Now it’s Elmwood’s turn to strut its stuff.
After hitting up Newbury Street for a smoothie, I found myself energized for some shopping. I started off by popping into Village Designs and immediately found an item that I felt every girl would want in order to keep warm in stylish comfort this winter. This snuggly neck warmer is called a Snood. Made of part faux fur and part cable knit, the Snood is super fashionable, keeps the neck nice and toasty, and won’t unravel like a scarf. It’s perfect for dog walking, a trip to the corner store, or even when having cocktails after work. The Snood retails for $28 and comes in a couple of different colors.
Village Designs on Elmwood | 448 Elmwood Avenue | Buffalo NY 14222 (near the corner of Bryant) | 716-881-7800
Just down the street a ways, I ducked into Hu’s Discount Store. Hu’s is great, because there is so much going on that it’s completely unpredictable. Normally I head right to the sunglasses rack, but this particular visit found me standing in front of the hat section of the store. It was there that I spotted these outrageously fun and comfy NY baseball caps with kitten ears. Last time I was in Hu’s I snagged a couple (in Bills’ colors – red and blue). I kept the blue one and gave the red one to my wife. We’ve had a lot of fun with these hats, and I’m sure that others will too. They’re a bit goofy, but heck, who doesn’t want to have a little fun romping around town sporting a different look now and then? The price? Let’s jus say that you can afford one.
Hu’s Discount Store | 498 Elmwood Avenue | Buffalo NY 14222
Next it was a stop into NEO Gift Studio. There are always a bunch of great holiday gift items to choose from in this gift boutique. Instead of going the normal gift route, I decided to feature one of the greatest men’s colognes that I’ve even had the pleasure to dab on. This particular cologne is very subtle, yet is an attention getter for sure. Every time someone asks me what cologne I wear, I point them to Neo – it’s the only cologne that they carry, which should say something about the brand – Mistral (Black Amber). Neo offers a test sample that you can spray on your wrist to test it out. If this particular fragrance is not your thing, then there are a ton of other gift options awaiting you around each corner, though they might not smell as nice ($65).
NEO Gift Studio 512 Elmwood Ave Buffalo, NY 14222-2014 | (716) 884-1119 | Facebook
Zigzagging across Elmwood I came across Rumpelstiltskin’s. I wasn’t sure exactly what I would find in this children’s consignment shop, but nothing ventured nothing lost. Within seconds upon walking in, my eyes spied a set of baby rompers and kids’ t-shirts, emblazoned with colorful and creative sewn buffalos. Each of the buffalo patches were perfectly stitched with delightful fabric, lending themselves to wild imagination.
They were all different too! From Buffalo sports themes, to monkey designs, to Where the Wild Things Are – the images were cleverly applied giving each buffalo extra special meaning. The buffalo tees and onesies are all $19.99. If you don’t have a child on your gift list, then pass this tidbit along to someone that does, because these are truly precious and would make dynamite gifts.
Rumpelstiltskin’s | 571 Elmwood Avenue | (716) 883-4145
Keeping on with my journey, I wound up in one of my old haunts – Urban Threads. Of course it didn’t take long to make a fine choice. The item in question turned out to be a stainless steel Yeti Colster. This particular koozie is a state of the art model, that keeps a can or bottle of beer cold from first sip to last drop. The gift is also super sharp looking, and would be handsome on any shelf or in any hand. This is the perfect gift for someone who hates it when a beer starts to get warm, and refuses to dabble in the cheap flimsy foam insulators. For the professional that wants to make a statement while drinking a super chill beer with friends – get him or her the Yeti Colster ($30).
Urban Leisure & Luxury | 736 Elmwood Avenue | Buffalo, NY 14222 | (716) 884-9145 | Facebook
Finally, the last leg of my walk brings us to Everything Elmwood, where there is a wide world of socks awaiting shoppers. That’s right… socks! Did you know that socks can tell you more about someone’s personality than just about any other clothing item?
Socks have come to be known as the fashion statement of choice for guys and gals who want to say something while simply standing around. Pull up a pant leg and show these babies off. Get some glances while on the Metro Rail. Socks can give off subtle (or not so subtle) clues about your personality.
Make a statement at work, on a date, or standing around the kitchen. Get a friend a fun pair of socks and watch them rock ’em out. There’s a design for everybody on your holiday gift list – Everything Elmwood has the largest array of socks to be found near and far. It’s time to put a smile on someone’s face. Socks range from $9 to $12.
Everything Elmwood | 740 Elmwood Avenue | Buffalo, NY | (716) 883-0607
Click here to see additional Gift Guide ideas – Green Thumbs, Beer Enthusiasts and Dog Lovers
Click here to see additional Gift Guide ideas – Cartographic Kicks and Hand Crafted Honey Jar