Hansen: For Christmas, try offbeat and fun gifts
Some people just can’t go to regular malls.
Maybe it’s the cloying holiday music or overwhelming, flu-like crowds. Either way, rest assured, there are other ways to safely tackle your Christmas list.
In the spirit of avoiding boring, forgettable gifts, here are 12 alternative ideas from independent stores that you might not have thought of. Almost all the businesses are owner-operated, small and local, and the gifts are often handmade — or at least very unique.
12. Mitsuwa Marketplace, 665 Paularino Ave., Costa Mesa. (mitsuwa.com)
Granted, Mitsuwa is a small chain Japanese store, but if you’ve never been to one, you should go. It’s an experience. There’s the authentic grocery store but also the restaurants and small indoor shopping mall. It helps enormously if you speak — and read — Japanese. If you don’t, well, good luck. Some of the restaurants have pictures, so that helps. As for the shopping, where else are you going to get vintage Godzilla DVDs? Go to HQ Video, which of course stands for “high quality” in any language.
11. Trailer Chic Boutique, The Lab, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. (may-martin.com)
Her name is Lily Magaziner and she’s been making elegant, attractive jewelry for about 10 years. And it’s affordable too: $20 to $40. She uses natural gemstones and thin, nice chains with strong fasteners. She’s owned the store for about 18 months and works tirelessly to provide value. Also, while you’re there, have her show you her handmade prints with very funny, progressive, R-rated sayings. When you’re done, the rest of The Lab has other innovative gifts.
10. Winter Fantasy, Sawdust Art Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. (sawdustartfestival.org)
The Sawdust is a guaranteed gift bonanza. Check out the blown glass from Michael Panetta. He has beautiful ornaments for $20 each or three for $50, plus some very nice Venetian-style vases. Panetta studied in Italy and brings remarkable craftsmanship to his one-of-a-kind work. The approximately 175 artists on the grounds make jewelry, clothing, ceramics, woodwork, forged metals, painting, photography, sculpture, clothing and textiles. The festival ends Dec. 20.
9. Anaheim Packing District, 440 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim. (anaheimpackingdistrict.com)
OK, the Anaheim Packing District is mostly artisan food, but there’s nothing wrong with gift certificates. From craft beer to fancy popbars, who doesn’t want to indulge during the holidays and feel hip doing it? It’s a creative space for all demographics, with music, fireplace, love seat swing — good first-date material.
8. Grand Central Art Center, 125 N Broadway, Santa Ana. (grandcentralartcenter.com)
This is a great partnership between Cal State Fullerton and the city of Santa Ana. In addition to the large gallery, there are live/studio spaces for students, a theater, cafe, classrooms and more. The gallery features exhibitions and projects by internationally noted artists along with student works that are affordable.
7. Irvine Spa, 2332 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine. (irvinespa.com)
Most people call this “iSpa,” and then they quickly add, “the best Korean spa in Orange County.” It opened in 2012 and has become the de facto spa indulgence. It features five specialized theme rooms that emphasize different treatments: the Fire Room, Red Clay Room, Salt Room, Forest Room and Ice Room. Prices start at $20 and go up to $140.
6. A Dong Supermarket, 9221 Bolsa Ave., Westminster.
Located in Little Saigon across from the Asian Garden Mall, this market will help you bring that special food dish to the holiday gift party — like a live catfish. And if catfish isn’t your favorite, there are about 47 other varieties of fresh fish. Most are still squirming.
5. Villains Vintage Clothing, 940 W Chapman Ave., Orange. (vintageclothingstore.org)
Many vintage clothing stores are packed with racks of musty, questionable clothes. Not VVC. It’s airy and curated. There’s an undeniable artistic flair, but nothing here takes itself too seriously. Mixing cool clothes with even cooler collectibles, you will laugh as you appreciate your quirky, better self.
4. Taco Maria, 3313 Hyland Ave, Costa Mesa. (tacomaria.com)
It started out as a food truck. Now it’s one of the top restaurants in all of Los Angeles. Chef Carlos Salgado calls it “Chicano cuisine.” Whatever it is, you could call it Christmas dinner, Southern California style. Don’t just take my word for it. Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold recently wrote that Taco Maria “may be the most important Mexican restaurant in California.”
3. Ipso Facto, 517 N Harbor Blvd., Fullerton. (ipso-facto.com)
Ipso Facto is arguably the only true goth store in Orange County. Owner Terri Kennedy has been at the location for 26 years, which makes her the queen of O.C. goth. The store has a little bit of everything — all authentic, all black. When you enter, your eyes take a minute to adjust to the blackness, in a good way. Lots of leather, amazing dresses and guy stuff too. Steam punk, shoes, top hats, spikes and those fancier things in the back room. Indulge as needed.
2. Grace’s Thrift Store, 12946 Main St., Garden Grove.
When you buy something here, you help people with spina bifida. Owner Patrick Hawkins works with groups like Assistance League and others to get donated goods, and then he sells them for very reasonable prices. He also employs injured people who are transitioning in back-to-work programs. Currently, the store has an impressive collection of vintage dolls, which Hawkins said came from an estate donation. He’s selling them for $5 each.
1. Charities.
The best gift during the holidays is a donation to local charities. Some options in Orange County include the Boys & Girls Clubs; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Goodwill; Second Harvest Food Bank; LGBT Center OC; Orange County Armories (Santa Ana and Fullerton); and the Orange County Rescue Mission.
DAVID HANSEN is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com.