Oh Come Ye of Little Faith, Come Ye to Downtown Tampa.

Here's how it happened...

 The other day I caught up with my friend Bill at Indigo Coffee over on Twiggs and Franklin.  We started into the whole holiday insanity, and all the work that goes into shopping, la la la.  I told him that if I am committed to living an urban life - I will find a way to make downtown shopping happen - even before more boutiques start opening. "Can't happen," he says.  Well, actually, Bill, it can.

For instance.... 

On my way to a meeting at Maestro's, I passed by the Straz gift shop and found the perfect Wicked t-shirt for my sister.  The day before that I bought my husband Tom's Shoes® at Surf Down Under, after lunch at Channelside Bay Plaza. 

The week before, I picked up art pottery at the AIA store on Tampa St.  I also mentioned that my friend picked up girly-girl spa stuff at a salon down here and her sister found Brighton jewelry at the Hyatt's gift shop.

Recently, the Tampa Downtown Partnership found 116 ways to give gifts from downtown Tampa.  A lot of them allow you to wrap up a package of Downtown Tampa in a box.  Really though, this is about making a more vibrant downtown.  Let's STOP the GVETCHING and prove our loyalty to the retailers who are already here.  Doing just that proves that more retail would be welcome.

Bill of Little Faith shrugs and takes off for the insane mall.   In my stubborn attempt to be right, I have set out to do all my holiday shopping in Downtown Tampa.

This blog will chronicle this shopping adventure, my successes, and a little of my frustration.  But stick with me.  It's going to be a heck of a ride.

 December 10, 2011 by Ima Shoppinhere.

  On the first day of shopping, I just went down the street.... 

First stop, the Tampa Museum of Art (TMA) gift shop, and looking for something for my best friend, Margo who always gets me something I've never seen before. TMA had Escama Studio® handbags created from recycled aluminum soda pop tops (really? yes). The bags are hand crocheted, fair trade eco-fashion accessories, and each is original. You can go on-line and look up the fair-trade artisan who made your bag! The Leda handbag I chose was also featured in In-Style Magazine, but the Museum also has the Masha Bag (worn by Will I Am recently). $85.00 and so worth the price for a good friend to whom I owe so much.

Before I left, I picked up the "Hello Tampa" onsie for my friend's new baby.  It's not often that you find black for a baby, but it's quite chic - what the well-dressed baby is wearing.

 → This is the purse.  If you Google "Escama" you'll see what a very cool and socially responsible purse company it is.  When you buy Escama, you are also buying the gift of opportunity.  By the way, TMA is the ONLY place in Tampa you can find these purses. $85.00. 

The onsie is on the left.  It's $15.00 and screams of BABY CHIC! 

So with one stop at TMA two presents are crossed off my list.  I then head next door to the Glazer Children's Museum shop.

 I meet up with Katie who works in the gift shop and ask her to show me a toy tht is unique to the museum.  Katie walked me over to the Zoobs - toys built on the science of motion.  They build things, but they're jointed.  Apparently child development experts love these things.  So do college professors because they use them to model DNA.  You can buy kits or large boxes between $10.00 to $34.99.  I can't do better or find a more fun building set, so  buy the Zoob Dude from Katie.  I tell her that Zoob Dude Abides, but I guess she never saw The Big Labowski.  Oh Well.

My attention turned to a jumbo slinky!  How cool is that?  I decide I must have two - one for the child of the lady who cleans our house and one for the toy drop off bin at the office.  Where were these things when I was a kid?  We never got to have a slinky on growth hormones.  

 Second stop was steps away  - Two more gifts purchased at very fair prices.                               

I had a taste for some authentic middle-eastern food, and headed across Ashley to the SkyPoint and to Kurdi's Fresh Mediterranean Grill for some baba ghanoush, pita and mint lemonade.  Sat outside in the sun, and thought that soon we'll be guests in this building!  My husband's college roommate is moving to SkyPoint from Detroit.  Wait?  Wouldn't it be a nice welcome gift to give him gift certificates to some of the restaurants in his building?  After lunch, I picked up a trio - from Five Guys, Taps and Pizza Fusion.  I already had cool retro holiday cards at The Nature Shop, along with a gift certificate for a sunset tour of Tampa Bay from the Tampa Water Taxi Company.  Nice "Welcome to Tampa" gift - Done. 

One more thing before all the good seats are sold out - a pair of tickets to the Nora Ephram play, Love, Loss and What I Wore.  A great gift for my big sister who will be visiting here in January from Chicago.  What fun for us, and think about it:  My sister from Chicago will be watching a New York play in beautiful Downtown Tampa's Straz Center.  Afterwards, we'll go to Malio's.......

