare down at the sidewalk until you reach Now there’s a window worth peeking in. 

At Mission, turn right. Local artist Laurie Hendricks has a wee in  Check out her work. If your mom is an art lover, a lovely oil painting might just do the trick. 

There are plenty of gift options at , but you will really wow and impress mom with a Daa fuming glass pendant on a sterling silver chain ($95). Hint: The younger moms will like this, too.  In fact, any woman worth her salt will approve. 

Looking for something more practical? How about gloves! , which is just a doorway west of Camille Frances DePedrini, has them in a rainbow of colors ($25). What could be more appreciated on these cold winter mornings?

You could always combine usefulness and whimsy by pairing the gloves with a charming papier mache Christmas bear ($42) at . In fact, whimsy is all the fashion at Marz, so just about anything you get from here will fit that bill.

Next, hit , otherwise known as the South Pasadena Arts Center, where there is still more jewelry to be found, including handmade crystal and freshwater pearl necklaces ($38-$48) by local artist Anita Finnegan, who dares to steal my last name—even though I‘ve never met her in my life. 

Had I $200 to spare, I would have bought the colorful mosaic assemblage with the cupids on it for myself. But maybe you do have $200 to spare! If so, go for it! It’s gorgeous.

Cross Fremont and continue west up Mission, stopping wherever the urge hits you. Mom like wine? How about a bottle from ? Perhaps she’s a clothes hound. Then definitely stop at . Mom might not be sassy enough to pull off a cute-as-can-be black and white lace dress (a steal at $54), but she would certainly look winsome in a navy blue, wool pea coat ($95). I actually might go back and get that for me, so you better hurry.

Need a break? Take your pick: You’ve got , , , , and all waiting for you. Me? I’m still holding out for the hamantaschen.

To that end, at Meridian, cross the street and then head back (east) down Mission. There are lots of stores to check on this side of the street too, after all, including , which, in addition to offering a sewing workspace, has a number of gift items. My sister—an excellent seamstress—would love their vintage print cloth ($11.50 to $25 a yard), with which she would whip up something beautiful, impressive and heartfelt.

It’s really not fair to ask me to compete with that, but that’s the unjust world we live in. While at Common Threads, be sure to say hi to owner Jin Kim’s fluffy white dog, Luca. She is not as cute as my Scout, but she’s close. 

If the necklaces at Camille DePedrini and SPACE did not work for you, then you must be dead. But if, somehow, you are still among the living, check out the selection of necklaces at  These Om-ish, Buddhist stylings might be just her thing.

Cross Fremont again and keep heading east. Is mom a music lover? How about piano lessons from the ? My mom would kill me, but I’m hoping yours is eager to try new things.

At Fair Oaks, turn right. There are some great Vibram running shoes in the window of , but let’s be honest, your mom does not want those. The athletic man in your life might, though. Maybe you should check them out.

Don’t despair if you still haven’t found anything. There is always , which is looking particularly festive right now. Check out the boiled wool slippers ($68).  And how about the hats ($38-$48)? I don’t think you could you go wrong with either. At least I hope not, because you’re really almost out of choices. ... And don’t even think about getting her a Gift Card at —unless you are ready to live a lifetime of regret.

Make your way back to Union Bakery. Get yourself that cookie ($2.50). Wait a minute: How about a dozen hamantaschen cookies for mom? Hmmm. ... How about a dozen hamantaschen cookies for you?    

Check out the attached video for images of the gifts mentioned.

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