PALMER BUZZ: Christmas season hitting high gear

PALMER MERCHANTS DELIVER—What may have started as a “civic obligation to shop local” has evolved into a 100 percent pleasurable experience and a desire to shop the cute stores of Downtown Palmer. Shopping local keeps the shops robust and fun for all.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH PALMER DOWNTOWN SHOPPING: This week we are going to take a peak at the really cool stuff for Christmas Present shopping in downtown Palmer. This is not an exclusive list, by any means. (Next week we’re going to focus on Palmer recommendations for a book buying holiday gifts.) Let’s take a walk up S. Alaska Street and get started on the brick and mortar Palmer store gift list:

Madd Matters has the craziest looking Santa fairies around. They are small and curious and they probably want to hang around your house year round. There are also some totally delicious big bars of soap, which look so good, you will want to eat them.

Cover Ups (soon to be Peak Boutique) has the whole darn line of Alaska Chicks merchandise which includes the popular Alaska Logo leggings and sweatshirts. The rest of the store is jammed with interesting stuff like old metal containers, signs, mercury glass ornaments, up-cycled furniture pieces, and sweet stars.

Next door is Artist’s Uncorked, a great paint space with some great art supplies. Plus you can buy classes as gifts for friends or family. This is giving an “experience,” which often means more than buying yet another object or thing.

Slide on down the street to Garden Gate, on the corner, which has the gorgeous stuff like bags and funky socks; plus they have “guy” stuff and pet stuff too.

NonEssentials is probably the best smelling store in Palmer. Baked goods and spices just welcome you in the door and all the variety of unusual food stuffs and kitchen supplies keep you there. And if you know nothing about cooking, they will help you out. There are maybe a million stocking stuffers there for foodies.

Next is the wonderful Fireside Bookstore. Next week we will focus on the individual offerings, but this particular bookstore wins welcome awards regardless of personal book selection. It has wonderful booksellers and a special floor which creaks. There are thousands of books shelved, new and used, plus fun stuff including calendars.

The Koslosky Center is a great little combo of shops, including Vagabonds, a Palmer favorite eatery. Tucked in the back of the center are three great shops. Active Soles has really good footgear and socks. They have the famous, dependable Icebugs, which are terrific winter footwear, designed to be comfortable and NOT slip on the ice. Without a doubt, Forever Endeavor has the most colorful, handmade artsy works in all of Palmer. (Sometimes Hank the Dog is there and sometimes Patton the Dog is there.) They also have all kinds of art supplies in stock! Also tucked in the back is The Stamp Cache, which has all that neat paper and stamps and they also offer classes in ridiculously perfect card-making. Upfront and across from Vagabonds is Whimsey with aprons and towels and candles and wallets and an amazing selection of fun stuff you never knew you needed.

Go up the street a bit further and check out the Palmer Downtown Plaza. Did you know you can buy lovely lingerie on Main Street? Or cellphone accessories? Yes you can. They are at du jour and AK Cell Repair respectively. You can also see the Shane Lamb Gallery and pick up some delicious chocolate at Hot Hot Chocolate. You can sit down and be served at the fine Turkey Red Restaurant or you can linger at the lovely Downtown Palmer Deli. Word on the street says that the Downtown Deli has some pretty nice art there and will continue growing into Palmer’s new cultural oasis to enjoy— while you eat your homemade gelato, delicious cannoli or Cuban sandwich.

As I said, this list is not exclusive. Over by the Borough Building is the fantastic Alaska Picker which is easy to get lost in. It’s a darn good thing they don’t have cushy lounge chairs or you would want to move in. It really is one of the best new adds to Palmer’s retail!

STREET VERSUS MALL: Sometimes when you’re in Downtown Palmer, it feels like you’re in the middle of a Norman Rockwell painting. Especially at the holidays. There’s all the little lights and the pretty shop windows. There’s activity on the sidewalks and sometimes music coming from somewhere. The walks are clear and the businesses are open and friendly. You’re bound to run into people you know, so you always plan for some extra time. Yes, you have to bundle up between shops, but even that feels good and refreshing, unless there are gale winds. (And as we’ve learned, the gale winds have an interesting effect on shoppers lingering longer.) There are good food offerings in downtown, which are equally inviting. Parking is easy in downtown Palmer and there is no such thing as a parking meter.

Malls have their conveniences and their refiltered air but they are no match for Palmer street shopping and eating.