Okay, here's the recap:  Designer purse, baby gift, toys, gift certificates to restaurants and access to Tampa Bay, and hot theater tickets.  All within a few blocks of each other, and six gifts done.   

 Heard on the street on the way to the car.... "I'm not going to get them another gift card; I'm looking for something different."  I almost stopped in my tracks ... but I didn't. 

    December 11, 2011 - Ima Shoppinhere and Odessa Bargeign

Today, I've enlisted my friend Odessa, another non-believer in shopping in downtown Tampa.  (she says, "Really Ima?!?")  She thinks it's fine if all we wanted were Tampa key chains for everyone.  Her conversion began when I showed her my finds from yesterday.  She couldn't believe I hadn't been to the mall yet.  Now it's true that we all wish for more stores, but if you're willing to do your homework, Downtown Tampa has many of the same kinds of holiday gifts, but they're far more unique, and if you read loosely today, you'll learn abuot some REAL bargains....

Odessa here.... I didn't know until I started looking....

I didn't know why Ima sent me to the Hyatt Regency on Tampa Street to look at their gift shop.  Figured it has all the stuff you'd expect to find for guests at a hotel, but THEN what did my wondering eyes behold?  A rack of silver in the corner. The saleswoman was more than happy to move the entire rack out and I discovered that they had BRIGHTON JEWELRY - quality earrings, necklaces, and bracelets galore.  I picked out a pair of square pierced Brightons with crystals for $19.00 and put them away for a grab bag gift.  Maybe ole Ida is on to something here.

As I leave the hotel on Tampa street, I see what appears to be a house cat on the run  -- PROOF that more and more people are living downtown.  Meow.

I walk over to Zack and Florida, right past that beautiful court house that will one day soon be a fabulous hotel filled with people from all over the country and all over the world.  And speaking of the world, there's a store right across Zack called ONE WORLD.  It has been in downtown Tampa for 30 years, and most people (me) have never known about it.  I walk in the door and find the most AMAZING items from all over the world and hear that proceeds from sales benefit charities right here in Tampa.  It's a little shop of miracles operated by the First Presbyterian Church in Downtown Tampa.  And what do I find? 

Wooden Kitchen Tools - hand made!

Baskets, Vases, Etc. - $10.00 and up

The wood bowl (hand made) is $29.00.  The hand carved alabaster figurines are $20.00 and the hand carved and giraffe figure from Kenya is only $16.00.  I bought a basket and a wooden cutting board made of bamboo from Vietnam for under $20.00.

The Trivet you see here is from Vietnam too, handmade, and less than $20.00. I might go back for the giraffe for my friend Arlene who collects Safari animal figures...if it's still  there! 

With a full shopping bag and lots of money left in my wallet,...

 I walked over to Polk to see why Ima told me to go to the Duckweed Urban Market to pick up stuffings for a gift basket we're making....

I'm greeted by a guy who tells me he's from Lakeland and his parents knew George Jenkins and we indulge in some imaginging that this little store (a "mini-Zabars" if you ask me) was about the size of Publix first store...probably. 

Then he showed me the HOT LIPS, a fruit soda that seems to be a popular buy and I grab a couple bottles, and also pick up some Scrumpy Farmhouse Organic Beer ($7.49 for 22 oz); it's the only place in Tampa to buy the stuff.  It's all for the gift basket we're making for our friend  CJ Walker who was recently hit by a car.  I also picked up some Eden's Honey (the kind they sell at the Downtown Tampa Friday Market), and some organic, delicious cookies.  The basket is almost complete but we will need some serious chocolate...  These are some cool duck grocery people.

Turned the corner from Duckweed and saw the cutest baby in the Mercedez Benz of strollers - mom was heading into Duckweed to shop.  Okay, I see it, I get it. Not only are people living downtown, some of them are raising families down here too. 

Walked past the classic lady, Tampa Theatre, and noted that Santa's Cool Film Festival is taking place December 20th at 7:30 p.m.  Quickly bought 4 tickets for my friend and her 3 kids - they can use a few good laughs.  Then, went next door to The Nature Store, not for flowers, but because I wanted to look for something COOL and FUNKY.  Found the perfect gift for our zany friend Lucille Goucie.  I call it the Goddess Luna Mirror. In any event, it's like giving her the moon and the stars. It was $26.95 and was quickly wrapped up lovingly by the clerk. 

