Shop Around
Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it’s time to start thinking about what sorts of gifts you will be giving or sending to those who are on your gift list.
You should start shopping as soon as possible, since retail analysts are predicting a shortage of holiday gift items due to all the cargo ships still waiting to dock in LA and Long Beach harbors.
“When I became of age my mother called me to her side. She said, son, you’re growing up now, pretty soon you’ll take a bride. And then she said, just because you’ve become a young man now, there’s still some things that you don’t understand now. Before you ask some girl for her hand now, keep your freedom for as long as you can now.
My mama told me, you better shop around (shop, shop), oh yeah, you better shop around (shop, shop around).” (“Shop Around” – Smoky Robinson – 1960)
So, if you want to avoid crowds, you may want to consider “Shopping on Top,” that is, shopping locally for gifts, since you will save time and money by not having to go down the hill. There are many fine stores around Crestline, Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs.
For example, the various antique shops in Crestline’s Top Town and Lake Gregory shopping districts have quite a few items of a historic nature. Lake Arrowhead Village, on the other hand, has a wide assortment of clothing, jewelry, wine and candy shops. As an example, Rocky Mountain Chocolate out on the Village’s peninsula shopping area affords a wide selection of yummy chocolates. “Mmmm, chocolate,” says Homer Simpson, who sometimes also says, “Mmmm, Beer.”
Anyway, getting back to shopping, you should try Running Springs, which has many fine gift stores, such as Warm Willies & More at 2671 Secret Drive. (Hmmm, how can it be a “secret” when it’s readily apparent that it’s right there on Secret Drive?) Oh, well, let’s continue.
Here we go again – there’s also Sugar Mountain. “Oh to live on Sugar Mountain”… What the heck was that all about, we don’t need no Neil Young around (a Lynyrd Skynyrd reference)! It’s a candy-themed gift store, located at 31980 Hilltop Blvd. (also known as Highway 18).
One local shopper, whose first name is Lauren, said, “I’m local and couldn’t wait to bring my kids to this store. The clerk was extremely nice, and even gave my boys a broken candy cane for free.” Another Running Springs favorite is Rustique Furniture, also on Hilltop Blvd. They have an excellent selection of hand-crafted furniture, made from all kinds of small, twisted logs that have been impeccably coated with shiny, brown shellac.
“A-try to get yourself a bargain son. Don’t be sold on the very first one. A-try to get yourself a bargain son, don’t be sold on the very first one. A-pretty girls come a dime a dozen, a-try to find one who’s gonna give you true lovin’ Before you take a girl and say I do, now. Make sure she’s in love with-a you now. My mama told me, you better shop around (Shop, shop)”
Keep it flyin’ Uncle Mott