Shops: -Antiques & Gifts

A stroll around Oxford will reveal a great many antiques and gift shops. If you're looking to buy something for someone special, get ready, because we're going shopping! (It's okay to window shop too, but don't be surprised if you're tempted to buy a gift for yourself!)

Overlooking the Village Green, Bartle's Pharmacy will delight the shopper looking for charming collectibles such as Boyd's Bears & Ty Beanie Babies; fragrant Yankee Candles; the ever-popular Fenton Glass, and more.(Not to mention there's a vast selection of the old fashioned traditionals: delectible chocolates and sophisticated perfumes!) Many of the 'teens' (or the 'betweens') would love to receive some of those hot Japanese anime monthly magazines. Bartle's has an extensive collection of these thick periodicals, and they even giftwrap.(A nice gift for a good reportcard?)

Next on your shopping trip, let the heavenly aroma lead you to the Clachan Coffee House. It's located on the park between the Night Eagle Café and Bartle's Pharmacy --it's a short walk from nearly anywhere. Sit down and relax with a delicious gourmet coffee, tea, or any other specialty beverage on their extensive menu, and have a piece of cake or a cookie--for shopping energy. As your eyes begin to wander around the coffee house, you'll notice that proprietor, Kathi Moser has collected an assortment of interesting gift items. You'll see souvenir mugs (some handmade by Oxford potter, Bill Troxell), Clachan Coffee House t-shirts, local photography (from today and yesterday!), sweet maple syrup and honey made nearby, cast beeswax candles by local vendors, even music CDs by local recording artists, all available for purchase. They're also a retailer of Department 56 ornaments. Your likely to have a very nice time here and want to bring home a remembrance of your visit! By the way, if you have to get on the computer, Clachan is also a "cybercafé" -they offer limited wireless internet access, using your own laptop. So, as you can see, you can have your cake and eat it too!

Don't overlook the Night Eagle Cafe, just 1 door over, as it has an unusual collection of gems and minerals for the "rock hound" on your list. (A geode or crystal for a science minded student has thought provoking potential.) If you're trying to buy something for a "crafty" person, Creative Stamping, next door, is the one place to go. Aside from unique rubber stamps, there's a rainbow of stamp pads, glitters, scrapbooking supplies, unusual decorative papers, and much more. (A gift certificate for a craft class in a hand-made card, or a basket brimming with colorful creative supplies and a bow, are just about all you need to look like a hero at gift giving time.)

Save some energy because the next stop, at 41 State St. is Gallery 3.2.1, and you're in for a (contemporary) treat. This is a real gallery of some of the highest quality crafts and arts from around the Country. (You could imagine this in NYC, it's so fine.) For the person with everything, this is a great place to shop. One-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry, blown glass, wooden jewelry boxes, pottery, paintings, and more. Oh, and the talented owners, Bill & Diane Troxell are craftspeople themselves. They make their own stoneware and porcelain pottery right on the premises. (Christmas time, they're open 7-days a week!)

At 38 South Washington Avenue, there's Charlotte's Antiques in the big white house near the High School. Charlotte Blenis, an authority in her field, carries antiques--some are seriously old. This portion of her home is beautifully displayed with vintage trains and toys of great quality, and she also specializes in country "primitive" furniture. But be sure to look for her carefully selected pendulum clocks, crockery jugs, brass bedwarmers, and yellowware bowls. Rare finds only stay a short while. (Visit often.)

Petals & Pretty Things is at 139 South Washington Avenue, and Linda Meek creates silk and dried flower arrangements. Contact her to have something made to order.

In the opposite direction is David Mabey's Antiques on North Canal Steet. This building is big, and tightly packed with antiques, lots of memorabilia, and collectibles. You'll find records (33 rpm-remember?), books, prints, china, glassware, jewelry, furniture, wagon wheels, and on, and on. You're bound to find something of interest here.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all that is available in Oxford, so why not visit and see it all for yourself? We'll be expecting you.