LUNCH!!  A great bite at Jimmy Johns and picked up a gift certificate for the mailman. 

My car is at Fort Brook Garage - lock up the bags, and JUMPED ON THE STREETCAR!  Jumped off at Channelside and headed over to the Florida Aquarium - Ima tells me that their gift shop HAS EVERYTHING.  Hyperbole, yeah, but let's see to what extent?

In short, no they don't have everything, but they are stocked like a tasteful  art/aquatic department  store. EVERYONE IN THE SHOP IS ALL EXCITED OVER THE  REMOTE CONTROL FLYING SHARK FOR $49.99.  Apparently, this thing is selling like hotcakes, but I really can't think of anyone who needs this.  My husband would say he does, but only because he'd like to see what the dog would do.  There's a lot more than the shark to the  Florida Aquarium Store though. 

The Aquarium Store has an extensive book and video department with a large focus on marine life, of course, but with a twist.  I found a children's board book entitled Good Night Florida, and bought a copy to go along with the baby gift.  

This was just the beginning.  The store is filled with beautiful jewelry, holiday ornaments, paintings and sculpture that is imported from all over the world.  There's glassware, fair-trade items (gorgeous seagrass purses from Cambodia). 

I walk about and take it all in, and then find the perfect gift for my aunt whom we affectionately call " Mother Nature." It is Animal Art Work - a river otter who walked through paint and then canvas created this art.  The Florida Aquarium's rehabilitation program helps orphan and injured river otter pups develop into healthy, swimming, feeding,and full-grown otters.  This art supports the project.

That's when I see my neighbor Cece looking at a beautiful blue and white book with a seahorse on it.  Why is she laughing her head off? 

WHAT'S THE POOP?  The  lovely book is made by a company named The Great Elephant PooPoo Paper Company.  Indeed, this lovely blue and white journal is made of the high-fiber POOP of an elephant.  I suppose that it helps  with their marketing of the project that this item is completely ODORLESS.  Cece bought one for a friend who lives in her gardens and depends on elephant poop for her fertilizer - oh good, now she'll have the stuff outside and inside too!  Actually, it's genius and makes a great gift.    

But wait, there's more.  I found JUST the thing for my cousin who will be driving back to Atlanta with her 3 year old after Christmas -something that she will thank me for repeatedly.  It's the Soothing Seascapes DVD.  This is not a cartoon or some kids' movie - it's a video of six of the Florida Aquarium's fish tanks.  Even I find myself unwinding while watching Coral Reef at Sunrise and the Psychodelic Jellies.  The music is hyptonizing with the movement of the fish - captivating and calming, and I'm told it works on kids.  $20.00.  SOLD. I pick up somestocking stuffers at the register, including the collapsible water bottle for my hsuband's gold bag, holiday ornaments, and the Gasparilla Cookbook (a present for my kitchen). 

I head back on the Streetcar and dropped everything off at the car again.  It's time to head to 201 Twiggs Salon for a relaxing European facial and a spa pedicure.  It's girls night out and I catch up with Ima who is buying 201 Twiggs Salon gift certificates for her assistant who can take advantage of the generosity after work or at lunch time.  Ima gets the $24.99 spa kit for her mother-in-law, and I buy another for myself.  Great gift.   But wait - there's more!

201 Salon is attached to the Peppermint Reindeer, a Downtown Tampa candy store filled with truffles, chocolate dipped pretzels, and all kinds of cute bags of gourmet candies.  Bought a box of creamy, fresh, dark chocolate truffles for the gift basket for our friend CJ, and now it's all wrapped up in festive packaging. I took a picture of Tammy, the owner, in front of the truffle case!

DONE AND CONVINCED - Shopping in Downtown Tampa is not only possible, it's productive!  Back to work tomorrow to pay for all this good stuff.  Note to self:  Hair Appointment at AHEAD Salon in downtown Tampa!    

YES I HAD A TRUFFLE ON THE WAY HOME.  WHITE CHOCOLATE.  

  December 12, 2011 - Ima Shoppinhere.

It's a beautiful and warm Tampa Monday,and I took the day off because I'm serious about this shopping adventure.  Instead of the mall, I head over to Downtown Tampa where the sun shines brightly on Channelside Bay Plaza.  This where it turns out that the gifts I find will not only surprise, but amaze the lucky recipients on my list. 

