As the December holidays draw near, bank balances diminish, and shipping delays become increasingly common, we are all bound to remember that one person we somehow forgot to buy a present for. But have no fear, the local gift guide is here.
Downtown Ames offers an incredibly diverse selection of stores, perfect for finding gifts for anyone you know. Main Street alone contains gifts that can range from your most glamorous best friend to your most nerdy little cousins. In this article, I will guide you through all the stores I have gone to to buy presents for my loved ones.
The Hobby Shop
The Hobby Shop offers an impressive selection of items for all types of hobbyists and collectors. This store is a go-to for those into Pokémon, Gundams and car figurines, as well as miniatures and wooden craft kits (including an exquisite wooden replica of Hogwarts ready to craft). The store offers a lot more than what I mentioned, though, so if any of that sounds like your lucky gift receiver, definitely check them out.
Main Street Magic, Miniatures & More
If you’re looking for presents for your Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) group, Magic: The Gathering enthusiast, or for that friend who’s really into Warhammer, this is the spot for you. The back of the store features one of the most thorough and organized selections of Bones Reaper miniatures I have ever seen, and they even sell plushies of famous D&D monsters. Moreover, if your friend loves a good ornamental deck of playing cards, they have all the color combinations you could wish for.
Octagon Center for the Arts Shop
The Octagon Center’s gallery shop offers the perfect set of presents for that artistic person you have no clue what to buy for. As “the artsy friend” myself, I often get some panicked questions of “what in the world would you want?” since I tend to carry a DIY mentality about everything; however, artists usually appreciate being given others’ art.
The Octagon Center’s gallery shop features a diverse range of art, including paintings, small prints, bookmarks, cards, leather journals, art supplies, pottery and much more. Whilst the prices of the big paintings may seem daunting, if you take your time looking closely through the store, you’ll realize they offer many items ranging from $4 to $25.
Ames History Museum
If the person you’re looking to get a gift for loves history or Iowa, the Ames History Museum’s little shop is the place to go. I’ve personally had excellent luck including their postcards in gifts for friends. They sell bundles of beautiful postcards that show pictures of Main Street and even Welch Avenue from the 1900s. If postcards and handwritten messages aren’t your thing, they also sell books on the history of Ames and Iowa, as well as other items.
Dog Eared Books
If your gift receiver is a dedicated bookworm, Dog Eared Books is written in the stars for you. They currently have a gift guide of their own, featuring a shelf of books accompanied by employee reviews, which are perfect for quickly finding a book that fulfills your bookworm’s desires. Besides books, they also have an amusing selection of magnets and lots of very endearing bookish ornaments. Finally, if your gift receiver is just a fan of the bookstore itself, you can never go wrong with buying them some warm merch.
Little Woods: Herbs and Teas
If your friend or family member is one to keep an abundant apothecary of teas, look no further than Little Woods. Their store offers one of the best selections of tea I’ve ever encountered. Gifting their teas has never gone wrong for me, especially when accompanied by a note explaining why the tea reminds me of them (the store allows you to buy a cup of any of their teas or smell them in tester jars before making a purchase).
However, if you don’t have time to put all of that together, they also offer beautiful, pre-made tea gift boxes that are ready to go. Another thing to note is that they sell tea sets, matcha, matcha sets, empty jars and their own chapsticks, amongst other items.
Life Distilled
If you have a more spiritual gift receiver on your hands, Life Distilled will have everything they’re wishing for. Besides their generous array of loose crystals, they offer essential oils, perfumes, teas, temporary tattoos, plants, mood rings, zodiac sign crystal sets, natural salves, beauty products, build-your-own plant terrariums and so much more. This store truly feels never-ending, and even if the person you intend to gift is not particularly spiritual, Life Distilled will usually have a little something that will remind you of them, regardless.
Raygun
Is your friend really into funky shirts? Yeah? Well, rest assured, because Raygun is precisely where you want to be this holiday season. Raygun offers an awe-inspiring selection of shirts featuring silly prints. No matter your loved one’s age, you will likely find something here that will make them giggle. If you’re not sure what size they wear, or know they aren’t big into T-shirts, they also offer stickers (perfect for a good laptop sticker bomb), magnets, notebooks, pencils and so much more.
Back Alley House Plants
If you’ve got a horticulturist on your hands but know nothing about plants, don’t worry, the guys over at Back Alley House Plants sure do. They have all sorts of plants, from your most common Home Depot garden section plants to the most Discovery Channel plants you’ve ever seen. Back Alley House Plants is the perfect place to get that plant parent a brand new baby, or to help a new plant lover expand their plant empire. They don’t only have plants, though; they also sell all the supplies you may need to take care of and even heal your plant.
The Shops at Clark & Main
The Shops at Clark & Main is composed of a refined selection of shops that sell a diverse range of items, including hair care and body care products, laundry supplies, home decor, fine writing instruments and journals, candles and more. My favorite items to gift from here are their Kitsch shampoo and conditioner bars, the Kitsch hair wax sticks and their artisanal soaps. The shampoo and conditioner bars make a surprisingly great gift for guys, as I’ve noticed many of them prefer the feel and long-lasting nature of the bar experience. However, they also just smell very good.
Vinyl Cafe
If your friend is into vinyl, then there’s no doubt in my mind you’ve heard them talk about Vinyl Cafe time and time again. If you know their music taste, get them something you know they’d love; if you don’t, pick a vinyl for them at random and have a blind listening party with it. However, while you’re there, don’t forget to ask the barista to make you a drink based on your personality. 99.99% of the time, you will love it, and it will make a great story to tell when they open their present.
Oak Lane Candle Co.
This is the perfect place if you want to buy an experience for someone you love. They offer walk-in candlemaking sessions where you and your person can pour your own candles in a mixture of all the scents you love. However, if you don’t think they’d be very into making candles, you can always buy them a candle or any candle-like paraphernalia. They also have a beautiful selection of clothes, amongst other items.
