Holiday Gift Guide |
Gifts of the Weirdby Ken Ilgunas |
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Remember how disappointed you were after feverishly unwrapping that much-anticipated gift only to find a pack of tube socks? Do yourself a favor—don’t be that gift-giver. Chuck conventionality, say adios to appropriateness and go weird this holiday season. Buffalo has everything from the freaky to the funky, the kooky to the kinky, the screwy to the spooky, and the unearthly to the uncanny. Put an atypical touch on the holiday season with one of our area’s richest natural resources: the peculiar, the odd, and most of all, the weird.
Terrapin Station
1172 Hertel
Flying Spirits – $12-22
Hand-crafted flying female spirits that you can hang from the ceiling. They’re excellent listeners if you need someone/something to lend an ear. Made in Bali.
Rock Salt Lamp – $38
A stunning lamp made out of a giant piece of rock salt taken from the Himalayas. Put it in the backyard, plug it in and watch the deer go crazy. (Kidding! For indoor use only.)
From the Ends of the Earth
5110 Main St.
Parasite Wood Art – $17.95-$30
The most peculiar conversation piece you’ll ever own. Insects lay their eggs in the wood, and it expands and explodes, creating unusual patterns. Artisans then hand-carve animals, plants and other designs into the wood.
New World Record
765 Elmwood Ave.
Beatles Lunch Box – $21.99
Reflect on the Fab Four’s legacy and the heyday of Beatlemania with this retro metal lunch box. Several other boxes available, like the Ramones and the Sex Pistols.
Buddy Christ Action Figure – $15.99
With Buddy in your corner, you too can spread joy and fight evil this Christmas. As seen in the movie Dogma.
Pope Innocent III Action Figure – $9.99 For when you need a little more God on your side. Pairs nicely with Buddy Christ.
Positively Main St.
773 Elmwood Ave.
“Little Thinkers” – $19.50
Is your progeny a prodigy? Even if they aren’t, they’re sure to love one of these stuffed dolls of famous thinkers, like Beethoven, Mozart, and Buddha. You can wind up Beethoven and Mozart to play some of their famous tunes.
“Freudian Slippers” – $24.50
An AV staff favorite. Slip into a pair and let your ego run amok. Your toes waggle Sigmund’s critical tongue.
Punching
Rabbi – $9
A real bargain, considering that this plucky punching doll has been “Fighting for Judaism for 3,000 years.” Also comes in Nun flavor.
“Bushy Cards” – $10
What better way to endure a cold Buffalo day than to challenge our fearless leader to a game of pinochle. Our bet’s on you.
“Trash Bags” – $18.50
Reduce, Reuse, Recreate: A Women’s Fair Trade Project. These cute, colorful bags are made in Honduras from snack bags and other plastic plucked from the jaws of a nasty landfill. Each one is signed by the woman who created it. Chips not included.
Everything Elmwood
740 Elmwood Ave.
Disco Bowl – $42.99
A bowl in the shape and texture of a disco ball. Can be used as a candy dish, hallway key catch-all, etc. Groovy!
Lamp Air Purifier – $45-$59; scented or unscented oil sold separately ($12.99)
A brand-new item at EE. Light it and blow out the flame, and heat trapped inside draws air through the lamp, cleaning the air and adding scent, if you want. The artistic glass bottle comes in several shapes and colors.
Thunder Bay*
734 Elmwood Ave.
License Plate Purse – $55
License Plate CD Case – $25
Ever want to find something constructive to do with those old DMV cast-offs? Little Earth has created a small cottage industry making trendy (and durable) purses, CD cases, and photo albums out of real, recycled license plates. Each one is unique.
*Thunder Bay plans to close January 1 and is not re-stocking, so get these items while they last!
Blue Mountain Coffee
509 Elmwood Ave.
Argentinian Tea Gourds
- $29.99 each
South American yerba mate (pronounced “yurba mAHtay”) herbal tea is the latest health drink to hit the States, so imbibe in style with one of these unique gourds. Each one is detailed in silver and lovingly imported in limited numbers by an Argentinian doctor who calls Buffalo home. Comes with a silver-plated straw that filters the loose tea as you sip.
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