I made a quick stop at the Tampa Bay Sailing Tours just east of the Convention Center.  There I purchase a gift certificate for a sunset sail on the No Shooz for my son and his girlfriend. It includes a dinner catered by the SONO CAFE.  I JUST BOUGHT THE PERFECT GIFT.   If he were a more experienced boater, I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT HIM A BOAT.... FOR THE DAY at Channelside Watersports rentals. 

First store I hit is Del Sol - a store I had only seen while walking to the theaters in Channelside from the parking garate.  I decided to explore their signature color change that turns their stock of merchandise from black and white to beautiful colors in the sun.  Seeing that, I bought three bottles of the nail polish (in holiday colors!) and got one free, and also purchased a a "color change" t-shirt.  Del Sol has men's wear too, as we as hoodies, purses, and "cruisy" type clothing.  They offer all kinds of offers for discounts and free stuff. 

THE SECRET TO ALL THIS IS SPECTRACHORME CRYSTALS - all I know is that when Del Sol shirts, nail polish, purses, jackets etc etc hit the sun, they turn to BEAUTIFUL COLORS.

Last week, I bought a pair of Tom's Shoes for my husband at Surf Down Under, thus DISPELLING THE RUMOR that you can't buy shoes in Downtown Tampa. 

I went back in today because I had seen something that I think my younger sister would love a lot:  An Aussie inspired jacket and boots.  Jacket was on sale, and the boots were priced fairly - the major reason why I shopped here is because what you find here, you won't see on everyone else's back.  Everything gets packed in a jiffy and now my sisters can both be checked off the holiday list!  
                                                                                                                                                                           
On to White House Gear, a store so cool that Janet Griffin, an employee of the store, BOUGHT THE STORE when the former owner sold.  It has whimsy, political humor, retro galore, and some cool posters.  In short, it's the kind of place where the merchandise inspires your gift giving!  I wasn't looking for Beatles memorabilia, but saw some great gifts for my retro-loving brother-in-law who just redocrated his office.  How about a Yellow Submarine Lunch Box???  The Peace tank top is PERFECT for a niece, and what is that I see on the wall?  A History of Aviation for my son, the pilot - perfect for his hangar.  $14.00. 

AND THEN I SAW THEM.  The widest assortment of ducks in any store I know of.  There are doctor ducks, military ducks, beautician ducks, teacher ducks, lawyer ducks, baby ducks, chef ducks, police ducks, nurse ducks, card playing ducks, baseball ducks, ducks everywhere.  $1 apiece.  Okay, I bit.  Bought 5 to throw in gift bags. 

TIME FOR LUNCH!!!  And what a choice among all the eateries in Channelside.  I gravitate towardsTaverna Opa!   As I plopped my bags down, I ordered a nice cold iced tea and the veggie pita.  Dining couples and groups were eating water-side and enjoying the sun and their spanakopita and tsaziki.  Had I been with friends and not in a hurry, I'd be out there too.  I love this place.

My next stop was Wine Design, a small quality wine store in Channelside Bay Plaza with competitive pricing.  Wine Design was first in Tampa to install the Enomatic Wine Dispensing Machines; that allow tasting by price.  Want $2.00 worth?  $3,00 work?  Hang out for GNO (Girls Night Out) in a cute alcove in the shop.  Along the wall, lots of great things for wine service and parties!  I picked up a prized California vineyard Merlot for a host gift and headed towards the SMELL OF CHOCOLATE!

 Did you know that Downtown Tampa has TWO gourmet chocolate stores.  How lucky are we??  Quachbal's Chocolatier is in Channelside, and a chocolate lover's dream come true..  Mrs. Q's Homemade Cheesecake - a perfect gift for my neighbor who hosts all of us for the cookie exchange each year.  As it was all boxed up, I look at the party trays of baked chocolates, the brownies, the gourmet home-made candies too.  I added to my host gift with a package of beautiful chocolates. (Yes, I was tempted to buy all the cookies here and forget baking... but that would be wrong.)

TODAY'S SHOPPING IS OVER - and this is what I accomplished: 

*Sailing Tour for son;

*Del Sol polish and color-changing t-shirt for nieces and stocking stuffers;

*Jacket and boots for sister;

* Beatles memorabilia and aviation poster for brother-in-law, son

* Rubber ducks (just because);

* Wine and gourmet chocolates for host gifts. 

Dinner at Precinct Pizza in Channelside District, and went to see Hugo in 3D at Channelside.  Back to work tomorrow - shopping will get done at lunch time. 

You know what? I really think I can get all my holiday shopping done in Downtown. I only wish we had a Container Store and a Gap, but I have patience - something good is happening everyday in Downtown Tampa.

Bye for now....