Some of us at ShoreBread are masters in efficiency, wrapping up our holiday shopping weeks ahead of time; however, there are admittedly a few of us around the office that have yet to purchase a single holiday gift. If you join the ranks of the latter, have no fear – we are all in this together! As maddening as it can be to wait until the last minute to do all of your Christmas shopping, years of holiday procrastinating has taught us that the Eastern Shore is home to a number of shopping options that don’t include mall madness or traffic nightmares. It’s one of the benefits of shopping at small, locally owned businesses. Keep reading for a list of our last-minute shopping hot spots on the Shore…
Ish Boutique
3408 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD
410-430-5132
As we learned a few weeks ago while researching our article on Ish Boutique, the ladies at Ish know more than a thing or two about style. Owners and best friends Jenny Carven and Christina Pohland hand-pick each and every item that is displayed in their Ocean City boutique. Items include everything from scarves to jewelry to kids’ toys. Holiday gifts abound here, with something for just about everyone. From the foodie to the stressed out mom, there’s a gift with your name on it at Ish. What’s more, Pohland and Carven buy limited amounts of everything, so you don’t have to worry about giving someone a gift that half of the Eastern Shore population will be sporting post-Christmas.
Restaurant Gift Cards
Everyone loves food…end of story. You simply can’t go wrong with giving the gift of a night out for dinner or drinks. Gift cards can seem a tad bit impersonal, but a gift card or gift certificate to someone’s favorite restaurant adds a little something special. Gift certificates are also a good neutral gift for someone you may not know too well or for the person who already has everything. Some of our favorite area restaurants offering gift certificates during the holiday season include: Liquid Assets, Greene Turtle North & West, Galaxy 66 & Skye Bar, The Globe and Fresco’s. Stop in for a bite to eat during your holiday shopping spree and grab a few gift certificates while you’re there. Holiday multitasking at its finest.
Ta Da
18 North Main Street, Berlin, MD
410-641-4430
For 16 years, Ta Da has been providing unique gifts, art and accessories to Berlin visitors and locals alike. It’s no wonder then that Ta Da is one of our go-to holiday shopping stops each year. We’ve been filling our shopping bags for years here, and this year is no different, with a collection of terrific holiday items and gift ideas on display in the Berlin storefront. Check out their website as well for shopping ideas and gifts.
Velvet Pearl
1306 South Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury, MD
410-572-5885
We started filling our closets with the unique fashions from Velvet Pearl years ago when they were still located in downtown Salisbury. The store relocated a couple of years ago to the shopping square in the recent addition of Salisbury University, providing more space for merchandise and easier parking access. What to expect in this adorable shop? The latest fashions and trends, along with jewelry, bags, shoes, coats and more. To boot, the back section of the store showcases consignment items that rival any thrift shop we’ve frequented lately. From cutting edge name brand items to gently used fashions, we never leave Velvet Pearl empty handed. (Hint: this is a good chance to treat yourself to a gift for all your hard holiday work).
Various locations
Sometimes the best gift comes in the form of a sugar rush. At Candy Kitchen you can meet the needs of the person on your holiday shopping list with the undeniable sweet tooth. Fudge, taffy, truffles and just about any type of gummy you can imagine is available at Candy Kitchen, with various collections of candy assortments packaged and ready to be gifted. There’s more than candy here though, there’s also a huge selection of toys, stuffed animals and collectibles to consider. You can knock out a huge portion of your list in just one stop. Just be sure not to eat your way into a stress-induced candy coma while you’re there.
38016 Fenwick Shoals Blvd. W. Fenwick, DE
302-436-1500
It’s the holidays, which means whether you are overflowing with Christmas spirit or downtrodden with seasonal stress you could probably use a good glass of wine. Fenwick Wine Cellars has you covered, with wines for the most discerning or the most novice wine drinker. There’s also their special edition Tree Bottles to consider. There are three festive shades to choose from: Green Tree, Red Tree and White Tree.
Charitable Giving
We hate to admit it, but even the best of us can forget about the true meaning of the holiday season as we rush around town in a frenzy trying to make it to every holiday party while simultaneously trying to make sure we’ve delivered gifts to all the appropriate friends, relatives and acquaintances. At ShoreBread, we have found that the best way to spread holiday cheer (besides singing loud enough for all to hear) is to give selflessly. There are a number of ways to achieve this feat, starting with random acts of kindness. One of our favorite sites, Causes of the Heart, reminded us earlier this month that simple, Random Acts of Kindness can go a long way in making someone’s day. There are also countless charities in our area that need your help and support. Make the choice to forgo gift giving with friends or family this year and use the money to collectively give to a local charity instead. A few of our favorites include Diakonia and the Worcester County Humane Society.
855-TREAT-CO
Of course we wouldn’t possibly forget our canine friends during the holidays. After patiently watching us run around baking cookies, decorating the house and wrestling with unruly tape dispensers, our pets deserve a little extra attention. As our faithful readers already know, Tumbleweed & Eddie’s is one of our favorite dog treat lines. The all natural pet treats leave out the junk, filler and preservatives, yielding healthy treats that dogs love. Simply head to their website to order online or to discover a nearby store that carries Tumbleweed & Eddies treats.
