Merry Commerce!

Tustin News Column 11/29/05: Show of hands  - how many of you think of Old Town when it comes to holiday gift shopping? That’s what I thought. 

Here are some numbers to ponder the next time you contemplate the freeway traffic and the long checkout lines at the big mall:

Off the top of my head I know of at least a dozen specialty gift shops in Old Town where you can find anything from fine cigars, to model airplanes, prayer beads, soccer gear, Hawaiian shirts, coffee table books, handbags, flower vases and beautiful jewelry.

I can think of at least half a dozen antique & collectible shops that carry everything from vintage lamps to exquisite sculpture and paintings.

There are five or six full service spa/salon/health related merchants that will gladly draw up a gift certificate for everything from a facial to a pilates lesson.

And in case you feel the seasonally appropriate need to give rather than to shop, Old Town is also home to the Assistance League of Tustin (and Thrift Store). They do wonderful work for our community and are always grateful for your support. 

Speaking of giving, many of the businesses have toy drives or support various charities with proceeds from your purchases. It’s something you don’t always find at the big chain stores elsewhere, and tends to remind us of the reason we’re all shopping in the first place.

Hungry? I can count twelve dining and drinking establishments to quench your appetite after a day of heavy Mastercard lifting. Menus range from protein shakes to club sandwiches to lasagna to yakitori to lamb chops.

Best of all, you can knock out your entire gift list without getting back in your car. Every shop alluded to above is located within walking distance of the others. And every store has parking right out the front door or is no more than a block away from a free lot.

But hey, if you’d still rather go to the mall…

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