Downtown Lowell, Part II
My next stop on my Lowell shopping odyssey was Roger’s Pool and Toy (the link refers to the pool business only, but gives hours and directions) on Middle Street. The smell of chlorine is reminiscent of summer pool days, but, this time of year, the shelves are well-stocked with toys, games and puzzles. They have Brio, Playmobile, Legos ($19 and up) and more, and the experience is vastly more pleasant than at the generic toy madhouses. Along with many of the classics, I spotted an excellent game for ages 8 and up, called Mastermind ($15.99) that pre-teens, teens and adults can all enjoy. Moving along, Life Alive, the Urban Oasis, is the place to buy a gift certificate for a health-conscious friend. If you haven’t tried their soups and tofu dishes, you don’t know what you’re missing. In addition, they have insipiring magnet quotes ($5) and an array of candles, organic skincare products and vitamins. Next door is Van Gogh’s Gear, which is open Monday – Friday, 10-6, Saturday, 11-6 and Sunday, noon to 4. Proprieter Steve Syverson stocks a myriad of supplies for the beginning or established artist. I noticed a fine, 50 page sketch pad for under $10, with part of the proceeds going to the American Wildlife Fund, as well as some travel sketch books in varying sizes with nice leather covers for under $10. The set of black sketching pencils ($8.96) and premium pastel pencils ($17.79) made me long to take an art class. You will also find quality color and paint-by-number sets, origami paper and Crayola products. The Revolving Museum has fabulous “EVOLVE” t-shirts, black with striking red lettering, for $14.95, plus hats and totes, and assorted artist-made jewelry. Their current show is closing, but mark your calendar for their new exciting show, entitled “Toys and Games” which will be opening on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2008. Across the street, the New England Quilt Museum is currently featuring quilts about Lowell in an exhibition entitled “Lowell Inside Out,” which runs through through January 12. In their gift shop, you will find kits to make tote bags ($39) plus a quilt kit, with everything needed to create a full sized quilt in one bag for $159. They also have mugs and other memorabilia, scarves and purses, ornaments, stocking stuffers, and a few toys. I really liked the giant floor puzzle (ages 3-6) for $15.99. By the way, this week is Cookie Week in their museum gift shop, with hot drinks and cookies for shoppers and museum-goers through Sunday. By visiting the website, you can print a coupon for 10% off purchases. Next up, Merrimack Street…
Finally getting to Merrimack Street, I looked in at Giovanni’s Trends. They have an array of clothing that might suit the teen in your life, a large selection of sneakers and some Timberland ($135, sturdy and stylish) boots that caught my eye. The staff is friendly and they’ve expanded their hours for the holidays, opening on Sunday. They also offer 10% discounts to any college or high school student. Stopping for lunch at the busy Mambo Grill (we had ‘naked burritos” all the fixings with rice and pico de gallo and beans, but no tortilla, for $6.95) it occured to me that a gift certificate to this popular spot would surely be appreciated by any student or teacher in Lowell!
I like to buy books as gifts, so I was looking forward to a visit to the downtown Barnes and Noble. They are small for a Barnes & Noble, but the store is densely packed with just about anything you might be looking for. Besides a great selection of current bestsellers, they have a nice children’s section, and I’m always impressed with their poetry offerings. In addition, you can get Jack Kerouac T-shirts (from $20), hooded sweatshirts with “Lowell” on the front ($34), Lowell mugs, and these really cute, squishy teddy-bears with shirts that say “Someone in Lowell loves Me.” I bought a small Moleskine notebook ($9.99) ruled for writing music for the musician in my life, but they have a wide selection of these notebooks for anyone who likes to keep track of things the old-fashioned way.
Inizio Day Spa beckons the weary shopper with its warm colors, soft lighting and Italian themed rooms. They offer gift certificates which can be purchased online using their secure server. There are all types of facials, massages and other luxurious services, plus an abundance of fine products; their knowledgeable staff will be glad to assist in gift-buying.
No shopping visit to downtown Lowell is complete without a visit to Welles Emporium. They’ve got it all, from high-end jewelry that’s just plain fun to look at, to a series of Lowell Christmas ornaments (St. Anne’s, Boarding House Park, etc.), beautiful silk scarves ($42 and up), baby gifts and toys (some unusual wooden puppets attracted me), unframed prints of Lowell landmarks by local artist Janet Lambert Moore ($25), nice serving dishes and glassware and much, much more. Just browsing around Welles is sure to inspire you to find a perfect gift for someone special.
Some final thoughts: there are other places I didn’t get to that I’m sure would offer an interesting shopping experience. For instance, Jenny’s Gift Shop on Central has a quite a few fans, especially for fun stocking-stuffers. Also, gift certificates to one of the downtown coffee shops (The Coffee Mill, Cafe Paradiso, Brewed Awakening or Cafe Aiello) would make a welcome and inexpensive gift, maybe for a babysitter or teacher, and you can treat yourself to a latte while you’re at it. Enjoy!