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Christmas Shopping Survival Guide'Could waft you from kitchen to cocktails, effortlessly and less risk of falling over than kitten heals. Which are so last year.'
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| . | p17 continued from previous page Groaning under the weight of politically correct organic produce, Fresh and Wild (32-40 Church St) has the works -yer veg, turkeys, fresh cranberry sauce and stuffings, smoked salmon, hams, nuts, fruits, ingredients (and free recipes to guide you on your way) for making conventional and gluten-free Christmas cakes, stollen, their own brand Christmas cakes, chocolates and truffles, fruits in syrup, whole peeled and cooked chestnuts, mince pies. Add in organic wines, vodka and gin (untested, we regret to say). Last minute pudding panics might be solved by acquiring a full-size torte (manager Jan confesses to a particular weakness for this delight) and if you need a hamper, they will be happy to make them up (£40/£75). Open: Sat 22, 8.30-9, 23 December 10-9, Christmas Eve 8-4.
Fashion Victims The redoubtable Maria at Helsinki (121 Church Street) will this year be offering some classy and affordable accessories in addition to the usual range of jazzy party wear and stylish stuff. Choose from purses, belts, bags, covetable (fake) fur neckpieces and belts, nifty t-shirts. Uncertain (aka dim?) blokes should know that the store offers an exchange or credit if you really do get it badly wrong. Open: Sun 23, 10.30-6.00, Christmas Eve 10.30-4 Studio 88 (88 Church Street) have a mad mixture for super-confident younger shoppers who know what their bloke is prepared to wear outdoors (and can justify acquiring a little something for themselves in the way of a tiny t-shirt. on the grounds that they deserve it). Plus grown-up shoes and boots, some pretty party mules (and sneakers), chokers, bracelets, necklaces, belts, unbelievable handbags and retro lapel pins. Fun things for the stylish stocking, perhaps. Open: Mon-Sat 10-6.30; Sun 12-5. Spotted at Traffic (153 Church St): dazzling black sequin mules, around £15. Could waft you from kitchen to cocktails, effortlessly and less risk of failing over than kitten heels. Which are so last year. Otherwise, a solid range of clumpy/sporty/clubby stuff, boots, sneakers, and clogs if that's what turns your toes on. Open: Mon-Sat 10.306.30; Sun 11-6. And for kids Aside from adult reading, the kids stuff at Stoke Newington Bookshop (159 High St) is of course dominated by H. Potter Esquire this Chrimbo. The shop has gone all out to beat Selfridges with their 'wizard' window design and is not to be missed. They stock Harry Potter merchandise from the full set of books and tapes to quiz and activity sets. (Couldn't you just swing for J.K?) The Lord of Rings, movie out, is proving popular, as is Philip Pullman's fantastic trilogy. Maisie's got a new farm for the younger ones at £12.99 and there's a lovely Lauren Child book, Dream Bed, at £12.99. Felicity's Wishes by Emma Thomas (£10.99) is fab for those real, girly girls and the unbeatable Jacqueline Wilson's got a new book out, Dustbin Baby, at £7.99. And Kipper's got a new one out for the younger ones, Kipper's Christmas Eve, at £4.99. Open: Mon-Sat 9.30-5.30; Sun 11-5. For a wide selection of multicultural books check out the Letterbox Library (71-73 Alien Rd). Special this Christmas they have a US import, A Child is Born, a black nativity story for kids aged 4+ at £12.99; Kingdom of the Sun, a beautiful book about the planets for 7-12 year olds at £11.99; and for kids aged 5+, The Moon and Alice Beasley, which is a lift the flap book and comes with a glow in the dark mobile. Open: Mon-Fri 10-4. Encore (53 Church St) Gorgeous Daisy Roots padders £14 for the little darlin's who can't yet walk and wonderful Starchild ones in special Chrimbo pressy bags. Cheshire hats at £15 and great Monkey vests and Monsta sweatshirts - very cool. And the multicoloured rubber wellies at £14 go down well for the sizes 4-12. Open: Tues, Weds, Thurs 10-5.30, Fri and Sat 10-5. More Pottermania can be found at Route 73 (92 Church St) but besides official merchandising like the castle - rarer than hens teeth even at £80 - Karen has gathered a good selection of Potter lookalikeabilia, like the glasses which come in cheaper. Lovely hand made wizard's cloaks at £42. Make Your Own Electronic Buggy (yes really) is a huge seller at £10 and Brio train sets always go down well. Loads of stocking fillers from as little as 15p including Fortune Fish. Remember them? For babies the Whoozit range is a real winner, with Manhattan Spiral mobile the major seller at £17. Stamp Rockets for boys are going well at £12. They give it a belt and it catapults up to 400 feet. Yippee! They also, conveniently, sell hand made Xmas stockings at £12 and large sacks at £15. Open: Mon-Sat 10.50, Sun 12.5. Late night Thurs through December. Still stuck?
Still no idea? You need a personal shopping trainer for Christmas. |
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Gift vouchers are always a nice cop out when you don't know quite what to
give or you've run out of time. Clissold Park Natural Health Centre and
the Alternative Therapies Centre, both on Church Street, sell gift
vouchers that can be redeemed for any therapy or product they offer. And the gyms too, Amazon,
on Church Street, and Sunstone, in Northwold Rd, offer gift vouchers for
any of their treatments. Something a bit more unusual would be a gift voucher from Sacred
Art Tattoos (148 Albion Road). Their body piercing prices start at £20 and
tattoos at £30, plus they have an eclectic selection of bone and silver jewellery,
Indonesian masks and clothing. Open: Tues-Fri 11.30-6.30; Sat 11.00-6.00.