With finals, due dates, and packing deadlines looming above me, I had to finish up my holiday shopping on the Monday before Xmas.  Without a car, not enough time to take the bus, and 4 generations to shop for, I spent the entire day walking up and down E. Liberty, from South State to Main.

Since most stores in Ann Arbor don’t open until 11am and only a few open the hour before, my shopping excursion didn’t have to begin too early. Thank. God.

I started at Tea Hausfor my brother-in-law, a fan of Gunpowder tea.  This place is great – one of the owners rang me up and both she and her staff are obviously well-educated in their product.  I felt very small-town-Maybury as we chatted about tea, my coat, and the weather.  Located in Kerrytown, Tea Haus features not only an extensive line of teas (see huge wall of silver-tins) and tea accessories including gorgeous pots, cups, and more. 

From Main St

With tea sort of on my mind, I left Kerrytown for Main Street and Crazy Wisdom Bookstore/Tea House.  I stayed downstairs this time and found a book for my mom.  She loves that store so if she doesn’t like the book I chose, she can return it and will probably spend an hour or two looking around.  That store smells like my childhood.

Next was a quick stop at The Bead Gallery on East Liberty.  My oldest sister, as previously mentioned, is collecting “Troll Beads“.  I thought – “hey, sure, I’ll get her some clothes at Pitaya and a couple of those bead things…”  Is everyone else familiar with this crazy-ass fad?  And we though Beanie Babies were crazy…the cheapest bead I could buy for her was $23.  For a bead the size of a chocolate chip.  Others can run into the thousands.

And since it was on the way, I decided to stop at Orchid Lane. Surprisingly, I was able to find a bunch of gifts here.  A hat and scarf for my brother, a woven blanket for my aunt (out of yak hair), a cigarette case for my younger sister (don’t ask), and a bracelet for my boss.  I found what I needed on the warehouse side but the other end to the left, you can find more higher end items.

Finally, I dragged my weary self to Borders.  It counts as local because this is Borders Store number 1 – a succesful book empire that sprouted up from the very streets of this mid-western mecca we call home.  Anyone who hadn’t been crossed off the list was at this store - grandma, brother, brother-in-law. 

to South University

In case you were wondering, my plan-B if Borders didn’t work out was Middle Earthon South University.  Nothing says Happy Holidays + You’re Difficult to Buy For than a humerous mug, comical button, or novelty nostalgia candy.  Plus, they’ve got wrapping paper.

Happy Holidays!

-B.C.Bodnar

Check out the rest of this series: Fathers, Sisters